Dan Moser Column: Streets becoming more complete as TIGER progresses

The TIGER project is making a difference. Our streets are becoming more pedestrian- and bicycle friendly: Dan Moser in the Florida Weekly.

Florida Weekly Outdoors section: Dan Moser's column June 29, 2016

What does $10 million mean for local efforts to complete our streets? When all the work is done there’ll be 13 miles of additional bike lanes and shared-use pathways from Colonial Boulevard to the north, SR 82 to the east, and south to the Collier County line. The USDOT award also includes 11 new LeeTran bus shelters, most of which are already constructed and open for use. Here’s a summary of the subprojects:

¦ Tour de Parks route: Two new shared use pathway segments on Daniels Parkway, a new bike lane on Six Mile Cypress Parkway, and a shared-use path on Colonial.

¦ University Loop/San Carlos Park: New sidewalk segments on Constitution Boulevard, Iris Road, Constitution Circle, Sanibel Boulevard and Lee Road.

¦ Bi-County Connector: New bikelanes on Corkscrew Road and a shared use path and two sidewalks around FGCU’s main entrance roadway.

¦ Transit access improvements: 11 passenger waiting shelters and 20 concrete landing pads with associated ADA access infrastructure.

Old meets new where the Colonial Boulevard shared 
use path intersects with North Colonial Trail. 
DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

The money - our tax dollars that were sent to Washington and directed back via the competitive discretionary grant award program called TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) - was approved for Lee County to further our Complete Streets initiative.

It took three attempts but was well worth the time and effort committed by many individuals and agencies, including BikeWalkLee. The application was formally submitted by Lee Metropolitan Planning Organization, the agency that serves as the critical link connecting all of our local governments and citizens to the Florida Department of Transportation and the various Federal transportation funders.

Lee MPO is now the manager of the funds, which have a specific deadline for all work to be completed. At this point it’s looking like each of the sub-projects will be done along with an added benefit not originally included in the application.

Thanks to some of the sub-projects coming in below estimates there was a surplus of dollars that will be put to good use: a wayfinding element was submitted and recently approved by USDOT. Signs and markings will be added throughout the project’s geographic limits and will be the first phase of enhancing the entire bike/ped network throughout Lee County. Eventually, with other funds yet to be identified, anyone will be able to access routes, directions, and maps electronically via GPS apps. Unrelated to TIGER funds, our hard-copy bike map will be updated and published once all TIGER project work is complete.

Wayfinding is clearly a basic element of any transportation network so having the funds available to add it at least throughout the project’s geographic limits is welcome. That being said, I’ve noticed shortcomings in some of the gap-filling. At least in some cases, existing substandard segments are left in place so 8-, 10- or 12-foot wide asphalt shared-use paths narrow to 5-foot concrete sidewalks then go back to asphalt SUPs. As well, at some intersections the existing pedestrian-designed configuration remains, meaning SUPs skinny down to 5 feet and have severe 90-degree turns in them, making it very difficult for bicyclists to navigate. Refuge areas for bicyclists waiting to cross is also very limited in these cases since the design assumes pedestrian traffic only.

On major highways like Colonial and Daniels there’s significantly more bicycle traffic so infrastructure should accommodate both modes. More information on TIGER in Lee County can be found at leecompletestreets.leempo.com and bikewalklee.blogspot.com.

Fort Myers Track Club needs your help

Our area’s oldest running club and most accomplished race organizer and facilitator is in need of volunteers to help with the many elements necessary to make these events happen at the high level they’re well known for since being established in 1978.

FMTC is looking for communityminded individuals interested in serving on the board of directors, designing and marking race courses, working on electronic registration and race day timing and assisting in race day tasks.

Whether you’re a runner, former runner or just interested in running, consider becoming part of the FMTC leadership team and worker-bee family. You can contact them at fmtcinfo@gmail.com or visit their website (ftmyerstrackclub.com) or Facebook pages.

- 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 at bikepedmoser@gmail.com and 334- 6417.

Dan Moser Column: Fort Myers Track Club still going strong

This week's column highlights the impressive work of the Fort Myers Track Club and its contributions to charities throughout the county.  Dan's advocacy update encourages everyone to provide online input for the County's Sustainability Plan.

Dan Moser

Florida Weekly, March 27, 2013

In 1978, when I took up running as a serious activity and the year I entered my first race, the Fort Myers Track Club had just been founded. Having been a member ever since, as well as having spent some time on the board of directors a number of years ago, I remain impressed with this club. Not only does it organize and manage running events at the highest level of professionalism, the work it does results in many dollars being raised for charitable organizations.

Each year the FMTC conducts more than two-dozen races of various distances (5K, 4-miles, 10K and 13.1-mile half-marathon) and another half-dozen 2-mile summer fun runs, with all work performed by volunteers. But what’s even more significant is that the funds it generates are put back into the community, resulting in more than $500,000 going to the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and pediatric centers, college scholarships and other important causes. Ironically, most of this fundraising takes place at events that are not the track club’s. Instead, the club is hired by nonprofit organizations to manage races as fundraisers. Depending on a number of factors, FMTC sometimes donates all or part of the fee back to the organization. (A cautionary note to nonprofits: The fact that there are charity races, walks and bike events almost every weekend in our area should persuade you from considering adding yet another similar event to the calendar.)

If you enjoy the quality races conducted d by FMTC and want to ensure they continue, volunteer for one or another. Consider making a personal commitment to work one race for each two or three you run. The club’s core volunteers need as much support as they can get. You can find opportunities by visiting the FMTC website.

Events
Speaking of a top-notch, well-established organization that serves our community by both providing services and raising funds, here’s another example: the 16th annual Rotary Eggs & Ears 5K to benefit the Do the Right Thing Recognition Program takes place Saturday, March 30. The Fort Myers-Sunrise Rotary, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and FMTC team up to ensure a quality event that’s run on the beautiful, tree-lined streets of Gateway. The kids will love it for the 1-mile fun-run and ancillary activities. Pre-race sign-up and packet pick-up is from 2-6 p.m. Friday, March 29, in the Community Room of Gulf Coast Medical Center on the corner of Daniels and Metro parkways. See you there or Saturday.

Another class-act, Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, recently conducted its Royal Palm Ride and the reviews are glowing. The new routes, guided 15-mile ride, and excellent post-ride fare were a big hit. Almost 50 volunteers worked hard to make this annual event better than ever. Already looking forward to next year.

Advocacy update
If you haven’t already done so, time’s running out to pipe in on Lee County’s Sustainability Plan before public input is incorporated into a final draft. One aspect of the plan that’s been mentioned numerous times in this column and is the primary concern of BikeWalkLee is Complete Streets. But besides transportation options, the plan includes many more elements, including our community’s economy, environment, and social fabric, among others. At its recent “live” public input workshop, more than twice the number of people expected to attend showed up and stayed to offer their ideas and preferences. County staff was very happy with the enthusiasm and energy and hopes there’s the same level of interest and feedback with the electronic public input via the interactive survey. Besides making choices and determining priorities, there’s opportunity to include any suggestions or ideas you may have about the future of our community. You can learn about the effort by going to the Sustainability Office’s home page.

Until next time, I’ll look for you on the roads and trails.
— Dan Moser is a league cycling and CyclingSavvy instructor/ trainer and programs director for the Florida Bicycle Association who cycles, runs and walks regularly for transportation, recreation and fitness. He can be contacted at dan@floridabicycle.org or 334- 6417.