During the 2017 National Regional Transportation Conference, Shari Schaftlein shared information and resources developed by the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Human Environment. These resources focus on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in a multimodal context in rural and small communities.

1. Pedestrian and
Bicycle Resources in
Rural and Small Town
Communities
2017 NADO Conference
Shari Schaftlein

2. FHWA Achieving Multimodal Networks:Applying Design Flexibility and Reducing Conflicts

3. National Context
FHWA Support For
• An integrated, safe, accessible, and
convenient transportation system
for all users
Background
• Safety is the #1 priority
• State and local demand
• Design flexibility
• Accelerated project delivery
• System efficiency
• Economic development

4. Policy and Guidance
Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation
The DOT policy is to incorporate safe and convenient walking
and bicycling facilities into transportation projects. Every
transportation agency, including DOT, has the responsibility to
improve conditions and opportunities for walking and
bicycling and to integrate walking and bicycling into their
transportation systems. Because of the numerous individual
and community benefits that walking and bicycling provide —
including health, safety, environmental, transportation, and
quality of life — transportation agencies are encouraged to go
beyond minimum standards to provide safe and convenient
facilities for these modes.

6. Questions
1. Did anyone here participate in any of the fifty-two
pedestrian and bicycle safety assessments that U.S.DOT led
in 2015-2016?
2. Have you participated in any other pedestrian and bicycle
audits or assessments in your community?
3. If so, how did they add value and what resources did you
use to support the activity?

8. Available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian

9. Planning and Design Guidance
Available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian

11. Connectivity/Multimodal Performance Measures
Guide to Performance Management:The why and how of measuring
access to opportunity
Key Elements
• Access to Opportunity:Transportation networks that enables all members of a
community to get to essential services.
• Transportation Equity: Reliable transportation that can meet the needs of all,
particularly in traditionally underserved communities.
• Prioritizing Projects for Funding:This method allows transportation officials to
identify priorities for the investment of limited funds.
• Types of Data Used in Measuring Access to Opportunity:Outcome of this
method can assist transportation agencies identify major destination trends in
a region.

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Resource (Cont.)
Resource Urban Rural Dually
Applicable
National Center for Safe Routes to School Website 
Safe Routes to School National Partnership 
Safe Routes to School 10 Year Report 
Delivering Safe, Comfortable, and Connected
Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks: A Review of
International Practices

Accessibility Guidebook on Outdoor Recreation and
Trails


13. Resource
Resource Urban Rural Dually
Applicable
FHWA Guidance: Bicycle and Pedestrian Provisions of
Federal Transportation Legislation

Transportation Alternatives Guidance 
Recreational Trails Program Guidance
Institute of Transportation Engineers Practitioner's Guide:
A Context Sensitive Solutions Approach to Multimodal
Thoroughfare Design

Case Studies in Delivering Safe, Comfortable, and
Connected Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks

U.S Department of Transportation Pedestrian and Bicyclist
Road Safety Assessments - Summary Report

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Performance
ManagementGuidebook

Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding, Design, and
Environmental Review: Addressing Common
Misconceptions


14. Questions
1. Have you heard about these recent publications and
resources?
2. Are you aware of instances where an FHWA pedestrian and
bicycle resource was used to inform decisions and improve
outcomes in a specific project in your State?
3. Is there anything FHWA could do to increase awareness of
and capacity building around these resources?
4. Is there anything FHWA could provide to help you find the
right information or navigate between resources (ie:
indexing)?

15. Multimodal networks are
interconnected pedestrian and/or
bicycle transportation facilities that
allow people of all ages and abilities to
safely and conveniently get where they
want to go.
FHWA Case Studies in Delivering Safe, Comfortable, and Connected
Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks
Multimodal Networks

16. Multimodal Network Principles
• Cohesion
• Directness
• Accessibility
• Alternatives
• Safety and
Security
• Comfort
FHWA Case Studies in Delivering Safe, Comfortable, and Connected Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks

17. Recently Released
• Provide a bridge
between existing
guidance on bicycle and
pedestrian design and
rural practice.
• Encourage innovation in
development of safe
and appealing networks
for bicycling and
walking in small towns
and rural areas.
• Provide examples of
peer communities and
project implementation
that is appropriate for
rural communities.

18. Connected Networks

20. Guide Structure
1. Introduction
2. Mixed
Transportation
Facilities
3. Visually
Separated
Facilities
4. Physically
Separated
Facilities
5. Key Network
Linkages
6. Planning and
Project
Development

21. Facility Categories
Mixed
Traffic
Physically
Separated
Visually
Separated

22. Mixed Traffic Visually Separated Physically Separated

23. Available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian

24. Available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian

27. • Highlights ways to apply
design flexibility, while
focusing on reducing
multimodal conflicts and
achieving connected
networks
• Help practitioners address
topics such as:
– Intersection design
– Road diets
– Pedestrian crossing treatments
– Transit and school access
– Freight
– Accessibility
Achieving Multimodal Networks: Applying
Design Flexibility and Reducing Conflicts
Available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian

28. Achieving Multimodal Networks: Applying
Design Flexibility and Reducing Conflicts
Available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian

29. Layout of DesignTopics

30. Achieving Multimodal Networks: Applying
Design Flexibility and Reducing Conflicts
Available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian

32. Proven Safety Countermeasures
Available at safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures

33. http://pedbikesafe.org/BIKESAFE/http://pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/
FHWA Pedestrian and Bicycle Resources

35. StrategicAgenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle
Transportation
Aspirational Goals
• Achieve an 80 percent reduction in pedestrian
and bicycle fatalities and serious injuries in 15
years and zero pedestrian and bicycle fatalities
and serious injuries in the next 20 to 30 years.
• Increase the percentage of short trips
represented by bicycling and walking to 30
percent by the year 2025.This will indicate a 50
percent increase over the 2009 value of 20
percent. Short trips are defined as trips 5 miles or
less for bicyclists and 1 mile or less for
pedestrians.

36. • Measuring Multimodal Network Connectivity
– How to measure multimodal network connectivity and
track change in connectivity over time?
• Bike Facility Selection Guide
– How to identify the most appropriate bike facilities?
• Innovative Street Design and Accessibility
– How to ensure that people with disabilities can navigate
around new and emerging designs such as separated bike
lanes and shared streets?
• Scalable Risk Assessment Methodology
– How to measure exposure to risk for walking and biking?
Filling Gaps — Resources in Development

38. Questions
1. What multimodal planning and design training and capacity
building opportunities are you aware of and currently
utilizing?
2. What are the biggest training and capacity building
challenges or gaps based on your experience?
3. What are the other challenges you see in enhancing
multimodal access and safety in your community?
• Planning and design
• Communication
• Public involvement
• Funding
• Competing well with other needs
• Other

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Contacts
HEADQUARTERS
Dan Goodman
Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty
Daniel.Goodman@dot.gov
For More Information:
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian
PRIMARY
FHWA Division Office Pedestrian and Bicycle Point of Contact
Staff contact list by state available at
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/state_fhwa_contacts
State DOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/state_contacts