Holly Springs Bicycle Transportation Plan 2011

1-1Chapter 1: Project Overview & Purpose

OverviewBackgroundIn 2010, the Town of Holly Springs was awarded a matching grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. The purpose of the grant is to encourage municipalities to develop comprehensive bicycle plans and pedestrian plans. This program has assisted more than 100 North Carolina communities and is administered through NCDOTs Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation (DBPT).

Vision StatementIn late 2010, Holly Springs Bicycle Plan Steering Committee met for the first of four meetings to confirm project visions and goals, identify desired outcomes of the Plan, and determine areas of need for bicy-clists. The vision statements formulated from the committee were displayed and refined during subse-quent meetings, and can be found on page iv of this Plan. The key statement is as follows:

The Town of Holly Springs will become a bicycle-friendly community by developing a combination of infrastructure, education programs, and policies that support and encourage bicycling.

Plan ComponentsThis Plan is designed to guide the Town of Holly Springs in fulfilling this vision by providing a clear purpose (Chapter 1), an assessment of where things stand today (Chapter 2), detailed recommendations for bicycle facilities (Chapter 3), and implementation strategies for bicycle-related policies, programs, and infrastructure (Chapter 4). Also included in this plan are appendices that are designed to be used as implementation resources. They cover topics such as design guidelines, program ideas, state and federal policies, trail development resources, plus a summary of comments from more than 200 local residents.

The Planning Process and Public InvolvementProject Consultants and Steering CommitteeThe planning process was led by consultants Alta/Greenways and Henderson Consulting. The consultants started by listening to the expressed needs and desires of the Steering Committee, which helped to form the Plans vision statements. Steering Committee members were selected by the Town of Holly Springs, representing multiple town departments, health organizations, transportation agencies, and citizen advo-cates. They are listed in the Acknowledgements section of this Plan on page ii.

1. Project Overview & Purpose

www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden

2011 Holly Springs Bicycle Transportation Plan

Chapter 1: Project Overview & Purpose1-2

Data Collection and AnalysisAfter collecting baseline information about the study area from the Steering Committee, the consultants began generating an existing conditions report, most of which can now be found in Chapter 2 of this Plan.Consultants used aerial photography and geographic information systems (GIS) data, to identify oppor-tunities and constraints for bicycle facility development. These preliminary findings were then tested for applicability and appropriateness through on-the-ground field research. Field research also included mea-suring road widths, studying lane configurations, and a photographic inventory. The existing conditions report and the preliminary findings were presented at the first public workshop and the second Steering Committee meeting.

Public InvolvementDuring the spring of 2011, the Town of Holly Springs began aggressively pursuing public input and involvement through both an online campaign and public comment forms. Links to the project web site, project newsletter, and the online comment form were mass e-mailed through all channels available to the Steering Committee. Hard copies of the comment form were also distributed at various public facilities. Finally, this push for public involvement was also accompanied by a second public input opportunity held during Turtlefest in May 2011. Altogether, more than 200 local residents submitted comment forms, and approximately 75 people have provided face-to-face feedback during public workshops.

Draft Plan Development and ReviewWhile analyzing public input, project consultants began developing and refining plan recommendations. This included meeting with staff from neighboring communities and NCDOTs Division 5 to coordinate for regional connectivity and facility development on state-owned and maintained roadways in Holly Springs. The full draft plan was presented to the Steering Committee in April 2011, followed by a public review period and further presentations to the Planning Board and Town Council.

Final Plan and PresentationsCompletion and official adoption of the final plan took place in June 2011.

Left: example project newsletter

G r e e n ways i n c

o r p o rat e d |

s t r o MB e r G / G

a r r i G an & a s s

o c i at es , i n c .

| to o L e r e c r e

at i o n p L a n n

i n G

city of aLLent

own | traiL ne

t work feasiB

iLit y stUdy

NEWSLETTE

R for the h

oLLy SpRiN

gS

BiCyCLE

TRANSpoRTAT

ioN pLAN

SPRING 2011

PROJECT BAC

KGROUND

This study will ide

ntify major opportu

ni-

ties and constrain

ts for bicycling in

the

Holly Springs are

a. An action plan

will

be developed tha

t includes recomm

en-

dations to improv

e bicycle connect

ivity

and safety. These

recommendations

will

include future bik

e lanes, greenwa

ys,

policies, and prog

rams (education,

en-

couragement, and

enforcement).

PROJECT VISI

ONS AND

GOALS

A project kickoff m

eeting was held in D

e-

cember 2010 with

Town of Holly Sprin

gs

staff, consultants

, stakeholders, a

nd

active citizens. T

he vision stateme

nts

were established:

Holly Springs w

ill become a tow

n

where.

residents of all a

ges and abilities ca

n

enjoy bicycling fa

cilities that are w

ell-

designed and me

et their local ridi

ng

needspeople

choose to leav

e their cars

home and instead

ride safely and co

n-

veniently to work,

schools and neighb

or-

hood centers

...parents have th

e confidence to le

t

children bike ind

ependently to de

sti-

nations and childr

en grow up leadin

g

healthy lives right

from the beginning

visitors see a co

mmunity that foste

rs

active recreational

riding, provides e

du-

Above: Consultant

conducting fieldw

ork (top) and Bass

Lake Park, a desti

nation in Holly Spr

ings (below).

paG e 1

Project Contact

Information:

Mr. Scott Evenson

By Mail:

Town of Holly Sprin

gs

PO Box 8

128 South Main S

treet

Holly Springs, NC

27540

By Phone:

(919) 557-3938

Email:

scott.evenson@

Hollyspringsnc.us

Website:

http://www.

hollyspringsnc.us/

cation and encour

agement program

s, and is

an attractive place

to live and play

taxpayers benefi

t from community-

wide en-

hancement achiev

ed through low-co

st practi-

cal and sensible d

esign improvemen

ts

everyone reaps

the rewards from

reduced

congestion, neighb

orly interaction an

d the ad-

vantages of a bicy

cling community.

Above: Images from

around the Triang

le and Holly Spring

s by Alta/Greenwa

ys.

Work Completed and Next Steps

SPRING 2011

Project Committee Meetings Project consultants, Town staff, stakeholders, and active citizens met in December 2010

and February 2011 to learn about the NCDOT bicycle planning process, discuss visions

and goals for Holly Springs, and to identify areas of bicycle safety concern and needs

within the Town of Holly Springs. Existing Conditions Analysis Project consultants completed fieldwork in February, examining conditions around

the Town of Holly Springs. The fieldwork included a thorough on-site assessment

of existing infrastructure within the town limits; and a roadway inventory of existing

conditions such as roadway widths, speed limits, and shoulder condition. The field

assessment broadly analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the existing bicycle

network, and determined opportunities and constraints for making Holly Springs more

bikable.

paG e 2

Project Consultants:AlTA/grEENwAyS

holly springs | bicycle transportation plan

How to Stay Involved1. Check out www.greenways.com/hollysprings.html for links to additional project

information and to complete an online comment form. 2. Stop by the Public Open House (part of Holly Springs Bicycle rodeo):

When: Saturday, March 19, 2011 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Where: Police Department (1201 Grisby Ave.), Holly Springs, NC

3. If you prefer to send a letter with your ideas, make a phone call, or to email, please

refer to the contact information on page one.

www.Greenways.coM/hoLLysprinGs.htML

Public Workshop The first workshop is March 19, 2011 during the Holly Springs Po-

lice Departments Bicycle rodeo. Draft Plan and Final Plan During the rest of the spring, project consultants will gen-

erate a full draft plan that includes policy recommendations, program strategies, and an