2001-147 ORDINANCE NO d0(~/--
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE DENTON PLAN 1999-
2020 BY ADOPTING A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE COMPONENT OF THE DENTON
MOBILITY PLAN FOR THE CITY OF DENTON, PROVIDING A SAVINGS AND A
REPEALING CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, on December 7, 1999, the City of Denton adopted the Denton Plan, 1999-
2020, and
WHEREAS, the City of Denton Englneenng and Transportation Department
recommends the adoption of a Pedestrian and Bicycle Linkages Component to the Denton
Mobility Plan of the Denton Plan, 1999-2020 as particularly described in Exbablt "A" which is
attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference (the "Pedestrian and Bicycle Component"),
and
WHEREAS, on ^pm 1 3 _, 2001, the Planning and Zomng Commission held a
public heanng and recommended approval of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Component, and
WHEREAS, the City Council, after a public heanng on ^pm I 3 , 2001,
finds that the recommended Pedestrian and Bicycle Component is in the best interests of the
health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Denton, Texas, NOW,
THEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS
SECTION 1 The City Council has reviewed the Pedestrian and Bicycle Component and
hereby adopts such Pedestrian and Bicycle Component as a component to the Moblhty Plan of
the Denton Plan, 1999-2020
SECTION 2 All ordinances or parts of ordinances in fome when the provisions of this
ordinance became effective which are inconsistent or in conflict with the terms or provisions
contmned in tlus ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict only The non-
conflmtlng sections, sentences, paragraphs, and phrases shall remain in full fome and effect
SECTION 3 A copy of this orchnance shall be attached to the Denton Plan, 1999-2020
showing the amendment herein approved
SECTION 4 This orchnance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval
PASSED AND APPROVED th~s the~.j/2~ day of ~ ,2001
EULINE BROCK, MAYOR
ATTEST
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM
PAGE 2
Denton Mobility Plan--Pedestrian & Bicycle
Linkages Component
Purpose
The purpose of the pedestrian and bicycle hnkages component of the City of Denton
Mobility Plan is to establish guidelines to facilitate pedestrian mobility and the use of
non- motorized vehicles
The Mobility plan - Pedestrian & Bicycle Llnkafles
There is recogmtion by many that more attention should be pa~d to bike and pedestrian
facilities vntban our commumty Much attention has been paid in the past to ensunng the
effective movement of motorized velucles, however, there has been sigmficant input by
various mdiv~duals and groups of a need for better coordination and implementation of
non.motorized mobihty to meet the various needs of our commumty The opportumty to
develop and expand the erastmg network of on-street and off-street transportation
alternatives vnttun the city is an exciting long-range wsion for Denton City leaders
recogmze that transportation planmng includes addressing the access and mobility needs
of pedestrians and bicyclists to work and non-work destinations such as schools,
umversities, government centers, retail and commercial centers, offices, entertainment
venues, churches, recreational facilities, and vatlun local neighborhoods
Ttus Master Plan includes a conceptual Mobility Plan that w~ll provide guidance for the
development and implementation of pedestrian and bicycle linkages w~ttun the following
tuerarchy Sidewalks, Btcycle& Pedestrtan Trails, Bike Routes, and Greelnvcty
Corrtdor~
As discussed in the published Denton Comprehensive £1an, with supportive land use and
transportation policies, walling and bicycling can be practical alternatives to driving
(especially for short trips), contribute greatly to the quahty and v~tahty of the street scene,
and help aclueve environmental goals Pedestrian and bike improvements to
intersections, sidewalks, and other facilities can ~mprove access and safety, and are
particularly important for children, semor adults, people wqth d~sabiht~es, low/moderate
income citizens, and people who choose to use flus mode of transportation City leaders
should emphasize CIP funds to be utilized where erdst~ng land uses do not currently have
sidewalk and bicycle linkages New developments vall continue to provide these systems
as a part of new private development lmtiatlves in both residential and commercial
environments
The focus is to increase the amount of walkdng and bicychng that local citizens utihze for
alternate modes of transportation Tlus can be aclueved by creating desirable, safe,
convement environments that are conducive to wallang and bicycling The Denton
Comprehensive Plan has outlined several strategies to meet this goal
A Create an Urban Trail System to facilitate walhng and b~cyclmg as wable
transportatmn chotces, prowde recreatwnal opportumt~es, and hnk major
parks and open spaces w~th Denton neighborhoods
B Integrate pedestrian and b~ke facilities, sennces, and programs into both
c~tywlde and regional transportatmn systems where appropriate to prowde
Pedestrian amemt~es and weather protectmn,
Safe and convement pedestrian and b~ke access to transit stops, transit
centers and stations,
L~ght~ng and security,
Additional ~mprovements for persons w~th d~sabfl~t~es and special
needs,
B~ke capacity on buses, raft, and other modes of transportatmn,
Covered, secure b~ke parking at transit centers and stations
C Recogmze the ~mportance ofwallong m the c~ty and the contribution
wallong makes to aclueve personal mobility and enwronmental objectives
Enhance the pedestrian enwronment throughout the c~ty
D Through ~mplementatmn of the comprehenstve plan and/or neighborhood
planmng, designate Key Pedestrian Streets w~tban the lughest-denstty
portions of urban centers and neighborhood centers Design and operate
the streets to be safe and attractive for pedestrians, ~mprove access to
transit, encourage street-level act~wty, and faethtate social interact~on
Integrate pedestrian fac~ht~es ~nto street ~mprovements on these streets
E Accelerate the ~mprovement of eyastmg pedestrian facilities and develop
and maintain new facfl~ties throughout the c~ty Increase pedestrian
actlwty, enhance pedestrian safety, and promote a pleasant walking
enwronment, wth special consideration to pedestrian facilities including
recommended school walking routes, access to transit, access for people
w~th d~sabfl~tles, and access to and w~thm urban center and neighborhood
center environments
F Provide and maintain direct, continuous bicycle routes, and make all
appropriate streets b~cycle-fnendly Accelerate development of bike
facfl~ties m, around and between m~xed-use centers, neighborhood centers,
and other key locations Facd~tate b~cychng, where appropriate, by
techmques such as prowdmg separate trails or bicycle lanes
The Mobility Plan ~neluded hereto addresses a tuerarchy of potential transportation routes
across the overall c~ty The proposed mobd~ty network includes four modes of non-
motorized transportatton S~de~,all~s for pedestrian connections along streets, B~cycle and
Pedestrian Trails for conneetmns to major destinations, Bd~e Routes for s~gmficant
bicycling activities, and Greenway Corridors along exasting drainage ways to serve a
vnde range oftroal users
Sidewalks
The sidewalk system represents the most basic off-street transportation network vnttun
the C~ty and should be readdy available along city streets and throughout neighborhoods
Sidewalks separate pedestrians from the roadway and prowde safe places for cbaldren to
play Sidewalks may be instrumental in reducing the number of pedestrian accidents by
keeping pedestrians away from mowng velucles Street furnxshmgs, signs, utility poles,
mailboxes, and other objects need to be considered so that pedestrian movement Is not
impeded The sidewalk ~s the primary dewce used for the conveyance of pedestrians and
wheelchoars
Although Texas law recogmzes bicycles as velucles, it is understood that the sidewalk
may be used by bicyclists when designed as a Class II Trml The walkable path of any
new sldewalk shall be located away from the moan lanes of traffic, preferably more than
three feet and typically w~tlun a foot of the property hne Extstmg vegnt atton, st eep
slopes, drmnage crossings and other impediments must be transltioned around Such
transitions should be gradual- a pedestrian or wheelchasr should not have to make a turn
of more than 20 degrees to stay on path Walk-able paths shall be five feet m w~dth and
be made of hard surfaced materials such as concrete, masons, or other concrete block
material All walk-able paths shall follow the most recent ADA standards and Texas
Access~bihty Standards
Please note that the above paragraph addresses the walk-able path and not the sidewalk
proper It is understood that there may be instances where it is desirable to have a paved
pedestrian area sigmficantly greater in size than the utilitarian needs that a walk-able path
requires Such areas would include the typical downtown street setting, pedestrian
pavilions, and mass transit stops In these areas, the walk-able path should he defined by
the absence of obstructions - newspaper stands, furmture, signs, planters, trees wells,
artwork and other features proposed should be clear of the walk-able path These
features may occupy other parts of the paved areas
The sidewalk network is the primary system of pedestrian movement and thus should be
g~ven priority consideration In funding and development A review of sidewalks along
arterials and collectors and in the wclmty of schools, parks, and neighborhood centers
should occur to establish funding priorities Disconnected sidewalk sections in fully
developed areas should be connected to ensure a continuous path Development w~ll be
expected to install sidewalk in accordance w~th exastlng practice and modified w~th the
development code
An addmonal priority area would be to connect trails, and parks to other city parks and
recreational facllmes throughout the commumty
Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails
Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails can prowde dual sermce for both types of non-motorized
transportation Many bicyclists, skaters and scooter users, and other non-motorized
forms of transportation are an afterthought in many street and sidewalk designs The
establishment of a trml system in conjunction vnth bicycle lanes and sidewalk linkages
will prowde for an effective alternate for short trips, commutes to school and work, and
recreational trips
The bike and pedestrian trail system shall be established for both utditanan and
recreational purposes These trails shall be eight feet in wdth w~thout obstructions
Trmls should link to other bike and pedestrian modes to serve as a conduit for those using
the trail for transportation as well as to encourage use of the trails by those who use non-
motorized transportation as recreation Such trads may be placed m street right-of-way,
but may also occupy non-street areas such as parks and designated off-street right-of-
way Smular to sidewalks, the trail should be placed away fi.om the back of curb, three
feet or more is preferable The trml shall be designed to accommodate long distance bike
n&ng safely Any proposed trail, and any fundmg for a proposed trml, should take into
account the need to modify erasting driveways so that the trail may be used for its
intended use ADA and Texas Accessibility Standards shall be followed
Trmls shall connect major actlwty concentration points m the city such as the two
universities, downtown, parks, shopping districts and employment centers Trmls
through erastmg developed areas should consider the restrictions of the eyastmg right of
way and not be forced into insufficient right-of-way Ad&t~onal right-of-way should be
acquired if there is insufficient right-of-way to accommodate a tra~l Trails shall also be
the device utilized w~ttun the greenway comdors
Bike Routes
Bike routes should be established and linked w~th bike trails to encourage the use of
bicycles and to pro,nde continuous paths between residential, recreational, employment,
and shopping areas of thc city Bike routes shall generally be considered on collector
streets and other streets where the average speed of the traffic does not exceed 40 rmles
an hour Routes may be designated by signs and by pavement markings and should be
clear of fixed obstructions, utday covers, and drainage dewces When considenng a bike
route, consideration should be paid to those routes where on-street parking and drive
approaches are numnmzed Routes shall also be considered along paths parallel to heavy
traveled arterials and in the outside lanes when designated ~n order to encourage
bmychng as a primary means of transportation Routes shall be in the direction of
motorized traffic only and not against the flow of traffic
Bike routes can be prowded w~tban either an on-street network or off-street network The
Institute of Transportation Engineers states in its publication "The Traffic Safety
Toolbox" that "Bicyclists make up 1-3% of the commuter trips in most American cities
Bmychng Itself Is bigger There are 96 nulhon bmychsts, and 27 5 nulhon ofthem nde
regularly"
Route Planning
The Pedestrian and Btcyle Lmkages Component of the Denton Mobility Plan shows a
network of sidewalks, trmls, and bike routes that should be considered w~tlun the city
Th~s should not be seen as a final design New developments should consider paths in
the design of the development to connect to the proposed paths as well as facilitate
internal movement and movement towards the facihtles proposed Staff should consider
completing routes and links when rehabilitating or adding to exastmg streets and
sidewalks
Funding
Cost estimates prepared for the CIP, CDBG or other sources ofpubhc funding should
consider those obstacles that may prevent the completion of such facilities including
drainages, retaimng walls, railing, bridges, pavement markings, vegetation removal and
right-of-way/easement acquisition
The Mobility Plan proposes a series of designated bike routes that will pro'nde a network
across an extended region of Denton Some of these pnonty areas include prowding bike
routes from the UNT campus and TWU campus to the various population centers that
contribute students, staff, and other people to these campuses Another priority vnll be to
pro'nde bike routes that connect the major parks w~t~n the city Eventually, the bike
routes should also integrate into the proposed greenway comdors along the creeks and
drainage ways
Greenway Corridors
One of the most v~sionary aspects of the Mobihty Plan is to create a series ofgreenway
corridors along the major drainage ways in Denton These greenway comdors w~ll offer
a very exciting diversity of recreational activities w~ttun a natural setting and can be used
for transportation connections for commuters also Such actvatles rmght ,nclude
walking/logging/equestrian trails, nature trails, interpretive areas, bird watching,
picnicking, and sightseeing These greenways will need to be carefully coordinated vnth
other city functions such as engmeenng, drainage, and traffic to ensure that a holistl¢
approach is taken in planmng any improvements vnth the drainage corridor It will also
be important to maintain a wide enough corridor to ensure the natural en~qronment is not
impacted by potential development activities
Several creek corridors have been identrfied w~th the Mobility Plan as potential
greenways to serve as part of a long-range, non-motorized transportation network These
include Cooper Creek to the north, Pecan Creek ~n the central portion of Denton, and
l-hckory Creek in the southern portion of Denton Each of these areas differ in natural
character and amount of erdstmg development, but each offer a variety of opportumties
for trail and recreational development Opportumties erdst to connect to erasting trails
like the equestrian trails operated by the Cross Timbers Group around Copper Canyon
and the Ray Robert Greenbelt trail that ties to US 380 operated by the CORP$(COE)
Public Recommendations
Input from the public was concentrated primarily m the need for bicycle trads The
number one and overwhelming request was for single track dirt b~ke trmls These are low
cost and low ~mpact trads cut into natural areas that allow recreation and commumng
w~th nature The Dallas OffRoad Bicycle Association (DORBA) has comnntted through
our local police contact -Tom Woods to help build these hnd oftrads in Denton There
are also potential sponsors through area b~cycle shop connections to commumty
associations like K~wams and others The second largest request was for trads hke the
Wlute Rock Lake Tra~l that actually brmg Tourism dollars to that area The Rads to
Trads is the first start on that type project but more need to be rnplemented The
Oreenbelts in the major creeks seem to be the best locations for the multipurpose type
trails Long term these can provide access to nature walks including a large committed
group of bird watchers who can see more species in Texas than in any other state
according to local experts Agmn, bird watclung tours can bnng tourism to Denton in a
low impact approach that respects the natural environment by depending on it
Finally, the City of Denton needs to become more pedestrian and b~cycle friendly to
encourage the development and use of these modes of transportation Tbs was a primary
concern expressed by all those who attended the pubhc meetings Tmungs and push
buttons at intersections v~ll need to have more time allocated to safe crossings and
velucles must be prolubited from turmng across pedestrian and b~cycle movements when
they have protected phases
Refer' to attachment #1-Denton Mobdtty Plan-B~c¥cle and Pedestrtan Linkages
Comnonent
Denton Mobility Plan
Pedestrian and Bic cie Linka es Com onent
N Mobility Plan--Pedestrian and Bicycle Linkages Legend
E ~1 E~dsflng Sidewalk Roads Floodplain
Proposed Greeflweyl Drainage Con,dot ~ Lake~ '< '"'":':~"
Proposed On Road Bike System Streams City Limits
S Proposed Ped~tflan Brk~ C~y of Denton
Engineering GIS Proposed Ralrs to Trails Convem k~ ~ Parks
Created 7/11/00 3000 0 3000 Feet P~opo~d S~,~E
Revised 10/20/00, 2/05/01 ' '