BWL Column: Get free bike lights with #BeSeenLee

BWL Column in News-Press "Go Coastal" section, Oct. 28, 2015

(News-Press Photo: Xebeche, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

http://www.news-press.com/story/life/outdoors/2015/10/28/get-free-bike-lights-beseenlee-bikewalklee-lee-county-critical-mass/74690262/

Did you know that the spring and fall time changes are some of the most dangerous times for cyclists and pedestrians? One way you can stay safe is to make sure that you can be seen by other road users by wearing light-colored and reflective clothing, and by making sure your bike has the necessary lights.

With that in mind, BikeWalkLee is entering the second phase of our 2015 bike safety campaign — #BeSeenLee — with the installation of FREE bike lights across the county.

The time change is at 2 a.m. on Sunday, which is actually the night of Halloween. This makes Halloween weekend a great time to kick off this campaign.

One of our first events will be a part of a "Ride your Bike to the Game Day" for YMCA soccer families and the surrounding community near Tanglewood Elementary School on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. BikeWalkLee partners will be there to share safety information and install lights on bikes for anyone who rode to the game and needs one.

Other partners (such as including Pawnbroker Marketing and Billy's Bikes) will be coordinating events during this month-long campaign. Be sure to watch the BikeWalklee Facebook and Twitter pages for more #BeSeenLee event announcements and details.

Night-time biking is not just about the time change, although it’s a good place to focus on a larger problem. A lot of people don’t have the luxury of biking only when the sun is out – especially those who rely on two wheels to get them to work. Being able to be seen is not only safer for them, but safer for the motorist as well… since we assume no one wants to run over cyclists.

The time change affects pedestrians as well, since falling back time-wise takes away an hour of walkable light at the end of the day. The mantra “see and be seen” is equally important for those hoofing it on our roads and sidewalks – and many of the same suggestions for cyclists get can apply here as well:

• Be bright – use lights both to find your way and show others you’re coming.
• Be light – wear clothing that is lighter in color or, even better, reflective.
• Be aware – watch out for traffic (on two or four wheels), opt for lighted routes if possible, and be attentive to your surroundings.

Although the practice of going door-to-door on Halloween has waned in many neighborhoods, in many others it’s still strong – so motorists need to be watchful for ghosts and goblins walking the streets, and kids (and their parents) need to be visible, carry lights and use common sense. That way, any fright that night will be all in fun – not real and dangerous.

BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County—streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at www.BikeWalkLee.org.

Ready to ride or run?
Run: Celebrate Halloween this weekend with the LCEC Goblin Gallop. You’ll benefit United Way and burn off some candy calories to boot! Race is 7:30 a.m. at Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral (http://3dracinginc.com).
Ride: The monthly SW Florida Critical Mass ride is on Friday, Nov. 6 – check the start times since the time change will have an impact. That weekend, those looking for a longer ride can try the Veterans Day Honor Ride, a ride to honor our veterans and support Honor Flight of Collier County. Ride from Naples Cyclery to Fat Point Brewery in Punta Gorda, up U.S. 41 with a police and military escort. There will be a second distance option starting at 9:30 from the Crowne Plaza in Fort Myers.
Both: If you’re ready for a longer event, try the Challenge Venice, an Olympic tri and half Ironman on Sunday, Nov. 8 (with a kid’s tri the day before). Online at www.challenge-fl.com.

Reminder:WHEELS mega-event in Miami, Nov. 11-15

 November is around the corner....only a couple of weeks before the mega-event called WHEELS in Miami Nov. 11-15, which will celebrate bicycling heroes and present new strategies for how walking, cycling, transit and trails combine to get people out of cars.  Herb Hiller, the coordinator of WHEELS, guest wrote the below article which was posted on FBA's blog.  Plan to head to South Florida during this action-packed event.

Also check out the Oct. 27th FBA Blog post about WHEELS, by guest blogger Herb Hiller.

 Florida Bicycle Association Blog: Surprise! Miami is getting people out of cars!

Posted: 04 Aug 2015 08:48 AM PDT

Today we welcome guest blogger Herb Hiller:
South Florida is vital to bicycling because bicycling figures large in transportation. Governor Bob Graham in 1980 made that connection when he hired Dan Burden as Florida’s first bicycle coordinator. That was the year after construction began on the Miami Metrorail. Graham put Dan in DOT [Department of Transportation], not in recreation and parks.

That history resonates freshly this fall when Dan returns for the five-day WHEELS mega-event.
WHEELS, November 11-15, chaired pro bono by town planner Victor Dover, will feature a Family Fun Day and safety training with a first-ever South Miami Bike-in Street Party. It will honor turn-of-the-20th Century Miami bicycling heroes and present new strategies for how walking, cycling, transit and trails combine to get people out of cars.

Artist’s rendition of Bike-In Street Party

Activities include more than 20 planned DIY and guided rides – some mass, some along Florida’s longest trail network — plus a conference, free passes for transit riders with bikes and giveaways for everyone that pre-registers at www.wheelsflorida.org.

WHEELS poster

Dan, director of innovation and inspiration for Blue Zones, will speak. So will keynoter Ryan Gravel for the Atlanta Beltline, recently retired LAB President Andy Clarke, and East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA) Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano.  Dan returns to Miami after decades of sprawl and auto-only roads that have led to notorious congestion that brakes the metro economy. A recent article about traffic woes in the Miami Herald was headlined “NO WAY OUT”.

Yet downtown and close-in towns are enjoying a resurgence, and cycling and transit have exploded in popularity. Miami has become Florida’s lab for green mobility with cycling dead-center in the mix.

In her first interview as director of Miami-Dade Transit, Alice Bravo in July spoke to the Miami New Times about Millennials shunning cars and riding transit. “It’ll take time,” Bravo said, “but we have to take advantage of this enthusiasm to make Miami a car-optional city one day.”

That vision of Miami already last year led ECGA to schedule its fall membership summit in South Miami and locate a program there aimed to get people out of cars walking, cycling, riding transit and using trails – South Miami because it’s the one Florida city where commuter rail and a section of the greenway run directly through downtown. ECGA leaders will fly into MIA, ride the Orange Line to lodgings in Dadeland, use bikes from Mack Cycle for getting around, and reverse field without need for cars at all.

Wheeling your bike on to Metrorail

Also add this to Miami’s empowering bicycling legacy:

• In 1886, America’s leading bicycling advocate, Kirk Munroe who co-founded the League of American Wheelmen (today’s LAB), moved to Coconut Grove, where he continued to ride his bike for 30 years. His Cocoplum neighbor, dairy farmer Wilson Larkins, twice a day pedaled seven miles with milk tanks strapped to his bike for guests at Henry Flagler’s Royal Palm Hotel. Larkins founded the city of South Miami that first bore his name. South Miami today boasts one of Florida’s most far-reaching green mobility plans that Victor led.

• In the 1950s, cycling advocates in Homestead started the Wheelmen’s Winter Rendezvous that brought Americans to tour the Redland. President Dwight Eisenhower’s heart doctor Paul Dudley White came to ride. From a Homestead platform he extolled the health benefits of cycling to Americans everywhere.

• In the 1970s, I wrote to Linda Crider in the Graham administration about re-starting the Florida bicycling movement. Linda went on to start Florida Bicycle Association and Bike Florida. She and I will speak at one WHEELS program led by eminent historian Arva Moore Parks and fellow historian Pam Lahiff. King Mango Strut Founder Glenn Terry will lead the vintage bike parade that will honor Munroe and Larkins. Meg Daly will tell everyone about the Underline, Dale Allen about SUN Trails, Becky Afonso about Florida Bicycle Association’s South Florida awakening, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Ken Bryan about rail-with-trail as part of All Aboard Florida, Maria Nardi of Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces about Miami trails expanding in all directions. Jim Smith of SAFE [Safety As Floridians Expect] will reveal extraordinary green mobility contracts that developers sign in hopes for building in Delray Beach.

Miami, South Miami, their history and the trends that drive them also drive the WHEELS promise that history can be self-empowering, and that self-empowered people can improve their lives by varied transportation choices. Despite the sprawl and congestion, bicycling has helped Miami get things right for more than a hundred years.

Downtown Miami becoming hub of trails

Herb Hiller of DeLand is a longtime figure in the Florida trail and cycling movements.  He is also the coordinator of WHEELS, southeast region program consultant to the East Coast Greenway Alliance and member of Florida Bicycle Association Advisory Board.  You can reach him at herbhiller12@gmail.com. 

http://floridabicycle.org/2015/08/surprise-miami-is-getting-people-out-of-cars/

Action Alert: Three bike/ped legislative issues that need YOUR attention

Your action is needed on 3 complete streets/bike/ped legislative issues:

1.  Federal Transportation Bill--Immediately!

The FEDERL TRANSPORTATION BILL includes important legislation that can improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and education and ensure the implementation of Complete Streets planning.

The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in the House of Representatives passed their version of the bill and referred it to the House floor. Committee leadership has indicated that they expect to pass the bill through the House, reconcile it with the Senate bill, and pass it by November 20.

Get background and details from League of American Bicyclistsfrom Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS AND ASK THEM TO:

• Support federal funding for walking and biking trails
• Maintain the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) at its current level
• Fund the Vision Zero efforts under the Highway safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to create a source of funding for bicycle and pedestrian safety education programming
• PASS THE SAFE STREETS ACT THAT REQUIRES STATES TO PASS COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES

Click on a name to go to the email Contact for:

Senator Bill Nelson

Senator Marco Rubio

Representative Curt Clawson

 

 

2.  FHWA rule: Before December 7, 2015!

The FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA) is proposing a rule that will ease outdated, federally mandated standards and allow communities to design and build Complete Streets. 

Learn more:

Feds propose major rule changes to eliminate barriers to safer streets

Read the regulation:

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FHWA-2015-0020-0003

PLEASE SUBMIT A COMMENT IN FAVOR OF THIS RULE! The deadline is December 7, 2015. 

To Mail comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590,  fax comments to(202) 493-2251, or submit to the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments must include the docket number FHWA-2015-0020

 

3.  Passidomo Bike Safety Bill: Before January 1, 2016!

The LEE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION held its annual public meeting on Oct. 14th to hear from local leaders about their priorities for this Legislative Session.  BWL testified that its top priority is bike/ped safety and passage of the Passidomo bill (HB 253). We also stated our support for anti-texting bill (making it primary offense) (SB 328).

 

Read BWL's letter to the delegation.

Learn more about the Passidomo Bicycle Safety Bill  - HB253

Learn more about the anti-texting bills (SB 328 and HB 25)

WRITE TO MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION and remind them how you are counting on them to make significant progress this session and PASS THE PASSIDOMO BILL that provides better protection for vulnerable road users. 

Click on a name and go to the email of: 

Honorable Matt Caldwell

Honorable Kathleen Passidomo

Honorable Garrett Richter

Honorable Lizbeth Benacquisto

Honorable Heather Fitzenhagen 

Honorable Dane Eagle

Honorable Ray Rodrigues

 

Oct 26th: Upcoming walking/running/biking, tri events

Upcoming events
Running/walking:
· Saturday, Oct. 31: 4th Annual LCEC Goblin Gallop to benefit the United Way. The Goblin Gallop 5K Run/Walk and Trick Or Trot will be held at Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral. Since its inception, this 5k has netted over $9,800 for the United Way! (3dracinginc.com)

· Saturday, Nov. 7: Making Tracks for Missions 5K, at First Assembly of God, 4701 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers. (3dracinginc.com)

· Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day 5K Midpoint Madness. To benefit YMCA, race starts at 7 p.m. (www.ftmyerstrackclub.com)

· Saturday Nov. 14: Achieva Credit Union’s Coconut Run 5K & Kids Run, part of the weekend’s Coconut Festival in Cape Coral. (3dracinginc.com)

· Sunday, Nov. 22: Naples Fall Classic Half Marathon and 5K (www.napleshalf.com)

· Thursday, Nov. 26: The 36th annual Turkey Trot kicks off Thanksgiving with its traditional 5K run/walk and more. Starts at Cape Coral Wellness Center, 609 SE 13th Court, Cape Coral. (www.ftmyerstrackclub.com)

· Saturday, Dec. 5: 37th annual River Run, 10K run and 2-mile walk. Benefits GiGi’s Playhouse of Fort Myers, starts from Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers. (www.ftmyerstrackclub.com)

Cycling:
· Friday, Nov. 6: SWFL Critical Mass ride. Join a family fun slow ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the open field next to Publix (check online for the start time) at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. (twitter.com/swflcm)

· Sunday, Nov. 8: Veterans Day Honor Ride, a ride to honor our veterans and support Honor Flight of Collier County. Ride from Naples Cyclery to Fat Point Brewery in Punta Gorda, up U.S. 41 with a police and military escort at 22 mph. $50 includes supported ride, lunch and Craft Beers at Fat Point and a souvenir pint glass. Ground transportation back to Naples Cyclery (motor coach) and your bike will be transported inside one of Naples Cyclery's enclosed trucks. You'll be able load a bag with a change of clothes into the trucks in the morning so they will be available when we arrive at the brewery. There will be a second distance option starting at 9:30 from the Crowne Plaza in Fort Myers. This ride is 30 miles to the brewery and does not offer return transportation.

· Friday, Nov. 27: Skip the leftovers and the shopping and join the Caloosa Riders for their traditional Turkey Leg Century Ride, leaving at 7:30 a.m. from the Publix at Daniels Crossing Shopping Center, 6890 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers. (www.caloosariders.org)

Triathlons:
· Sunday, Nov. 8: Challenge Venice, Olympic and half Ironman, based at Sharky's on the Pier, 1600 Harbor Drive, Venice. Kid’s tri offered the day before (www.challenge-fl.com)

· Saturday, Nov. 21: Duathlon at the Bend, a run and row combo at Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota. (www.regattacentral.com)

· Sunday, Dec. 20: Christmas Sprint Traithlon and Duathlon. Swim/bike/run or run/bike/run – your choice, all at Sugden Regional Park. (www.eliteevents.org)

Dan Moser Column: (In)Complete Streets

 Dan highlights examples in Lee County of our incomplete streets and the need for more investments and better policy decisions. This column also includes Part II of his shout-out to women in our community who are making our community better for walking and biking. Thanks Diane, Sally, Cindy, and Carolyn!

 Florida Weekly "Outdoors" section, Oct. 21, 2015

Patchwork. Spartan. Unmaintained. Substandard. Gap-ridden. These are a few terms that describe the bike/ped infrastructure in Lee County. While there are plenty of good things taking place in terms of creating an adequate environment for non-motorists, we still have so much to do to make right the iniquities of the past (including the very recent past) that it’s clear we’re not expending enough funds doing so. A few examples will make this point, including the fact that decision makers think nothing of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on roadway “improvements” that are intended only to expand motor vehicle capacity — and which may or may not result in significantly better bike/ped conditions — yet they have trouble providing even a small percentage of that to address our well-documented backlog of needs for non-motorists.

One exception to that fact is the $10 million Federal TIGER grant that’s being used to fill gaps and create a better walking and cycling environment from Colonial Boulevard southward to the Collier County line. Unfortunately, even with that robust infusion of funding, many problems will remain, including Estero Parkway and access to FGCU, to name just two. Unbelievably, FGCU turned away TIGER money to add bike lanes and a proper pathway on its main entrance, citing “environmental issues,” and instead opted to spend $1.5 million to construct an extravagant sign and tower to remind everyone who they are. To add insult to injury, there have always been bike lanes and proper pathways on Ben Hill Griffin Blvd and bike lanes and a pathway network within the university campus but merely one 8-foot sidewalk along each of the two entrance ways. And even those were added only after much arm-twisting. I remain at a loss to understand FGCU leadership’s transportation-related decisions.

The city of Fort Myers is well known for overrating itself when it comes to its walkability and bike-friendliness. Granted, there are pockets of well-done areas, but there’s much to be desired, especially for those who want to ride a bike anywhere but on 6-foot-wide concrete sidewalks. And while the city frequently touts its Riverwalk, officials totally blew it on having a true walkable waterfront, with Edwards Drive and Centennial Park being the only places that actually have a walkway along the water. And now there’s a real possibility that the Vue property, which is adjacent to Centennial Park, will be allowed to delete a requirement to provide public waterfront access as part of its development order. To experience a real Riverwalk in Southwest Florida, take a short trip to Punta Gorda.

The most glaring example of Incomplete Streets is the total lack of pedestrian access across the Caloosahatchee River on Lee DOT bridges, a fact that can only be described as inexcusable. Unlike pre-1980s transportation project decisions that were made when there was no concern for non-motorists’ needs, it wasn’t that long ago that Lee County made three separate and deliberate decisions to forego including pedestrians accommodation on the Cape Coral and Midpoint bridges and, most perplexing, the Sanibel Causeway. Bicycle users fare only slightly better, being accommodated by default with the presence of motor vehicle breakdown lanes. However, access to and from the bridge structures is marginal at best and nonexistent at worse. Until Lee DOT comes up with a fix to these deliberate and discriminatory actions, Lee County government cannot consider itself as embracing Complete Streets, no matter what formal resolutions and policies it has on the books.

Advocacy update

Along with the remarkable women I mentioned in my last column there are more to recognize for their commitment to making our community better. Just like the others, these women are extraordinary and we’re lucky to have them in our midst.

Two who are affiliated with the healthcare profession are Safe Kids coordinators Sally Kreuscher and Diane Holm, the health department’s public voice. Both are seasoned veterans in their respective roles, having also worked in other aspects of human services, giving them excellent perspectives from which to operate. It’s impossible to quantify how many lives they’ve saved through their efforts but suffice it to say the number is undoubtedly significant.

Then there’s Cindy Banyai, a community builder who understands and uses social media as well as anyone. Appropriately, Cindy serves as BikeWalkLee’s electronic media guru, among other things she does for the coalition. Somehow she finds time for BWL even though she runs her own consulting firm, is an adjunct university professor, program evaluator for SWF Community Foundation and is a wife and mother.

.

Carolyn Conant is undoubtedly the main reason Cape Coral is on such a roll in its efforts to become a true bike-friendly community. She is tenacious in getting individuals, business leaders and government officials to do what’s necessary to make the city a place where anyone can get around safely and efficiently by bike as well as attract others to visit because of its bike-friendliness. In the relatively short time she’s been so deeply involved, she’s done what no one else has been able to accomplish in decades of trying. Be sure to thank Carolyn, Cindy, Diane and Sally next time you see them.

Until next time, I’ll look for you on the roads and pathways. ¦

— Dan Moser is a long- time bicycle/ pedestrian advocate and traffic safety professional who cycles, runs and walks regularly for transportation, recreation and fitness. Contact him atbikepedmoser@gmail.com and 334- 6417.

#BeSeenLee safety, bike light campaign kicks off ahead of dangerous time change

By: Cindy Banyai

#BeSeenLee Safety Campaign will install bike lights this fall

Did you know that the spring and fall time changes are some of the most dangerous times for people on bikes and pedestrians? One way you can stay safe is to make sure that you can be seen by other road users by wearing light colored and reflective clothing and making sure your bike has a light. With that in mind, we are entering into the second phase of our 2015 bike safety campaign - #BeSeenLee - with the installation of FREE bike lights across the county.

The time change is at 2:00am on November first, which is actually the night of Halloween. This makes Halloween weekend a great time to kickoff this campaign. One of our first events will be a part of a "Ride your bike to the game Day" for YMCA soccer families and the surrounding Tanglewoods community on Saturday, October 31 from 8:00am to Noon. BWL partners will be there to share safety information and install lights on bikes for anyone who rode and needs one.

Other partners will be coordinating events during this month-long campaign too. Be sure to watch our Facebook and Twitter pages for more #BeSeenLee event announcements and details.

Lee MPO debates critical road projects and need for expanding transportation revenues

The Oct. 16th Lee MPO Board meeting focused on two major issues--the annual FDOT 5-year workplan and the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).  The topics were of sufficient interest that 16 of 17 Board members were present...including all five county commissioners (something that hasn't occurred in years). The Board elected Fort Myers Councilman Flanders as Chair, serving out the term of Councilman Leonardo who resigned in Sept. The Citizens Advisory Committee's package of recommendations stimulated an extensive discussion about the urgent need for expanding our transportation revenues.  

Report by Darla Letourneau
 Lee MPO Board Actions Taken on 10/16/15
 

FDOT 5-Year Work Plan

The Board had extensive discussions about the draft FDOT 5-year workplan, expressing deep frustration with the lack of funding and the delays in moving forward on urgently needed projects.  The most critical need is widening of SR 82, given the alarming rates of crashes and fatalities (21 fatalities and 1,011 crashes with 610 injuries over the past two years).  The Board voted to ask FDOT to change the planned construction from concrete to asphalt and use the $20 million savings to come up with a Design/Build financing approach that would allow the roadway to be built in 4 years vs. 8 years. 

 

 Darla Letourneau made BikeWalkLee's comments on the draft FDOT plan, and called the plan disappointing, with an overall 17% reduction in the 5th year "new funds" as compared to last year's 5th year funding level. ·She stated that Lee County is not getting its "fair share" of state funds, primarily because SWFL is not participating in the State's top priority transportation investments--the port system, East Coast rail investments, and SIS investments in the I-4 and I-95 corridors.  This year's FDOT workplan is one more piece of evidence that the revenues coming to Lee County from all sources are continuing to decline and is the new reality. 

In terms of bike/ped projects, Letourneau expressed disappointment that the study for a shared use path between Cape Coral and Pine Island, which was approved last year for funding in FY 2020, has now been delayed another year.  She also expressed disappointment that FDOT once again failed to fund the joint Lee/Collier #1 priority for the Regional Enhancement project: Old US 41 in Bonita to Collier shared use path. In total, the Lee MPO requested funding for 32 bike/ped projects and FDOT is only funding 7 of those projects (22%). Last year, 35% of the MPO's request was funded.  Of those 7 funded projects, 5 of them only received planning money--not construction money as requested.   On the upside, bike/ped spending represents 7% of all transportation funds, up from 6% in last year's workplan.  So, while the overall pie is shrinking, at least bike/ped's share of the pie is holding its own.

 Given the Board's many concerns with the draft FDOT workplan, they decided to table a vote on it until they could see a revised plan.  [Note: the FDOT workplan does not require MPO approval.]

2040 LRTP draft projects list

 

MPO staff presented the Board with the recommendations that came from their Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and their Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC):

• The TAC recommended that the Corkscrew Road and Veterans/Santa Barbara projects be moved up on the list. 

• The CAC made three recommendations:

• ·         That impact fees be raised to the full amount.

• ·         That the MPO include road projects that widen existing roads before new roadway alignments on the list; and

• ·         that the timing of the Corkscrew Road project be moved up.

Public comment focused on the request to move up the Corkscrew project, to push for an I-75 interchange in Cape Coral, and the need to collect 100% of impact fees as well as find other sources of revenues for transportation projects.  Both the News-Press and Naples Daily News articles capture the Boards discussion about these issues. 

Letourneau endorsed Mayor Nelson's comments that what has been lacking is the political will to raise more revenues, and argued that multi-modal transportation expenditures should be viewed as investments in our economic future.  Given the significant shortfall in transportation revenues, the county's decision not to collect the full road impact fees has worsened the situation and will make it difficult in terms of equity and fairness to go to the voters and ask them to pay more taxes to meet the county's pressing transportation needs.  Letourneau applauded the Plan's focus on giving priority to maintaining and improving our current infrastructure before investing in expanding facilities, with the first 14 projects on the list being bridge replacements.

The MPO Board voted to amend the 2040 Plan’s Cost Feasible Projects list to make the following changes:

·         The Board approved a motion to move up the Corkscrew Rd. project

• ·       Begin the construction of the Corkscrew segment between Ben Hill Griffin and the entrance to Corkscrew Preserve five years earlier by moving the funding from the 2026-30 to 2021-25,

• ·       Accelerate the funding of the Planning and Engineering and Right of Way acquisition for the segment between the entrance to Corkscrew Preserve and Alico Road by 5 years from 2026-30 to 2021-25, and

• ·       Accelerate the construction of the segment between the entrance to Corkscrew Preserve and Alico Road by at least 5 years from 2031-40 to 2026-30

• ·         In order to fund these changes the MPO Board had to delay the extension of Three Oaks Parkway from Alico Road to Daniels Road. They decided that it is more important to solve traffic safety problems on existing roads than to build new roads.

As a result of the extensive discussion on the need for more revenues to fund the county's multi-modal transportation needs, the Board adopted a motion by Sanibel Mayor Ruane that the MPO Executive Committee (which has one member from each jurisdiction) undertake an effort to explore all financing options that can be brought back to the Board for consideration.

Next Steps:

The next step in the process is a public hearing on the 2040 LRTP, which is scheduled for the Nov. 20th MPO Board meeting.  Then at the Dec. 18th MPO Board meeting, they will take final action on the 2040 Plan.

Recent Articles re: LRTP Transportation Issues:

1.  News-Press Oct. 8,2015:  The CAC's recommendation on impact fees was covered in a News-Press 10/8 article.

2.  Link to Impact Fee Revenues Report and Analysis--Oct. 2015 (actuals for 30 months, through    end of Sept. 2015)

3.  Oct. 10, 2015: Naples Daily News article: Corkscrew improvements not likely for awhile.

4.  News-Press Oct. 13, 2015: Bonita, Estero push for fees rapped

5.  Naples Daily News Oct. 14, 2015 Editorial:  With construction booming again, do roads fit into the equation? 

6.  News-Press Oct. 17, 2015: Estero's Corkscrew Road inches higher on road list

7.  Naples Daily News Oct. 17, 2015: Fixing traffic woes proving a headache for Lee officials

Recent BWL-related blogs

1.  October 9, 2015:Action Alert: Important votes on Long Range Transportation Plan at Oct. 16th Lee MPO Board meeting  

2. Oct. 8, 2015: FDOT proposes 5-year funding plan for Lee County and provides opportunity for public comment

3. August 12, 2015: Invite to August 25th Public Workshop on Lee County 2040 Transportation Plan

4. May 4, 2015: Time to participate in development of Lee County's Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

5. April 17, 2015:Lee MPO Board reviews framework for 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan decisions

6. LRTP Resource Document: BikeWalkLee put together a resource document for the 2040 LRTP Process (with lots of links) based on our many related blog posts. (5/13/15)