BikeWalkLee urges USDOT to establish bike/ped safety performance measure

BikeWalkLee, along with national and local advocates across the country, is disappointed that the recently released USDOT national performance management measures do not include a separate performance measure for non-motorized modes (i.e., bike/ped). The FHWA proposed performance measures are out for review and  BikeWalkLee has submitted comments asking FHWA to add a non-motorized safety performance measure.  Here's a link to our letter.

April 10, 2014

To: FHWA
Docket Name: National Performance Management Measures; Highway Safety Improvement Program

Docket Number: FHWA-2013-0020

RIN: 2125-AF49

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Federal Highway Administration’s proposed national performance measure for safety.

BikeWalkLee is a citizen based community coalition, with 62 stakeholder organization supporters, that works to raise public awareness and advocate for complete streets and is dedicated to improving the quality of life and mobility in Lee County.  Lee County was recently awarded a TIGER V grant for its complete streets initiative project, and improving safety is a key goal of this project.  Lee County's traffic safety record for bicyclists and pedestrians is in the top 10 worst in the state, and Florida is the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians and cyclists.  Twenty-three percent of recent roadway crashes in Lee County involved injuries or fatalities to bicyclists or pedestrians--nearly double the national average.

We support the inclusion of a non-motorized safety performance measure and believe such a measure is necessary to address Florida and Lee County's serious bike/ped safety problem.  When MAP-21 was enacted, we were excited because we saw the greatly enhanced safety provisions in MAP-21 as an opportunity to try to get Florida to better address this problem, and we have communicated with USDOT over the past two years about the importance of providing us with the tools to make this happen--to develop national performance measures for the new safety program that require performance measures and targets for each mode of transportation. 

Without these by mode targets, efforts at the state and local levels to improve bike/ped safety will be hampered.  Back in 2010, BikeWalkLee undertook a major study of Florida's Safety Plan and HSIP program and found that Florida's safety plan only established one quantitative goal--to improve the safety of Florida’s surface transportation system by achieving a 5 percent annual reduction in the rate of fatalities and serious injuries .  Using this one measure that was not disaggregated by type of user or by fatalities vs. injuries allowed FDOT to proclaim in each year's annual report to USDOT that they were achieving if not exceeding their safety goal; and therefore, Florida was in great shape when it came to safety on its roadways!   Clearly, having only this one goal masked what was really going on--an increasing share of all traffic fatalities that were bike and pedestrian and continuation of Florida's dubious distinction as the most dangerous state in the nation for cyclists and pedestrians.  Further, the safety goal was structured in a way to be achievable without policy or funding intervention.  For example, the overall reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries that has occurred can be largely attributed to automobile safety improvements, the economic downturn, and the reduction in the number of miles driven.

In the past two years, the Florida Department of Transportation has made improving bike/ped safety a top priority and has undertaken a statewide bike/ped safety campaign.  Last year FDOT adopted the Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategic Safety Plan (PBSSP) to support Florida's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) which takes the 5% overall goal and specifically calls for a 5% annual reduction in serious injuries and fatalities for pedestrians and cyclists.  Without having a federal performance measure for bike/ped fatalities and injuries, there's no guarantee that Florida will continue with its measures.  We need our federal partners to show leadership on this issue.  With both Secretary LaHood and Secretary Foxx committed to placing a top priority on improving bike/ped safety, it's disappointing to see this strong policy position not supported by one of the key tools that the federal government has--performance measures and accountability for delivering results with federal dollars.

As a member of the League of American Bicyclists, our organization endorses the content of the League’s response to FHWA Docket 2013-0020. While the League is able to voice a national perspective on this issue, BikeWalkLee understands what's at stake on the local level.  Our local officials adopted a countywide bike/ped safety action plan last Fall to focus on this problem, setting annual targets for reducing bike and pedestrian fatalities and serious injury rates, with a zero fatalities vision.  With over 23% of our traffic fatalities being pedestrians and cyclists, we need our federal partners to provide leadership by setting a national goal to make biking and walking a safe transportation option and to set performance measures that will provide accountability at all levels of government for reaching those goals.....

Click here to continue reading the letter

Action Alert: Tell US DOT: Bike/Ped Safety Counts

Do you care about bike/ped safety? Here's a chance to tell USDOT we must have a national goal to make biking and walking a safe transportation option. 

Background

Over the past two years, BikeWalkLee has worked along side national and local advocates across the country to urge USDOT to establish a non-motorized safety performance measure as part of the new performance measurement system required by MAP-21.  On March 11th FHWA issued the proposed performance measures without a non-motorized safety performance measure. The public has until June 9th to comment on the proposed rules, so tell USDOT we must have a national goal to make biking and walking a safe transportation option.

The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) has made it easy--just click a button and make your voices heard!   Then go on the USDOT website and comment on the proposed performance measures:  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Below is the Action Alert issued by LAB on 3/27:

Tell US DOT: Bicyclists' Safety Counts

 There is only one acceptable number: 0.

While cities like New York and San Francisco have set decisive "Vision Zero" targets to dramatically reduce bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities, the U.S. Department of Transportation has just released proposed safety measures that have no goal, no accountability and no attempt to reduce the 16% of all fatal crashes that include people who walk and bike.

Your comments count: Tell US DOT that we can't turn a blind eye to the 45,000 bicyclists injured and 5,000 cyclists and pedestrians killed on our roadways each year - we must have a national goal to make biking and walking a safe transportation option.

In 2012, Congress asked the US DOT to set national goals to guide federal, state and local investments in our transportation system. After meeting with USDOT and FHWA officials, we knew they were unlikely to include a specific non-motorized performance measure - or goal to reduce bike/ped deaths. Unfortunately, on March 11 we were proved right: FHWA issued a "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" that acknowledged our request - but chose not to include one.

Now, they're asking for comments -and they need to hear from you. Please endorse the League's comments or submit your own.

Our analysis: The overall safety performance measure lacks vision, accountability, and urgency. There is NO actual target set for reducing the number of people killed on our roads. States are asked to make "significant progress" towards two of four proposed measures, with a margin of error that could see fatality and injury numbers actually increase.

At a time when many local agencies are adopting a "Vision Zero" traffic safety target, and as bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are increasing as a percentage of overall traffic fatalities, we believe FHWA's proposal is grossly inadequate - and sets a troubling precedent for subsequent national performance management measures on congestion and pavement condition.

We can't allow our national safety standards to have Zero Vision - please send your comments on the safety performance measure to US DOT today.
 

Tell US DOT: Bicyclists' Safety Counts

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Press Release: FLORIDA ORGANIZATIONS UNITE BEHIND TRANSPORTATION VISION

On August 10th, BikeWalkLee was one of several Florida advocacy organizations that sent a letter to FDOT about MAP-21 implementation. (Click here for letter to FDOT).  On August 17th, the following press release was issued from Tallahassee, which includes a quote from BikeWalkLee.

August 17, 2012 Press Release 

FLORIDA ORGANIZATIONS UNITE BEHIND TRANSPORTATION VISION
Broad coalition says state must support funding for safer, more balanced system

TALLAHASSEE, FLA - Florida’s leading active transportation advocates are united in calling for a more balanced transportation system—including increased investment in walking, bicycling and trail facilities—to meet the urgent needs of Florida’s communities.

The new federal transportation bill recently enacted by Congress, MAP-21, provides less guaranteed funding for biking and walking and gives states the ability to "opt out" of some programs. However, states also have the flexibility to maximize funds available for bicycle and pedestrian projects under the new Transportation Alternatives program, as well as using the larger core transportation and safety funds to increase the safety and convenience of biking and walking.

Florida’s top transportation advocates are calling on the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to continue funding for bike/ped programs. They are also urging FDOT to integrate alternative transportation options into its implementation of the new federal law. "Bicyclists, pedestrians and motor vehicles are all equal legal road users in the state of Florida, so as planners, engineers and advocates we have an obligation to provide for safe and effective access to our roads for all modes of transportation,” says Tim Bustos with the Florida Bicycle Association.

But with the recent passage of MAP-21, there is much less dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects, and the state has much more authority to use these limited funds for other purposes—even though Florida has been rated as the most dangerous state in the country to walk or ride a bike. “We are hoping this new effort on the part of Florida's major walking and biking organizations to work with the Florida Department of Transportation will help ensure funding is spent where it's needed—making Florida safer for all road users,” says Bustos.

This display of unity among the state’s leading advocacy organizations demonstrates the enormous support for active transportation—human-powered mobility—and for more transportation choices for individuals. These statewide and regional organizations represent millions of Floridians who walk, bike and use trails each year.

“Trails are transportation facilities that pull double duty as economic engines and recreational facilities for improved community health,” says Ken Bryan, Florida state director for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. “In Orange County, the East Central Regional Planning Council found that three trails contributed $42.6 million dollars to the local economy and supported 516 jobs.”

FDOT has made a stated commitment to address Florida's ranking as the most dangerous state in America for pedestrians and cyclists. MAP-21 offers transportation officials an opportunity to act on this commitment by making the safety of pedestrians and cyclists a transportation priority.

"Lee County has shown strong support for complete streets and increased investments in bike/ped facilities during the past three years,” says Darla Letourneau of BikeWalkLee. “We hope that FDOT will adopt the recommendations proposed by the coalition of advocacy organizations, including BikeWalkLee, so that local officials and agencies will have the funding they need to continue moving forward on providing a more balanced multi-modal transportation system for the citizens of Lee County. It is also important that FDOT establish a truly performance-based system that ensures that Florida's transportation dollars are achieving the intended results of making our roadways safe and accessible for all users.”

_

 This coalition is made up of 10 of the state’s leading transportation and environmental organizations coming together as one voice for MAP-21 federal legislation implementation to ensure a safer Florida with more transportation choices. The coalition includes: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Florida Bicycle Association, Green Mobility Network, BikeWalkLee, Naples Pathways Coalition, South Florida Audubon Society, Smart Growth Partnership, Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation, South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers, and Friends of the River of Grass Greenway.

Florida advocacy groups send letter to FDOT on MAP-21 implementation recommendations

 On August 10th, BikeWalkLee joined forces with nine other statewide and local advocacy organizations throughout Florida to write a joint letter with recommendations to FDOT for implementation of MAP-21.  Click here to read the full letter.



 

 

 

August 10^th, 2012

 

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Secretary Ananth Prasad, Florida Dept. of Transportation

FROM:

Florida Bicycle Association - Tim Bustos, Tim@floridabicyle.org

 Green Mobility Network - John Hopkins, John@greenmobilitynetwork.org

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - Ken Bryan, Ken@railstotrails.org

BikeWalkLee - Darla Letourneau, dletourneau@bikewalklee.org

Naples Pathways Coalition - Michelle Avola Reese, Michelle.Avola@gmail.com

South Florida Audubon Society - Doug Young, dyoung@southfloridaaudubon.org

Smart Growth Partnership – Marianne Whitfield, mariannewinfield@aol.com

Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation – W. Dale Allen, wm.dale.allen@gmail.com

South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers – Alan Snel, alansnel@yahoo.com

Friends of the River of Grass Greenway - Maureen Bonness, maureenb@evergladesROGG.org

RE:  Proposal to Florida Department of Transportation:

MAP-21 Implementation Recommendations

We the undersigned organizations request that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) implement the MAP-21 legislation in a way that fully funds, staffs, and implements the new Transportation Alternatives program as well as continues the Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) and Recreational Trails (Rec Trails) programs.  All of these programs should maximize Florida's investments in safe and accessible streets in all transportation projects and work towards better connecting our communities with alternative transportation systems.  With Florida's ranking as the most dangerous state in the nation for pedestrians and cyclists, and FDOT's stated commitment to addressing this problem, MAP-21 offers FDOT an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment by making the safety of pedestrians and cyclists its #1 transportation priority. 

It is hoped that by coming together as a common voice, and communicating our joint vision for this new federal legislation, it will demonstrate unity amongst many of the state’s leading advocacy organizations that support walking, bicycling, trails and alternative transportation and, as such, have impact and be considered useful.

Recommendations for MAP-21 implementation: 

We respectfully request that FDOT include the following elements in its implementation of the federal transportation bill:

1.  No transfer of ANY funds away from Transportation Alternatives (TA) – and continue a focus on walking, bicycling and trail facilities;

2.  Fund the Recreational Trails program at the previous funding level and not opt-out;

3.  Maintain the Safe Routes to School program at the previous funding level along with coordinators and bicycle-pedestrian program managers;

4.  Promptly award Transportation Alternatives grants with relevant stakeholders participating;

5.  Preserve spending authority to allow for 100% obligation and expenditure of these program funds;

6.  Honor the commitment to all previously awarded SRTS, TE and Rec Trails program projects.  Preserve TE reserves from SAFETEA-LU to provide funding where the specific project has not been identified in the 2012-2017 STIP.  For these funds, adopt a list of eligible projects which matches the SAFETEA-LU Transportation Enhancements project eligibility criteria, minus categories that were specifically eliminated in MAP-21 such as transportation museums;

7.  Adopt a complete streets program to ensure that the needs of all users are taken into account on all transportation projects and programs;

8.  Implement the new performance measurement provisions to fully integrate alternative transportation into the state's goals and measures;

9.  Use the strengthened and outcome-based safety program in MAP-21 to make reducing Florida's bike/ped fatality rates its #1 priority and revamp Florida's Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) towards achieving that outcome.

10.  Use Surface Transportation Funds to cover any potential shortfalls in the 5-year State Transportation Improvement (STIP) and supplement TA funds with flexible funds, such as the Surface Transportation Program (STP), to both honor existing projects in the pipeline previously approved under Transportation Enhancements (TE), SRTS and Rec Trails programs and move these activities forward under MAP-21.  Restore available funds to current levels.

 Click here to continue reading the letter.