Thursday, July 14, 2011
Route 71 Key Route Improvement Presentation
The MBTA has published the presentation made on June 21, 2011 to Watertown residents concerning proposed changes to the Route 71 trackless trolley between Watertown Square and Harvard Station. A set of preliminary recommendations were also published.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
MAPC's Amazing Trailmap!
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is a regional planning agency serving the people who live and work in the 101 cities and towns of Metropolitan Boston.
We work toward sound municipal management, sustainable land use, protection of natural resources, efficient and affordable transportation, a diverse housing stock, public safety, economic development, an informed public, and equity and opportunity among people of all backgrounds.
One of their most recently accomplishments is the brand-new fully up-to-date Boston Metropolitan Area Bicycle Trailmap!
We work toward sound municipal management, sustainable land use, protection of natural resources, efficient and affordable transportation, a diverse housing stock, public safety, economic development, an informed public, and equity and opportunity among people of all backgrounds.
One of their most recently accomplishments is the brand-new fully up-to-date Boston Metropolitan Area Bicycle Trailmap!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Watertown Traffic Commission Opening
This message comes from the Watertown Town Manager via Watertown Patch. The following is copied verbatim from this link. The purpose of posting it here is to give information about about a position which is available that may influence positive changes for bicycle/pedestrian issues in Watertown.
Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking Watertown citizens interested in serving on the Traffic Commission.
Vacancy/Term: One Member - Two Year Term.
The duties and responsibilities of the Traffic Commission shall include: study the traffic situation in the Town and shall suggest and advise the Town Manager in ways and means to regulate traffic in the Town and recommend changes and amendments to the Traffic Rules and Orders of the Town with a view towards reducing accidents and relieving traffic congestion. The Traffic Commission meets the last Wednesday of each month.
Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to townmgr@watertown-ma.gov or Town Manager's Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472.
Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking Watertown citizens interested in serving on the Traffic Commission.
Vacancy/Term: One Member - Two Year Term.
The duties and responsibilities of the Traffic Commission shall include: study the traffic situation in the Town and shall suggest and advise the Town Manager in ways and means to regulate traffic in the Town and recommend changes and amendments to the Traffic Rules and Orders of the Town with a view towards reducing accidents and relieving traffic congestion. The Traffic Commission meets the last Wednesday of each month.
Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to townmgr@watertown-ma.gov or Town Manager's Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Congresspeople Against Transportation Enhancements
This message comes from the League of American Bicyclists. They urge you to take action to contact your Senators and Representative today to advocate for important legislation.
Lawmakers threaten to end Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Rec Trails Programs.
Key Congressional leaders are attacking Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational trails and are taking steps to cut off dedicated federal funding for bicycling and walking.
House Transportation Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced today that his transportation bill will eliminate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking, including Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program, and discourages states from choosing to spend their dollars on these activities that are “not in the federal interest.” Chairman Mica’s statement that these programs remain “eligible” for funding is worthless; without dedicated funding for these three programs, they are effectively eliminated.
Things on the Senate side are not much better. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate ‘frivolous spending for bike trails.’ This is in direct conflict with Senator Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) commitment to maintain dedicated funding for biking and walking. However, the Senate is working towards a bi-partisan solution, and Senator Inhofe’s comments mean funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs is at risk of total elimination.
Help protect Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails. Contact your Members of Congress and tell them to reach out to Senators Inhofe, Boxer, and Congressman Mica to urge them to continue funding for these important bicycling and walking programs.
Need some good facts to bolster your argument? Read on:
Not in the federal interest? Biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips in the US – even as funding for biking and walking projects only accounts for 1.5% of the federal transportation budget. That is more than 4 billion bicycle trips and 40 billion walking trips a year, including trips to work, school, shopping and for recreation and tourism.
Frivolous? Two-thirds of all pedestrian deaths are on federally funded highways. One-third of children’s traffic deaths happen when children are walking or bicycling and are struck by cars. Bicycling and walking programs build sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeways—improving accessibility and saving lives.
The Facts:
We need every Senator to tell Senators Boxer and Inhofe that bicycling and walking are vital parts of our transportation system, and that there must be dedicated funding for sidewalks, bike lanes and trails to ensure that bicyclists and pedestrians are safe. And we need every Representative in the House to tell Chairman Mica the same.
Please contact your Senators and Representatives TODAY to tell them that bicycling and walking are a critical part of a safe and equitable transportation system. Ask them to tell Representative Mica and Senators Boxer and Inhofe that a federal transportation bill must continue dedicated funding for bicycling and walking.
Lawmakers threaten to end Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Rec Trails Programs.
Key Congressional leaders are attacking Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational trails and are taking steps to cut off dedicated federal funding for bicycling and walking.
House Transportation Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced today that his transportation bill will eliminate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking, including Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program, and discourages states from choosing to spend their dollars on these activities that are “not in the federal interest.” Chairman Mica’s statement that these programs remain “eligible” for funding is worthless; without dedicated funding for these three programs, they are effectively eliminated.
Things on the Senate side are not much better. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate ‘frivolous spending for bike trails.’ This is in direct conflict with Senator Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) commitment to maintain dedicated funding for biking and walking. However, the Senate is working towards a bi-partisan solution, and Senator Inhofe’s comments mean funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs is at risk of total elimination.
Help protect Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails. Contact your Members of Congress and tell them to reach out to Senators Inhofe, Boxer, and Congressman Mica to urge them to continue funding for these important bicycling and walking programs.
Need some good facts to bolster your argument? Read on:
Not in the federal interest? Biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips in the US – even as funding for biking and walking projects only accounts for 1.5% of the federal transportation budget. That is more than 4 billion bicycle trips and 40 billion walking trips a year, including trips to work, school, shopping and for recreation and tourism.
Frivolous? Two-thirds of all pedestrian deaths are on federally funded highways. One-third of children’s traffic deaths happen when children are walking or bicycling and are struck by cars. Bicycling and walking programs build sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeways—improving accessibility and saving lives.
The Facts:
- Biking and walking are important forms of transportation, and funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements is a very efficient use of federal transportation dollars. Portland, OR built 300 miles of bike lanes and trails for the cost of one mile of highway.
- These projects create jobs and build local economies. Building bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure creates 46% more jobs than building road-only projects per million dollars spent. Cities that invest in bicycle and pedestrian projects turn downtowns into destinations, and capitalize on increased business activity.
- Eliminating the 1.5% of transportation funding spent on bike/ped would have no meaningful impact on the federal budget, but instead, decreases transportation options for American families in a time of rising gas prices and an uncertain economy.
We need every Senator to tell Senators Boxer and Inhofe that bicycling and walking are vital parts of our transportation system, and that there must be dedicated funding for sidewalks, bike lanes and trails to ensure that bicyclists and pedestrians are safe. And we need every Representative in the House to tell Chairman Mica the same.
Please contact your Senators and Representatives TODAY to tell them that bicycling and walking are a critical part of a safe and equitable transportation system. Ask them to tell Representative Mica and Senators Boxer and Inhofe that a federal transportation bill must continue dedicated funding for bicycling and walking.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Opinion about More Bikes / Less Cars
FACT: Adding bike lanes along popular routes while decreasing car lanes increases bicycle traffic, while decreasing car traffic.
A recent editorial in the Boston Herald evidently doesn't grasp this relationship. It seems like there are harsh feelings towards the 400 bicyclists who use the Boston University Bridge from the 41,000 daily car users of the same bridge.
The opinion doesn't seem to get that thousands of other bicyclists will start using that route once construction is complete. The opinion also ignores the thousands of car commuters who will transform into bike commuters when a safe route from Cambridge to Boston near BU opens. Traffic planners, I think, get the most bang-for-their-road-reconstruction-buck by making changes that decrease car traffic.
It is frustrating to see opinions where fewer lanes will automatically lead to increased car congestion. The truth is that additional bike lanes lead to fewer cars which translates to faster, safer, and less congested roads for everybody. And as anybody who regularly uses Commonwealth Blvd through BU knows, buses, cars, bikes, and the Green Line all go approximately the same speed with moderate traffic. The motorized vehicles travel faster in light traffic, but the bikes are extremely faster during rush hour. Thus, incentivizing bikes during rush hour is a huge win for everybody.
A recent editorial in the Boston Herald evidently doesn't grasp this relationship. It seems like there are harsh feelings towards the 400 bicyclists who use the Boston University Bridge from the 41,000 daily car users of the same bridge.
The opinion doesn't seem to get that thousands of other bicyclists will start using that route once construction is complete. The opinion also ignores the thousands of car commuters who will transform into bike commuters when a safe route from Cambridge to Boston near BU opens. Traffic planners, I think, get the most bang-for-their-road-reconstruction-buck by making changes that decrease car traffic.
It is frustrating to see opinions where fewer lanes will automatically lead to increased car congestion. The truth is that additional bike lanes lead to fewer cars which translates to faster, safer, and less congested roads for everybody. And as anybody who regularly uses Commonwealth Blvd through BU knows, buses, cars, bikes, and the Green Line all go approximately the same speed with moderate traffic. The motorized vehicles travel faster in light traffic, but the bikes are extremely faster during rush hour. Thus, incentivizing bikes during rush hour is a huge win for everybody.
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