CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY-FIRST COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. F/S R-14-142 ENACTMENT NO. ______________________
SPONSORED BY: Isaac Benton, by request
RESOLUTION
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F/S Adopting The Bikeways & Trails Facility Plan (BTFP) As A Rank II Facility Plan. The Scope Of The Bikeways And Trails Facility Plan Is City-Wide (Benton, by request)
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ADOPTING THE BIKEWAYS & TRAILS FACILITY PLAN (BTFP) AS A RANK II FACILITY PLAN. THE SCOPE OF THE BIKEWAYS AND TRAILS FACILITY PLAN IS CITY-WIDE.
WHEREAS, the City Council, the governing body of the City of Albuquerque, has the authority to adopt facility plans to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of Albuquerque, Section 3-19-1 et. Seq., NMSA 1978, and by its home rule powers; and
WHEREAS, people use both bikeways and trails for a variety of activities, including recreation, commuting, exercise, and utilitarian travel; and
WHEREAS, funding for both facilities comes from the same sources; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that consolidating these plans into one document will help the City better manage the growth of the bikeways and multi-use trails system; and
WHEREAS, the primary goal of the Bikeways & Trails Facility Plan is to ensure a well-connected, enjoyable, and comfortable non-motorized transportation and recreation system throughout the metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, the Bikeways & Trails Facility Plan intends to guide future investment in the bikeways & trails system, including facility improvements, new facilities, maintenance, and education/outreach programs; and
WHEREAS, the Bikeways & Trails Facility Plan is consistent with the applicable goals and policies of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan, the Major Open Space Facility Plan, and the Facility Plan for Arroyos; and
WHEREAS, on October 9, 2014, the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC), in its advisory role, voted that a Recommendation of Approval be forwarded to City Council for Project 1008887, 14EPC-40054, a request for an Adoption of a Rank II Bikeways & Trails Facility Plan, as recommended in the findings within the staff report (see Record).
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. The City Council adopts the Following Findings:
1. The Rank II Bikeways & Trails Facility Plan updates, consolidates, and replaces the Trails and Bikeways Facility Plan (1993) and the Comprehensive On-Street Bicycle Plan (2000). Rank II facility plans describe the existing facilities, policies, recommendations, and proposed projects.
2. The scope of the Bikeways and Trails Facility Plan is City-wide. It also shows trails within Bernalillo County's jurisdiction to demonstrate regional connectivity, but which are not included as City proposed projects.
3. The purpose of the plan is to ensure a well-connected, enjoyable, and safe non-motorized transportation and recreation system throughout the metropolitan area. Updating the Plan is a reasonable exercise in local self-government consistent with the City Charter.
4. The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan, the City of Albuquerque Zoning Code, the Major Open Space Facility Plan, the Facility Plan for Arroyos, the Trails and Bikeways Facility Plan, and the Comprehensive On-Street Bicycle Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made part of the record for all purposes.
5. The proposed plan supports the following applicable Goals and Policies of the Rank I Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan:
a. The Plan furthers the Open Space Network Goal and Policy II.B.1f by updating trail-related policy, design guidelines, and proposed trails projects. Part of the overarching vision of the plan is to provide recreation opportunities; the plan also recommends trails along arroyos and appropriate ditches as connections between natural areas and open spaces.
b. The Plan furthers the Semi-Urban Area Policy II.B.4b through designation of trails and trail corridor development policies for semi-urban areas.
c. The Plan furthers the Developing and Established Urban Areas Goal and Policy II.B.5g because the plan will help guide development of a system that contributes to creating a quality urban environment and that will increase choices in transportation and life styles. The plan will guide development of trail corridors in appropriate locations.
d. The Plan furthers the Environmental Protection Policy II.C.1d and the Transportation and Transit Goal by setting direction for investments in multi-modal transportation infrastructure, which will help protect air quality through a balanced circulation system that supports and encourages alternative means of transportation.
e. The Plan is generally consistent with Policy II.D.4h. A metropolitan area-wide recreational and commuter bicycle and trail network which emphasizes connections among Activity Centers shall be constructed and promoted. The proposed alignments have been evaluated to provide connection to and within most designated activity centers.
f. The Plan is generally consistent with Policy II.D.4i. Street and highway projects shall include paralleling paths and safe crossings for bicycles, pedestrians, and equestrians where appropriate. The Plan includes a Complete Streets Policy for bikeways and trails projects to be considered on all streets, as appropriate, throughout the street network. One of the critiques of the Plan is that it does not recommend access along major arterial streets, which have been demonstrated to have the highest bicycle and pedestrian crash rates.
g. The Plan is generally consistent with Policy II.D.4h. Efficient, safe access and transfer capability shall be provided between all modes of transportation. The City currently has excellent transfer capabilities between bicycle, train, and bus. Both the train and all City busses have capacity to hold multiple bicycles each. The Plan does not specifically address how to provide safe and convenient access to each bus stop, which is typically located on a major arterial street.
h. The Plan is generally consistent with Policy II.D.4q. Transportation investments should emphasize overall mobility needs and choice among modes in the regional and intra-city movement of people and goods. The Plan sets direction for investments in multi-modal transportation infrastructure and programs to enhance bicycling and walking options.
6. The proposed Plan is generally consistent with the key themes of the 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) through its multi-modal vision, policies, and proposed facilities for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the City. The proposed facility map is consistent with the current LRBS map and will provide updates to the LRBS map when it is amended for the 2040 MTP.
7. Key City departments, including Municipal Development, Parks & Recreation, and Planning, coordinated as part of this facility planning effort.
8. There is general support among the reviewing agencies and members of the public that the City should adopt the proposed Bikeways & Trails Facility Plan.
9. The City's Advisory Groups for trail and bicycle facilities, The Greater Albuquerque Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Greater Albuquerque Recreational Trails Committee, should meet biannually to review implementation of the BTFP and consider any updates or changes that may be necessary.
Section 2. In order to implement the policies of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan, applicable Rank II and Rank III Plans, and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the Bikeways & Trails Facility Plan, with Appendices, attached hereto as Exhibit A, is hereby adopted and the Trails & Bikeways Facility Plan (1993) and the Comprehensive On-Street Bicycle Plan (2000) are repealed.
Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This resolution shall take effect five days after publication by title and general summary.
Section 4. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. If any section paragraph, sentence, clause, word, or phrase of this resolution is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this resolution. The Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution and each section, paragraph, sentence, clause, word or phrase thereof irrespective of any provisions being declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid. X:\CITY COUNCIL\SHARE\CL-Staff\_Legislative Staff\Legislation\21 Council\R-142FSfinal.docx