Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrian Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges (2023)

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43   A P P E N D I X A Survey Instrument The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is conducting a project called NCHRP Synthesis Project 20-05/Topic 53-12: “Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrians Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges.” The focus of this project is to document the practices employed by state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to provide or improve access to existing vehicle bridges for active transportation users. The synthesis will focus on existing vehicle bridges and not on new construction. This survey is an important part of the project, will take 5–10 minutes to enter the information once it has been gathered and needs to be completed by May 31, 2022. The survey can be stopped mid-way through, and all responses will be saved automatically. The link can be used again to reenter the survey. The information provided by ${e://Field/AgencyName} will be synthesized with information collected from other DOTs. While respondent names are confidential, DOT responses to questions will be shown in the published report. Participation is greatly appreciated. Questions, concerns or complaints regarding this study, can be directed to Chris Simek. Respondents must be at least 18 years old to participate in the survey. Respondents may be contacted by TTI to help clarify answers or gather additional information. Advancing to the next screen implies agreement to participate in this project. Has ${e://Field/AgencyName} ever retrofitted any existing bridges and in doing so improved access for active transportation users? This includes bridge retrofits where the original purpose may not have been to improve access for active transportation users. Yes, ${e://Field/AgencyName} has engaged in these types of projects No, ${e://Field/AgencyName} has not engaged in these types of projects This survey invitation has been prepared for ${e://Field/AgencyName}. Are you affiliated with this department of transportation (DOT)? Yes No The survey instrument follows.

44 Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrian Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges Do you know who has knowledge of the DOT’s practices for providing access on existing vehicle bridges for active transportation users? Yes No Please provide the contact information of the individual who has knowledge of the DOT’s practices for providing access on existing vehicle bridges for active transportation users. Name ________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________________ Email ________________________________________________ In Calendar Year 2019, 2020 and 2021 how many projects were initiated which involved retrofitting existing bridges to provide or improve access for active transportation users? This includes projects where the retrofit was the primary purpose and projects where the retrofit was secondary to another purpose (e.g., rehabilitation for asset management). Realizing that COVID may have impacted project schedules, please include projects that were initiated during these time periods. 2019 ________________________________________________ 2020 ________________________________________________ 2021 ________________________________________________ Currently, how many bridges are actively being retrofitted (under construction) to provide or improve access for active transportation users? This number may include those identified in the previous question. ________________________________________________________________ Do you personally have knowledge of the DOT’s practices for providing access on existing vehicle bridges for active transportation users? Yes No

Survey Instrument 45 Bike or pedestrian counts on the bridge The number of bike or pedestrian conflicts/crashes at the bridge Stakeholder concerns and/or requests for the bridge to be retrofitted Regional or statewide transportation plan Regional or statewide bicycle or pedestrian plan Regional or statewide bridge planning study Known ADA accessibility issues at the bridge Policy changes requiring active transportation accommodations Part of a longer corridor/roadway project Other, specify ________________________ Please identify who owns and who operates this bridge. Owner ________________________________________________ Operator ________________________________________________ Please think about the most recently completed project to retrofit an existing bridge which provides or improves access for active transportation users. The next few questions will focus solely on this project. What factors were used to identify this bridge as one to be retrofitted which provides or improves access for active transportation users? Select all that apply.

46 Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrian Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges What type of bridge was retrofitted? Arch Beam Truss Cantilever Tied arch Suspension Cable-stayed Other, specify ________________________________ Please select the attributes below that describe the bridge prior to retrofitting. Select all that apply. The bridge is located on a toll facility The bridge is designated historic The bridge provides access over natural barrier (river, canyon, etc.) The bridge provides access over man made barrier (road, rail, etc.) The bridge is located in an urban area The bridge is located in a suburban area The bridge is located in a rural area The bridge included sidewalks The bridge included bike lanes

Survey Instrument 47 The bridge included shared use paths The bridge was ADA accessible The bridge is the main connection between residential centers (cities, towns, communities, etc.) The bridge is prone to bike-pedestrian related crashes The bridge is circumvented by newer construction Other, specify__________________________________ Was this retrofit project part of a larger bridge rehabilitation project or was the project solely focused on providing or improving access for active transportation users? The project was part of a larger bridge rehabilitation project The project was solely focused on providing or improving access for active transportation users The project was implemented for some other reason Please specify why the retrofit project was implemented. ________________________________________________________________

48 Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrian Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges Please select the strategies used to provide or improve access for active transportation users of this retrofitted bridge. Select all that apply. Construction of new bicycle lanes Construction of new sidewalks Construction of new shared bicycle/vehicle lanes Construction of new shared bicycle/pedestrian path Widening existing bicycle lanes Widening existing shared bicycle/vehicle lanes Widening existing sidewalks Widening existing shared bicycle/pedestrian path Strategies focused on improving access for individuals with disabilities Other, specify _____________________________________ What was the cost of this retrofit? If you do not know, simply write in "I do not know." ________________________________________________________________ Has the retrofit project included implementation of positive protection systems (concrete barriers, guardrails, etc.) to actively protect vulnerable users lanes from potential vehicular impacts? Yes No Please share any limitations and/or constraints that ${e://Field/AgencyName} faced when choosing and implementing the positive protection system. ________________________________________________________________

Survey Instrument 49 How were these limitations and/or constraints addressed? ________________________________________________________________ What types of benefits are anticipated as a result of this project to provide or improve access for active transportation users? Select all that apply. Access/Connectivity. Bridges can be gaps in active transportation networks. Well- designed and interconnected bicycle and pedestrian facilities allow all users to conveniently and safely get where they want to go Safety. Implementation of bicycle and pedestrian facilities on bridges can improve the safety of these modes, decreasing the likelihood of crashes or conflicts with other road users. Health. By increasing residents’ access to opportunities for physical activity, these facilities can lead to improved health outcomes. Sustainability. Including bicycle and pedestrian facilities on bridges can increase the safety and comfort of pedestrians and bicyclists. Improved pedestrian and bicyclist travel can lead to a decreased dependency on personal vehicles, contributing to decreases in greenhouse gas emissions, potential reduction in congestion, and increased environmental sustainability within a community. Social Equity. Rivers, highways, and railroad tracks may serve as barriers between neighborhoods with different socioeconomic makeups and different levels of access to jobs and other opportunities. Providing active transportation access over these barriers can promote equity, access to opportunity, economic development, and public health. Other, specify _______________________________________

50 Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrian Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges For which of the following types of benefits are data being collected to estimate benefit-related metrics? Select all that apply. Access/Connectivity Safety Health Sustainability Social Equity Other, specify _____________________________________ Please think about all the projects to retrofit existing bridges to provide or improve access for active transportation users which ${e://Field/AgencyName} has completed. Listed below are several roles DOT bicycle or pedestrian coordinators may assist or lead in these projects. For each, please identify the typical role of bicycle or pedestrian coordinators in ${e://Field/AgencyName}.

Survey Instrument 51 Assist Lead Not Applicable Identifying bridges for retrofit Developing the project request for proposal Project budgeting Identifying funding for the project Public engagement process Procurement process Project management Media engagement regarding the project Identifying performance standards by which project success will be measured Monitoring success of the project Other, specify Does ${e://Field/AgencyName} have a standardized approach or guidelines on how/when to consider retrofitting? Yes No

52 Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrian Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges Does ${e://Field/AgencyName} have any policies or engineering directives on how/when to consider retrofitting? Yes No Please share the link to these policies or directives below. If a link is not available, please skip to the next question to upload the file. ________________________________________________________________ Please upload these policies or directives. If there are multiple documents, please consolidate / archive / compress the files with an application such as WinZip, 7-Zip, etc. and upload the archive. If documents are not available, please skip to the next question. Would you be willing to participate in a follow-up interview, if ${e://Field/AgencyName} is selected as one of a handful of case studies? Yes No ${e://Field/AgencyName}’s input is greatly appreciated, and we will be happy to provide a link to the synthesis report when it is published. We hope that the information contained in this report will be helpful to ${e://Field/AgencyName}. We may reach back out in the future to obtain additional clarification or information. In the meantime, please contact Chris Simek about any questions ${e://Field/AgencyName} may have. Please advance so the information will be recorded. Once the page has been advanced, the information will be saved.