comprehensive sidewalk program overview...comprehensive sidewalk program overview december 18, 2017...

Comprehensive Sidewalk Program Overview

December 18, 2017

Vancouver City Council Workshop Ryan Lopossa, Streets/Transportation Manager

Ryan Miles, Operations Program Manager

• Background

• Phase 1 – Existing Conditions Inventory

• Phase 2 – Analysis & Prioritization

• Phase 3 – Field Data Collection

• Phase 4 – Program Development

• Next Steps

Presentation Overview

City of Vancouver Sidewalk Program Overview - 2

• City constructs new sidewalks & ADA

ramps through Transportation

Improvement Program (TIP)

• Pavement Management resurfacing

projects include & require funding for

constructing ADA-compliant ramps

• City reconstructed nearly 600 ADA

curb ramps between 2014-2017

Background


• New developments & site expansions require new or

reconstructed ADA-compliant sidewalks & ramps

• As with many other municipalities, maintenance of sidewalks in

Vancouver are typically responsibility of adjacent property owner

• Deficient sidewalks addressed via complaint-driven process

• Pedestrian accessibility through work zones remains a challenge

Background


Estimated Costs:

• Curb ramp improvements:

approx. $77 million

• Upgrade existing sidewalks

throughout City: approx.

$40 – 60 Million

• Fill in missing sidewalk

gaps throughout the City:

approx. $130 – 200 Million

Background – Estimated Costs & Revenues


Additional Available Revenues:

• Street Funding Strategy (SFS)

provides $500,000 annually for

multimodal, safety & accessibility

projects

• Provisions for upgrades also included

in funding for new TIP projects

(approx. $3.5 million annually) and

increased Pavement Management

budget (additional SFS funding)

Challenges:

• Limited resources for

accessibility projects

• Parks maintenance backlog

includes ADA

improvements

• Street network deficiencies

• Non-compliance

implications

Background − Challenges & Opportunities


Opportunities:

• Street Funding Strategy includes

resources for multimodal, safety &

accessibility projects.

• Initiating internal grant pilot program

• Strategic Plan includes ADA needs

• Vancouver Strong community

engagement effort

INVENTORY OF SIDEWALKS & CURB RAMPS

Phase 1 (Summer 2015)

7

• Desktop process using geographic information system (GIS) layers

• Sidewalks & curb ramps inventoried:

• Sidewalks Exist

• Sidewalks Don’t Exist

• Curb Ramps Exist

• Curb Ramps Don’t Exist

Phase 1: Inventory of Sidewalks & Curb Ramps


• 636 miles: Existing sidewalks

• 494 miles: Missing sidewalk

segments

• 10,374: Total curb ramps

• 5,029: Intersection corners without

curb ramps

Phase 1: Inventory Results (w/ Annexation)


ANALYSIS & PRIORITIZATION

Phase 2 (Spring 2016)

10

Phase 2: Analysis & Prioritization

• Sidewalk/curb ramp demand analysis to

determine priority focus areas

• Analysis criteria includes safety, equity,

street classification & pedestrian demand

to identify priorities

• Identified additional field data collection

needs & attributes for Phase 3 field work


FIELD DATA COLLECTION

Phase 3 (2016 – 2017)

12

• 14-month effort, start to finish

• 3 Key layers

• Curb ramps

• Sidewalks

• Deficiencies

Phase 3: Field Data Collection


• Ramp type

• Dimensions

• Truncated domes

• Obstructions

• Slopes

• Landings

• Ramp photo

Phase 3: Field Data Collection – Curb Ramps


• Sidewalk type

• Material

• Width

Phase 3: Field Data Collection – Sidewalks


Phase 3: Field Data Collection – Deficiencies

• Barriers/blockages

• Cracking/separation

• Slopes

• Driveways (w/cross-slope)

• Heaves & dips

• Surface condition

• Others…


• Approximately 177,000 defect points

• 636 miles of existing sidewalk

• Data & photos for 10,374 curb ramps

• 23 miles of sidewalk adjacent to City

property

• 16 miles of missing sidewalk segments

adjacent to City property

Phase 3: Field Data Collection – Results


PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Phase 4 (Current Phase – 2017/18)

18

• Sidewalk inspector Position

• Data Analysis

• Maintenance responsibility & ADA

• Sidewalk deficiency prioritization

• Homeowner sidewalk repair grant program

• Formalized enforcement program

• Revised VMC language

Phase 4 – Program Development


Sidewalk Inspector Position

• FTE assigned to deal with all issues related to sidewalks

• Work with property owners on needed repairs/replacements

• Provide customer focused outreach and education

• Administer homeowner grant program

• Work with downtown business on sidewalk café seating

• Monitor work zone activities that impact sidewalks

• Inspection of City sidewalk and curb ramp projects



Phase 4: Data Analysis – Calculating Condition

• Determine segment

conditions

• Determine ramp

conditions

• Estimate repair cost

per defect



Data Analysis – Priority Mapping


Homeowner sidewalk repair grant program

• Would provide assistance to low-income property owners who

are faced with costly sidewalk repairs/replacements

• Eligibility would be similar to CDBG criteria (earning up to 80% of

AMI)

• Potential 50:50 split with total reimbursable costs capped at

$1,500



Enforcement program

• Based on RCW 35.68/69

• Tiered process to bring deficient sidewalks into compliance

• Combination of education/outreach and correspondence

• When all else fails, City would make required repairs and seek

reimbursement from property owner

• Property liens



Revised VMC language

• Look at additional opportunities where development can provide

sidewalk improvements

• Strengthen code language related to pedestrian circulation

through construction zones

• Required code language to support enforcement program



• Completion of data

analysis

• Phase 4 deliverables

• VMC revisions

• City Council Work

Session (Spring 2018

• Program rollout (Summer

2018)

Next Steps

City of Vancouver ADA Program Overview - 26

Questions

Ryan Lopossa, Streets & Transportation Manager

Ryan Miles, Operations Program Manager

Jennifer Campos, Senior Planner

comprehensive sidewalk program overview...comprehensive sidewalk program overview december 18, 2017...

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