Department of Transportation
Division of Planning and Policy
proposed
Delaware Bicycle Facility Master Plan
Background
The Delaware Department of Transportation through its Planning Division has developed a Draft Statewide Bicycle Facility Master Plan. (Draft Plan)
DelDOT initiated the development of the Draft Plan to determine a statewide network of on-road bicycle routes to fulfill its mission to provide infrastructure for bicycle travel as a transportation option. It is DelDOT's goal to designate and maintain these routes for riders seeking both long touring and utilitarian trips. The effort would build on the success of Delaware Bicycle Route 1.
The Draft Plan was developed in order to define and implement a statewide system of designated, on-road bicycle routes. By designating a system of routes, DelDOT will take advantage of the existing system of roadways to provide improved bicycle travel options. The Draft Plan provides specific guidance as to the location and nature of “appropriate accommodations” along DelDOT maintained roadways.
The overall purpose of the Plan is to recognize bicycling as an integral part of the transportation system and provide for suitable accommodations for bicycles on the statewide roadway network. Implementation of the plan will achieve the following goals:
Attached to this announcement is a copy of the Draft Plan and Draft Executive Summary, which summarizes the major points of the Draft Plan, including the proposed routes and their associated design guidelines.
The Department will take comments on the Executive Summary and Draft Plan from June 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005.
Any requests for copies of the Draft Executive Summary and/or Draft Plan, or any questions or comments regarding these documents should be directed to:
Joseph Cantalupo, Assistant Director of Planning
Delaware Department of Transportation
PO Box 778
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 760-2121 (telephone)
(302) 739-2251 (fax)
Introduction
The Bicycle Facility Master Plan was developed in order to define and implement a statewide system of designated, on-road bicycle routes. By designating a system of routes, DelDOT will take advantage of the existing system of roadways to provide improved bicycle travel options. The Bicycle Facility Master Plan provides specific guidance as to the location and nature of “appropriate accommodations” along DelDOT-maintained roadways.
The overall purpose of the Plan is to recognize bicycling as an integral part of the transportation system and provide for suitable accommodations for bicycles on the statewide roadway network. Implementation of the plan will achieve the following goals:
Role of the Plan
The Bicycle Facilities Master Plan provides DelDOT with three tools with which to design and construct a continuous statewide network of bicycle facilities:
The Bicycle Facility Master Plan will be considered in conjunction with several other policies and programs including:
Bicycle Facility Needs
In order to understand the specific needs of bicyclists in Delaware, a public outreach program was undertaken for this Plan. As part of this process, participants identified a set of basic facility needs which influence their decision whether or not they are willing to bicycle (or let their children ride bicycles) on roadways.
Those basic needs were:
Facility Recommendations
Route Recommendations
The proposed network will consist of a hierarchy of bikeways, covering a range of mobility needs.
Design Recommendations
The routes in the statewide bicycle network will be improved incrementally as part of the regular cycle of DelDOT road construction and maintenance. Roadway projects with planned bicycle facilities will be based on the new bicycle facility design guidelines established in both the Facility Plan and the Road Design Manual. Some of the facilities which will be improved include:
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Bicycle Facility Features by Facility Master Plan Route Type
R = Required
P = Preferred
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Type of Bicycle Routes
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Statewide Bicycle Route
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Regional Bicycle Route
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Recreational Connector
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Minimum Facility Width
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5'
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5'
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5'
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Facility Improvements
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Bike Route Number Signs
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R
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R
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n/a
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Warning & Regulatory Signs
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R
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R
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R
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Bicycle Symbols
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R
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R
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P
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Bicycle Friendly Drainage Grates
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R
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R
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R
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Right angles railroad crossings
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R
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R
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R
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Utility Covers out of path or flush
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R
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R
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R
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Description of Bikeways:
Bike Lane. Design guidelines include a 5 foot minimum lane width with striping, bike symbols, and route designation. Warning and regulatory signage shall be provided. The guidelines for Bike Lanes establish preferential use by bicyclists. This type of facility is most beneficial for less experienced riders (Group C) but difficult to fit within existing roadways.
Shared Shoulders. The paved shoulder should be a minimum of 5 feet wide. Includes some signage and bicycle symbols. This bicycle facility is intended to be shared by bicyclist and motorists. A shared bikeway maintains emergency use of the shoulder for motorist breakdowns/emergencies while providing a facility for bicyclists separated from the travel lane. Parking on shoulders should be prohibited. This type of facility is suitable for Type B or basic bicyclists.
Wide Outside Travel Lane. The guidelines include a 12 foot wide outside travel lane to be shared by motorists and bicyclists. Warning and regulatory signage may be included but no striping shall be provided. This bikeway is most applicable for roadways with low speeds and lower traffic volumes and is intended for more advanced bicyclists.
Northern New Castle County
Statewide Bicycle Routes, Regional Bicycle Routes, and Recreational Connectors
The Plan recommends 126 miles of Statewide Bicycle Routes, 71 miles of Regional Bicycle Routes, and 301 miles of Recreational Connectors in New Castle County.
Southern New Castle County
Statewide Bicycle Routes, Regional Bicycle Routes, and Recreational Connectors
The Plan recommends 126 miles of Statewide Bicycle Routes, 71 miles of Regional Bicycle Routes,
and 301 miles of Recreational Connectors in New Castle County.
Kent County
Statewide Bicycle Routes, Regional Bicycle Routes, and Recreational Connectors
The Plan recommends 92 miles of Statewide Bicycle Routes, 102 Regional Bicycle Routes, and 307 miles of Recreational Connectors in Kent County.
Sussex County
Statewide Bicycle Routes, Regional Bicycle Routes, and Recreational Connectors
The Plan recommends 117 miles of Statewide Bicycle Routes, 227 miles of Regional Bicycle Routes, and 366 miles of Recreational Connectors in Sussex County.
Plan Implementation
The key to implementing the Bicycle Facility Master Plan will be to integrate the recommendations into the regular cycle of roadway planning, design, construction, and maintenance.
Planning. DelDOT staff will be aware of the designated bicycle routes early, so that they can begin to evaluate bicycle facilities’ impacts on design and right-of-way requirements for a roadway project.
Design. The DelDOT Road Design Manual notes that the selection of a facility type should be determined in part by the presence of state and local bicycle master plans. This Facility Plan fulfills that role. Therefore, where a roadway project occurs along a route designated by the Bicycle Facility Master Plan, the project team should apply the appropriate design guidelines for the planned route.
Construction. Making DelDOT construction staff aware of the designated bikeways in the Bicycle Facility Master Plan will improve their understanding of the significance of site-specific bicycle improvements.
Maintenance. The DelDOT Road Design Manual provides guidance on pavement treatments regarding the transitions between the travel lane, shoulder, and gutter pan which should be taken into consideration during repaving projects to improve bicycling conditions.
The chart summarizes stakeholder roles in the plan’s implementation.
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Stakeholder
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Role in Plan Implementation
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Planning and Development
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Design
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Construction
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DelDOT
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Planning - Development Coordination
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² Use Bicycle Facility Master Plan to provide consistent guidance to developers
² Identify necessary improvement early stages of roadway planning
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² Ensure developers aware of design standards for designated routes
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Transportation Solutions
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² Apply Bicycle Facility Master Plan design standards to designated routes
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² Ensure improvements developed in planning and design properly implemented in the field
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Maintenance & Operations
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² Ensure repaving, reconstruction, and maintenance projects take into account design standards for bikeways
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Traffic Engineering
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² Consider bicycle crossings when determining timing of signals
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Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC)
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² Identify transit facilities suitable for bicycle lockers, bike racks, bikeway connections
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² Provide bicycle lockers, bike racks at train stations, Park and Ride lots
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Local Municipalities
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² Develop local network of Feeder Routes which connect into statewide bicycle network
² Nominate transportation enhancement (TE) projects to tie Feeder Routes into Statewide and Regional Bicycle Routes
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² Assist DelDOT in identifying local constraints, opportunities along designated bikeways
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Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)
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² Provide feedback to DelDOT through Council on Greenways and Trails
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Delaware Bicycle Council
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² Pass along feedback from cyclists using the statewide bicycle network
² Advise DelDOT on areas requiring improvements
² Conduct bicycle safety programs
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Metropolitan Planning Organizations (Dover-Kent MPO, WILMAPCO
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² Review projects submitted for the Transportation Improvement Project, ensure projects take into account bicycle mobility
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Delaware State Police Department
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² Provide DelDOT with accurate bicycle accident data to identify conditions and locations requiring bicycle facility improvements
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Delaware Office of Highway Safety & Homeland Security
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² Pass along feedback from public regarding bicycle safety on DelDOT roadways
² Conduct bicycle safety programs
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Delaware Department of Education
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² Work with DelDOT in identifying schools for Safe Routes to School pilot project
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*Please Note: Due to the size of the proposed regulation it is not being published here. To obtain a copy contact either the Department of Transportation or the Registrar’s Office.
PDF Version (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)
