Medford Township: A Profile

Background
Towns that have identified improvements to encourage bicycling and walking, but struggle to find funding for them, should consider Medford Township’s experience when looking for ideas and inspiration. Over the past 10 years, this Burlington County township of just over 22,000 residents has implemented an extensive bicycle plan, building new bicycle facilities and adopting a land development ordinance that provides for the funding of bicycle and pedestrian projects.

 

Creating a Bicycle Network Plan
Medford’s improvements have been made with support and guidance from residents gained at public meetings, as well as through a 20-member volunteer bicycle committee that worked with the township council in planning new facilities and links to existing networks. After the bicycle committee developed recommendations, the township turned to the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) Local Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Assistance (LPA) program for assistance.

 

Working with a consultant provided by NJDOT through the LPA program, Medford’s planning administrator and engineer developed a “Bicycle Network Plan.” Completed in 2002, the plan features recommended

pedestrian and bicycle facilities, area maps, potential funding sources, and cost estimates for project implementation. The plan mapped out general recommendations for intersection improvements, such as bicycle lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks, and issued specific recommendations for each intersection included in the study.

 

More than 70 residents attended a public meeting to discuss the plan before it was approved and incorporated into the township’s master plan. Medford then applied for federal funding and won a $300,000 grant. Because the grant could not cover the full cost of the bicycle network, the township worked with NJDOT to divide the improvements into two phases.

 

Having completed property agreements for the first phase of the plan, the township expects to begin construction within the next six months. The improvements will include striping for bicycle lanes, creating zebra-style crosswalks, constructing sidewalk connections to existing facilities, and installing signs to alert drivers to yield or share the road.

Developing a Dedicated Fund

Medford created a dedicated fund through a land development ordinance which requires developers either to provide bicycle and pedestrian facilities in new projects or contribute to the fund. The dedicated