Want to get involved? Apply to serve on MPO and Lee County advisory committees

 There are openings on several committees for citizens interested in getting involved in bike/ped and transportation issues--from the MPO's Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee (BPCC), the MPO's Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC), the County's Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), to the Fort Myers' Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Board (BPAB).  Here's your chance to make a difference in your community.  

(blog post updated on 12/17 to add Fort Myers BPAB)

MPO's Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee 

 The BPCC consists of the local and state agency personnel and citizens who are responsible for bicycle and pedestrian planning for their agencies. Based on the recommendations in the MPO's 2011 countywide Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan, the BPCC bylaws were amended to expand the membership to include citizens and broadened the mandate of the committee.  The committee is now responsible for leading the implementation of the Master Plan, and is currently overseeing the implementation of the Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (BPSAP), the TIGER grant complete streets initiative project, and will be updating the Master Plan, among other initiatives.  The committee coordinates local agencies' bicycle/pedestrian planning activities, reviews provisions for pedestrians and cyclists in state and federal-aid surface transportation projects, and advises the MPO on the development of the bicycle and pedestrian element of its transportation plan and the programming of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The committee meets monthly (forth Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in Cape Coral MPO office).  It reports directly to the MPO Board at each MPO monthly meeting.

There are two open seats for citizen members of the BPCC.  Interested individuals should apply directly to the MPO staff and the BPCC was make the recommendations to the MPO Board for approval. If you have questions, contact Ron Gogoi (MPO staff) or Dan Moser, the BPCC Chair.

A big thanks to Karen Solgard, a citizen member from Cape Coral for her service on the CAC over the past two years.  She came from MN and brought great ideas to the table.  Although she had to resign from the CAC due to the demands of her new job, we look forward to her continued involvement in bike/ped issues in Lee County.

MPO Citizen's Advisory Committee

  This committee consists of 24 appointed citizens who make recommendations to the MPO from the public's perspective on proposed long-range transportation plans, project plans, priorities for state and federal funding and other transportation issues. The MPO is now working on the Long Range Transportation Plan for 2040 so this is an excellent time to get involved. There are currently 5 vacancies on this committee, whose members are nominated by MPO Board members from the various jurisdictions.  This committee meets on the first Thursday of every month from 3-5 p.m. in the MPO office in Cape Coral.  If you're interested in serving on this committee, contact Johnny Limbaugh (MPO staff).  For more details, see the website. 

Lee County's Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee 

BPAC is an 11-member committee, appointed by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, which evaluates and recommends bicycle and pedestrian facilities (bike paths, bike lanes, sidewalks, shared-use paths, etc.) to be built in Lee County.   There are currently four vacancies.  The committee meets every third Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. in the Lee County Public Works Building in downtown Fort Myers.  For more information, check out the BPAC webpage.  If you are interested in applying, contact Kim Kirton with Public Resources. 

So, don't just make a New Year's Resolution to become more engaged in your community, volunteer NOW to serve on a committee that is working to make Lee County more bike/ped-friendly, with complete streets and a more balanced multi-modal transportation system.

Fort Myers' Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (BPAB)

Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson has an appointment open for the BPAB. 

The board is comprised of 7 members who serve 3-year terms by appointment by the City Council.  To qualify, the member should have knowledge in the area of bicycle and pedestrian patterns, and be a resident, work, own property or own a business in the city. BPAB meets every third Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. at City Hall.  If you're interested in serving on this committee, contact Anne Crowley.