Transportation System Plan 2018-2038

Chapter 10 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Overview This chapter docum ents the review and assessm ent of needs, deficiencies, policies and im provem ent options affecting the bicy cle and pedestrian trans portation sy stem s within the Medford Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). Included is a discussion of the lo cal and regional policy context for developing and maintaining the non-m otorized travel m odes, an ev aluation of needs and deficiencies in the existing system s, a discussion of various short-, m id- and longer-term improvem ent strategies for enhancing and expanding these sy stem s, and a sum mary of im provem ents. Inform ation contained in this chapter was obtai ned largely from the existing conditions inventory discussed in Chapter 3 as well as the goals and polic ies related to non-m otorized travel from several relevant planning docum ents. In addition, the bicycle and pedestrian recom mendations in the 2001-2023 Rogue Valley Regional Transportation Plan were reviewed to identify benefits that could be realized by the im plem entation of RTP roadway improvem ent project s that are expected to be com pleted within the 20-year planning horizon. Input was also solicited from the Jackson County Bicy cle Advisory Com mittee and the TSP Citizen’ s Advisory Com mittee. A sum mary of these recom mendations is included in Appendix F. Bicy cle Plan Policy Context and Back ground The 2001-2023 Rogue Valley Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) prepared for the Medford Urbanized Area by the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RVMPO) and adopted in 2002, establishes regional policy direction with respect to th e bicy cle transportation sy stem within the Medford UGB. The RTP recom mends that: • “Local governments shall complete a bikeway netw ork that serves bicyclists needs, especially for travel to employment centers, commercial districts, transit centers, institutions, and recreational destinations. In urban areas, bike lanes shall be provided on all arterial and major collector streets; all other urban streets shall be construc ted such that the pavement is wide enough to allow safe travel by both motor vehicles and bicycles on the shared roadway (OAR 660-12- 0045(6)). In rural areas, arterial and collector streets shall include four-to-six foot shoulders on each side.” (Policy 10-1) • “Local governments shall work with ODOT to impr ove bicycling on state highways within their boundaries.” (Policy 10-2) • “Local governments shall provide regular main tenance of existing bicycle facilities, including pavement management and sweeping as part of the regular pavement-sweeping schedule.” (Policy 10-3) • “Where applicable, local governments shall revise th eir zoning codes to require the provision of amenities to help meet bicyclist and pedestrian n eeds, including the provision of bicycle storage facilities.” (Policy 10-7) Medford Transportatio n System Plan 10-1 Non-M otorized Transportation Plan