Lee MPO Board set to adopt Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Action Plan at Sept. 20th meeting

A key step in Lee County's strategy for improving the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in our community is the adoption and implementation of a Safety Action Plan, developed with involvement of a broad-based group of stakeholders. The final MPO Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Action Plan will be considered for adoption by the Lee MPO Board at its September 20th meeting.

9/20/13 Update:  MPO Board approved plan at their 9/20 Board meeting.  Click here to read NPR/WGCU story about the plan's adoption.
 
Background

The Lee MPO, in conjunction with FDOT District 1 and a broad array of local stakeholders, including BikeWalkLee, launched the development of the Lee Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (BPSAP) in 2012 as a follow-up to the MPO's countywide bicycle pedestrian master plan. The purpose of the Safety Action Plan is to reduce bicycle and pedestrian injury and fatality crashes through a wide range of recommended activities--from education, engineering, to enforcement.  

BPSAP on agenda for approval at September 20th Lee MPO Board Meeting 

Following the consultant's presentation to the Board at its May 17th meeting, the MPO committees--BPCC, TAC, and CAC (with BikeWalkLee participation)--spent the summer working to finalize the plan and define the initial implementation strategies.  The final plan is now ready for adoption.  Click here to review the plan.

BikeWalkLee thanks the stakeholders that participated in the plan development, the MPO committees, MPO staff, and the Tindale-Oliver consultant team for their efforts over the past year to develop this action plan.

The report focuses on 18 specific recommendations (both short-term and long-term), with specific milestones and assignments for action.  Once the plan is adopted the hard work begins--implementation of the plan.  This will require the commitment and continuous involvement of the broad group of stakeholders--including law enforcement, judicial officials, municipalities, FDOT, various local, regional, and statewide agencies, a broad array of advocates, and the media.  It will also require new ways to collaborate in a structured way with the various stakeholders.  It will be critical for the MPO Board to stay focused on the action items in the report and take the lead in driving the accountability to results.

If you plan to attend:
The public is invited to attend the MPO Board meetings and has an opportunity to make public comments after each agenda time.  The MPO Board meeting is Friday, Sept. 20th, starting at 9 a.m. and is held in the Cape Coral Council Chambers (1015 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral 33990).  The full agenda can be viewed here.  Note that the BPSAP item is Agenda Item #9 . 

The other major item on the agenda for Sept. 20th is the Peer Exchange presentation by the Broward MPO.  Click here for the blog post about this important opportunity to learn from Broward County, that is also using a complete streets approach to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.

For further background information:

BikeWalkLee blog: May 23, 2013, MPO Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Action Plan out for comment

See BikeWalkLee's August 2012 blog about its goals for this plan.   

Also see our April blog post prior to the public workshop.

Report by Darla Letourneau