Wheels & Heels

Email news from MoDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator Caryn Giarratano

Greetings Windbenders,

Scenic Byway Program
I have been assigned a new responsibility -- coordinator of the Missouri Scenic Byways Program. I am looking forward to learning how we can connect this program to the bike/ped program to advance both in our state. See http://www.modot.mo.gov/business/outdoor_advertising/ScenicByways.htm.

Pilot Project
Congress designated Columbia and three other cities to each receive about $20 million to build an interconnected nonmotorized transportation system within the city to create a modal shift from the use of cars to bicycling and walking to reduce traffic congestion. The four cities are working together with the Federal Highway Administration to determine how to measure the baseline rate of current bicycle/pedestrian trips. Columbia is reviewing its present interconnected nonmotorized transportation plan, working out the necessary staffing, and appointing advisory and technical committees to work on planning and choosing projects. The ultimate decisions lie with the Columbia city council. It is hoped the first projects will be started during the next construction season.

See http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/.

Trailmap
The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee has created a state strategic plan, Missouri's Trailmap for Nonmotorized Transportation. The Trailmap is a guide for BPAC and potential partners. It is designed to increase the visibility of the bike/ped direction needed for Missouri, to enhance understanding of this direction and to build support with regular updates planned. The vision is to make Missouri a world-class state in which to bike and walk, and the mission is to promote a higher quality of life for all Missourians through safe and accessible nonmotorized transportation. This plan addresses bicycle and pedestrian needs in our state in four categories: engineering, enforcement, education and encouragement. Send comments to Caryn.

See http://www.modot.mo.gov/othertransportation/ bike_ped/BikePedProgram--BPAC.htm .

Bike Maps Make News
MoDOT released its first draft state bicycle maps in October. Comments were collected and updates to the maps are in progress. Some bicyclists asked for the inclusion of paved county and city roads. MoDOT does not currently have that information. MoDOT is in the process of adding national trail routes to the maps. Please see the maps for the Joplin area (District 7), the Springfield area (District 8), the south central area (District 9) and the southeast area (District 10) to view the proposed TransAmerica Trail route. Send comments to Caryn.

See http://www.modot.mo.gov/othertransportation/ bike_ped/Bike-PedProgram--RoadandRouteInfo.htm .

Plans to Create Katy Trail Spur
The city of Jefferson has received approval to receive $700,000 in transportation enhancement funds to develop the $898,000 Trailhead Park at the corner of Jefferson and Capital Avenue as the first step toward getting the Katy Trail extended across the Missouri River bridge and connecting it to the greenway system. The local match of $198,000 will come from Capital Improvement Sales Tax and Local Parks Sales Tax funds designated for greenway improvements as well as in-kind donations of land and project management services from the Missouri Office of Administration, Division of Design and Construction.

See http://www.bikekatytrail.com/jeffersoncity.asp.

State Statutes
We have updated copies of Missouri State Statutes regarding bicyclists and pedestrians that are printed on tyvek paper. Email me to request copies or see the MoDOT Web site to download an electronic copy http://www.modot.mo.gov/othertransportation/bike_ped/ BikePedPolicyandLegislation.htm .

MO SR2S Coordinator Hired
Todd Messenger has been selected as the coordinator for the Safe Routes to School Program. He has 12 years of experience with MoDOT serving as a district utilities engineer, highway designer, bridge inspector, construction inspector and survey crew instrument operator. He joined the Highway Safety Division January 17.

Tour de Missouri???
If you would like to be involved in the discussion stage regarding a professional bicycle race in Missouri, please contact Jody Larison in Governor Blunt's office at 573-751-2829 or email her at jody.larison@mo.gov.

Web Cam at Hermann Bridge
View the progress of the bridge construction, and watch bicycle and pedestrian accommodations be included!

See http://www.modot.mo.gov/hermannbridge.htm.

A New Game
You Decide How to Spend Transportation Funds - A funding allocation game, challenges players to take care of the state's roads and bridges, as well as other modes of transportation that include aviation, waterways, public transportation and rails. It offers questions about freight, safety, technology, bicyclists and pedestrians and shows players the current funding allocation MoDOT uses. The game is part of MoDOT's Missouri Advance Planning or MAP initiative, which is a long-range planning effort based on public participation. It includes a statewide dialogue about what Missouri's transportation system could and should do for its citizens and how best to fulfill the expectations.

See www.mapourfuture.org.

BP Funding Option
A new round of applications will be accepted February 1 to May 18 for the MoDOT Transportation Enhancement Program. This program will distribute $37.5 million in 2006 to eligible projects. Representatives of local agencies or registered non-for-profit organizations may apply if the proposed project meets at least one of the federally established 12 eligible funding categories. The categories include Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities, and Safety and Education Activities for Bicycles and Pedestrians. Contact Brad Temme at 573-522-6995, or see the new guide (after February 1) http://www.modot.mo.gov/business/manuals/localpublicagency.htm.

More Rail-Trail in St. Louis
The Great Rivers Greenway District has acquired a two-mile stretch of an abandoned rail corridor from the Mississippi River to downtown St. Louis. Originally part of the Illinois Traction System streetcar network, the corridor includes a historic steel trestle and will be developed by the GRGD as a biking and pedestrian route.

See http://www.confluencegreenway.org/m-whatsnew.php.

Missouri Fatality Rate Low
According to the 2004 Traffic Safety Facts from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Missouri ranks third lowest in bicyclist fatalities.

See http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2004/809912.pdf.

NATIONAL NEWS

Safe Routes to School Model
The new federal transportation law, SAFETEA-LU, requires each state department of transportation to hire one full-time Safe Routes to School Coordinator. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and the League of Illinois Bicyclists have created a model for other states to follow.

See
http://www.biketraffic.org/downloads/SR2S .

National SR2S Guidance
The Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety will provide guidance through its Web site at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/index.htm or contact Tim Arnade, Safe Routes to School Program Manager, FHWA Office of Safety, 202-366-2205, tim.arnade@fhwa.dot.gov. Bikes Belong has information to help set up local Safe Routes to School programs.

See http://bikesbelong.org/site/page.cfm?PageID=294.

Spotlight on Bikes Belong
This group is the national coalition of bicycle suppliers and retailers working together to put more people on bicycles more often. Through national leadership, grassroots support and promotion, the group works to make bicycling safe, convenient and fun. It helped gain $4.5 billion for bicyclists and pedestrians in the federal transportation law, provides seed money for the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and gives cash grants for bicycle projects that leverage federal funding.

Goals achieved in 2005 include the following:

* Funded the successful campaign that secured $4.5 billion in new federal funding for bicycling and walking

* Launched the Safe Routes to School National Partnership to boost the new national Safe Routes to School program

* Continued as lead sponsor of the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Communities program; Served as title sponsor for the National Bike Summit--the powerful annual lobbying event on Capitol Hill

* Awarded $160,000 in grassroots grants across the country to build more facilities and get more people riding bikes

* Completed a full-color booklet, Bicycling: Moving America Forward, to portray the benefits of bicycling in America

* Collected $30,000 in individual donations for BikesPAC, and contributed the money to campaigns of members of Congress who support bicycling.

See http://bikesbelong.org.

Draft Public Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelines
The US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has draft guidelines, which address accessibility in the public rights of way. The board will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking at a future date and will solicit comments at that time, prior to issuing a final rule.
See http://tinyurl.com/9ugsw and http://tinyurl.com/7nzmd.

OTHER NEWS

When Can Johnny Walk to School Again?
As students at Fairfield Senior High School in suburban Cincinnati headed back to school this year, they got a message from the local police: Don't even think about walking. Law officers issued the warning after the school district eliminated bus service for high school kids during a budget crisis. The school, built in 1997, is set among busy, multi-lane roads with no sidewalks; even students living within a mile of the school were taking the bus if they didn't go by car. Police were terrified about kids trying to navigate that dangerous environment on foot.

See http://www.nsbn.org/articles/item.php?id=131.

Bike Skyways Designed
Toronto (Canada) architect Chris Hardwicke has created an interesting conceptual design, a network of elevated tubes above the city for bikes. Using a fluid-dynamics system, bicyclists would always have a tailwind while traveling in the tubes, permitting higher than average travel speeds.

See http://www.velo-city.ca/MainFrameset.htm.

New Vehicle "Sees" Pedestrians
A car capable of spotting pedestrians who stray into the road is called the Save-U system. Developed by a consortium including Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler and several other technical companies, a prototype has already undergone successful testing in the UK.

See http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8574.

Pedestrians Have Speed Limits in Ireland
The Irish government is cracking down on reckless pedestrians in Dublin. New speed limits will be imposed on pedestrians walking along busy city centre streets such as Grafton St and Henry St.

See http://tinyurl.com/9cy2r

INTERESTING WEBSITES

Walkable Community Information
America's Walking list - http://tinyurl.com/98llo
Cool Town Studios' list - http://tinyurl.com/7utb6
E Podunk's list - http://tinyurl.com/8sebm
America Walks - http://tinyurl.com/b2cz8

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Adventure Cycling http://www.adventurecycling.org
American Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals http://www.apbp.org/
Bikes Belong Coalition http://www.bikesbelong.org
BPC Contact Info http://www.bikewalk.org/contacts_links/state_bikeped_coord.htm
Channing-Bete Company www.channing-bete.com
Columbia PedNet Coalition http://www.pednet.org
Complete the Streets www.completestreets.org
Institute of Transportation Engineers http://www.ite.org/
League of American Bicyclists http://www.bikeleague.org,
bill@bikeleague.org
MRT Listserv http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mississippirivertrail/ and
http://mississippirivertrail.org
Missouri Bicycle Federation www.mobikefed.org, brent@brenthugh.com
National Center for Bicycling & Walking http://www.bikewalk.org,
info@bikewalk.org
Rails to Trails Conservancy http://www.railtrails.org/,
membership@railtrails.org
Traffic Safety Center http://www.tsc.berkeley.edu/
Transportation Research Board http://www.trb.org, rhouston@nas.edu
Victoria Transport Policy Institute litman@vtpi.org, http://www.vtpi.org

CALENDAR

March 1-3: National Bike Summit, Washington, D.C. See http://tinyurl.com/b92du

March 28-30: Transportation and Economic Development 2006, Little Rock, AR.
Contact Mark Norman at MNorman@nas.edu, http://tinyurl.com/am3hk.

May 9-11: Thunderhead Training, Washington, D.C. See http://www.thunderheadalliance.org.

May 15-19: Bike to Work/School Week.

May 17: Ride of Silence at 7 p.m. to honor bicyclists killed or injured
while riding on the road. See www.rideofsilence.org.

June 1-4: Congress for New Urbanism, Providence, RI. See http://www.cnu.org.

September 5-8: ProWalk/ProBike, the 14th International Conference on
Bicycling and Walking in Madison, WI. See http://www.mononaterrace.com/.

Please forward this newsletter to anyone you feel may be interested. If you
are not on the mailing list and would like to be added, please tell me!

Tailwinds, Caryn

Caryn Giarratano, Ph.D.
MoDOT Transportation Planning Coordinator
Bicycle and Pedestrian Program/Scenic Byways
573-522-9297, caryn.giarratano [at] modot.mo.gov
P.O.Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270, 573-526-8052 (fax)
www.modot.mo.gov/othertransportation/bike_ped/ Bikepedprogramintro.htm permanent link to article: "Wheels and Heels - January 2006"
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