Home>Economic Development>Comprehensive Plan Update>Full Text of the Comprehensive Plan>Policy Plan: Transportation

JUNE 2005

3. TRANSPORTATION

The adequacy of the City’s transportation system was the overwhelming future concern addressed during the Town Meeting. Issues with the transportation system that were discussed included traffic flow, future road planning, public transportation, safety, lack of east-west throughways, and adequate access to new subdivisions.

The North Liberty transportation system is composed of differing modes that respond to the access needs of a community. Full attention is required to all modes within the system to ensure a balanced operation as well as a system that properly responds to the requirements of all individuals. Factors affecting transportation are the placement and type of uses and activities that generate service needs.

Within the context of the above considerations, the following goals and policies are provided for transportation planning and development.

3.1 Transportation Goals:

3.1.1 Approach transportation in a comprehensive manner, giving attention to all modes and related facilities.

3.1.2 Provide for the safe, efficient and convenient movement of people and goods by all modes of transportation.

3.1.3 Reduce the need for transportation facilities by combining or concentrating related land use activities when feasible.

3.1.4 Develop and maintain a traffic control system that conforms with existing laws, optimizes service provided to North Liberty residents, and minimize adverse impacts.

3.1.5 Develop and maintain a street system that is sensitive to homogeneous neighborhoods and activity areas.

3.1.6 Ensure that all public and private streets are constructed with the highest possible standards for safety and durability.

3.1.7 Provide sufficient off-street parking and loading facilities to meet the demands of all types of land uses.

3.1.8 Provide for the safe and convenient circulation needs of the pedestrian and the bicyclist.

3.1.9 Support the utilization and development of mass transit systems and other such measures that will minimize the need for individual automobile travel.

3.1.10 Develop a system of priorities for improving the various elements of the transportation system that are in need.

3.1.11 Connect new development with the existing community by maximizing mobility and connectivity and minimizing barriers.

3.2 Transportation Policies: General

3.2.1 All modes of transportation and related facilities should be treated as one system to be coordinated and related on a comprehensive basis.

3.2.2 Transportation facilities shall be planned to function in a manner compatible with adjacent land use. In those instances where the function of a transportation facility has changed over time to become incompatible with adjacent land use, a program shall be established to eliminate this incompatibility.

3.2.3 Transportation facilities shall be designed to conserve natural resources and minimize the total need for ongoing public investment.

3.2.4 A Capital Improvement Plan shall be prepared and annually updated for transportation facilities.

3.2.5 Transportation planning and implementation shall be coordinated with neighboring and affected jurisdictions.

3.2.6 The transportation system shall focus on activity centers within the community.

3.2.7 The mobility needs of all persons shall be considered in the planning and development of the transportation system.

3.2.8 Early and continuing citizen involvement shall be provided in transportation planning and implementation projects.

3.2.9 The regional highway system shall complement and facilitate local movements provided by local streets, bicycle trails and pedestrian facilities. A line of communication shall be maintained with county and state highway officials in order to ensure that planned improvements are consistent with the goals and objectives of the community.

3.2.10 New transportation facilities shall connect with the existing system with maximum mobility and connectivity in mind.

3.3 Transportation Policies: Streets and Highways

3.3.1 All street system facilities are to be planned, designed and developed according to the highest standards, giving due consideration to both land use and overall transportation goals and policies as well as safety.

3.3.2 Vehicular access onto all types of expressways, arterials, and collectors shall be minimized and limited ensuring adequate distance between intersections and utilization of appropriate traffic control methods and devices.

3.3.3 Wherever possible, access to property shall be prohibited from major streets (expressways, arterials, and collectors). Detached access roads are to provide access for properties “fronting” such streets and roads.

3.3.4 All residential streets shall be categorized per function and those serving as low volume carriers shall be designed to prevent penetration of through traffic and shall properly direct traffic to collector or arterial streets.

3.3.5 Where feasible, parking on arterials and major collector streets shall be prohibited.

3.3.6 Any on-street parking that conflicts with moving traffic or creates hazards shall be prevented and eliminated.

3.3.7 In those areas where incomplete street facilities exist, action shall be taken to plan, design and develop a street system which reflects the highest standards and relate land use to transportation needs and policies. Action shall be taken to reserve required rights-of-way to prevent additional costs and difficulties.

3.3.8 All new streets, whether public or private, shall be constructed of asphalt or concrete material and concrete curb and gutter.

3.3.9 A program to improve existing substandard streets and to improve hazardous and poorly designed intersections and access points shall be established and implemented to upgrade such streets to new street construction standards.

3.3.10 Street improvements shall be related to surrounding land development in order to avoid interrupted or inadequate access to individual properties and businesses.

3.3.11 The amount of land devoted to streets and the number of street miles within the community shall be minimized to the extent possible.

3.3.12 Maximum street safety shall be achieved through the appropriate use of street lighting and sign controls.

3.3.13 Standards and controls for business and advertising signing and lighting shall be strictly enforced in order to prevent driver distraction and potential hazards.

3.3.14 Proper signing and visibility shall be required for grade railroad crossings.

3.3.15 Provisions for other transportation modes, i.e., bicycles, pedestrians, park and ride, etc., shall be included in street and highway improvement plans.

3.3.16 Review and revise design and construction standards for streets, outlined in the City Subdivision Ordinance and the North Liberty Municipal Design Standards, to ensure they reflect state of the art technologies in safety and durability.

3.4 Transportation Policies: Parking

3.4.1 Any new development or expansion of existing development shall include adequate off-street parking. Parking requirements imposed shall be constantly reviewed and studied to ensure supply is reflective of demand.

3.4.2 Parking facilities should be developed so as to conserve land, promote joint use and minimize conflicts with vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

3.4.3 Parking lot access to public streets shall be limited to the functional minimum.

3.4.4 Parking shall be designed to avoiding irregular and inefficient parking lots.

3.4.5 Screening and landscaping for off-street parking areas should be required, according to City standards.

3.4.6 Park and ride facilities shall be pursued to encourage alternate modes of transportation.

3.5 Transportation Policies: Loading

3.5.1 Ensure that all new multi-family, commercial, and industrial developments provide adequate off-street loading facilities.

3.5.2 Wherever possible, segregate loading facilities from parking areas to minimize traffic conflicts.

3.5.3 Adequately screen and landscape loading facilities from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way according to City standards.

3.6 Transportation Policies: Pedestrian/Bicycle

3.6.1 Pedestrians and bicyclists should be afforded rights-of-way separated from motorized traffic along arterial and higher classified streets. When physically and/or economically feasible, pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be separated.

3.6.3 Adequate lighting, outdoor furniture, and other necessary pedestrian appurtenances should be provided in all urbanized areas of heavy pedestrian movement.

3.6.3 Continue to promote and enhance the City sidewalk and trail system through sidewalk programs and requirements.

3.6.4 Give trail development priority to the following areas:

a. Along major streets that have the most direct access to trail destinations.

b. Where they will serve the most intensely used commuter designations.

c. Within existing and proposed parks and playfields.

d. Within appropriate new park development.

e. Where they will link together separate portions of North Liberty's sidewalk and trail system with each other and North Liberty's trail system to other communities.

3.6.5 Streets designated as secondary arterials shall be designed to prevent unregulated pedestrian and bicycle crossings and protect pedestrian and bicycle movement paralleling traffic.

3.6.6 Facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists shall be provided in conjunction with street improvement projects.

3.6.7 New development shall be encouraged to respect the pedestrian/bicycle system and where possible to contribute to the rights-of-way and development costs.

3.6.8 Cooperate with state, regional, and county agencies in the formulation of a Comprehensive trails system and to eliminate duplication of facilities.

3.7 Transportation Policies: Mass Transit

3.7.1 Cooperate with other governmental jurisdictions and the University of Iowa in efforts to create markets and introduce transit or para-transit service on the local scale.

3.7.2 Promote, where economically feasible, transit and para-transit services and facilities to meet the basic transportation needs of persons (especially the elderly and handicapped) who cannot use automobile transportation.

3.7.3 Encourage the development of transit routes to multiple activity centers.

Tools to Administer Transportation Goals and Policies

• Comprehensive Plan
• Zoning Code
• Subdivision Ordinance
• Fringe-area Agreement with Johnson County
• North Liberty Municipal Design Standards
• Master Transportation Plan
• Master Trail System Plan

 

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