Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2012-20--2012 CRA Plan Update — reading text

pedestrian crossings; Parkway) carrying through traffic from enforced speed limit; Brooks Bridge Pensacola to Panama City ; low improvements; wider and improved speed limit, new streetscape sidewalks west of Brooks Street; downtown; tree -lined medians streetscaping west of Brooks Street Undivided 4- lane minor arterial Improved sidewalks, additional SR 189 ( Beal Parkway) pedestrian crossings Brooks Street 2 -lane ` local" road with low Streetscaping and/ or underground volume traffic; streetscape north utilities south side; additional raised side only; low speeds, existing pedestrian crossings; well -marked raised pedestrian crossings parking, additional lighting Hollywood Boulevard Undivided" 2 -lane minor Improved sidewalks ( wider collector with suicide lane and sidewalks, continuous sidewalks), landscape, street excess paved ROW principally streetscape/ located in the light reconfiguration for marked bike lanes industrial /mixed use retail district and possibly 4 -lanes or landscaped medians with turn lanes, marked pedestrian crossings First Street, Second Street, Many " local" roads in the CPA Some of the local streets could be Third Street, Fourth Street, are set up fairly grid -like, improved through streetscaping, Bass Avenue, Shell Avenue, providing alternate routes through landscaping, sidewalks, wider Harbeson Avenue, Carson the main part of the CRA. sidewalks, continuous sidewalks, and Drive, Alder Avenue, pedestrian friendly crossings and Chicago Avenue, McGriff intersections Street, Walter Martin Road, Windham Avenue, Tupelo Avenue Lowery Place, Buck Drive, and Hughes Street 2012 City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Strategy 3. 1. 1 — 3. 1. 4 2. Install " buffers" along the ROW, such as landscaping, lighting, trees, or hedges to create a visual and physical separation of traffic and pedestrian activity. Buffers should be incorporated with on- street parking and bicycle lanes. Streets recommended for buffers include Miracle Strip Parkway and Eglin Parkway where no streetscaping currently exists. Low hedges may be incorporated into Hollywood Boulevard improvements. Require sidewalks to be set back from the street, when possible, instead of at the curb. 3. Educate the public. Successful congestion management is based, in part, on making people aware of the available choices for transportation. When people choose travel options other than the car, especially a car with one person, the number of trips on the road will be reduced. Therefore, it is important to provide information and, where possible, support to neighborhoods and businesses regarding new multimodal projects in the CRA and the benefits of multimodal transportation 4. Continue to actively participate in the Transportation Planning Organization ( TPO) process to prioritize needed projects in the CRA. Objective iFacilities Public transportation helps to alleviate traffic congestion, improve air quality, and is much more economical for residents and visitors than single -occupancy motor vehicle travel. Okaloosa County Transit Service currently provides three bus routes within the Fort Walton Beach CRA. There are approximately 30 bus stops in the CRA, each with a pickup frequency of approximately every 1 % hours. Ideally, a transit stop should be located every Y4 mile so that every person is within walking distance to a bus stop. Bus stops should be located close to major trip generators and should be safe, convenient, comfortable, high quality facilities in order to promote the highest possible ridership. 2012 City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan 1. Consider working with Okaloosa County to add additional transit stops in the CRA. Increasing the number of transit stops will provide riders better connectivity so they can access more destinations. Accommodating different modes of transportation such as buses, vehicles, and bikes will foster interactive multi -modal uses. 2. Consider adding local trolley or shuttle bus services. Trolley service can attract visitors from the beach to the CRA area. Ideally, a trolley should continuously circulate in the area, providing frequent pick -up service. Partnerships with the local hotels and condominiums could be researched to provide shuttle services to guests. 3. Work with Okaloosa County to provide additional transit signage and marketing activities within the CRA. Signage should notify users of the transit pick -up schedule and routes. Increasing information about transit availability can help increase the effectiveness of the system. 4. Consider improvements to existing transit stops by adding bus shelters, benches, and signage, where appropriate. Sidewalk connectivity is also an important component of an effective transit system. Sidewalks alone cannot necessarily provide adequate pedestrian access. Many features, such as street furniture, vegetated buffers, wider sidewalks, and pedestrian scaled buildings and signage contribute to the " walkable" environment. Walkable areas provide greater connectivity and access for both vehicles and pedestrians. Providing accessible pedestrian paths via a complete network of sidewalks that link residential areas with recreational and commercial areas is the foundation of a walkable community. This will also reduce the need for automobiles for those traveling within the CRA area, while promoting healthier lifestyles for the residents of this area. 1. Continue to budget for and construct sidewalks throughout the CRA. Targeted program areas and arterial roads should receive priority. A prioritized list of areas needing sidewalks will be developed. 2. Improve pedestrian signage and signals in the CRA. Additional signage and crosswalk systems are needed on Brooks Street, Eglin Parkway, and Miracle Strip Parkway, among others, to improve visibility and safety. 3. Improve pedestrian crossings in the CPA. Consider retrofitting certain intersections to include " pedestrian crossing islands" and consider pedestrian overpasses and medians. Without adequate crosswalks, walking may be unsafe in certain areas. Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan 4. Provide for wider sidewalks in the CRA. According to FDOT, in central business districts CBD) the minimum recommended width of sidewalks is eight feet; industrial and commercial areas outside the CBD should be seven feet wide. In residential areas, sidewalks should be at least five feet wide with two feet of a landscape strip from the curb. 5. Continue a strectscape program to enhance walkability. Pedestrian -scaled lighting, street furniture, and pavers all enhance the walkable environment. to] . . Bicycle paths should be well- signed and complete, and bicycle parking facilities should be provided to support travel by bicycle. Bicycle lanes enhance the safety of pedestrians on sidewalks. 1. Install bicycle lanes and shared use paths in the CRA. Installing bicycle lanes can be as simple as adding paint to the road in some areas. The CRA should consider a transportation improvement " program" or " fund" to implement bike lanes in addition to the sidewalk improvement program. 2. Provide additional bicycle parking facilities in both public and private areas throughout the CRA. Continue to utilize CRA funds to install bicycle racks in public parking lots and public spaces. Continue to enforce provisions in the Land Development Code that require bicycle parking spaces. 3. Continue to coordinate with the Okaloosa- Walton TPO for a bicycle plan and bicycle improvements in the CRA. While the 2007 Parking Facilities Study concluded that there is not a deficit of parking spaces in the CRA overall, it did validate the perception of poor parking choices. Parking, specifically downtown, is neither well -placed nor well -known. Directing patrons to available parking spaces may be what is needed most in the CRA. L Consider acquiring new property or entering into public -private partnerships to add additional parking spaces where needed most. City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan 2. Consider adding parking lot improvements, where needed most, to existing public property. 3. Improve visibility of public parking through highly visible signage on Miracle Strip Parkway, Brooks Street, and Perry Avenue directing motorists towards public parking areas. Implementing the strategies outlined above will improve mobility and safety for residents and visitors in the CRA, especially when integrated with infrastructure upgrades and efficient land use choices. To continue a positive image of the CRA, the following section outlines design guidelines, which are intended to promote visual consistency and harmony throughout the area. City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan COMPONENT 4 - DESIGN GUIDELINES DESIGN GUIDELINES GOAL: PROMOTE A POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMAGE WHILE ADVANCING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, AND APPEARANCE OF THE CRA THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF VISUAL CONSISTENCY AND HARMONY Objectives: Reduce and Avoid the Use of Over -Simplified Rectangular Volumes and Limit the Amount of Blank Walls Achieve Fagade Articulation Treatments Achieve a Cityscape with Well- Articulated Walls Achieve Compatibility Through Type, Size, and Location of Windows and Doors Achieve Compatibility of Rooflines and Roofing Materials Achieve Compatibility of Design for