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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation and Mobility Chapter TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY Sustainable transportation generally refers to enhancing alternatives to the automobile— public transit, bicycling, walking and rail —to reduce pollution, conserve energy and decrease traffic congestion. The City of Oshkosh offers Go-Transit, its own public transit system. At the time of the plan update, the system offered 10 routes to various locations in the City and Neenah. In 2014, over half(53%) of Go-Transit riders were between the ages of 30-64. The system has seen around a million riders yearly for the past five years. The system currently operates within walking distance (400 meters or 1/4 mile) of about 90 percent of the city. In addition to the hybrid buses in service, seven new clean diesel buses were added to the fleet in June 2018 with three more scheduled to be added in 2019 to replace the ten 2003 models removed from service in 2018. The City has added bus shelters at the rate of about one to two per year to new locations throughout the City. Improvements to the existing downtown transit station and plaza by coordinating plaza design with surrounding streetscaping and street furniture to create a multi modal facility is being planned. Oshkosh has had a long history of rail transportation. The Canadian National Railway and Wisconsin and Southern Railroad run through the City. Rail transport is often employed for freight and every ton-mile of freight moving by rail instead of truck reduces greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds or more. On June 13, 2018 two spur lines served by the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad opened in the Southwest Industrial Park connecting local businesses to the national rail system. The Oshkosh Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Plan was approved by the Oshkosh Common Council in 2011. The plan has recently undergone an update in 2017-2018. This plan has had extensive public input and incorporates a broad range of policies affecting bike routes, bike parking, pedestrian ways, connectivity with transit and trails, funding, education and intergovernmental cooperation. The Pedestrian and Bicycling Advisory Committee was established to oversee implementation of the plan. Since the plan's inception, several streets including Irving Avenue and Westhaven Drive have received bike lanes. The Tribal Heritage trail over the I-41 Bridge connects the Wiouwash trail to the Riverwalk on both sides of the Fox River. This trail provides another means of recreation and transportation on foot or by bicycle through the area. On the southern side of the river the trail will continue along the former Municipal Golf course to Rainbow Park. The Boatworks Redevelopment project loop between the Wisconsin Street Bridge and the Oregon Street was open and scheduled for completion in the fall of 2018. Three sections of the downtown loop remain to be completed; the Dockside tavern to Main Street, Main Street to Pioneer Island, and Rainbow Park to the Senior Center. Objective: (Enhance mobility alternatives to the autornobille; design safe,efficient and environmentally sound transportation iinfirastiructuire; and connect to otheir Ilocall and iregionall networks. Public Transit Service Improvements 1. Assist in marketing the City's Go-Transit system to broaden the scope of ridership. 2. Partner with East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC) to examine and update the 2011 Oshkosh Transit System—Transit Development Plan (TDP). 3. Assist GO-Transit in determining how to further refine their data gathering system and capture data to improve traveler information, comfort, convenience and customer service. 4. Create an app for phones that will allow the customer to track bus locations in real time. 5. Implement electronic fee collection on all GO-Transit buses. 6. Explore other service options, such as van-pooling and shuttle type service. 7. Provide incentives and flexibility for city employees and local businesses to use transit. 8. Design marketing programs to attract the general public, such as fare capping. 9. Explore route alternatives for the Intercity Bus service to increase usage. Capital Improvements 1. Encourage GO-Transit to continue replacing buses at the end of their service lives with new clean diesel or hybrid options. 2. Partner with GO-Transit, Planning Services and neighborhood associations to determine best locations and implement new covered bus shelters. 3. Encourage planned improvements to the existing downtown transit station and plaza by coordinating plaza design with surrounding streetscaping and street furniture to create a multi modal facility. Regional Transit Authorities Support statewide efforts to permit transit agencies to create their own funding authorities to improve mass transit options. Rail Transportation Freight Rail 1. Partner with the Canadian National Railway and Wisconsin and Southern Railroad to protect the rail corridors and ensure that the right-of-way needs of the railroads are met while reducing the number of conflict points for the City. 2. Partner with the Planning Services Division, neighborhood associations, and residents to create and implement the Railroad Mitigation Plan for areas affected by the railroads. Passenger Rail 1. Encourage establishment of passenger rail service in the Oshkosh area by promoting reopening of a train line between Green Bay and Milwaukee through Appleton, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Planning 1. Partner with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee on implementation and further updates of the updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan. 2. Continue to examine the benefits and potential of a Complete Streets Policy for Oshkosh. 3. Support the implementation of bicycle and pedestrian-friendly amenities as listed in major plans such as Imagine Oshkosh and the Corridors Plan. Riverwalk 1. Examine ways to improve and beautify the Riverwalk and encourage increased use of the Riverwalk overtime. 2. Work with the Parks Department and abutting property owners to encourage shoreline restoration through the use of appropriate shoreline plantings. 3. MATERIALS Walkable Neighborhoods 1. Assess neighborhoods for their walkability by determining what goods and services are within an easy and safe walking distance to allow residents and employees to meet their needs on a regular basis, and recommend improvements where there are deficiencies. 2. Review zoning policies for their potential to allow mixed-use and compact development. 3. Provide input for the Sawdust District redevelopment and if possible support the use of traditional neighborhood design and transit-oriented development standards. 4. Encourage strict enforcement of speeding and other traffic laws to ensure streets are safe for all travelers—motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Streets and Highways Street Design and Maintenance 1. Continue to promote and build infrastructure to serve a range of users—pedestrian, bicyclists, transit riders and motorists. 2. Incorporate elements of green design when reconstructing or building new streets, e.g., LED street lighting, landscaping, native vegetation, wider terraces, narrower pavements, biodegradable paint, sustainable infrastructure (example permeable pavers) and pedestrian amenities. 3. Explore newer types of construction material such as permeable pavers and road design to reduce stormwater impacts or increase the lasting quality of a street. 4. Continue an aggressive street cleaning program to protect water quality, maintain pavement, and reduce the burden on the sewer system. 5. Address polluted run-off issues related to salt usage and other methods of snow and ice re mova 1. 6. Develop a local erosion control ordinance and continue to enforce state-required erosion control practices during street construction. 7. Continue working with City Departments to finalize and implement a formal tree policy for street reconstructions. Traffic Signals 1. Synchronize traffic signals with speed limits to avoid unnecessary stops and idling of cars. 2. Consider additional roundabouts where they could work. Fifteen roundabouts have been installed in the city to date. Parking Facilities 1. Consider bio-filters and other sustainability practices when rebuilding or developing parking facilities. 2. Consider pervious paving materials where feasible and where clay subsoil does not inhibit drainage. 3. Incorporate landscaping for aesthetics and stormwater control, LED lighting, bike racks and other items to conserve energy and protect the environment. Trip Reduction Programs 1. Employ integrated land use planning and sprawl reduction policies to make destinations more pedestrian, bicycle and transit friendly. 2. Encourage rideshare programs and telecommuting. 3. Encourage new Park and Ride locations in addition to the four existing locations near the City. Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Alternatives 1. Assist in the planned implementation of EV charging stations in the City in addition to the eight EV charging stations already installed in and within 10 miles of Oshkosh. 2. Explore incentives for businesses to provide access to EV charging stations and alternative fuels, especially bio-diesel and its future fuel cousins.