HomeMy WebLinkAboutBelle Meade Closure 03-24-11Calas, Esther (PWD
From: Martinez-Esteve, Jorge (CAO)
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 1:52 PM
To: Shen, Joan (PWD)
Cc: Calas, Esther (PWD)
Subject: RE: Belle Meade sidewalk closure
Joan:
As you requested, I have reviewed some of .the federal, state, and local laws and design standards governing
pedestrian access along public rights -of -way. These laws and standards universally provide for pedestrian
access along public rights -of -way wherever possible.
First, the Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for • Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and
Highways (".Greenbook") provides minimum standards for 'the -design and maintenance of County and
municipal roadway systems; including pedestrian facilities such as sidewalks. In Chapter 8 of the Greenbook,
entitled, Pedestrian Facilities, the Greenbook provides that "[a]lI new highways, except lirnited.access highways,
should be designed and constructed under the assumption they will be used by pedestrians. Provisions for
pedestrian traffic should be incorporated into the original highway design. In addition to providing pedestrian
facilities on new projects, each highway agency responsible for :maintaining or operating streets and urban
highways should establish and
maintain a program of pedestrian facilities ,implementation, maintenance and safety for the urban highway
network." The. language I have quoted herein is from the 2007 version of the Greenbook, which is. the version
currently in effect. It is worth noting however, that the 2010 version, currently in draft force, provides even
stronger language. regarding the provision of pedestrian facilities, stating that: [p]edestrian facilities shall be
given full consideration in the planning and development of transportation facilities, including the incorporation
of such facilities into state, regional, and local transportation plans and programs under the .assumption that
transportation facilities will be used by pedestrians. Pedestrian facilities should be considered in conjunction
with the construction,:reconstruction, or other significant 'improvement of any transportation facility. Special
emphasis should be given to projects in or within 1.mile of an urban area. Each highway agency responsible for
a system of .streets and highways should establish andmaintain a program for implementing pedestrian facilities
and also for Maintaining existing pedestrian facilities."
Furthermore, Chapter 15- of the Greenbook, entitled "Traffic Calming," provides that; where, as here, traffic
diverters are being installed to redirect vehicular traffic, "bicyclists and pedestrians should be provided access
through [the] traffic diverters."
Second, these provisions are consistent with the County's Comprehensive Development Master Plan
("CDMP"), which provides, in the. section on Residential Couununities, that "[peedestrian circulation shall be
provided between activity nodes, all public places, and all subdivisions through connectivity of section, half-
-section sand local roadways constructed with sidewalks and supplemented by pedestrian paths."
Finally, the guidelines provided by the United States Department of Transportation in the Pedestrian Safety
Guide and. Countermeasure Selection System provide, in Chapter 5, that "[i]f.a street closure is done, it should
always allow for the free through movement of all pedestrians, including wheelchair users, and bicyclists."
Thus, based upon the facts as provided here, and based on the local, state, and federal provisions cited herein;
the Public Works department should not allow .the modification of the existing vehicular traffic diverters to
block pedestrian access along the sidewalks in the Belle Meade residential subdivision. Please call me if you
have any additional questions. Thank you.