Soles and Spokes Plan Development Process

Past Activities

2002

• Kickoff
• Initiated key data collection activities:
  • bikeways geodatabase
  • bicycle and pedestrian level of service
  • survey of municipal and agency practices in accommodating bicycles and pedestrians and providing 504/ADA Transition Plans (completed)
• Planned public involvement activities

2003

• Public involvement workshop (January)
• Web Survey (spring)
• Completed bicycle level of service data collection activities
• Completed bikeways geodatabase development

2004

• Completed report on existing conditions and regional trends.  Report accepted October, 2004
• Prepared reports on public involvement actitivities.  Reports accepted October, 2004
• Initiated draft of good practice guide.
• Engaged in substantial outreach regarding report on existing conditions and regional trends:
  • Illinois Municipal League (September, 2004)
  • Break the Gridlock (October, 2004)
  • Council of Mayors Executive Committee (October, 2004)
  • Bikeable Roads and Trails Supporters (October, 2004)
  • Chicagoland Transportation and Air Quality Commission (October, 2004)
  • Shared Path 2030 Planning Information Forum: Safety Conscious Planning (October, 2004)
  • CATS Public Involvement Task Force (October, 2004)
  • CATS Community Mobility Task Force (October, 2004)
  • CATS Task Force on Seniors and People with Disabilities (February, 2005)
• Based on public involvement and agency consultations, determined that additional data collection regarding pedestrian safety was necessary, including crash locations.
• Established format for each area to be included in the "Action Plan:"
  • Policy Overview. Provide a brief description of topic area. Reference Report of Existing Conditions and Regional Trends or provide other information to explain importance.
  • Goals. Indicate what we propose for the region wants to look like. This information should be substantial.
  • Short-term actions. High-priority strategies for implementation within current resources and within 1-3 years. Refer to Best Practices document.
  • Strategic Recommendations. Strategies for implementation that may not be identified as a “short-term action.” Refer to Best Practices document.
  • Performance Measures. Numeric objectives to achieve by implementing strategic recommendations. Refer to current data from Existing Conditions and Regional Trends Report when the data is available.
  •  Soles and Spokes Leadership Community Benchmarks. Develop specific targets for communities to reach to be recognized as “Soles and Spokes Leadership Communities.” This recognition is designed to encourage communities to implement strategic recommendations included in the Soles and Spokes Plan. Implementation of this plan feature should be at a reasonable level-of-effort for all involved.
  • Policy Support. Supporting documentation for policy elements from authoritative sources, e.g., FHWA, IDOT, the CATS Policy Committee, AASHTO, the Access Board, etc.

2005 

• Illinois and metropolitan Chicago are designated a "focus state" and a "focus city," respectively, for pedestrian safety.
• Geocoded 2003 pedestrian crashes for regional analysis.
• Continued draft of good practices guide.
• Supporting Soles and Spokes workshop: "Legal Issues under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act" (October, 2005)
• Supporting Soles and Spokes workshop: "Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility" (October, 2005)
• Further research on pedestrian safety.  Participation with other pedestrian focus states and cities in Pedestrian Safety Track at "Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals" conference; seminar presentations archived at walkinginfo.org.

2006

• Continued research on pedestrian safety
• Supporting Soles and Spokes workshops: "How to Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan" and  "Designing Streets for Pedestrian Safety" (June, 2006)
• Establishment of "Bicycle and Pedestrian Strategic Regional System" in 2030 Regional Transportation Plan, including specific strategies to address pedestrian safety

2007

• Hiatus until November, 2007

Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force
- Bike-Ped Task Force Minutes & Agendas
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Overview
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning
- Resource Agency Directory and Contacts 

Accessible Public Rights-of-Way
- Accessible Public Rights-of-Way (NEW Workshop Information June 9-10)

Pedestrian Safety
- Pedestrian Safety (NEW Workshop Information June 3-4)

Soles and Spokes Plan
- Soles and Spokes Plan Introduction
- Plan Documents 
- Plan Development Process

Greenways and Trails Plan
- Regional Trails Update