County Manager's Blog:Commissioners Honored for Complete Streets Efforts

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Lee County Manager's Blog

Dear Citizens,

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners has been selected as Elected Officials of the Year 2010-11 by the Florida Bicycle Association, which will present its annual awards at the 2011 Florida Bike Summit in Tallahassee on March 24. This honor reflects Lee County’s increased efforts to create “complete streets” that provide safe access for all users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.

“We normally go toward somebody on the state level with this award, but we don’t overlook local governments,” said Dan Moser, FBA programs director, who nominated the board for the award. He said Lee County’s efforts are evident in the recently adopted New Horizon 2035 Evaluation and Appraisal Report for changes to the Lee Plan. “The whole theme of complete streets and sustainable development is throughout the entire document,” Moser said.

The Lee County Commission’s March 15 approval of resurfacing and/or rebuilding of 61 streets in St. James City, North Fort Myers, south Fort Myers and San Carlos Park is an example of the process in action. The project was recommended in January by the Interdepartmental Performance Team on Complete Streets and in February by the Community Sustainability Advisory Committee.

Among the Performance Team’s recommendations:
• Evaluation of access to a blueway on Sanibel Boulevard.
• A trailhead facility within the right-of-way of Independence Boulevard.
• Signing and marking improvement evaluations for the McGregor Groves and Waterway Estates subdivisions.
• Sidewalks on Crest Lane and Gorham Avenue in the Villas.
• A pedestrian connection from the east end of North Brentwood Drive to the multi-use path on Summerlin Road.

Lee County used a similar review process when it recently analyzed a project to resurface 75 streets in Lehigh Acres. The Advisory Committee recommended that this process be used for review of resurfacing contracts for the next two years and for advance planning of resurfacing projects beyond 2013. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will review identified improvement projects for prioritization as part of the upcoming Capital Improvements Project evaluation.

For more information on the FBA’s annual awards, which are presented to worthy recipients for their contributions to bicycling, visit FBA's website.