Active Transportation

In order to preserve the traditions and plan for the future of Hanover Village, we are excited to announce that the Village of Hanover is developing an Active Transportation Plan (ATP) to enhance walking and biking facilities within the region. The ATP centers around connecting the heart of Hanover to the surrounding townships by means of bike paths, sidewalks, trails, pedestrian tunnels and bridges. The intent is to highlight our natural resources and to create the opportunity for people to get outside and engaged in a healthy lifestyle, while following responsible development as dictated by the Village’s Comprehensive Plan, Forward Together. Your involvement is vital for this initiative, as it will shape the future of our community by identifying priority projects and expressing the community's needs as the Village seeks funding for improvements. The ATP is being steered by local stakeholders and produced by the Licking County Area Transportation Study (LCATS), but would not be a community plan without including your voices!

We are asking for your insights and opinions on the current state of local nonmotorized infrastructure as well as your recommendations and improvements for the future. Of the projects currently recommended by LCATS and stakeholders, some, like crosswalks, bike racks, sidewalk and trail segments are easily funded and executed upon in the short to medium term (3-10 years), while others, such as bridges, tunnels, and longer trail and sidewalk segments are part of a long term vision and might take many years (10-20+) to realize. This ATP will provide a strong foundation for acquiring federal and state funding to complete these various projects, with many of these funding sources providing up to 80% of the project cost. Some of these funding sources, such as LCATS federal monies are obtained through a project application and programming process, while others will have to be obtained through state or federal grant applications. This document will strengthen the aforementioned grant applications as it shows planning efforts with oversight to a community supported built environment. We, therefore, hope you keep an open mind with the scope and scale of some of the recommended projects as you engage with our survey map.

How to Take Part in the Survey:

1. Visit our survey website:  www.wikimapping.com/Hanover.html

2. Complete the survey—it will take approximately 10 minutes of your time.

3. Share the survey link with family, friends, and neighbors.

The survey is available from 3/18/2024 to 5/31/2024. Please make sure to share your thoughts before the deadline!

IMPORTANT things to keep in mind:

• The survey and draft project map are abstract long-term visioning and representative of desired connections, but there is no intent, plan, nor any legal support for eminent domain of personal property for proposed projects. Therefore, we ask you to try to keep your visioning along the existing right of way when possible. Please note that if proposed projects do not follow those constraints, we will retrofit them to existing right of way, as this is the most feasible and best practice for property owners and the Village.
• LCATS staff members will be out in the community in public areas in the coming months collecting data for the ATP. This may include setting up data collection devices including pedestrian and vehical counting equipment. This equipment does not collect or store any personal identifying information or images of residents or vistors in the village. LCATS staff will always have on high visability vests and carry Licking County Government identification and are more than happy to answer any questions you might have if you see them in the community working. LCATS staff WILL NOT be accessing any private property.

Community Workshop

Join us at our upcoming community workshop on April 22^nd in the Media Center of Licking Valley High School where we will discuss the ATP and provide any necessary technical assistance with the survey.

Questions?

Contact Wil Lloyd at 740-670-5215 or [email protected] if you have any questions or require assistance with the survey.

Active Transportation Plans (ATPs) are documents that provide a roadmap for improved walking and bicycling conditions (as well as other alternative forms of active transportation where they apply). The planning process includes steps for gathering input, building community support, and lays the groundwork for funding and implementing a wide variety of projects, programs, and policies. ATPs can take place at the regional, county, city, village, or neighborhood level. Plans may also address access to transit through active travel models.

Why is active transportation planning important?

• To connect people to everyday destinations (work, school, grocery stores, doctors, etc.)
• To provide facilities that enable residents to walk and bike safely
• Improved mobility options/connections to improve healthy living opportunities
• To make the community more convenient and accessible for walkers and bikers
• To provide residents with options for getting around other than by a personal vehicle
• A need to extend our connected shared-use/bike paths with on-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities

See our previous active transportation planning projects:

Granville Active Transportation Plan

Granville Village Planners worked closely alongside LCATS to craft a plan that represents Granville's needs and desires for stronger community connections and safety improvements to ensure a healthy walkable and bikeable town for future generations to enjoy as much as present generations do. See the plan by clicking on the cover image below!

Johnstown Active Transportation Plan

LCATS worked alongside the Village of Johnstown to create an active transportation plan that will assist Johnstown in creating a more walk-able and bike-able environment for citizens. These efforts built upon the existing infrastructure and plans of the Village and will be beneficial to secure funding to implement improvement projects. Take a look at the plan by clicking the cover image below!

Newark-Heath

We collaborated with the Licking County Health Department and Cities of Newark and Heath to  create an Active Transportation Plan and draft an improved bicycle and pedestrian network for Newark-Heath. These plans include several demonstration projects in the near future. The final plan can be viewed by clicking the cover image below!