Sidewalks shall be installed along all existing and proposed public and private streets, common driveways, and common parking areas.
1. 
General.
A. 
Sidewalks and border areas shall be required on both sides of the street within the ultimate right-of-way.
B. 
The Municipal Council may waive the sidewalk requirements if an alternative pedestrian circulation concept can be shown to be more desirable, especially when using open space areas, provided that appropriate connections are provided between the open space walkways and the surrounding pedestrian origins and destinations.
C. 
If for any reason an interim waiver of these requirements is made, a sufficient guaranty shall be posted for the eventual installation of sidewalks, subject to approval by the Municipal Council upon recommendation of the Municipal Engineer and Solicitor, in accordance with § 282-414.2 of this chapter.
2. 
Design and layout.
A. 
Sidewalks and border areas shall be provided in appropriate locations to provide safe and efficient pedestrian access between parking areas, buildings, and other pedestrian destinations.
B. 
Sidewalk and border area widths are to follow the guidelines set forth in Figure 4.2. Figure 4.3 illustrates levels of service offered by varying widths of sidewalks.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Figures 4.2 and 4.3 are included at the end of this chapter.
C. 
The border area shall exist between the curbline or edge of cartway and the sidewalk.
1) 
Border areas between sidewalks and the curb may contain streetlights, trees, benches, trash cans, mailboxes, or newspaper boxes. No obstacle in the border area may reduce the required sidewalk width for use by pedestrian traffic as described in the guidelines in Figure 4.2.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Figure 4.2 is included at the end of this chapter.
2) 
Border areas shall be maintained as a grass strip between the sidewalk and the curb. If grass is impractical at the site, brick pavers or similar surface may be used at the discretion of the Municipal Council upon recommendation of the Norristown Planning Commission and Engineer. In this case, a wider sidewalk may be necessary in place of a border area to create a safer pedestrian environment.
3) 
Where a border area is proposed as a grass strip, in no case shall its width be less than three feet.
D. 
The Municipal Council may require additional width in areas where higher volumes of pedestrian traffic are anticipated. In no case shall sidewalk width be less than five feet.
E. 
All sidewalk widths are exclusive of any obstacle. Sidewalk areas containing streetlights, trees, benches, doors, trash cans, mailboxes, newspaper boxes, or similar feature are required to have additional width.
F. 
Additional sidewalks or paved trails shall be required where deemed necessary by the Municipal Council to provide access to schools, religious institutions, parks, community facilities, trails, and commercial or employment centers, and to provide necessary pedestrian circulation within land developments and/or subdivisions where otherwise required sidewalks would not be sufficient for public safety and convenience.
G. 
Sidewalks shall be designed to facilitate access and use by persons that are physically disabled, in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act and to the satisfaction of the Norristown Engineer.
H. 
The grade and paving of the sidewalk shall be continuous across driveways, except in certain cases where heavy traffic volume dictates special treatment. The grade and alignment of all sidewalks shall be approved by the Norristown Engineer.
I. 
If the provision of sidewalks requires the destruction or removal of valuable trees, consideration shall be given to the retention of such valuable trees.
J. 
Conflicts arising from the placement of street trees, utilities, and border areas should be discussed with the Norristown Shade Tree Commission, Norristown Planning Commission, and Municipal Engineer to determine appropriate placement and alignment.
K. 
Proposed sidewalks shall maintain the width, pattern, and style of the Municipality's sidewalk network. Where proposed sidewalks meet existing sidewalks which have a different width, a tapered transition shall be constructed.
3. 
Sidewalk construction and driveway crossing engineering standards. Sidewalks shall be four inches thick 4,000 psi compression strength concrete, placed upon a minimum four-inch layer of AASHTO No. 57 stone bedding. The sidewalk shall be built as to discharge drainage to the street, the grade of which shall be 1/4 inch per foot. The finished grade between the outside of the sidewalk to the curbline (edge of the cartway) shall never exceed a total vertical elevation change of one foot. Expansion joints shall be placed every 30 feet, with contraction joints every five feet a minimum of one inch in depth. Additional expansion materials shall be placed between any curb and driveway apron and in the sidewalk at driveway limits. A contraction joint shall be cut between the sidewalk and apron. All sidewalks shall receive a broom finish unless otherwise approved by Norristown. An access ramp for physically disabled persons shall be placed at all sidewalk intersections with roads.
1. 
Crosswalks shall be clearly delineated at all intersections and maintain the width of the largest contributing sidewalk or trail. In no case shall crosswalk width be less than five feet.
2. 
Crosswalks and their transition to adjacent sidewalks or trails shall be designed to facilitate access and use by persons that are physically disabled, in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act.
3. 
Where a crosswalk is located at an arterial or collector street, the Municipal Council may require one of the following measures as described in the Pennsylvania Traffic Calming Handbook upon recommendation of the Municipal Planning Commission and Engineer:
A. 
Textured crosswalks. Crosswalk patterns, materials, and colors shall be consistent with surrounding crosswalks based on the theme established in the Municipality and recommended to the Municipal Council by the Norristown Planning Commission and Engineer.
B. 
Pedestrian signalization shall be provided at intersections where traffic signals exist.
C. 
Curb extensions, bulb-outs, raised medians, raised crosswalks, and other pedestrian safety methods shall be considered and, where determined to be appropriate by the Municipal Council, constructed.
1. 
When a subdivision or land development is traversed by or abuts an existing trail with public access customarily used by pedestrians, bicyclists, and/or equestrians and delineated in the Municipality's adopted open space or recreation plans, the applicant shall make provision for the continued recreational use of the trail, subject to alterations of the course of the trail within the boundaries of the development under the following conditions:
A. 
The points at which the trail enters and exits the tract shall remain unchanged.
B. 
The proposed alteration exhibits quality trail design according to the generally accepted principles of landscape architecture.
C. 
Where an existing trail runs coincidentally with the paved road intended for use by motorized vehicles, efforts shall be made to alter the trail alignment to increase separation between the trail and the road.
2. 
The Municipal Council may require, as a condition of final plan approval, the guarantee of public access and improvement of trails when the site is traversed by or abuts an existing trail or a trail proposed in an adopted open space or trail plan of the county, Municipality, or adjacent municipality.
3. 
When existing developed parcels adjacent to a proposed subdivision or land development allow for dedicated public access through a defined area for the purpose of connecting to a county or municipal trail, all attempts shall be made to continue this connection through a dedicated public accessway to serve the proposed development.
4. 
When a subdivision or land development lies adjacent to a park, school, or other pedestrian destination, all attempts shall be made to create pedestrian connections to that destination.
5. 
All trails and pathways shall be constructed before occupancy of residences and other buildings on the site occurs.
6. 
When trails are intended for public or private use, they shall be protected by a permanent access easement on the properties on which they are located. The width of the protected area in which the trail is located shall be a minimum of 20 feet. The language of the easement shall be to the satisfaction of the Municipal Council upon recommendation of the Municipal Solicitor.
7. 
Any of the methods cited under § 282-406 concerning open space ownership may be used, either individually or in combination, to own and perpetually preserve trail easements that are provided in fulfillment of this article.
8. 
Trails and pathways shall have adequate access for use by all residents of the development or, preferably, the general public.
9. 
Trails shall be landscaped with the specifications described in § 282-433.4. Landscaping shall help delineate the route of the trail and screen surrounding properties from trail users.
10. 
The land area permanently designated for trails for public use may be credited toward any open space requirement as described in the Zoning Ordinance.
11. 
No trail shall be designed with the intent to accommodate motorized vehicles, except for emergency or maintenance access.
12. 
Construction standards.
A. 
Pathways shall be six feet wide and consist of two inches of ID-2 wearing course over a six-inch layer of AASHTO No. 57 stone. Minimum shoulder width shall be two feet.
B. 
Multiuse trails shall be 12 feet wide and consist of two inches of ID-2 wearing course over a six-inch layer of AASHTO No. 57 stone. Minimum shoulder width shall be two feet.
C. 
Where the edge of the trail is above the surrounding grade, bituminous pavement shall be feathered.
D. 
The vertical clearance above the trail shall be maintained at a minimum ten-foot height.
E. 
Trail grade shall not exceed 5%.
F. 
All proposed trails shall meet the guidelines as generally presented in Figures 4.4 and 4.5.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Figures 4.4 and 4.5 are included at the end of this chapter.
1. 
When a subdivision or land development is located on a street classified as a principal arterial or a major collector, it shall provide for public access, where feasible, within the ultimate right-of-way for bicycle lanes.
2. 
Bicycle lanes shall be marked with appropriate striping, marking, reflectors, and signage in accordance with Federal Highway Administration guidelines.
3. 
Bicycle lanes shall be a minimum five feet in width.
4. 
Where the roadway narrows, signage and pavement markings shall be added to warn drivers and bicyclists to help them avoid bicycle-automobile conflicts.
5. 
Drainage improvements shall be made where necessary to eliminate puddles and sediment deposit from the section of the road used by bicyclists.
6. 
Proposed bicycle lanes shall meet the general guidelines as shown in Figure 4.6.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure 4.6 is included at the end of this chapter.
1. 
Streetlighting shall adhere to the requirements described in the Zoning Ordinance.
2. 
Streetlighting shall be required for all land developments.
3. 
Lighting shall be designed in accordance with a plan developed by a utility company in accordance with the standards recommended in the IES Lighting Handbook.
4. 
Where required above, the owner shall install or cause to be installed, at the owner's expense, metal pole streetlights serviced by underground conduit in accordance with a plan to be prepared by the owner's engineer and approved by the Norristown Engineer and by the Municipal Council.
5. 
Lighting for all existing public streets and new streets proposed for dedication shall be a style, design, height, and source type in fixture and pole to be consistent throughout Norristown and as approved by the Municipal Council.