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
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s t r o MB e r G / G
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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
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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