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TO: |
Board of Trustees |
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THROUGH: |
Jay Fox, Executive Director |
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FROM: |
Nichol Bourdeaux, Chief Planning and Engagement Officer |
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PRESENTER(S): |
Russ Fox, Planning Director |
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Alex Beim, Manager of Long Range and Strategic Planning |
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Jem Locquiao, Planning Researcher |
TITLE:
title
UTA Active Transportation to Transit Plan (AT3P)
end
AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Discussion
RECOMMENDATION:
Informational item for discussion
BACKGROUND:
Active transportation (AT) comprises many ways of movement which include, but are not limited to, walking, biking, and using non-powered or powered devices such as wheelchairs or scooters. Transit accessibility relies on active transportation accessibility. At the stop or station level, every transit trip on UTA’s system at some point necessitates active transportation as a means of waiting, boarding, and alighting. Riders rely on a network of AT facilities that extends beyond UTA's direct jurisdiction to safely and easily make these active connections.
The 2019 UTA Onboard Survey found that approximately 67% of riders relied on an active transportation to access and egress UTA transit services. Of these riders, approximately 62% walked as egress transit.
While the survey data demonstrates the importance of active transportation for UTA riders, the data does not illustrate the full story of how active transportation impacts their experience using transit. Namely, the ways in which the quality, convenience, comfort, safety, and sense of dignity differ in experiences of using or relying on active transportation with transit. A combination of UTA’s past and ongoing plans, strategies, resources, and collaborative efforts provide evidence that the differences in the experience of active transportation to transit exist. The UTA Active Transportation to Transit Plan (AT3P) sets out to develop comprehensive internal guidance for UTA to enhance active transportation accessibility through direct efforts and in collaboration with partners. The Plan intends to synthesize the combination of efforts to elevate the value of active transportation internally as well as externally, to concretize infrastructural and non-infrastructural barriers and opportunities for improving systemwide active transportation accessibility to transit.
Phase I of the Active Transportation to Transit Plan focuses on:
• Gathering evidence from available resources to construct an understanding of active transportation accessibility challenges;
• Developing a prioritization framework and methodology for improvements to active transportation infrastructure systemwide;
• Researching best practices and policies to improve active transportation accessibility with transit; and
• Constructing a vision of actionable paths to improve internal and external mechanisms that impact active transportation accessibility to transit in Phase II.
Phase I of the Active Transportation to Transit Plan anticipates completion in Spring 2023 with Phase II elements anticipated commencement in Summer 2023. The Plan intends to function as a living document to accommodate opportunities for continuous improvement in approaches and considerations. Phase I deliverables include a Story Map as well as a plan document.
DISCUSSION:
UTA staff will discuss the Plan Phase I components. Desired outcomes from the discussion include:
• A working understanding of active transportation and its value to transit riders and to UTA;
• Interaction with active transportation accessibility components and considerations;
• An understanding of Phase I elements of the Active Transportation to Transit Plan and what has been done.
ALTERNATIVES:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Total budget for Phase I is $21,500. The total budget for Phase II is anticipated later in 2023. Funds are included in the 2023 Budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
None