Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Board of Supervisors Endorses Bicycle Parking Guidelines
FABB began advocating for these guidelines in 2007 when we met with Supervisor Smyth to discuss the importance of the county having guidelines for developers and others to implement safe, convenient bike parking. The guidelines will be applied to all new developments in the county. While existing developments are not required to install bike parking, they now have guidelines to use when bike parking is provided.
Below is information provided to the Board of Supervisors at their February 14, 2017 meeting:
ACTION - 3
Endorsement of the Fairfax County Bicycle Parking Guidelines
ISSUE:
Board of Supervisors endorsement of the Fairfax County Bicycle Parking Guidelines (Attachment I).
RECOMMENDATION:
The County Executive recommends that the Board endorse the Fairfax County Bicycle Parking Guidelines (Guidelines) to provide guidance to the development community on the number, type. and location of bicycle parking proposed with new development.
TIMING:
Board action is requested on Febmary 14, 2017, to allow the recommendations in the Guidelines to be implemented expeditiously.
BACKGROUND:
Bicycle parking is needed for the County to meet its goals of encouraging multi-modal transportation as stated in the Comprehensive Plan. Residents who choose to bicycle need safe and secure locations to park when they visit friends and family, shop, and work. The type, quantity, and adequacy of bicycle parking that currently exists varies from location to location. The Guidelines will provide direction to facilitate adequate bicycle parking in all future development.
In the Washington D C . metropolitan area. Arlington County's. the City of Alexandria’s, and the District of Columbia's zoning ordinances prescribe the required number of bicycle parking spaces in each of their zoning districts. The parking ratios suggested by the Guidelines were determined after researching these ordinances, as well as bicycle parking ratios and guidance from multiple jurisdictions around the country.
Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff presented information about the Guidelines to the Board Transportation Committee on May 19, 2015 (Attachment II). The presentation discussed the various sections of the document, what the process currently entails without these guidelines, and examples of how the document would be used to guide bicycle parking as a part of development. The Board instructed the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to conduct further public outreach with the development community to supplement its previous outreach with the bicycle community.
FCDOT released an “Announcement to Industry” in November 2015, with a link to the Guidelines online and asked for feedback by the end of January 2016. The following is a summary of the comments received and the response by FDOT:
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the County as a result of this endorsement.
ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS:
AttachmentI: Fairfax County Bicycle Parking Guidelines
Attachment ll: Presentation to Board of Supervisors on May 19. 2015
STAFF:
Robert A. Stalzer, Deputy County Executive
Tom Biesiadny, Director, Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT)
Eric Teitelman, P.E.. Chief, Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division, FCDOT
Chris Wells, Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division. FCDOT
Adam Lind, Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division, FCDOT
ASSIGNED COUNSEL:
Joanna Faust, Assistant County Attorney
Sara G. Silverman, Assistant County Attorney
Endorsement of the Fairfax County Bicycle Parking Guidelines
ISSUE:
Board of Supervisors endorsement of the Fairfax County Bicycle Parking Guidelines (Attachment I).
RECOMMENDATION:
The County Executive recommends that the Board endorse the Fairfax County Bicycle Parking Guidelines (Guidelines) to provide guidance to the development community on the number, type. and location of bicycle parking proposed with new development.
TIMING:
Board action is requested on Febmary 14, 2017, to allow the recommendations in the Guidelines to be implemented expeditiously.
BACKGROUND:
Bicycle parking is needed for the County to meet its goals of encouraging multi-modal transportation as stated in the Comprehensive Plan. Residents who choose to bicycle need safe and secure locations to park when they visit friends and family, shop, and work. The type, quantity, and adequacy of bicycle parking that currently exists varies from location to location. The Guidelines will provide direction to facilitate adequate bicycle parking in all future development.
In the Washington D C . metropolitan area. Arlington County's. the City of Alexandria’s, and the District of Columbia's zoning ordinances prescribe the required number of bicycle parking spaces in each of their zoning districts. The parking ratios suggested by the Guidelines were determined after researching these ordinances, as well as bicycle parking ratios and guidance from multiple jurisdictions around the country.
Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff presented information about the Guidelines to the Board Transportation Committee on May 19, 2015 (Attachment II). The presentation discussed the various sections of the document, what the process currently entails without these guidelines, and examples of how the document would be used to guide bicycle parking as a part of development. The Board instructed the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to conduct further public outreach with the development community to supplement its previous outreach with the bicycle community.
FCDOT released an “Announcement to Industry” in November 2015, with a link to the Guidelines online and asked for feedback by the end of January 2016. The following is a summary of the comments received and the response by FDOT:
I. Comment: Short term bicycle parking ratios for commercial development appear to be high (1 space/20,000 sq. ft.) and location guidance within the streetscape may not be feasible.
Response: The FCDOT bicycle parking ratios were developed after a review of local and national jurisdictional bicycle parking rates, and are the same as Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. The guidance on bike rack location is the ideal siting, and may not always be possible. FCDOT understands the need to be flexible and work with developers on the design and location for bicycle parking.
II. Comment: Long term parking ratio in urban activity centers and transit station areas (117,500 sq. ft.) is high and location guidance may be difficult to meet.
Response: The FCDOT bicycle parking ratios were developed after a review of local and national jurisdictional bicycle parking rates, and are in line with these jurisdictions. The guidance on bike rack location is the ideal siting, and may not always be possible. FCDOT understands the need to be flexible and work with developers on the design and location for bicycle parking.
III. Comment: Guidance on wayfinding and bicycle parking signs should be included in the document.
Response: FCDOT added information about bicycle parking signage to the document.
IV. Comment: Fairfax County might want to look into the alternative framework in line with LEED v4 BD&C bicycle facility credit criteria, which is based on the use and projected number of visitors to a building (with an example of a data center or server farm).
Response: FCDOT selected to use the model many of the surrounding jurisdictions use and recommended by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Bicycle Parking Guidelines, which identifies bicycle parking rates by building use and size. However, adjustments may be appropriate, depending on the building use. Adjustments can be discussed on a case by case basis.
In addition to these specific comments, many stylistic comments were received and incorporated into the document.Response: The FCDOT bicycle parking ratios were developed after a review of local and national jurisdictional bicycle parking rates, and are the same as Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. The guidance on bike rack location is the ideal siting, and may not always be possible. FCDOT understands the need to be flexible and work with developers on the design and location for bicycle parking.
II. Comment: Long term parking ratio in urban activity centers and transit station areas (117,500 sq. ft.) is high and location guidance may be difficult to meet.
Response: The FCDOT bicycle parking ratios were developed after a review of local and national jurisdictional bicycle parking rates, and are in line with these jurisdictions. The guidance on bike rack location is the ideal siting, and may not always be possible. FCDOT understands the need to be flexible and work with developers on the design and location for bicycle parking.
III. Comment: Guidance on wayfinding and bicycle parking signs should be included in the document.
Response: FCDOT added information about bicycle parking signage to the document.
IV. Comment: Fairfax County might want to look into the alternative framework in line with LEED v4 BD&C bicycle facility credit criteria, which is based on the use and projected number of visitors to a building (with an example of a data center or server farm).
Response: FCDOT selected to use the model many of the surrounding jurisdictions use and recommended by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Bicycle Parking Guidelines, which identifies bicycle parking rates by building use and size. However, adjustments may be appropriate, depending on the building use. Adjustments can be discussed on a case by case basis.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the County as a result of this endorsement.
ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS:
AttachmentI: Fairfax County Bicycle Parking Guidelines
Attachment ll: Presentation to Board of Supervisors on May 19. 2015
STAFF:
Robert A. Stalzer, Deputy County Executive
Tom Biesiadny, Director, Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT)
Eric Teitelman, P.E.. Chief, Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division, FCDOT
Chris Wells, Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division. FCDOT
Adam Lind, Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division, FCDOT
ASSIGNED COUNSEL:
Joanna Faust, Assistant County Attorney
Sara G. Silverman, Assistant County Attorney
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