to: committee of the whole - cd from: laura newman, city
TRANSCRIPT
TO: Committee of the Whole - CD
FROM: Laura Newman, City Administrator
DATE: August 13, 2021
RE: RES 21-087-R Authorizing Execution of an Agreement with Active Transportation Alliance and
Ride Illinois for the Creation of an Active Transportation Plan for the City of Batavia, Illinois
Development of an Active Transportation Plan is an objective identified in the 2021-2023 Strategic Action Plan. The existing Bike Plan was created in 2007, and for the last several years, the Batavia Bicycle Commission has been recommending that the City update that plan. In 2019, City Council approved putting $13,000 in the 2020 budget to cover the cost of updating the Bike Plan. The expenditure was put on hold because of the uncertainty over the effect that the COVID-19 global pandemic would have on revenue. The budget for updating the Bike Plan was carried over to the 2021 budget, but it was not increased to account for the broader scope of an Active Transportation Plan (Walking and Biking).
Some current members of Batavia Bicycle Commission were serving on the Commission when the existing plan was developed and recommended the services of Ride Illinois to staff for the update to the plan. Ride Illinois has assisted more than 20 other communities to develop their own bike plans. They also assist in the development of educational and awareness campaigns. Ed Barsoti of Ride Illinois has worked with Batavia and the Bicycle Commission for over 15 years. His familiarity with our bicycle infrastructure will be an asset to this project.
Staff is very familiar with Active Transportation Alliance as well. In 2018, they awarded Well Batavia a grant for a campaign to count the number of customers who biked or walked to downtown businesses. The Active Transportation Complete Streets Coalition visited the City of Batavia for a walking tour in 2018 to see the woonerf and other amenities of our downtown for walkers and bikers. Acitive Trans’ planning consultancy is recognized as a premier specialist in helping communities to create safer, healthier environments for walking, biking and transit.
The scope of services for creating the Active Transportation Plan can be found in Exhibit A attached to Resolution 21-087-R and a detailed budget can be found on page 8. Active Trans’ services amount to $19,188 and Ride Illinois’ to $5,700 for a total cost of $24,888.
Staff is recommending approval of Resolution 21-087-R Authorizing Execution of an Agreement with Active Transportation Alliance and Ride Illinois for the Creation of an Active Transportation Plan for the City of Batavia, Illinois.
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CITY OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS RESOLUTION 21-087-R
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE AND RIDE ILLINOIS
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS
WHEREAS, the City of Batavia has identified the creation of an Active Transportation Plan as objective in its Strategic Action Plan for 2021-2023; and,
WHEREAS, the Active Transportation Alliance’s planning consultancy is a premier specialist in pedestrian and walkway planning and has assisted numerous communities in creating safer, healthier environments for walking, biking, and transit for over thirty years; and, WHEREAS, Ride Illinois provides technical and strategic assistance on bike-friendly infrastructure and has developed bike plans for more than 20 communities and is the consultant that helped produce the existing Batavia Bicycle Plan which is part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, Active Transportation and Ride Illinois have submitted a proposal for creating an Active Transportation Plan for the City of Batavia, Illinois for an amount of $24,888, attached as Exhibit A; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Batavia as follows:
Section 1. That City Administrator is authorized to execute an agreement with Active Transportation Alliance and Ride Illinois for professional services as described in Exhibit A to create an Active Transportation Plan for the City of Batavia, Illinois for an amount of $24,888.
CITY OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS RESOLUTION 21-087-R
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PRESENTED to and PASSED by the City Council of the City of Batavia, Illinois, this 7th day of September, 2021.
APPROVED by me as Mayor of said City of Batavia, Illinois, this 7th day of September, 2021. _________________________ Jeffery D. Schielke, Mayor COUNCIL VOTE:
Ward Aldermen Ayes Nays Absent Abstain Aldermen Ayes Nays Absent Abstain 1 Baerren Solfa 2 Leman Wolff 3 Ajazi Chanzit 4 Malay Knopp 5 Uher Beck 6 Cerone Russotto 7 Vogelsinger Miller
Mayor Schielke VOTE: Ayes Nays Absent Abstentions Total holding office: Mayor and 14 aldermen
ATTEST: Kate Garrett, City Clerk
July 8, 2021
Randy DeickeFire Chief and Liaison to the Batavia Bicycle Commission800 E. Wilson AvenueBatavia, IL 60510
Dear Mr. Deicke:
Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans) in partnership with Ride Illinois (RI) is proud to submit our qualifications to develop Batavia’s first Active Transportation Plan. Combined, our team has more than 25 years of experience in pedestrian and bicycle planning, design, and implementation and a long history of collaboration. Our two organizations have worked side-by-side for nearly three decades to promote better access to walking and biking in Illinois by developing plans, policies, and events; training advocates; and providing technical assistance to state and local governments. We also have history working with the City of Batavia and local advocates.
About Active Transportation AllianceActive Trans’ planning consultancy is the region’s premier specialist in pedestrian and bicycle network planning. We have been assisting communities in creating safer, healthier environments for walking, biking, and transit for over thirty years. We provide a commitment to excellence and a wealth of assets that come with engaging an organization rich in the tradition of bicycling and walking. As a non-profit organization, our approach to planning has always focused on providing substantive tools and technical support to local agencies. Among our many clients include Carbondale (2021), Wilmette (2021), Elmhurst (2021), Lisle (2020), Murphysboro (2019), Bedford Park (2019), Park Ridge (2018), Village Park (2018), Glencoe (2018), and Elgin (2018). Active Trans has worked with Batavia advocates and staff on several initiatives. In 2018, we awarded Walk Batavia/Bike Batavia a mini grant to purchase chalkboard signs for local businesses to count people who arrived on foot or by bike. Our Complete Streets Coalition took a trip to Batavia to visit the River Street shared street and learn about the project.
About Ride Illinois
As part of our efforts to improve bicycling in Illinois, Ride Illinois provides communities with technical and strategic help on bike-friendly infrastructure, education campaigns, national Bicycle Friendly Community designation, and more. Since 2001, we have developed bike plans in more than 20 towns, including: Rockford (2020), Mattoon (2018), Park Ridge (2018 and 2005), Bloomington (2015), Palatine (2011), Batavia (2007), Geneva (2005), and North Aurora (2001). Ed Barsotti of RI has worked with the City and its Bicycle Commission for over 15 years.
Yours Truly,
Heather SchadySenior Transportation Planner
EXHIBIT A
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CITY OF BATAVIA Active Transportation Plan
Project Approach and Process
An Active Transportation Plan focuses on identifying safe, convenient, and accessible routes for people walking and biking to everyday destinations like downtown Batavia, schools, parks, and places of employment and establishing community-building programs and initiatives centered on non-motorized forms of travel. This project will build on Batavia’s 2007 Bike Plan and its many successful bicycle and pedestrian projects, including the River Street shared street, Fox River Trail improvements, and the Randall Road flyover. It will also identify new opportunities for improvements around the city, bikeway improvements, including sidewalk infill, traffic calming recommendations, intersection enhancements, opportunities for new grade separated connections, and other initiatives that can encourage more residents to walk or bike for transportation.
Our process, developed through years of experience working with Illinois communities, includes a commitment to community engagement, a breadth of knowledge of best practices, and a focus on implementation that can be scaled to reflect the community’s ultimate goals and budget. Batavia staff, residents, and other key stakeholders will have opportunities for substantive involvement through all phases of the planning process. Our analysis will include multiple data sources including aerial imagery, roadway geometry, and field investigations to understand the City’s existing conditions. Our multi-tiered strategy incorporates several rounds of review to ensure client satisfaction. We focus these reviews at key milestones so that Village staff are not overburdened with time-consuming meetings or overwhelmed with information and requests.
Key deliverables will be presented at each project phase with additional emphasis on community engagement and system design. The following pages provide a detailed project scope in five tasks, described in detail on the following pages:
1. Project Coordination
2. Community Engagement
3. Existing Conditions Assessment
4. Recommendations Development
5. Plan Writing, Design, Adoption
Complete Streets Coalition visit to Batavia
Bike Batavia Walk Batavia chalkboard survey
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ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE
Task 1: Project Coordination and Review
The Project Team and key staff will meet several times during the project ahead of key milestones to discuss goals and priorities, review findings, and outline next steps. These milestones will include:
• At an initial meeting with staff, review and hone the project scope. We will discuss our set of “guiding principles” to learn the city’s stance on some technical and political issues that may arise in the development of active transportation recommendations. It is vital at this early point to develop a clear consensus on these sometimes-sensitive topics, which include the plan’s “target audience,” types of off-road and on-road bikeways that are “on the table,” goals and priorities for pedestrian improvements, conditions (if any) for removal of parking, extent of lane width narrowing for bikeway striping, emphasis on education efforts, potential implementation budgets, and more. Our planning process assumes the use of existing pavement widths where possible, but the possibility of extra width solely for bikeways – in road reconstructions or even stand-alone projects – is discussed in this step.
• Following the initial round of community engagement, the project team will meet with staff to debrief the process and discuss preliminary recommendations. We will use this opportunity to identify gaps in the recommendations, expected issues or challenges to implementation, and opportunities for additional engagement if needed.
• Once recommendations are solidified, we will reconvene with staff to review a draft plan, discuss the results of the project prioritization process, and discuss next steps for plan adoption.
Task 2: Community Engagement
A community’s transportation network impacts everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or mode of travel and intersects many issues. We strive to provide a menu of opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders to inform and review recommendations. Our goal is to gain a good understanding of their goals, values, concerns, and priorities and build awareness, appreciation, and support for the plan.
Below, is a comprehensive list of community engagement opportunities we can provide. We recommend doing as many as possible to get a breadth and depth of feedback, however, we also recommend leaving room for a flexible approach. Innovative ideas for engagement always emerge during a project and we want to be able to provide engaging opportunities for people to get involved:
• Form a Plan Steering Committee to set the plan vision and vet recommendations. We recommend the committee consist not only of the city planning/community development, but also engineering/public works and at least one elected official. It is critical for implementation that the latter two are “on board” from the start. In addition, the steering committee must have community members interested in walking and biking and institutions that represent populations that walk and bike in Batavia. These individuals not only provide key local knowledge of conditions and priorities, but they often go on to volunteer during the implementation phase, leveraging the city’s staff time investment. They can also work with us to spread the word about the project and generate wide interest. We propose 2-3 meetings with the steering committee, the first focused on plan goals and vision, the second to review recommendations, and the third (optional) to discuss project prioritization.
• Hold in-person and virtual opportunities for broad community input:
• Create a project website that serves as a perennial open house, that allows stakeholders to engage with a project on their own time. It should include general information about the project, document links, information about upcoming events, and a comment form to collect input 24/7.
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CITY OF BATAVIA Active Transportation Plan
• Disseminate online surveys using Wikimapping and Survey Monkey to gather rich data from the community on what improvements they would like to see happen, what they prioritize, and what their current walking and biking habits are. These data inform both plan recommendations and our prioritization analysis.
• Offer stumble-upon opportunities for residents who are not actively engaged online. To further spread the word, we propose working with local businesses, the park district, the library, and other stakeholders to post signs or flyers to solicit plan input. The signage will include QR codes that link to either the comment form or a survey so those that see it can provide instant feedback.
• Host Open House(s) to provide community members an opportunity to interact with staff and the project team and provide more detailed input on the plan. We use these events to educate the community about the benefits of creating walkable, bikeable communities and to have focused conversations about issues and opportunities. Our team can hold 1-2 open houses during the project. We will also record presentations and post them on YouTube for people who cannot attend in person.
• Attend existing events, such as the Well Batavia Festival or Second Fridays, offer an additional opportunity to engage with residents who may not otherwise have heard about the plan. At these events, our team will bring a paper map and ask people to mark routes and intersections they would like to see improved for walking and biking.
Community Meeting in Lisle, IL
On-bike steering committee meeting in Villa Park, IL
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Mapped public engagement results from Glencoe, IL
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ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE
Task 3: Existing Conditions Assessment
To reach a sound basis for plan recommendations, the Project Team will review Batavia’s available data on existing and planned conditions of the transportation network and update datasets where needed. We will assess current land use patterns, roadway jurisdictions, crash incidents, speed limits, and traffic data in tandem with the results of public engagement to determine preliminary routes for improvement. The Project Team will then travel to key corridors and thoroughfares on-bike or on-foot, documenting findings with notes, photographs, and maps.
We will also review Batavia’s 2007 Bike Plan and assess which projects have been implemented, which need to be implemented, and which can be updated to reflect new best practices.
In addition to Batavia’s built environment, our team will conduct an analysis of existing policies and programs that impact bicycle and pedestrian safety and transit access in the community. This in-depth assessment will inform comprehensive recommendations to make safe, healthy, active transportation an integral part of daily life in the community. During this process, we will review ongoing planning studies, such as the Fox River Corridor Master Plan.
The resulting documentation will include a detailed Bicycle Level of Service Analysis, by which streets are graded on existing and potential bikeability, a sidewalk gap analysis, a pedestrian and bicycle crash analysis, and a list of potential tools to be used for traffic calming along routes and at intersections.
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Sidewalk presence is a large factor in walkability, particularlyon busy streets. Here’s is a look at sidewalks in Lisle today:
Sidewalk availability graphic from Lisle Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
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CITY OF BATAVIA Active Transportation Plan
Task 4: Recommendations Development
Based on our findings from the existing condition assessment, public engagement, and conversations with staff and Steering Committee members, we will develop a recommended Active Transportation Network. The Network will propose on- and off-street bikeways, sidewalk improvements, intersection and traffic calming improvements, and proposed programs and policies that can be implemented to support infrastructure recommendations.
The Project Team will present these recommendations to City staff, the steering committee, and shared with the community for review and refinement.
Task 5: Plan Writing, Design, Adoption
Once finalized, the Project Team will consolidate the recommendations into a plan, which will include:
• A plan introduction and vision
• A summary of public engagement and existing conditions findings with maps, infographics, and tables.
• Active Transportation Network recommendations for bikeways, sidewalks, intersections, and traffic calming with maps, tables, descriptions, design guidance, and key considerations. In some cases, we may present multiple recommendations where there is no ideal option or additional study is necessary to determine an alignment.
• Project prioritization analysis, which will rate projects on a variety of factors, including feasibility, anticipated cost, jurisdiction, safety benefits, access to destinations, and community input.
• Proposed standards for future road design and development, to incorporate bikeways from the start and reduce the need for retrofitting.
• Proposed traffic calming standards for implementation around the City.
• Recommendations on non-infrastructure initiatives, including policies, marketing ideas, programs, and bicycle parking guidance.
• Recommendations for plan implementation, including practical details on an active transportation commission and staff coordinator, a cost-efficient and opportunistic Example of alternatives for Mount Prospect, IL
multi-year work plan strategy, funding including insider advice on grants available in Illinois, a roadmap to eventual national Bicycle Friendly Community Silver Status or Walk Friendly Community designation, and more.
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ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE
Task #
Description Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 Coordination and Review Meeting 1 x 2 Steering Committee Vision & Goals Meeting x 2 Website (optional) x 2 Online survey and map x 2 Open House 1 & Video x 2 Stumble Upon Opportunities (optional) x 2 Community Events, TBD (optional) x 3 Plan Review 3 Roadway Characteristics Analysis & BLOS x x x 3 Sidewalk Analysis x x 3 Crash Analysis x 3 Demographic Analysis x 4 Draft Bike Network Map and Recommendations x x x 4 Draft Pedestrian Network Map and Recommendations x x x 4 Draft Intersection and Traffic Calming Improvement Map and Recommendations x x x 4 Draft Programs and Policies Recommendations x x 1 Coordination and Review Meeting 2 x 4 Edit Draft Recommendations x 2 Steering Committee Recommendations Review Meeting x 2 Website Update (optional) x 2 Open House 2 & Video (optional) x 2 Community Events, TBD (optional) 5 Write and Layout Draft Plan x x 1 Coordination and Review Meeting 3 1 x 2 Steering Committee Meeting 3 (optional) 2 x 5 Finalize Plan 5 x x
Proposed Schedule
Our team proposes to conduct the scope of work over the course of 12-months. We list several tasks as optional. While a robust public engagement process would include all the tasks, we recognize that these may not fit within the budget or intended project scope.
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CITY OF BATAVIA Active Transportation Plan
Proposed BudgetProposed Budget Total Proposed Budget Active Trans Staff Cost $19,188 Ride Illinois Staff Cost $5,700 Website Cost $190 WikiMapping Cost $300 Travel Costs $200 Total $25,578
Detailed Budget
Task # Task Active Trans Ride Illinois
Hours Fee Hours Fee 1 Coordination and Review Meeting 1 2 $156 3 $225 2 Steering Committee Vision & Goals Meeting 6 $468 2 Website (optional) 20 $1,560 2 Online survey and map (recommended) 36 $2,808 2 Open House 1 & Video (recommended) 16 $1,248 2 Stumble Upon Opportunities (optional) 6 $468 2 Community Events, TBD (optional) 6 $468 3 Plan Review 2 $156 3 Roadway Characteristics Analysis & BLOS 6 $468 26 $1,950 3 Sidewalk Analysis 2 $156 3 Crash Analysis 2 $156 3 Demographic Analysis 2 $156 4 Draft Bike Network Map and Recommendations 6 $468 12 $900 4 Draft Pedestrian Network Map and Recommendations 8 $624
4 Draft Intersection and Traffic Calming Improvement Map & Recommendations 20 $1,560 1 $75
4 Draft Programs and Policies Recommendations 8 $624 1 $75 1 Coordination and Review Meeting 2 2 $156 5 $375 4 Edit Draft Recommendations 16 $1,248 4 $300 2 Steering Committee Recommendations Review Meeting 6 $468 2 Website Update (optional) 4 $312 2 Open House 2 & Video (recommended) 16 $1,248 2 Community Events, TBD (optional) 6 $468 5 Write and Layout Draft Plan 32 $2,496 22 $1,650 1 Coordination and Review Meeting 3 2 $156 2 Steering Committee Meeting 3 (optional) 6 $468 5 Finalize Plan 8 $624 2 $150 Total 246 $19,188 76 $5,700
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ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE
About Active Trans
The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit organization, founded as the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation in 1985, that strives to improve walking, biking, and transit systems and thereby the quality of life for people in the Greater Chicago Area. We accomplish this mission by promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety, education and facilities, including planning of bike facilities, trails, parking, sidewalks, and safe intersections.
The Active Transportation Alliance provides professional consulting services to clients who seek a progressive and innovative approach to making physically active transportation a significant part of daily life in their communities. Our multi-modal vision recognizes the synergies between our advocacy and consulting work, and through that lens we strive to improve the built environment for pedestrians, transit riders and local communities.
Consulting Experience and Qualifications
We have provided professional services to more than 50 state, regional and local agencies and organizations, as well as schools and park districts. We employ our community-based approach to combine stakeholder involvement and empowerment with specialized technical expertise. We specialize in strategic problem solving and are adept at delivering practical solutions that have a measurable contribution to a safe, healthy, equitable and sustainable transportation system. This results in the delivery of services reflecting the values and priorities of the client and communities we serve. We have conducted many successful bicycle and pedestrian plans in small and mid-size communities::
Northern Lakeshore Trail Connectivity Study (2020)
Active Trans partnered on a regional study to identify on- and off-street pedestrian and bicycle facilities to connect the Des Plaines River Trail, Robert McClory Path, and Illinois Beach State Park. The plan includes more than 100-miles of trails crossing multiple jurisdictions and ideas of year-round programs and policy solutions. Active Transportation Alliance led the development of the infrastructure and program recommendations and documented and analyzed existing conditions, and created a model complete streets policy to be adopted by each community involved in the study.
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CITY OF BATAVIA Active Transportation Plan
Lisle Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (2020)
Active Transportation Alliance led the year-long project to develop community-wide recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian improvements. The project included a focus on community engagement, with nearly 600 Lisle residents providing input on the plan. There is a robust implementation matrix included in the plan which includes cost estimates and phasing for each project.
Glencoe Active Transportation Plan (2018)
Active Transportation Alliance worked with the Village of Glencoe, Glencoe Park District, and Glencoe School District to develop a community-wide network with a focus on Safe Routes to Schools and Parks. After adopting the plan, the Village went on to win a $200,000 Safe Routes to School grant to construct sidewalks and improve access to West School.
Other Projects
Active Trans has worked on numerous plans, studies, and projects in the study area, including:
• Park Ridge Bicycle Plan (2018): Active Trans partnered with Ride Illinois to develop a community-wide bike plan. Our role included GIS analysis and assistance with recommendations development.
• Elmhurst Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (2021): Active Trans subbed to Civiltech Engineering and led public engagement efforts, including hosting focus groups, organizing community open houses, and creating a variety of online events to continue engagement during the COVID 19 pandemic.
• Murphysboro Sidewalk Inventory (2018): Active Trans trained 30 volunteers to audit the condition and presence of sidewalks in Murphysboro, IL. The resulting plan included a phased approach for addressing sidewalk upgrades and policy recommendations to improve conditions over time.
• Carbondale Bikeway Condition Assessment (2020): Active Trans worked with City staff and local bicycling enthusiasts to audit 30 miles of existing bikeways and trails for condition and safety. After completing the plan, the City received a grant to improve its bikeway signage, which volunteers noted were confusing and inconsistent..
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N 1
4TH
ST
DAL
LAS
RD
WESTW
OO
D LN
ENTE
RPR
ISE
AVE
WAT
SON
RD
S 3R
D ST
26TH ST
ELZA
BR
ANTL
EY D
R
WINTERS AVE
N 1
7TH
ST
S 17TH S
T
WEL
LS S
T
FID
DLE
R R
IDG
E R
D
N 6T
H ST
S WILL
IAMS ST
N 2
ND
ST
HWY 13
Sidewalk Condition AnalysisEXCELLENT
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
¯0 10.5
Miles
Sidewalk condition analysis in Murphysboro, IL
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ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE
Ride Illinois – Firm Profile Ride Illinois, a statewide not-for-profit bicycle organization, provides expert technical and strategic help on bike-friendly infrastructure, education campaigns, national Bicycle Friendly Community designation, and more. Our relationships with relevant state and local agencies, combined with connections to our local members and other cyclists, enhance our ability to develop plans leading to successful implementation and results.
Ride Illinois has been the consultant for bicycle plans developed in 20 cities across Illinois, including nearby Bloomington (2015), Charleston (2018), Effingham (2011), and Mattoon (2019). We served as the subconsultant responsible for developing the bike network recommendations in MPO bicycle/pedestrian plans done for Springfield (2011) and Urbana (2008).
In addition to the initial work in creating bike plans, Ride Illinois regularly assists client communities as a resource after the contract is done. For example, we helped Effingham win an Illinois Transportation Enhancements Program (ITEP) grant that will add much of its on-road bike network at one time, and now we are helping them overcome implementation obstacles. Springfield and Urbana are two of our clients who have gone on to win national Bicycle Friendly Community designation.
Our process includes detailed in-field data collection for hundreds of distinct segments of potential bike network “routes to study” suggested by the public, steering committee, and staff. We can also draw from routes selected and rated for our (2010) Decatur Area Bicycle Map, sponsored by DUATS and others and developed with much public input.
Our plans’ infrastructure recommendations blend the technical with the pragmatic, factoring in politically strategic issues learned by our team members over the years. Primary recommenda-tions are supplemented with backups and potential upgrades, as needed, and detail for each bike network segment is provided for easier implementation by municipal staff.
In his nearly 20 years with Ride Illinois (previously known as League of Illinois Bicyclists), Senior Consultant Ed Barsotti has developed all of the organization’s bicycle plans and trained over 1000 engi-neers, planners, and college students on bicycle planning and infrastructure.
Also on our consulting team, Ride Illinois Executive Director Dave Simmons brings over 10 years of local and state bicycle advocacy experience, particularly in cyclist education and outreach to local officials and bicyclists.
References: • Steve Pamperin, City Planner, 520 Jackson Ave, Charleston, IL 61920 — [email protected], 217-345-5650 • Jeremy Carter, City Engineer, 425 E State St, Rockford, IL 61104 — [email protected], 779-348-7656 • Jim Karch, Special Projects Manager, 109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701 — [email protected], 309-434-2210
Springfield (SATS)
Bloomington
Urbana
Charleston
Mattoon
Effingham Nearby cities with Ride Illinois bike plans
Shelbyville
Bloomington Bike Plan - recommendations map
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Heather SchadySenior Transportation Planner, Active Transportation Alliance
Heather has more than a decade of experience in transportation planning, policy development, and community engagement in municipalities of all sizes. She is passionate about creating sustainable communities using best practices in planning and forward-thinking policy development. Since joining Active Transportation Alliance, Ms. Schady has worked with dozens of municipalities and school districts, to develop non-motorized plans, Complete Streets policies, Complete Streets design guidance, School Travel Plans, and other initiatives aimed at facilitating the use of safe and active modes of transportation.
EDUCATIONMaster of Arts in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Bachelor of Arts German, Illinois State University
EXPERIENCESenior Transportation Planner - Active Transportation Alliance, 2014-Present
Safe Routes to School Manager - - Active Transportation Alliance, 2009-2012
Section 8 Community Organizer - -Pratt Area Community Council, 2007-2009
Open Space Community Organizer - Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation, 2005-2007
AFFILIATIONSAmerican Planning AssociationAssociation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
HONORSRising Star, Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations, 2007
Complete Streets Policy Development, Training, and Technical Assistance
Through her work with the Villages of Lisle and Beach Park, the City of Des Plaines, and many others, Ms. Schady has crafted custom Complete Streets policies for dozens of communities in Illinois and beyond. In addition to policy development, she has developed numerous workshops and trainings for municipal staff, elected officials and advocates on Complete Streets implementation, including the Quad Cities MPO, the Bi-State Regional Planning Commission, the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, the City of Memphis, and Wayne Township. Heather focuses on several key factors, including transportation equity, rapid delivery, project delivery, coordination, community engagement, funding, and prioritization.
Complete Streets Design and Project Delivery
Heather has contributed to the development of several Complete Streets design manuals and processes, including Complete Streets Complete Networks adopted by Cook County and the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Complete Streets Rural Contexts adopted by Lowell, IN, and the City of Memphis Project Delivery Manual. She is currently leading the development of a Complete Streets Design Manual and Project Delivery Process for the City of Peoria. The project includes a robust framework for community engagement and stakeholder education.
Community-Wide Transportation Planning
Drawing from her expertise in Complete Streets principles, Ms. Schady develops plans that provide communities with a roadmap for creating more walkable and bikeable communities with a focus on equitable project prioritization and pedestrian-first design. In every plan, she approaches recommendations holistically, identifying not just opportunities for infrastructure improvements, but also for policies, public events, and enforcement efforts. She has extensive knowledge of design best practices. Recently, she has developed plans for the City of Elmhurst, Village of Wilmette, the City of Murphysboro, and Northern Lake County.
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Maggie CzerwinskiAdvocacy Manager
Mrs. Czerwinski began working in the bicycle and pedestrian industry in 2012. For the last eight years at the Active Transportation Alliance, she has been involved in numerous planning and policy projects, working with advocates, decision makers and municipal staff to build community support and improve transportation options throughout the Chicagoland region and beyond. As an advocacy manager, Maggie leads the Chicagoland Complete Streets Coalition, a peer-learning, professional network focused on advancing complete streets and providing technical assistance and support to municipalities. She also leads the Bike Walk Every Town suburban advocacy program which helps community members around the region develop the skills and access the resources they need to strengthen biking, walking and transit in their community.
EDUCATIONMasters of Science, Environmental Studies & Sustainability Science, Lund University in Sweden
Master of Arts, Urban and Environmental Planning, University of Virginia
Bachelor of Science, Statistics, University of Michigan
EXPERIENCEAdvocacy Manager, Active Transportation Alliance, 2017-present
Individualized Marketing Project Coordinator, Active Transportation Alliance,2013-2016
AFFILIATIONSTransport Chicago, Secretary, 2019-2020Association of Bicycle and Pedestrian Professionals
HONORSLeadership Award, Ride Illinois, 2020
Funding and Project Development
In 2020, Mrs. Czerwinski worked with the Illinois Public Health Institute and Illinois Department of Transportation to host a 3-part webinar series to help communities prepare and apply for a new state bicycle and pedestrian fund from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). The webinar series attracted over 600 participants, mostly municipal staff, looking to tap into the new funding stream. In an effort to support first-time applicants from high need communities, Maggie also helped lead a Learning Collaborative to provide more direct technical assistance and application support to 15 communities.
Community Engagement
In collaboration with the Illinois International Port District, Mrs. Czerwinski helped lead community engagement efforts of a multi-use trail feasibility study over Lake Calumet on the south side of Chicago. Maggie and her team hosted fourteen focus groups with civic organizations, community groups, local and regional agencies, and elected officials to understand desirable trail amenities, general community benefits and concerns, and barriers that might prevent people from accessing or using the trail. She also worked with several local community groups to help spread awareness about the project and collect community input via an online and printed survey, email, social media, flyers, and a local newspaper.
Workshops and Technical Assistance
To inform Peoria’s Complete Streets Design and Project Delivery Manual, Mrs. Czerwinski has presented at multiple workshops, both in-person and online, for City of Peoria staff and community members interested in seeing the successful implementation of their Complete Streets policy. Through her work helping Peoria develop a standard approach to their roadway design and process, Maggie has developed an extensive knowledge of best practices in implementation practices from around the country.
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Crispina Ojeda SimmonsPlanning Project Manager
Mrs. Ojeda Simmons brings wide-ranging experience to Active Transportation Alliance in urban planning, policy advocacy, public engagement, and project management. Since joining Active Transportation Alliance, Mrs. Ojeda Simmons has contributed to the development of the Lisle Bike Plan and the ISPAN projects in Peoria and Murphysboro. Prior to joining Active Trans and her work with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, she built partnerships and organized coalitions to improve employment and training programs and policies for people living in poverty for the Chicago Jobs Council. Her primary responsibilities included serving as the liaison to community and faith-based organizations, economic developers, community colleges, chambers of commerce and elected officials in DuPage County and the South Suburbs of Chicago. These relationships were eventually leveraged to support legislation and funding by the general assembly for an unrestricted fund for workforce development programs.
EDUCATIONMaster of Arts in Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Communications, University of Illinois at Chicago
EXPERIENCEPlanning Projects Manager - Active Transportation Alliance, 2019-PresentntGrant Administrator - Metropoli-tan Mayors Caucus, 2019-2020
Policy Associate- CPolicy Associate- Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), 2009-2014
Research Intern -American Planning Association, 2007-2008
AFFILIATIONSAmerican Planning Association
HONORSUIC Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, 2006
Runner-up, Urban Land Institute Chicago Trkla Scholarship, 2006
Planning Best Practice Research and ArcGIS Mapping
Mrs. Ojeda Simmons performed best practice research for the APA’s Planning Advisory Service, which assists governmental planning agencies in addressing municipal issues. Research areas included zoning, design guidelines, signage, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation. This information was used for code revisions, grant funding, program development, and improvement projects. She has held fellowships with the City of Chicago’s Mayors Office and the Chicago Transit Authority’s President’s Office allowing her to focus on pedestrian safety needs for people with disabilities and pedestrian access to transit. For Murphysboro, IL, she created an ArcGIS StoryMap for a Walk of Fame that recognizes the contributions of the city’s most accomplishes residents and produced a Walk of Fame Demonstration Project.
Public Engagement
Mrs. Ojeda Simmons has experience engaging the public around issues of workforce and economic development. For CJC she developed content, secured speakers for, and facilitated its key engagement vehicle the Workforce Development working group. Contributed to the planning and organizing of a series of community meetings in Rockford, Decatur, Springfield, and Aurora. During these forums, participants identified the most pressing economic and workforce development priorities, leading to a report with recommendations that were presented to members of the Illinois General Assembly. In addition, Mrs. Ojeda Simmons provided technical assistance to the West Suburban Jobs Council in DuPage County and numerous community-led planning initiatives in Chicago’s South Suburbs.
Project Management
The Illinois Department of Human Services awarded the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus $2 million grant for outreach, education, and mobilization of “hard to count” populations in the 2020 Census. Mrs. Ojeda Simmons targeted $1.4 million of that funding to black and brown communities via interjurisdictional efforts. She managed grant subrecipients in the Illinois Cook and Collar Counties including 52 municipalities, 3 partner organizations, and 1 council of government. Currently, she is leading sidewalk audit projects for the City of Cairo and the City of Marion.
15
Ed Barsotti
2550 Cheshire Dr., Aurora, IL 60504 — (630) 781-2338 — [email protected]
Professional Experience
Chief Programs Officer/Senior Consultant, Ride Illinois – January 2016 to present Continue and expand the advocacy, technical, education, and bicycle planning program work below, with fewer
administrative responsibilities
Awarded League of American Bicyclists’ national “Advocate of the Year” award in 2019
Executive Director, League of Illinois Bicyclists/Ride Illinois –January 2001 to December 2015 Lead a non-profit advocacy organization, promoting bicycle access, education, and safety
Extensive technical and advocacy work with government staff and local bicyclists, initiating and guiding infrastructure improvements of bicycle conditions in dozens of Illinois communities
Numerous training presentations to government staff on bicycle infrastructure and safety issues
Instructor for University of Illinois-Chicago “Introduction to Bicycle Planning” graduate course
Development of bicycle safety curricula for cyclists, motorists, and police enforcement, including the www.BikeSafetyQuiz.com resource
Oversaw a tenfold organizational growth from a $30,000 to $300,000 budget
Bicycle Planning Consultant – 2000 to present Headed bicycle plans in Bloomington, Charleston, Rockford, Kankakee, Buffalo Grove, Rochelle, Ottawa, Batavia,
Palatine, Teutopolis, Effingham, Park Ridge, North Aurora, Mattoon, Morrison, and Princeton
Main bike plan team member in Carbondale, Urbana, Springfield, Lisle, Geneva, Kane County
Provided bike plan implementation assistance in Aurora and Batavia
Funding strategy and successful grant-writing for Batavia, Aurora, Geneva, and North Aurora
Other contracts: Fox River Trail Wayfinding Plan (Kane County), Kane County Bicycle Map, Aurora’s Fox River Trail Gap project coordinator, IDNR Route 66 Bike Route, and more
Education and Affiliations Member, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
League of American Bicyclists’ bicycle safety instructor national certification – September 2004
Urban Planning and Policy graduate coursework, Univ. of Illinois-Chicago – January to August 2000. “Introduction to Urban Transportation Planning” (including bicycle/pedestrian planning)
Bicycle facility design training seminars – dozens from 1995 to 2019, including Federal Highway Administration, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, ProBike/ProWalk conferences, others
MS Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado-Boulder – August 1990
BS Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign – May 1988.