ReImaginging

ALBANY’S

STREETS

Thanks to a concerted effort from Mayor Sheehan and the Common Council, the City of Albany has made major strides in improving safety and quality of life on Albany’s streets. But there’s more work to be done! These recent improvements are just the first steps toward creating a city with safer, people-first streets that deliver a higher quality of life for everyone in our communities.

To envision these next steps, Capital Streets presents “Reimagining Albany’s Streets”: a policy plan for the City of Albany.

APPROACH

  • The City must officially adopt Vision Zero as a policy goal to lay the foundation for transformative changes to the transportation system and city operations around transportation. This will also set up the City to apply for implementation grants when the regional Vision Zero Safety Action Plan is completed.

    • Currently Vision Zero is mentioned in the Mayor’s budgets from 2024 and 2025, and the City is participating in a regional Vision Zero Safety Action Plan. However, there is no official policy or implementation strategy on the books.

  • Once the City adopts an official Vision Zero policy goal, we recommend a package of local laws and budget changes to implement Vision Zero.

    • The Vision Zero Policy provides a basis for reviewing and potentially modifying any City policy, operational standard, and/or budget related to road safety. Ex: With a Vision Zero policy in place there is strong cause to review and amend the City’s Complete Streets ordinance to prioritize implementation.

  • Below is a menu of policy/budget recommendations:

    • Capital Streets staff is available to work with Councilmembers to draft legislation.

If you have any questions about Capital Streets’ "Reimagining Albany’s Streets” initiative, please email jackie@capitalstreets.org or kyle@capitalstreets.org

POLICY AND BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Enact the Traffic Signal Policy Ordinance (Draft).

  • Require that a portion of funds from school speed zone camera revenues be designated for pedestrian improvements and maintenance around schools

    • Depending on revenue other facilities like parks, community centers, etc. may also be prioritized.

  • Officially adopt the 2021 City of Albany Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and inform relevant departments that implementation of this plan is a priority for the City.

  • Amend the City of Albany 2013 Complete Streets Ordinance

    • Require a 2-3 year time horizon on paving projects, with public announcements, as recommended in the City of Albany Complete Street Design Guidelines.

    • Reference the City of Albany Complete Street Design Guidelines - which were adopted along with the Albany 2030 Comprehensive Plan - within the City’s Complete Streets Ordinance.
      - The ordinance currently says that design guidelines will be developed, but this step was completed in 2016.

    • Change the bi-annual report requirement to require every project to fill-in a complete streets checklist as recommended in the City of Albany Complete Street Design Guidelines. The guidelines also provide an example checklist. Require these checklists to be made public for transparency purposes.

  • Require one bike/ped/active transportation design expert within the Department of Engineering. This may be a new hire, or an existing staff member may be assigned to this role and provided training to build expertise as needed.

  • Update salaries for the Department of Engineering to empower them to hire skilled staff.

  • Require and fund the Department of Engineering to have at least one dedicated grant writer/administrator.

    • This position will look ahead at scheduled paving projects, align projects with recommendations made within City planning documents, and apply for external funding (TAP/CMAQ, TIP, etc.).

    • Complete Streets improvements during regular maintenance projects are mandated under the City’s Complete Streets Ordinance. These improvements may make regular maintenance projects eligible for supplemental funding through road improvement programs.

  • Adopt a formal quick-build policy and program to streamline implementation of street improvements.

  • Create a GIS/Data Analytics department to support all City departments that handle critical infrastructure and long term planning.

    • Currently, each department hires their own GIS staff and sets their own standards, which creates issues coordinating across departments.

    • This group will track indicators and metrics - like crash data - to track success and support department staff and decision makers.

    • This group will inventory physical assets throughout the City for coordination and improved efficiency on maintenance and/or improvement projects (ex: aligning stormwater maintenance with regular street maintenance work).