Last month the Tri-State Transportation Campaign submitted comments on the Connecticut Statewide Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Update. The state’s original plan to encourage biking and walking dates from 1999, so this update is necessary. But it’s also overdue. According to the plan’s website, ConnDOT is updating the plan due to changes in federal transportation policy. But the current law governing nearly all federal transportation policy, SAFETEA-LU, is set to expire this fall, meaning parts of the plan could almost immediately be obsolete. (However, SAFETEA-LU may be extended for up to 18 months.)
The draft update to the plan recommends that ConnDOT assume more of the cost of building sidewalks, as municipalities have said they often have trouble meeting a required 20% local match for sidewalk construction. It also recommends that the department establish funding targets for bike and pedestrian projects, better track those projects, and increase the number of staff working on bike/ped issues.
In comments, Tri-State recommended that the final plan include more specific funding recommendations, measurable performance goals like a commitment to build 350 miles of bicycle infrastructure over 5 years, and substantive policy changes that would build upon recently passed “complete streets” legislation. These include:
- Implementing “Safe Routes for Seniors” and “Safe Routes to Transit” safe streets programs, modeled after similar programs in New York and New Jersey and the federal Safe Routes to School program.
- Ensuring that bicycles are allowed access on Metro-North trains at all times and the creation and implementation of a bicycle sharing program at stops along Connecticut Metro-North stations.
- Designating at least 10% of federal road safety and air pollution grants to bicycle and pedestrian programs. (The grants come from the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Improvement Program and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality accounts.)
This plan will lay the groundwork for ConnDOT’s bicycle and pedestrian support for the next six years. It should reflect the growing support for these modes of transportation.
There has to be some plan in action to reduce risk to pedestrians and bicyclists. Maybe designated bike lanes with raised sidewalks to ride is a great start.
Riding a bike has become very dangerous. There is way too much car traffic on the roads now. In order to feel safe on a bike we need lanes with at least raised curbs between bike traffic and cars. This will take cash. I say add a dollar to the price of gasoline to pay for it. That should get folks in more efficient cars and get the bike lanes done.
Bill Oram, Liberal and proud of it.