Lochmueller created a Regional Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan to guide the agencies within the Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO) boundaries on the future regional investments in active transportation infrastructure and programming to provide safe, practical, comfortable, and convenient pedestrian and bicycle travel for residents, businesses, and visitors. The first major non-mandatory plan for the budding MPO, this active transportation plan will advance SEMPO’s initiative in planning for future health, safety, and success of communities within the region.
Lochmueller worked closely with the Study Oversight Team to produce a comprehensive assessment that serves as a valuable tool for future transportation planning. The values and qualities identified as being important to achieving a successful Plan included a multimodal and connected network that serves a variety of purposes; safe for all ages and abilities; and an education program that aspires to legitimize non-motorized modes of transportation where people walking, bicycling, and driving can cooperatively and respectfully use the network together.
The Plan was grounded in a combination of infrastructure and education. To achieve this, the Plan utilized the “Five E’s” approach and addressed Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, and Evaluation. The product was a Plan that clearly outlined short- and long-term projects and programs and provided direction regarding regional priorities that can be adjusted as connections or opportunities arise.
The Plan analyzed the regional trail, on-street bicycle, and pedestrian networks to connect local and regional attractions, and find routes that would be accessible for all ages, abilities, and incomes. In addition to measuring accessibility to these networks, pedestrian level of service (PLOS) and Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (BLTS) were calculated to determine existing deficiencies and to determine where employee and residential populations were underserved. These calculations, along with public input, informed the various routes connecting the Cape Girardeau-Jackson region and associated implementation priorities.
Lochmueller also led the public engagement portions of the project, including open houses, an online survey, an interactive online mapping activity, and social media.
