REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
New Green Bike Lanes Implementation Standards (Information Only)
Report
BACKGROUND
On April 15, 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration issued a Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Interim Approval (IA-14) for the optional use of green colored pavement for bike lanes. Over the last few years, a number of communities have moved forward with the implementation of green bike lanes, and the City of Sunnyvale is proceeding with a number of projects that will implement green bike lanes at pilot project locations. As the use of green bike lanes continues to increase, and their implementation becomes more standard, staff determined that it was necessary to develop operational standards to help guide the implementation of green bike lanes in the City. As part of the development of the standards, staff reviewed a number of jurisdictions best practices, typical vehicular and bicycle data, and a number of professional studies that analyzed the benefits and use of green bike lanes.
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan, Chapter 3, Land Use and Transportation, Policy LT-1.9b - Promote modes of travel and actions that reduce single-occupant vehicle trips and trip lengths.
General Plan, Chapter 3, Land Use and Transportation, Policy LT-5.5 - Support a variety of transportation modes.
General Plan, Chapter 3, Land Use and Transportation, Policy LT-5.8 - Provide a safe and comfortable system of pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
General Plan, Chapter 5, Housing, Policy HE-6.3 - Continue a high quality of maintenance for public streets, rights-of-way, and recreational areas, and provide safe pedestrian, bike, and transit linkages (accessibility) between jobs, residences, transportation hubs, and goods and services.
DISCUSSION
For most jurisdictions, the evaluation to install green bike lanes at a particular location has been done on a case-by-case basis and most agencies have not estab...
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