SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Provide direction on the Connecting Clearwater - Active Transportation Plan draft project development approach and prioritization criteria. (WSO)
Body
SUMMARY:
The City of Clearwater hired Fehr & Peers in November 2024 to develop an active transportation plan to replace the 2006 Shifting Gears Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Active transportation refers to human-powered methods of travel, such as walking, using wheelchairs or assistive devices, and bicycling, and the infrastructure that support those forms of transportation. This Active Transportation Plan (ATP), known as Connecting Clearwater, will serve as a roadmap to enhance the facilities that support active transportation within the city.
Based on the policy framework set forth in the city’s Clearwater 2045 Comprehensive Plan and Complete Streets for Clearwater Implementation Plan, and the Advantage Pinellas Active Transportation Plan by Forward Pinellas, key objectives of the Active Transportation Plan were established:
1. Identify a citywide low-stress active transportation network that complements other travel modes, especially transit, supports future land use patterns, and connects to active transportation facilities in adjacent communities.
2. Improve transportation safety outcomes for people outside of motorized vehicles, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-automobile transportation system users.
3. Develop a feasible project list that can be implemented as standalone projects, as a part of other planned transportation system improvements, or as a part of the land development process.
To support the development of a low-stress network, an existing conditions assessment was conducted to identify the existing and planned walking and biking networks in the city, understand overall roadway operations, and understand where traffic crashes involving people walking and biking most frequently occur. Key findings include:
• The existing city and regional policy framework support the project goals.
• Most on-street bike facilities are on high-speed roads, which are stressful for most people to bike.
• Many residential streets do not have sidewalks.
• With the overall grid network of the city, crossing improvements can connect lower stress neighborhood routes.
• People walking and biking are disproportionately killed or injured in traffic crashes.
• 53% of outreach respondents do not walk or bike to places because they do not feel safe traveling there.
Feedback was sought from a variety of sources, including a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of staff from departments that will play a critical role in the implementation of the plan, and a formal stakeholder group that includes agency partners in plan implementation such as Pinellas County and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), as well as Amplify Clearwater, local business owners, bicycling and walking enthusiasts and by necessity, disability advocates, and others. General public engagement was also conducted, with almost 450 people participating online and in-person, through an online survey and map, facility preference survey, and in-person community workshop.
Key findings from the engagement efforts include:
• Top three active transportation safety concerns:
o Lack of/poor condition of bike lanes or paths
o Drivers failing to yield to pedestrians
o Lack of/poor condition of sidewalks
• Desire for biking and walking facilities with a buffer between the facility and moving cars.
• Trail system expansion desired, with parallel facilities that can be used for walking and biking at night.
• New project ideas in specific areas identified.
• Support for more walking and biking facilities provided the trade-offs with auto travel are properly evaluated and balanced.
Based on the results of the existing conditions analysis and public feedback, the project team has identified seven different active transportation project types that could be implemented in Clearwater and developed preliminary criteria to be used in evaluating projects incorporated into corridor projects as well as for “spot” projects. These are summarized in the “ATP Project Development Approach” and “ATP Prioritization Criteria” memos and will be reviewed with City Council for feedback.
With input from City Council, locations and types of improvements will be refined, prioritized and shared with the city’s TAC, Stakeholder Committee and public prior to finalization. Additionally, concept plans will be developed for 10 key projects to further refine the type of facility that can be constructed and to develop planning level cost estimates. An additional council work session will be held after development of the draft plan and prior to adoption in early 2026.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
The Connecting Clearwater Active Transportation Plan will provide transportation planning and development guidance that provides people with healthy, affordable modes of travel in support of Strategic Plan Objectives 1.2, 1.4, 2.4, 3.2, 4.1, and 4.4.
