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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe Routes for Seniors - Scope of Work40ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.RFP no. 2023-RFP-212 Vision Zero Strategy(Roadway Safety Planning & Public Engagement) Strategy 2: Safe Routes for Seniors Plan The Palm Desert Safe Routes for Seniors Plan (Seniors Plan) will establish innovative and implementable recommendations for creating safer, more comfortable transportation options for older adults, including walking, bicycling, public transit, and other alternatives for aging drivers. Through targeted, meaningful community engagement and analysis of existing conditions, the Seniors Plan will identify barriers that seniors face when getting to and from their destinations. Throughout the planning process, key stakeholders and Palm Desert seniors will have opportunities to share their concerns, experiences, and ideas for improving mobility in the city. The City’s Local Road Safety Plan indicates that 50% of collisions involve aging drivers (age 65 years or older), much higher than the State average of 13%. Given the city’s large population of seniors and retirees, this Seniors Plan will be key in helping reduce these collisions and improving safety for all road users citywide. Based on our experience working on similar Safe Routes for Seniors efforts, Alta will create a Seniors Plan that addresses the following objectives: • Analyze existing transportation infrastructure and programs for seniors in Palm Desert • Engage with a diverse group of stakeholders and senior community members to shape the Seniors Plan. • Develop a Seniors Plan that includes both infrastructure and programmatic recommendations that are primed for grants and implementation. The following tasks provide an overview of Alta’s scope of work for the Seniors Plan. For all deliverables, it is assumed that the City will circulate drafts to all relevant departments and agencies for one consolidated and consistent set of comments. Task 2.1 Existing Conditions Alta will begin work on the Seniors Plan by collecting and analyzing a variety of data. Task 2.1.1 Plan, Policy, and Program Review With input from the City, Alta will collect and review existing plans, policies, and programs related to older adult mobility in Palm Desert. Existing plans will likely include, but not be limited to: • Palm Desert General Plan • Envision Palm Desert Strategic Plan • Palm Desert Local Road Safety Plan • SCAG’s Connect SoCal • The State’s Master Plan for Aging Findings will be included in the Existing Conditions Memorandum. Task 2.1.2 Data Collection Alta will compile background and existing conditions data on seniors (e.g., key destinations, demographics, health), identify opportunities and constraints as well as standards by which recommended updates will be set to guide the preparation of the Seniors Plan, and include existing land uses, current and projected housing and land use development, population characteristics, and travel projections. At the outset of the project, Alta will prepare a data request memo identifying key data needs such as existing and previously proposed infrastructure projects, current mode share, description of land use and destinations, existing public transit, existing wayfinding, and existing non-infrastructure programs. This memo will be shared with the City Project Manager and the City will supply available data and documents that are not publicly available or that the project team does not have from previous work in Palm Desert. The findings of these analyses will be compiled into the Existing Conditions Memorandum. As part of the Santa Monica Active Aging Program, Alta conducted a transit outing and bicycle outing to promote and demonstrate safe active transportation for seniors. 41ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.RFP no. 2023-RFP-212 Vision Zero Strategy(Roadway Safety Planning & Public Engagement) Task 2.1.3 Traffic Counts Alta will collect traffic counts at three (3) locations in Palm Desert frequented by senior pedestrians and bicyclists. Count collection will be scheduled based on seasonal fluctuations to capture the maximum number of active trips made by seniors and include at least 12 hours of counts per location on a typical weekday and a Saturday. Locations will be identified with input from the City, ideally in senior priority areas that feature key destinations such as senior centers, senior housing, and more. Additionally, when relevant, counts data from Task 1.1.4 (Data Collection for the School Plan) may also be used to capture senior activity in school areas. Traffic counts information will be used to assess demand that can inform areas for improvement and prioritize potential projects. The findings of the traffic counts will be provided in the Existing Conditions Memo. Task 2.1.4 Existing Conditions Maps and Memorandum Alta has extensive experience preparing comprehensive base maps that illustrate important information in a cohesive and clear manner. We will prepare base maps for the three (3) areas surrounding the traffic count locations to show the physical conditions and travel information such as transit routes, improvement plans, and key destinations. We will further compile all materials developed in other tasks into the Existing Conditions Memorandum. Task 2.1 Deliverables: • Existing Conditions Memorandum • Traffic counts at three (3) locations • Base maps for three (3) traffic counts areas Task 2.2 Collisions and Gaps Analysis Task 2.2.1 Collisions Analysis Alta will conduct a bicycle and pedestrian collision analysis using the most currently available 10-year Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) data available. This analysis will include the total number of collisions by user type (bicyclist or pedestrian), document the top five intersections with the highest bicycle and pedestrian collisions, and include the top five most common collision factor causes. Building on this, the Alta team will combine the collision data analysis performed through the Local Road Safety Plan with the most recent SWITRS data and supplemental data provided by City staff. The findings will be summarized and included in the Collisions and Gaps Analysis Memorandum. Task 2.2.2 Challenges, Needs, and Gaps Analysis and Memo Building on the deliverables from Task 2.1, Alta will conduct an analysis of infrastructure gaps and needs. This analysis will quantify factors that impact walking and bicycling activity, locate network gaps as potential recommendations (Task 2.5), and identify areas with specific characteristics. This analysis will consider roadways and trails within the city. Alta will use data about existing multimodal infrastructure to develop an understanding of how well destinations and areas of demand are connected for seniors who want to walk and bike for both transportation and recreation. It will also consider how the City’s local networks connect to regional networks. Alta will use these analyses to identify: • Gaps in existing bicycle networks, intersection crossing needs, and other conflict points; • Gaps in pedestrian networks, such as sidewalk gaps, crossing needs in areas with pedestrian activity or at crossings of streets and other public rights-of-way; and • New trail opportunities along waterways, other infrastructure rights-of-way, or adjacent to public street rights-of-way. Alta will synthesize the gaps and needs into maps, tables, and narrative that describe these gaps and needs. Information from the public outreach process will also be integrated into this process. This gap analysis will be summarized in the Collisions and Gaps Analysis Memorandum. Task 2.2 Deliverables: • Collisions and Gaps Analysis Memorandum (Draft and Final) 42ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.RFP no. 2023-RFP-212 Vision Zero Strategy(Roadway Safety Planning & Public Engagement) Task 2.3 Outreach and Engagement Task 2.3.1 Outreach and Engagement Plan Alta has extensive experience with outreach and engagement in Palm Desert and surrounding communities and understands the importance of developing materials and conducting activities in English and Spanish. The Alta team, with input from the City, will prepare a detailed Outreach and Engagement Plan that includes community engagement tools to be used and activities to be held throughout the development of the Seniors Plan. The Outreach and Engagement Plan will consist of a strategy to fully engage underserved communities, including outreach in multiple languages and means to reach groups that may not participate in traditional planning events. The Plan will also include key stakeholders and target audiences, anticipated outcomes, and proposed engagement strategy timelines. Task 2.3.2 Engagement Tools The Alta team will develop written content for a Seniors Plan project webpage on the City’s website and social media platforms. The purpose of this content will be to promote outreach and education materials, surveys, workshops, walk audits, the Draft Seniors Plan, and eventually the Final Seniors Plan. The website will also allow stakeholders to submit feedback through a community survey and an online mapping tool. Alta will leverage our experience working on other Safe Routes for Seniors projects to develop a survey that asks about senior needs, priorities, and ideas for improving mobility and transportation in Palm Desert. The survey will be available in English and Spanish, both on the webpage and in paper format. Surveys may be distributed at key destinations and with help from key partners, such as The Joslyn Center. Additionally, Alta will develop an online mapping tool, to be embedded on or linked to on the webpage, that allows community members and stakeholders to identify barriers and ideas for improvements in Palm Desert. Participants will be able to leave comments, draw in preferred routes, and more. Task 2.3.3 Community Workshops Alta will conduct up to four (4) in-person and virtual workshops for seniors and other Seniors Plan stakeholders. The purpose of the workshops will be to introduce the Seniors Plan project, gather input on barriers and opportunities for improvements, keep people informed about the planning process, and later in the project, confirm that recommendations address stakeholder concerns and gap/safety issues. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that virtual meetings, broadcasted through various platforms, are the best way to engage with project stakeholders, including those who are typically unable to attend community events due to lack of transportation, work conflicts, or language barriers. However, we also know, through our experience working on related Safe Routes for Seniors projects, that many older adults face technological barriers and prefer in-person engagement. With that said, we propose that two (2) of the workshops be held in-person and two (2) be held virtually to reach a wider audience. The structure of the workshops will likely include a brief presentation on the project background, goals, and planning process, and stations or breakout rooms where participants can learn more about specific Seniors Plan components, such as existing conditions. All workshops will be conducted in English with Spanish and sign language interpretation will be available if needed. Alta assisted the City of Santa Monica with the development of their website for their Active Aging Pilot Program utilizing the City’s website to communicate updates on the pilot and ways the community could participate. 43ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.RFP no. 2023-RFP-212 Vision Zero Strategy(Roadway Safety Planning & Public Engagement) Task 2.3.4 Senior Walk Audits The Alta team will lead three (3) walk audits of each of the senior areas identified in Task 2.1.3 and Task 2.1.4. Walk audit participants will include senior residents, partners, City staff, and other key stakeholders. The purpose of these walk audits is to observe conditions and behaviors and identify challenges or impediments that currently limit walking, biking, and taking public transit. The walk audits will be an opportunity to verify existing conditions and will be supported by Spanish- speaking staff when appropriate. In addition to the in-person walk audits, the Alta team will provide community members who are unable to participate in the walk audit with another way to give input, such as through the mapping tool described in Task 2.3.2. The findings from each walk audit, including feedback and photos, will be incorporated into a Walk Audit Report. Task 2.3.5 Pop-Up Workshops The Alta team knows the importance of meeting people where they are, particularly to reach those seniors who may not typically attend City events and meetings. Because of this, we will conduct “pop-up workshops” at up to three (3) public events, such as farmer’s markets, community/resource fairs, or local parks, to inform and solicit feedback from the community on the Seniors Plan. Task 2.3.6 Outreach and Engagement Summary Memorandum Alta will develop an Outreach and Engagement Summary Memorandum that will have a description of stakeholder involvement in development of the plan, including outreach to defined underserved communities, number and location of meetings, number of attendees, translation services provided, and summary of feedback received. The Outreach and Engagement Summary Memorandum will be designed to allow components/feedback to be easily incorporated into future grant applications and be structured as a framework to be updated throughout the course of the project, incorporating input as engagement tasks are completed. Findings from the memo will feed directly into recommendations and prioritization (Task 2.5). Task 2.3 Deliverables: • Outreach and Engagement Plan • Project website • Survey • Virtual Engagement Memorandum • PowerPoint presentation and photos • Four (4) Senior Workshops • Walk Audit Reports • Photos • Outreach materials • “Pop-up workshops” at up to three (3) public events In Santa Monica, Alta staff facilitated a series of walk audits with senior residents to get input on challenges and barriers to walking, biking, and taking transit in the city. As part of the Santa Monica Active Aging Pilot Program, Alta staff conducted a series of pop-up tabling events at key destinations for seniors, such as the Santa Monica Public Library, WISE, and Healthy Aging senior center. 44ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.RFP no. 2023-RFP-212 Vision Zero Strategy(Roadway Safety Planning & Public Engagement) Task 2.4 Advisory Committee Stakeholder engagement early in the Seniors Plan development is crucial to building buy-in and hearing about concerns from the senior community. Therefore, the Alta team will convene a Safe Routes for Seniors Advisory Committee within a few months of the project kick-off. Alta will be responsible for creating and disseminating agendas, outlining the role the committee will serve over the course of the project, and preparing presentations that will help committee members make decisions on key project outcomes, such as project prioritization. In collaboration with the City, we will compile a list of invitees to participate in the Advisory Committee. The list will likely include, but is not limited to, representatives from: • City staff, such as from Public Works and Housing • Caltrans District 8 staff • Riverside County Transportation Commission • Riverside University Health System (Riverside County’s public health department) • Coachella Valley Association of Governments • Local community-based organizations, such as The Joslyn Center • Senior residents of Palm Desert • SunLine Transit Agency • Law enforcement Alta will prepare Safe Routes for Seniors Advisory Committee meeting agendas and meeting notes. The Advisory Committee will meet virtually a maximum of six (6) times throughout the project and will advise the project team on potential projects and programmatic recommendations that align with their goals. The Advisory Committee will also provide input prior to major engagement activities and will review key project deliverables prior to sharing them with the public or decision-makers. Task 2.4 Deliverables • Safe Routes for Seniors Advisory Committee invite list • Safe Routes for Seniors Advisory Committee meetings, presentations, agendas, and notes for up to six (6) virtual meetings Task 2.5 Recommendation and Prioritization Task 2.5.1 Recommendations and Cost Estimates Building on the existing conditions analyses, feedback from the Safe Routes for Seniors Advisory Committee, and input from extensive stakeholder engagement, Alta will develop infrastructure recommendations within each area identified for Task 2.1.3 (Traffic Counts) and 2.1.4 (Existing Conditions Maps and Memorandum). Our team will make feasible, implementable recommendations that will improve the existing active transportation network for seniors to walk, bike, and take transit to their destinations safely and conveniently. Recommendations will be provided in project lists (tables) and shown in maps. All infrastructure recommendations will be informed by existing condition data, walk audits, stakeholder input, and Alta’s professional expertise. The result of will be infrastructure recommendations that, once implemented, will support access to safe, convenient, and healthy modes of transportation for students, families, and residents. Recommendations will include preliminary cost estimates that align with the requirements of the Caltrans Active Transportation Program and Safe Streets for All, so that the recommendations can be easily incorporated into future grant applications for implementation. Older adults in Santa Monica were assisted with reading transit maps, using transit passes, planning trips, and more during group outings over the course of the Santa Monica Active Aging Program. 45ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC.RFP no. 2023-RFP-212 Vision Zero Strategy(Roadway Safety Planning & Public Engagement) Task 2.5.2 Project Prioritization Understanding the importance of equity and to ensure that underserved communities are prioritized, the team will create an equity-framed and data-driven project prioritization methodology that meets the needs of the City. The methodology may include, but not be limited to, the following criteria: • Safety • Connectivity • Gap Closure • Equity • Feasibility • Cost The list of prioritized projects will serve as a guide for the City when implementing improvements in future years. This list will yield projects that are positioned well for funding through Caltrans ATP and other funding mechanisms. The project prioritization methodology may also be used to identify “bundled” projects (projects combined for safety need or to facilitate implementation), depending on input from stakeholders and engineering judgment. Task 2.5.3 Suggested Route Maps Using the Safe Routes for Seniors Advisory Committee and stakeholder input, infrastructure recommendations, and walk audit observations, Alta will develop Suggested Routes Maps for the senior areas identified in Task 2.1.3 and 2.1.4 to help seniors more easily and safely walk, bicycle, and take transit throughout the City. The Suggested Routes Maps will display key destinations like libraries, parks, and pharmacies; streets, sidewalks, and pathways; transit routes; existing and proposed bikeways; and more. Maps will also include safety tips for aging drivers and senior active transportation users. Alta will solicit feedback on the Suggested Routes Maps from City and Advisory Committee before finalizing the maps. The Suggested Routes Maps will be available in English and Spanish and will be shared with the public both digitally and in paper copies. Alta assumes that the City will handle printing of the maps. Task 2.5.4 Programmatic Recommendations Alta will prepare engagement, equity, encouragement, education, and evaluation program recommendations to complement the infrastructure recommendations and promote a culture that embraces active transportation throughout Palm Desert. Programmatic recommendations will be informed through the outreach and engagement described in Task 2.3 and may include but are not limited to: • Education for aging drivers • Pedestrian/bicycle/transit safety classes • Transportation technology classes (e.g., trip planning) • Group walks, bike rides, and transit outings • Direct support programs • Senior mobility resources fair Task 2.5 Deliverables • Infrastructure improvement recommendations, maps, and cost estimates • Project Prioritization Methodology and prioritized network map • Suggested Routes Maps • Programmatic recommendations Alta developed a Walk, Bike, & Transit map tailored to Santa Monica seniors, which included suggested routes, safety tips, and other resources.