[Amended 7-18-2016 by Ord. No. 24-2016]
The Township of Livingston's Complete Streets Policy promotes
a comprehensive, integrated, connected multimodal transportation network
by providing connections to bicycling and walking trip generators
such as employment, education, residential, recreational and public
facilities, as well as retail and transit centers. The policy is built
around 10 main goals and establishes a priority action plan to address
pedestrian, bicyclist and transit accommodations.
Exemptions to the Complete Streets Policy shall be documented
with supporting data that indicates the reason for the decision and
are limited to the following:
A. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities shall not be required where they
are prohibited by law.
B. Where scarcity of population, travel and attractors, both existing
and future, indicate an absence of need for these accommodations,
they shall not be required.
C. Where detrimental environmental, safety or social impacts outweigh
the need for these accommodations, they shall not be required.
D. Proposed bike lanes and sidewalks shall have connections to adjoining
Township and county roads. Bike lanes and sidewalks with no planned
connections may not be considered.
E. In any project, should the cost of pedestrian, public transit, and/or
bicycle facilities cause an excessive increase in project costs as
determined by engineering estimates, that would have to be funded
with local tax dollars, then and in that event, approval by the Council
must be obtained for same prior to bidding of the project.
F. The safety or timing of a project may not be compromised by the inclusion
of complete streets.
The complete streets priority action plan is an accompaniment
to Livingston's Complete Streets Policy and has been developed to
identify priority actions and improvement areas for decision-makers,
and Town engineering and planner managers to focus their attention
and propose complete street alternatives in adherence to the policy.
A. Work with the Township of Livingston School District to encourage
walking and bicycling to school policies for school-aged children.
B. Encourage and facilitate complete streets improvements on roadways
owned and maintained by Essex County and the New Jersey Department
of Transportation (NJDOT). This will include, but is not limited to,
the identification of roadway segments/intersections with particularly
challenging bicycle, pedestrian and motor vehicle circulation and
the facilitation of redesign concepts or processes that support complete
streets.
C. Identify and collaborate with Town staff in pursuit of grants and
outside funding programs that may facilitate development of complete
streets infrastructure in Livingston Township.
D. Implement complete streets improvements during publically funded
development on the Township roadways shown in Attachment A to the maximum extent feasible. Level A streets shall
be given highest priority and consideration, followed by Level B streets,
and sidewalk improvements only shall be considered on Level C streets.
Several streets noted in Attachment A are owned and maintained by
Essex County; the Township shall encourage the county to fund complete
streets improvements during their annual roadway resurfacing program
to the maximum extent practical on these noted roadways, such that
a continuous complete street pathway is created through the Township.
(1) Improvements may include accommodations for bicyclists, pedestrians
and transit users such as sidewalks, bicycle lanes of travel, bicycle
racks, bicycle-safe inlet grates, traffic calming measures, pavement
markings, crosswalks, pedestrian-actuated traffic signals with pedestrian
signal heads and pushbuttons, signage, ADA improvements, shade trees,
planters, environmental enhancements, transit shelters, public seating,
and trash and recycling receptacles.
(2) Publically funded transportation and land use projects on the above
streets consisting only of sidewalk repairs, microsurfacing, creak
sealing, large area pavement repairs, bicycle facility roadway markings,
striping or signage, installation of bike racks or street furniture
and installation of ADA curb ramps shall not be required to install
additional complete streets improvements.
E. Promote al fresco dining throughout the Township to engender the
community and encourage pedestrian activity.
F. Mandate that safe access is maintained for pedestrians, bicyclists,
transit users and delivery vehicles with detour routes provided as
necessary, during both public and private construction.
G. Require public works employees to consider complete streets policies
during their maintenance activities. Employees shall be expected to:
(1) Complete street cleaning of the entire street surface from the roadway
to the curb; and
(2) Ensure that snow plowing does not push snow into crosswalks, blocking
access. Blocked crosswalks shall be cleared as soon as possible.
H. The Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment shall promote bicycle
and pedestrian improvements during their review of commercial, retail,
office, and multifamily residential land uses.