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Home My WebLink About03/17/2025 - Regular Agenda Packet - Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board College Station, TX Meeting Agenda Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, TX 77840 Internet: www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting Meeting ID: 269 753 645 57 | Passcode: QfdsL9 Phone: +1 979-431-4880 | Phone Conference: 917 612 881# The City Council may or may not attend this meeting. March 17, 2025 3:30 PM Bush 4141 Community Room College Station, TX Page 1 Notice is hereby given that a quorum of the meeting body will be present in the physical location stated above where citizens may also attend in order to view a member(s) participating by videoconference call as allowed by 551.127, Texas Government Code. The City uses a third party vendor to host the virtual portion of the meeting; if virtual access is unavailable, meeting access and participation will be in-person only. 1. Call meeting to order and consider absence requests. 2. Hear Visitors. At this time, the Chairperson will open the floor to citizens wishing to address issues not already scheduled on today's agenda. Each citizen’s presentation will be limited to three minutes in order to allow adequate time for the completion of the agenda items. Comments will be received and city staff may be asked to look into the matter, or the matter may be placed on a future agenda for discussion. A recording may be made of the meeting; please give your name and address for the record. 3. Agenda Items 3.1. Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting minutes. Attachments: 1. February 10, 2025 3.2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a proposed Community Vision Statement and Goals for the new Active Transportation Master Plan. Sponsors: Jesse Dimeolo Attachments: 1. Existing Community Vision and Goals 2. Proposed Community Vision and Goals 3.3. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the City of College Station’s Bicycle Friendly Community Report Card. Sponsors: Carl Ahrens Attachments: 1. Memo 2. College Station 2024 Bicycle Friendly Community Report Card 3.4. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the 2025 Cycle with Council event and route. Sponsors: Carl Ahrens Attachments: 1. Previous Cycle with Council Routes Page 1 of 20 Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board Page 2 March 17, 2025 3.5. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the status of the future trail along the Gulf States utility corridor. Sponsors: Jason Schubert 3.6. Presentation and discussion regarding the following items related to biking, walking, and greenways. a. Public Meetings of Interest b. Capital and Private Project Updates 3.7. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. a. April 14, 2025 ~ Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Board Meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the Bush 4141 Community Room 4. Discussion and possible action on future agenda items. A member may inquire about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. 5. Adjourn. Adjournment into Executive Session may occur in order to consider any item listed on the agenda if a matter is raised that is appropriate for Executive Session discussion. I certify that the above Notice of Meeting was posted on the website and at College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas, on March 12, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. City Secretary This building is wheelchair accessible. Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services such as interpreters, readers, or large print are asked to contact the City Secretary’s Office at (979) 764-3541, TDD at 1-800-735-2989, or email adaassistance@cstx.gov at least two business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If the City does not receive notification at least two business days prior to the meeting, the City will make a reasonable attempt to provide the necessary accommodations. Penal Code § 30.07. Trespass by License Holder with an Openly Carried Handgun. "Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (Trespass by License Holder with an Openly Carried Handgun) A Person Licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (Handgun Licensing Law), may not enter this Property with a Handgun that is Carried Openly." Page 2 of 20 Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board Page 3 March 17, 2025 Codigo Penal § 30.07. Traspasar Portando Armas de Mano al Aire Libre con Licencia. “Conforme a la Seccion 30.07 del codigo penal (traspasar portando armas de mano al aire libre con licencia), personas con licencia bajo del Sub-Capitulo H, Capitulo 411, Codigo de Gobierno (Ley de licencias de arma de mano), no deben entrar a esta propiedad portando arma de mano al aire libre.” Page 3 of 20 MINUTES BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND GREENWAYS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING February 10, 2025 MEMBERS PRESENT:Chairperson Scott Shafer, Board Members Kathy Langlotz, Neo Jang, Joy Chmelar, Carla Robinson, Matthew Jackson and Thomas Woodfin. MEMBERS ABSENT:None STAFF PRESENT:Director of Planning & Development Services Anthony Armstrong, Assistant Director Molly Hitchcock, Transportation Planning Administrator Jason Schubert, Senior Planner Jesse DiMeolo, Staff Planner Carl Ahrens, Staff Planner Joe Allen, Director of Parks & Recreation Kelsey Heiden, Graduate Traffic Engineer II DeAnna Ordonez, and Staff Assistant II Grecia Fuentes AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to Order, introductions and consider absence requests. Chairperson Schafer called the meeting to order at 3:47 p.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Hear Visitors. There were no visitors who wished to speak. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Agenda Items. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.1: Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve meeting minutes. Board Member Jang motioned to approve the meeting minutes from October, Board Member Chmelar seconded the motion, minutes were approved 7-0. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.2: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a recap of the public engagement last November and December for the Active Transportation Master Plan. Senior Planner DiMeolo presented this item. He stated that there was a really good turnout at the first public engagement meeting. He mentioned that the Community Vision Board he had posted up had received a lot of feedback that included positive comments, suggestions and ideas that were Page 4 of 20 left by people that attended. He said this would help get some information on what would be included in forming the new Master Plan. Chairperson Shafer asked if the online can be full screen, inquired how many attended the in- person meeting, and what was included in the “roll” of Walk, Bike, Roll. Senior Planner DiMeolo stated the online version can be full screen, that about 45 citizens attended the in-person meeting and that “roll” includes other rolling devices that are not bikes and the updated Master Plan would account for those forms of micromobility. Board Member Langlotz inquired how many unique commenters there have been. Senior Planner DiMeolo stated that he does not know how many unique contributors there were but were about 350 comments provided combining the in-person meeting and online comments. Board Member Jang stated a level of traffic stress (LTS) evaluation would be done and that in his rides with his family it was observed that a roadway like Wellborn Road would have a higher level of stress due to the amount of noise. Administrator Schubert stated that a measurement of traffic noise was not a direct factor in LTS but other metrics like traffic volumes and speed of the roadway are factors used in LTS that would help account for traffic noise. Board Member Jackson asked if Veo was going to be part of the Master Plan. Senior Planner DiMeolo stated that bike share is one of the items of consideration in the plan. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.3: Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding the Cycle with Council event and other activities associated with National Bike Month. Staff Planner Ahrens presented this item. He mentioned that previous sponsors Aggieland Cycling and Garver Engineering were more than likely going to want to participate this year too. He added that last year there was around 80 participants which was really good compared to the 60 participants the previous year. Chairperson Shafer suggested May 3rd for the Cycle with Council event date this year to avoid conflict with Texas A&M graduations happening the following week. He advised staff to get in touch with REI Co-op and ask if they would join in for sponsorship this year. Board Member Jackson mentioned that REI Co-op has community workshops and could be an opportunity to help promote Cycle with Council. Staff Planner Ahrens informed the Board that once a route was chosen staff could move forward to contact the police department to assist with traffic areas if that was needed. Page 5 of 20 Board Member Langlotz stated she had ridden all the routes and now that they were being recycled, they could work on improvements for them. She said that she was not opposed making a new route to show off new infrastructure. She also reminded the Board that the starting and ending points would need to have a restroom provided. Board Member Jackson asked what the purpose of this event was for. Board Member Langlotz informed the Board that this event was brought up by Councilwoman Cunha, who was the prior Chairperson for the Board, in the initial attempt to upgrade the city’s level from a bronze medal up to a silver medal for being a Bicycle Friendly Community. Board Member Woodfin volunteered with Board Member Jackson assisting to come up with some new routes by the March meeting. Chairperson Shafer asked if staff could reach out to College Station ISD and find out if they would be willing to provide restroom facilities for this event if needed. Director Armstrong stated he had a contact and would reach out to CSISD. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.4: Presentation and discussion regarding the following items related to biking, walking, and greenways. a) Public Meetings of Interest – b) Capital and Private Project Updates – Administrator Schubert stated the CIP Department had hosted a public meeting on December 5, 2024 regarding the widening of Rock Prairie Road between Town Lake Drive and William D. Fitch Parkway which will add bike lanes and sidewalks to that corridor. Board Member Robinson provided a summary of the MPO Active Transportation Advisory Panel (ATAP) meeting that she attended on February 4, 2025. The ATAP provided comments to the proposed criteria that would rank bike/pedestrian projects for funding through the MPO. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.5: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Board’s regular meeting schedule. Administrator Schubert presented this item which was a requested for discussion during a prior Board meeting. Director Armstrong informed the Board that when applicants were chosen one of the requirements listed was to be able to attend at this time. He added that the Board could make changes if they chose to and were all in agreement to do so. The Board agreed to leave the regular time and dates set as scheduled. Page 6 of 20 AGENDA ITEM NO. 3.6: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board calendar of upcoming meetings. a) March 10, 2025 ~ Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Board Meeting Chairperson Shafer requested that the March meeting be rescheduled to March 17th to avoid conflict of being held during spring break. Several Board Members noted conflicts with that date and there was a general consensus to reschedule the meeting. Staff would confirm a conference room was available for that date. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Discussion and possible action on future agenda items. A Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board Member may inquire about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. Board Member Jang proposed for the Board to look into a woonerf design for Fairview Avenue to slow down the traffic down that area. Administrator Schubert stated that corridor was planned to be evaluated with the Master Plan update and would be exploring alternatives to provide bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure there. Board Member Langlotz requested to get an update on the safe passing ordinance. Administrator Schubert stated that a bill has been filed at the Texas legislature that would address the safe passing ordinance, and staff is awaiting the outcome of that bill before proceeding. Board Member Woodfin requested an update on the status of the proposed trail along the Gulf States utility corridor. Board Members Langlotz and Robinson also supported receiving the update. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ Scott Shafer, Chairperson Grecia Fuentes, Board Secretary Page 7 of 20 2010 Master Plan Vision Statement (page 1-1) The City of College Station recognizes the need to plan for an effective and safe bicycle, pedestrian, and greenways system as the city continues to experience change and growth over time. A community that provides opportunities to walk to a neighborhood park, jog down a meandering trail, or bicycle to work fosters and promotes a livable city. Planning for a more bikeable and walkable city while protecting open space and unique characteristics of an area strengthens a community and enriches its quality of life. An interwoven network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities and greenways offers the benefits of providing alternate modes of transportation that can alleviate traffic congestion and maximize street volume capacity, encourage healthy living, and spur economic development. Other benefits of the system include creating opportunities for outdoor recreation activities and protecting the natural environment. 2010 Master Plan Goals (page 4-2) This plan consists of four primary goals, provided below, that will shape the bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway system. These goals are not organized by priority since they are of equal importance. Goal 1: Improve Connectivity and Accessibility A comprehensive system of bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway facilities that increases and improves connectivity for accessibility and mobility while accommodating all types of users. A continuous network for transportation and/or recreation that allows users to reach key destinations such as neighborhoods, parks, schools, the workplace, and shopping centers. Goal 2: Increase Safety A bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway system and surrounding environment that is safe and secure for bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy. Goal 3: Increase Bicycling and Walking Outdoors A bicycling and walking culture that motivates more people to utilize the system for its health, transportation, recreation, environmental, economic, and social benefits while reducing dependence on the automobile. Goal 4: Encourage Environmental Stewardship A network of open space and stream corridors including floodplain and riparian areas that is protected and restored to enhance the integrity of the natural environment and provide access for multi-use paths. As well as a reduction in man-made impacts of stream corridors to improve water quality and support wildlife and plan habitat through floodplain and storm water management. Page 8 of 20 COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT "College Station envisions a safe, interconnected active transportation network that enhances pedestrian and cyclist comfort, promotes healthy living, supports economic growth, utilizes natural green space, and enriches the community’s quality of life." ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION GOALS MASTER PLAN ENHANCE SAFETY FOR ALL USERS: Improve safety for active transportation users by implementing protected bike lanes, enhanced intersection designs, and increased visibility measures to reduce conflicts with vehicles. Ensure safe crossing points near major streets, schools, parks, key destinations, and public transit stops. 1 5SUPPORT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AS A PRIMARY MODE OF TRAVEL:Promote land use and development patterns that support commuting and daily travel by means of active transportation. Provide programs that educate and encourage active transportation as a viable and safe option to travel throughout the city. 2INCREASE CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:Create a seamless active transportation network that connects key destinations, including Texas A&M, neighborhoods, schools, employment and shopping centers, public amenities, and public transit. Enhance convenience and encourage active transportation by creating more efficient, direct routes and easier use of bike parking facilities. 3IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE:Develop a continuous and well-maintained network of bike lanes, sidewalks, and shared use paths. Prioritize funding to cover maintenance tasks for expanding network needs such as markings, signage, and surface conditions, to ensure safety and usability. 4PROMOTE COMFORT AND ENJOYMENT:Establish a low stress network with appropriate separation between different modes of travel that incorporates shade, landscaping, and amenities along active transportation routes. Design routes that create a pleasant and inviting environment that promotes outdoor activity. WALK, BIKE, ROLL! Jesse DiMeolo, AICPSENIOR PLANNER - jdimeolo@cstx.govPLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICEScstx.gov/activetransportation PROJECT INITIATION NETWORK EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIONS PLANADOPTIONDRAFTING OF PLAN FALL 2024 SPRING 2025 SUMMER 2025 FALL 2025 Page 9 of 20 Planning & Development Services • 1101 Texas Avenue, PO Box 9960 • College Station, TX 77840 Office 979.764.3570 / Fax 979.764.3496 MEMORANDUM March 17, 2025 TO: Members of Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board FROM: Carl Ahrens Transportation and Mobility Planner, Planning & Development Services SUBJECT: Bicycle Friendly Community report Card Recap Item: Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding the City of College Station’s Bicycle Friendly Community Report Card. Summary: The City of College Station reapplied last summer for our designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community that we received in 2020. Designations include bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels. The League of American Bicyclists announced on January 28, 2025 that College Station has retained our bronze level designation, which is given only to communities with strong commitments to bicycling. The designation is awarded for four years. College Station is one of 460 communities nationwide, and only 12 in Texas, to be designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community. The League provided a report card that details how College Station scored in the review process. The League updated its application criteria in 2022 to include a new section on Equity and Accessibility, as well as other changes that created a more detailed application than previous years. During the application process, a public survey was opened to gain feedback from riders within the city. The top 3 changes to the community identified from this survey were improving existing bike lanes to protected bike lanes, adding more bike lanes, and adding more bike paths to the network. Also included in the report card are suggestions to improve and maintain College Station’s Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Attachments: College Station Report Card Page 10 of 20 College Station, TX College Station’s BFA Program Stats # of Local Bicycle Friendly Businesses: 1 # of Local Bicycle Friendly Universities: 1 # of Local League Cycling Instructors: 1 Texas’s Bicycle Friendly State Ranking: #30 Community Profile Population: 120,511 (Size classification for weighted scoring: Medium) Area: 51.28 square miles Population Density: 2,350.10 people/square mile Land Classification: Mostly Suburban Poverty Rate: 29.2%* Median Household Income: $51,228* Percent of the Population that Speaks a Language Other Than English at Home: 21.7%* Percent with Disability: 10.2%* Percent of Households with No Vehicle Available: 6.3%* *Source: https://data.census.gov/profile/College_Station_city,_Texas- ?g=160XX00US4815976 Key Outcomes Overall Commuter Ridership: 1.8% Male Commuter Ridership: 3% Female Commuter Ridership: 0.4% (Bicycle Mode Share among commuters, according to the Census Bureau’s 2022 or 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate.) Bicycle Mode Share: Unknown (Reported by applicant) Annual Average Bicyclist Crashes in last 5 years: 44 Annual Average Bicyclist Fatalities in last 5 years: 0 (Crashes and Fatalities both reported by applicant) 2024 BFC Public Survey Response Summary for College Station, TX College Station’s Bike Links Bike Network Map, if available: PDF available upon request. Bike Plan, if available: https://www.cstx.gov/departments___city_hall/pds/plan- ning/bpg/master_plan How satisfied are you with how this community is designed for making bike riding safe? (n = 25) Is it safe or dangerous to ride a bicycle in your neighborhood, or does it depend? (n = 24) What are the top 1-3 changes you would most like to see the local government make in this community for bicyclists? (n = 25) 1. Improve existing bike lanes to protected bike lanes (76.00%) 2. More bike lanes (60.00%) 3. More bike paths (52.00%) Very Satisfied (0.00%) Somewhat Satisfied (32.00%) Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied (12.00%) Somewhat Dissatisfied (48.00%) Very Dissatisfied (8.00%) 2024 BFC Award: Bronze Award History: Bronze since 2020, previously Honorable Mention in 2011 and Bronze in 2003. 2024 BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY REPORT CARD Page 1 of 6 25625 Renewal 25625 College Station 25625 25625 25625 25625 College Station College Station, TX College Station, TX 17+71+12Safe (12.50%) It Depends (70.83%) Dangerous (16.67%)a+100+924432The 5 Es Category Scores College Station Max Score this round Engineering 27.72%79.26% Education 34.41%83.25% Encouragement 27.89%90.86% Evaluation & Planning 29.67%75.73% Equity & Accessibility 10.52%75.47% Scores are determined by points earned in each ‘E’ Category, weighted against comparable communities in the 2024 BFC round. See pages 2-3 for your full subcategory points in each Category. Page 11 of 20 About this Report Card The following scores are based on the online application submitted by College Station in the 2024 Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) submission round. These scores reflect a combination of automat- ically-generated points earned through the online application, as well as judge-assigned points and bonus points given by BFC reviewers. The League updated its Bicycle Friendly Community application and awards criteria in 2022, after nearly a year of research, focus groups, interviews, listening sessions, and other outreach. The updat- ed application includes a new section on Equity and Accessibility, and other changes throughout. As such, this Bicycle Friendly Community Report card is a beta version as we refine our new scoring system and develop a greater understanding of how to convey new information. All 2024 BFC Report Cards (including this one) will be republished with updated scores if there are significant changes to the points system after the next round of BFC applications. To learn more about the BFC application and awards criteria, please visit https://bikeleague.org/community. Page 2 of 6 College Station earned a weighted score of 27.72% in the Engineering Category. Below is the full breakdown of points that College Station earned in each subcategory within the Engineering section, compared to the total points available in that subcategory from the 2024 BFC application. Engineering Subcategories College Station’s Subcategory Points in Engineering Policies and Design Standards for the Built Environment 14.4 / 41 pts End-of-Trip Facilities 9.3 / 44 pts Bicycle Network 18.5 / 128 pts Network Maintenance 9.3 / 32 pts Bicycle Access to Public Transportation 4.1 / 23 pts Bike Sharing 2.7 / 24 pts Other Bicycle-Related Amenities 0.3 / 6 pts Regional Coordination 5.0 / 23 pts Engineering Bonus Points 1.0 / 10 ptsENGINEERING College Station earned a weighted score of 34.41% in the Education Category. Below is the full breakdown of points that College Station earned in each subcategory of the Education section, compared to the total points available in that subcategory from the 2024 BFC application. Education Subcategories College Station’s Subcategory Points in Education Youth Bicycle Education 7.1 / 68 pts Adult Bicycle Education 23.0 / 47 pts Motorist Education 13.5 / 28 pts Bicycle Safety Education Resources 4.5 / 16 pts Inclusive Education 1.4 / 26 pts Education Bonus Points - / 7 ptsEDUCATION Page 12 of 20 Page 3 of 6 College Station earned a weighted score of 10.52% in the Equity & Accessibility Category. Below is the full breakdown of points that College Station earned in each subcategory of the Equity & Accessibility section, com- pared to the total points available in that subcategory from the 2024 BFC application. Equity & Accessibility Subcategories College Station’s Subcategory Points in Equity & Accessibility Equity & Accessibility Staffing, Committees, & Partnerships 1.8 / 24 pts Equity Data Collection & Goals - / 27 pts Equity & Accessibility Policies & Plans 0.5 / 21 pts Equity & Accessibility in Engineering 2.8 / 44 pts Equity & Accessibility in Education 1.4 / 52 pts Equity & Accessibility in Encouragement 4.8 / 42 pts Equity & Accessibility in Evaluation & Planning 7.8 / 51 pts Equity & Accessibility Bonus Points - / 9 ptsEQUITY & ACCESSIBILITYCollege Station earned a weighted score of 27.89% in the Encouragement Category. Below is the full breakdown of points that College Station earned in each subcategory of the Encouragement section section, compared to the total points available in that subcategory from the 2024 BFC application. Encouragement Subcategories College Station’s Subcategory Points in Encouragement Encouragement Policies, Programs and Partnerships 1.3 / 17 pts Route-Finding Support 3.0 / 10 pts Bicycle Culture and Promotion 29.0 / 91 pts Access To Bicycle Equipment and Repair Services 4.8 / 35 pts Reducing Work-Related/Fleet VMT 2.0 / 11 pts Encouragement Bonus Points 0.3 / 7 ptsENCOURAGEMENT College Station earned a weighted score of 29.67% in the Evaluation & Planning Category. Below is the full breakdown of points that College Station earned in each subcategory of the Evaluation & Planning section, com- pared to the total points available in that subcategory from the 2024 BFC application. Evaluation & Planning Subcategories College Station’s Subcategory Points in Evaluation & Planning Staffing And Committees 14.3 / 35 pts Public Engagement for Bicycle Planning 5.8 / 35 pts Planning, Funding, And Implementation 8.3 / 46 pts Evaluating The Bicycle Network - / 25 pts Evaluating Ridership (0.3) / 20 pts Evaluating & Improving Safety Outcomes 14.6 / 42 pts Evaluation & Planning Bonus Points 1.0 / 15 ptsEVALUATION & PLANNINGPage 13 of 20 FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE: To maintain and improve on College Station’s Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community award, BFC Reviewers recommend… »Continue to expand and improve College Station’s low-stress on-road bike network and ensure that your community follows a bicycle facility selection criteria that increases separation and protection of bicyclists based on levels of motor vehicle speed and volume, to maximize safety and comfort for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. Identify gaps and add new facilities that com- plete and expand the bicycle network, and work to upgrade existing facilities, such as by convert- ing bike lanes into protected bike lanes, and upgrading roads with sharrows or signed bike routes into dedicated bicycle boulevards through traffic calming and speed reductions. »Update your design manual to meet current FHWA, AASHTO, and/or NACTO standards, or for- mally adopt one of these organizations’ newly updated guidebooks as official guidance for your community’s transportation planners and engineers. This will make it easier for city staff to follow the latest best practices to implement bicycle facility designs that have been shown to improve conditions for people who bike in other cities throughout the United States. »Lower speed limits -- and designed speeds -- on residential streets to 25 mph or less. Introduce road diets and traffic calming measures to ensure compliance. Develop a system of bicycle bou- levards, utilizing these quiet neighborhood streets, that creates an attractive, convenient, and comfortable cycling environment welcoming to cyclists of all ages and skill levels. Use the Bicycle Boulevards section of the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide for design guidelines. »Continue to increase the amount of high quality bicycle parking throughout the community, and to upgrade the quality of existing bike parking to meet APBP standards. Ensure that APBP-com- pliant bicycle parking is available in areas near popular destinations, bus stops, and urban activ- ity centers. Without secure and convenient bike parking it is difficult for a person to choose to ride their bicycle for transportation or utilitarian trips. »Improve bicycle safety education for students of all ages by incorporating on-bicycle education opportunities and by expanding the program to all K-12 schools. Providing bicycles in schools for on-bike education ensures that all students can learn to safely ride a bicycle regardless of the availability of a bicycle in their household. Work with the school district, local bicycle groups, and interested parents to expand and improve the Safe Routes to School program. »Increase the number of local League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) in your community, either by hosting another LCI seminar or sponsoring a City staffer or local bike advocate to attend an ex- isting seminar elsewhere. Having several active instructors in the area will enable you to expand cycling education for youth and adults, recruit more knowledgeable cycling ambassadors, deliver Bicycle Friendly Driver education to motorists, and have experts available to assist in encourage- ment programs. Visit bikeleague.org/ridesmart for more information. College Station, TX 2024 BFC Award: Bronze | Award History: Bronze since 2020, previously Honorable Mention in 2011 and Bronze in 2003. 2024 BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY REPORT CARD Page 4 of 6 Page 14 of 20 FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE, CONTINUED: 2024 BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY REPORT CARD College Station, TX 2024 BFC Award: Bronze | Award History: Bronze since 2020, previously Honorable Mention in 2011 and Bronze in 2003. »Develop education and encouragement outreach methods and programs that specifically target families, women, seniors, low-income, and non-English speaking communities, in addition to gen- eral non-targeted outreach and media campaigns that discuss current and new bicycle facilities, safe driver and bicyclist behavior, and events related to walking and biking. »Develop a community-wide trip reduction ordinance/program, commuter incentive program, and a Guaranteed Ride Home program to encourage and support bike commuters in College Station. »Encourage more local businesses, agencies, and organizations to promote cycling to their em- ployees and customers and to seek recognition through the Bicycle Friendly Business program, following City Hall’s great example as a Silver-level BFB. »Conduct a connectivity analysis and network quality evaluation of your existing bicycle network, and work to identify and fill any gaps. Establish a performance measurement program for bicy- cling and/or active transportation infrastructure. See FHWA’s resources on these topics: https:// bit.ly/FHWA_connectivity and https://bit.ly/FHWA_bikepedPMs. »Create a bicycle count program that utilizes several methods of data collection to create an un- derstanding of current bicyclists and the effects of new facilities on bicycling in College Station. Automated bicycle counters provide long-term data on bicycle use at fixed points in a community and mobile counters can provide periodic or before/after data related to a change in your com- munity’s road or bicycle network. Observational counts and surveys can supplement automated data in order to collect demographic information and examine social equity goals. »Your Bicycle Friendly Community application reported that ACS data shows a gender gap in bi- cycle modeshare (3% of male commuters bike to work, compared to 0.4% of female commuters, according to ACS data). Consider how focused outreach around bicycling education, encourage- ment, and engagement could help bring more women to bike for transportation in College Sta- tion. Consider how local data collection efforts may be able to further inform your work by cap- turing gender in other bike use and modeshare counts, as well as identifying gender disparities in perceptions of safety and barriers to bicycling. »Consider what other local community groups exist in College Station who may be good potential partners to reach new audiences and build on existing bike education, encouragement, and en- gagement efforts. Question F4 on the BFC application provides a wealth of suggested community partners for you to consider, beyond the existing bike clubs and organizations that are already active in this space. »Involve local and state public health partners in active transportation planning and programming to support your common goals to improve health and wellness through increased physical ac- tivity. There may be opportunities to partner with public health agencies and organizations on Page 5 of 6 Page 15 of 20 FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE, CONTINUED: MORE RESOURCES FOR IMPROVING YOUR COMMUNITY: »Guide to this BFC Report Card: https://bit.ly/BFC-Report-Card-Guide-2024 »League of American Bicyclists: https://www.bikeleague.org »Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Program: https://bikeleague.org/community »Resources for Building a Bicycle Friendly Community: https://bikeleague.org/BFC_Resources »About the BFC Application Process: https://bikeleague.org/content/about-bfc-application-process »The Five E’s: https://bikeleague.org/5-es »The BFC Ideabook and Map: https://bikeleague.org/BFCIdeaBook »The League’s Benchmarking Project on Biking & Walking Data and Reports: https://data.bikeleague.org »Bicycle Friendly State (BFS) Rankings and Report Cards: https://bikeleague.org/state »Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) Program: https://bikeleague.org/business »Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) Program: https://bikeleague.org/university »Smart Cycling Education Program: https://bikeleague.org/ridesmart »National Bike Month Resources: https://bikeleague.org/bikemonth »More Reports and Resources from the League: http://bikeleague.org/reports »Federal Funding Resources from the League: https://bikeleague.org/federal-funding-resources/ »Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding Opportunities from U.S. DOT Transit, Safety, and Highway Funds: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/funding/funding_opportunities.pdf »U.S. DOT Navigator: https://www.transportation.gov/dot-navigator 2024 BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY REPORT CARD College Station, TX 2024 BFC Award: Bronze | Award History: Bronze since 2020, previously Honorable Mention in 2011 and Bronze in 2003. Page 6 of 6 active transportation-related investments and programming in your area through Texas A&M and the Texas Department of State Health Services, both of which are 2023-2028 funding recipients through the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Learn more at https:// www.cdc.gov/dnpao-state-local-programs/php/funding-by-state/index.html#texas. »To further show your community’s commitment to health and wellness through bicycling and other forms of physical activity, work with local elected officials to pass an Active People, Healthy NationSM Proclamation this year. Active People, Healthy NationSM is a national initiative led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. Learn more about Active People, Healthy NationSM Proclamations at: https://www.cdc.gov/active-people-healthy-nation/php/data-research/proclamations.html. 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