Help Support Complete Streets!
February 11, 2011
Dear Friends of the Linn County Trails Association,
As an organization that advocates for trail usage and development in Linn County, we want to share this important piece of proposed legislation with you.
The Complete Streets Bill, HF 59, has been introduced in the Iowa House and calls for the adoption and implementation of complete streets principles applicable to certain highway projects. The bill establishes design guidelines to accommodate all users including bicycles and pedestrians.
Complete Streets is a concept promoted by the National Complete Streets Coalition (www.completestreets.org). This organization “seeks to fundamentally transform the look, feel, and function of the roads and streets in our community, by changing the way most roads are planned, designed, and constructed (www.completestreets.org/who-we-are).
In October of 2008, the City of Cedar Rapids created the Bicycle Advisory Committee which is responsible for moving Cedar Rapids towards Bicycle Friendly Community status designation from the League of American Bicyclists. Not only does the Complete Streets principle support the application of the Bicycle Friendly Community status, but also the mission of the Linn County Trails Association. Complete Streets principles promote safety, health, economic development, and improved livability. Walking, running, bicycling are important activities for a healthful community. Accommodating all users on street right-of-way is an economical way to provide connectivity so a user can go from "anywhere" to "anywhere". While LCTA supports separated trails, they are not always possible or economical for complete connectivity, hence we need complete streets.
There is much work to be done in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area to be designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community. The local communities cannot do it alone, but HF 59 can help. According to National Complete Streets Coalition, two Iowa communities have a resolution or a policy already in place supporting Complete Streets (Des Moines and Johnson County, respectively). The Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMPO) has also adopted a Long Range Transportation Plan Document that includes complete streets design principles (www.connections2040.com). Chapter 7 addresses complete streets.
As a supporter of LCTA, please contact your government representatives to encourage them to adopt these principles. The State of Iowa should adopt Bill HF 59 to support the efforts of our local communities.
Below is more information on the Complete Streets Bill, HF 59, and email addresses of key state representatives. Please consider notifying your representatives of you interest and concern on this matter. Bill HF 59 (only 4 pages long) can be found on the LCTA website: www.linncountytrails.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact LCTA President, John Wauer at president@linncountytrails.com.
Thank you,
LCTA Board
To read the full bill, click here.
The following is a direct copy of Bill HF 59 summary:
This bill provides a mechanism for the implementation of “complete streets” principles in highway projects undertaken on Iowa roads. The bill defines “complete street” as a roadway that accommodates all users of the road including motorists, public transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The bill expresses the general assembly’s intent that every agency having jurisdiction over roads or involved in planning for roads shall develop and adopt a complete streets policy on or before October 1, 2013. Affected agencies include the department of transportation, regional and metropolitan planning commissions, counties, and cities. The complete streets policy for the state shall apply to all highway projects on primary roads, and the policies of other agencies shall focus on roads in urban areas or within one mile of the corporate limits of a city. All complete streets policies shall contain a procedure by which an agency may exempt a highway project from the agency’s complete streets policy for specific reasons stated in the bill. The department of transportation is directed to provide guidance to local agencies and conduct ongoing research regarding complete streets to assist agencies formulating complete streets policies. The director of transportation is required to issue by October 1, 2012, and periodically update, a report describing best practices of transportation agencies in other states that have implemented complete streets principles. The bill creates a complete streets fund for deposit of any federal, state, or private moneys available for purposes of complete streets. Moneys deposited in the fund are appropriated to the department of transportation to be used to facilitate complete streets projects on secondary roads and municipal streets.
Email addresses:
Iowa House
33 Kirsten Running-Marquardt [email protected]
34 Todd Taylor [email protected]
35 Kraig Paulsen [email protected]
36 Nick Wagner [email protected]
37 Renee Schulte [email protected]
38 Tyler Olson [email protected]
BAC Newsletter
MARION DESIGNATED AS AN IOWA GREAT PLACE
Marion was selected by the State of Iowa as an Iowa Great Place. The Great Places designation creates a partnership between the State of Iowa and the Place, with benefits: technical assistance for project implementation, additional consideration for grant applications, state historic tax credits, publicity and Iowa Great Places grant funds. Marion was awarded a $25,000 Iowa Great Places grant for trail construction along an abandoned railroad line to allow pedestrian and bicycle usage between Marion and Cedar Rapids. Marion matched the grant with local option sales tax funds. The City of Marion citizens’ committee, All Trails Lead to Marion, helps raise funds, build awareness and advise the Marion Parks Department and Linn County Trails Association in designing and routing trails and green space along the central corridor in Marion. It also works toward improving, connecting and expanding existing trails to adjacent trail networks and communities. www.iowagreatplaces.gov
IOWA GOES BY BICYCLE PROGRAM
Iowa Goes By Bicycle is a campaign to get more Iowans riding their bicycles for transportation and recreation. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition is sponsoring the Iowa Goes By Bicycle Challenge www.iowagoesbybicycle.com. Sign up, bicycle more often, and log your minutes to win bike gear. The Iowa Goes By Bicycle Guide is a how-to-anything bicycle manual and travel/trail guide available in April.
To see the full newsletter click here
City Manager Meet & Greet Postponed!
The City of Cedar Rapids is postponing the three special events scheduled for this week for residents to meet City Manager Jeff Pomeranz due to winter storm conditions. The three “City Manager Meet & Greet” events that were scheduled for February 1, 2 and 3 will be rescheduled for a later time.
City of Cedar Rapids FY12 Trails CIP Budget
The City of Cedar Rapids has published the FY12 Capital Improvement Program funds for trails. Check it out:
Grant Funding Supported:
Dry Creek Connection - $641,000
Kirkwood Connection Phase 2 - $1,506,700
City Funding Supported:
Cedar River Trail at CRANDIC RR - $30,000
MISC. Improvements - $60,000
Total FY12 Funding for Trails: $2,237,700
Collins Road underpass awarded $1.5 million
CEDAR RAPIDS - Plans to build an underpass of Collins Road at Lindale Mall are $1.5 million closer to reality. The underpass received the largest of 11 Clean Air Attainment Program funding awards from the Iowa Transportation Commission on Tuesday. The project would let pedestrians and bicyclists travel between Lindale Mall and the stores and homes to the north of Collins Road NE. The intersection will become more difficult to cross, because of plans to widen the stretch of Collins Road to six through lanes and five turn lanes.
Read more at: http://thegazette.com/2011/01/11/state-okays-1-5-million-for-collins-road-underpass-at-lindale/
The Bike Lane - City of CR BAC Newsletter - Dec 2010
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS BICYCLE AMBASSADORS 1st Place Best Use of Light in Holiday Parade
The City of Cedar Rapids Bicycle Advisory Committee and Bicycle Ambassadors won first place for Best Use of Light in the Cedar Rapids Holiday Delight Parade on Dec. 4 Thanks everyone for lighting up your bike! A large group of about 60 or so cyclists, with all types of bikes, holiday lights and décor, gathered at Coopacabana for some pre-parade cheer. We rolled slowly along the parade route to the delight of the parade watchers. A fun time was had by all and, afterward, many of us met for post-parade cheer at Parlor City, Al’s Blue Toad, Chrome Horse and New Shack Tavern. Last year we won first place for Best Decorated Vehicle. We are planning to have an entry in the parade next year also. Mediacom will air the holiday parade throughout the month of December on channel 22.
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS COMPREHENSIVE TRAILS PLAN APPROVAL PROCESS
One of the City of Cedar Rapids City Council’s new committees will be the Public Works Committee, made up of some City Council members, the Public Works Director, and others to be appointed, with the City Manager functioning as an advisor. The committee will oversee the annual Capital Improvement Project process, the status of the City’s trails plan, construction projects, the sidewalk plan and assessment policies. The Comprehensive Trails Plan is to be presented (date to be determined) to this committee, as the first step in the City Council process to approve the plan. The committee will decide if and when the plan will be presented to City Council for approval at a City Council meeting. For more information about the Comprehensive Trails Plan visit Shive-Hattery’s project tracker http://www.shivehattery.com/CRTrails/index.html
CEMAR TRAIL PHASE 1 AND PHASE 3 SCHEDULE
Funding for CEMAR Trail Phase 1 is in the City of Cedar Rapids proposed FY12 budget. If City Council approves this item in the budget, the anticipated start of construction is Summer 2012. CEMAR Trail Phase 1 will begin at the Cedar Lake Loop Trail on Shaver Rd and end at Prairie Dr NE. CEMAR Trail Phase 2, beginning at Prairie Dr and ending at 29th St NE, was completed Fall 2010. Landscaping for Phase 2 will be done in Spring 2011. The City will pursue grant funding for CEMAR Trail Phase 3 in 2011, with possible construction in 2014. This will complete the 2.8 mile CEMAR Trail and connect downtown Cedar Rapids to Marion.
Upcoming Events:
New Year's Eve Last Race of the Year 5k
GPS Fun in the Snow
Snowshoe Walk
Winter Native American Skills
7th Annual Winterfest
Indian Creek Nature Center 4th Annual Paddle Fest
Iowa Bicycle Summit & RAGBRAI Announcement
City of Cedar Rapids Bicycle Advisory Committee
www.facebook.com/bikecr
Annual Event Reminder!
Please join the LCTA Board of Directors for an annual reception to take a look back at the past year and what to look forward to in 2011! Please RSVP to [email protected] if you can join us! Details are:
Wine & Beer Tasting
Appetizers Included
Benz Beverage Depot
December 7th, 5:30 - 7:30
For more information contact:
ANNOUNCEMENT/INVITATION TO ATTEND:
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING CEMAR TRAIL & TRAILS MASTER PLAN
Please join us for an informal neighborhood meeting discussing CEMAR recreational trail and related projects
Hosted by:
Ms. Monica Vernon, Mayor Protem
Monday, November 22, 2010
5:00pm
Flaherty Community Room in Basile Hall, Mount Mercy University Campus
For more information contact:
Maddie Cafferty
Public Works Information Officer
City of Cedar Rapids Public Works Department
Office: (319) 286-5802
[email protected]
2010 Summer Newsletter Available!
The Summer 2010 Trails Connections is available for download.
Full of the lastest trail news and information. Click link below or visit our "Documents" page:
[download id="4507"]
Bicycle Advisory Committee Newsletter
Cedar Rapids Bicycle Advisory Committee publishes a montly newsletter.
Click here to down load the November edition: BAC Newsletter November
Items in the newsletter include:
- Holiday Delight Parade
- Cemar Trail Phase 2 Update
- Upcoming Events
- CRPD "Get Booked" Program
- Safe Routes to School Webinars