MOUNT VERNON — Tami Ruhl, Creating Healthy Communities coordinator for Knox Public Health, gave a rundown of the county’s draft Active Transportation Plan to Mount Vernon City Council members on Monday.
Active transportation describes all of the ways to get around without using a motorized vehicle. It includes walking, biking, wheelchairs, scooters, skateboards, and public transit.
“We are working to make active transportation the easy choice in Knox County,” Ruhl said. “If someone is walking or biking to their destination, it means that they’re going to be physically active without going to the gym. In those being physically active, we’re going to see reduced rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes in the county.”
Ruhl said active transportation is good for the environment because it reduces chemicals being emitted into the environment. Financial benefits include no payment for a vehicle or fuel.
“We want to make sure that everyone of all ages and abilities are able to walk or bike if they choose to do so,” she said.
The planning process included evaluating existing documents, such as zoning codes, Safe Routes to School programs, community strategic and revitalization plans, and transportation plans, among others. Community members provided input through surveys and commenting on the plan at farmers markets and First Friday events.
Planning team members also rode Knox Area Transit’s mobility bus to get input from riders and talked with high school students to get their views.
The target communities for the plan are Mount Vernon, Centerburg, Danville, and Gambier as they are close to the existing trail system in the county. The plan notes that additional planning could take place to address needs in rural parts of the county.
The plan has three primary goals:
•Easy access to walking and biking
•Increase the acceptance of walking and biking
•Make sure walking and biking is accessible to all
Ruhl said the plan puts everything together that the city has been working on in its complete streets policy. Complete streets looks at a street from the view of a motorist, cyclist, and pedestrian.
It also fits in with the city’s just-completed master parks plan and pulls all of the data into one document.
“That means that when funding is available, it’s easy and accessible, and we can use this document to apply for funds for streets or sidewalks,” she said.
The plan notes that each jurisdiction already has made positive steps in promoting active transportation, but there are gaps. Recommendations include:
•Adding or repairing sidewalks
•Adding road markings or bike lanes to enhance safety
•Improving crosswalks with flashing beacons, enhanced trail crossing markings, and traffic calming devices such as curb bump-outs or refuge islands
Specific to Mount Vernon, recommendations include 19 sidewalk projects, nine trail/shared use paths, 10 bikeway projects, and 12 crossing improvements. Edgewood Road was the sole area in the traffic-calming category.
“I think it’s important to note that this plan is a living document, so as additional information becomes available, priorities may change,” Ruhl said.
Council members gave a first reading to a resolution supporting the plan in its legislative session.
