Collier Co. Wins $13 M TIGER grant for Immokalee bike/ped safety project

Kudos to Collier County for their successful efforts in winning TIGER grant to address longstanding bike/ped safety issues in Immokalee. Proud of SWFL for winning $23 M (including Lee MPO $10 M complete streets grant in 2013) over past 5 years from the federal TIGER grant program to make our streets safer for walkers and cyclists.

Naples Daily News, March 9, 2018
Immokalee gets $13 million grant for sidewalks, lights, bus shelters, drainage
Greg Stanley, greg.stanley@naplesnews.com

After years of trying, Collier County will receive a $13 million federal grant to build sidewalks, streetlights and bus shelters in Immokalee, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced this week.

The money — enough to build 20 miles of sidewalks, upgrade 32 intersections and add 22 shaded bus shelters — will fund one of the largest projects to make Immokalee safer for its many pedestrians and bicyclists.

The grant also will be used to add lights to most intersections in town and build 20 miles of drainage ditches along roads to keep paths from flooding and forcing pedestrians onto the sides of streets.
Immokalee's Community Redevelopment Agency has been trying to add sidewalks, illuminate streets and install adequate road drainage systems for years.

"So many of our side streets have no lighting, and it gets very dark," said Christie Betancourt, operations manager of the CRA. "This is just great news."

Almost 250 people on foot or on bicycles have been hit by cars in Immokalee since 2005, according to county data. Immokalee has a population of 24,000.

The county estimates a quarter of Immokalee residents don't have a car. More than 30 percent of students walk or bike to school, and almost half of adults walk, bike or take a bus to work.
Yet 63 percent — almost two-thirds — of Immokalee streets don't have a sidewalk.

Design work will begin in the coming months, with construction expected to begin sometime in late 2019, according to the county's grant application.The work is expected to finish in 2021.

Betancourt and Collier County Commissioner Bill McDaniel, who represents the area, said much of the credit for the grant should go to Trinity Scott and Lorraine Lantz, county transportation planners who were instrumental in writing the application, prioritizing needs and capturing the grant.

"We're always talking about how Immokalee is a walking community," McDaniel said. "That means having safe sidewalks for our children to get to and from school and for our residents to get around is paramount."

McDaniel thanked U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations subcommittee, and U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, of Florida, for supporting the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant.
Diaz-Balart, whose district includes Immokalee, said in a statement he is eager to see the effects of the grant.

"From the installation of streetlights to the construction of bus shelters and sidewalks, the funds from this grant will be utilized to improve the quality of life for Immokalee residents,” he said.

News-Press 2016 People of the Year finalists include complete street champions

At this time each year, News-Press announces the finalists for its People of the Year awards, which honor "those who have made tremendous community impacts and changes lives along the way." There are eight award categories, including Person of the Year, Trailblazer of the Year, and Young Professionals of the Year. BikeWalkLee is thrilled that several finalists are community leaders who are part of the broad-based community efforts in support of complete streets and livable communities.

BikeWalkLee especially congratulates the founder and leader of the Cape Coral Bike-Peds (CCBP)group, Carolyn Conant, who is being honored as a finalist for Trailblazer of the Year. Not only has Carolyn and the CCCBP team made Cape Coral a better place to live, their partnership with the City is a model for others throughout SWFL.  In addition, Christin Collins, who leads LMHS's health and wellness/active lifestyles initiatives, as well as serving on the Board of Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation, is a finalist for Person of the Year.  Barbara Manzo, the County's past longtime Parks and Rec Director, is also a Trailblazer finalist of the Year for her successful work on the Conservation 2020 ballot referendum.  Finally Jan-Erik Hustrulid is a finalist for the Young Professional of the Year award.  Jan-Erik works for Owens-Ames-Kimball Company, which was awarded the construction contract for the Lee MPO's TIGER Complete Streets Initiative project, and Jan-Erik has been part of that team. 

Thanks to the News-Press for continuing to highlight the importance of complete streets and livable communities through its ongoing recognition of the community leaders contributing to these efforts.  BikeWalkLee was a finalist for the News-Press Hero of the Year award in 201l.  This year's winners will be announced on Feb. 21 at the News-Press awards breakfast held at FGCU.  Congratulations to all the finalists for their incredible efforts to improve our community.

News-Press Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016: Our People of the Year finalists
Below are excerpt on these four highlighted finalists:

Trailblazer of the Year Finalist: Carolyn Conant

Carolyn Conant

A long-time volunteer, Conant had a vision to offer Cape Coral cyclists, runners and walkers safe and separate pathways near busy roads to enjoy the outdoors. Her efforts helped create 90 miles of wonderful pathways called Cape Coral Bike-Peds. Conant, along with many other volunteers and community leaders, and fueled by tremendous fund-raising efforts, created these nationally-recognized city jewels that wind through the city.

In her nomination letter, Dawn-Marie Driscoll, emeritus Executive Fellow for Business Ethics for Bentley University and a Cape Coral resident, said: "And in this post-election malaise, I think it would be well to honor someone who shows that people can come together outside of partisan politics, work on an important issue together to improve our communities and accomplish much."

Person of the Year Finalist: Christin Collins [no photo in News-Press]

We received over 25 nomination letters for Collins, who not only is an ambassador for health and wellness, but also active in raising funds for Golisano Children’s Hospital and also involved with Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation, the SWFL Wine & Food Festival, the Women’s Foundation, the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, the PACE Center for Girls and the American Heart Association.

But it’s her work at Lee Health, which is celebrating 100 years, that is truly a game changer. She is co-chairing the second Million Mile Movement, creating an awareness for health and wellness and the movement for community members to log 1 million miles over a three-month period. She was instrumental in creating the health system’s Healthy Lifestyle Approach to Wellness and Prevention, focusing on purpose-driven living, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, mental and behavioral health.

She created a national speaker series, bringing wellness leaders from around the world to Southwest Florida. Last month, she was part of a four-person team asked to present wellness initiatives at a national conference for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Her influence also resulted in the children’s hospital reaching its $100 million goal, with the final $1 million coming from the SWFL Wine & Food Festival, where she is the co-chair. Her work also has inspired raising funds for pediatric mental and behavioral health, a department which does not yet exist but is needed at Golisano.

In one of the nomination letters, Lee Health CEO Jim Nathan and Cape Coral Hospital CAO Scott Cashman said: "She has helped make an impact locally, spreading regionally and influencing nationally. She embraces and inspires so many community leaders."

Barbara Manzo

Trailblazer of the Year Finalist: Barbara Manzo

She led an effort to inform Lee County residents of saving the county’s most important environmental program, Conservation 20/20. She was chairwomen of the Yes on Conservation 20/20 group, driven by the purpose to make sure voters in the November election approved the referendum to continue the land buying, management and conservation program, which started in 1996.

The group organized in six months and implemented a plan that started a local political committee, raised funds, established a social media campaign and a Facebook page to inform the people of the importance of this referendum. They also created a speakers bureau to meet with various groups across the county.

Jan-Erik Hustrulid

Young Professional of the Year Finalist:  Jan-Erik Hustrulid

The Business Development and Community Outreach Coordinator with the Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, he keeps a hectic and productive pace as chairman of the board for the Heights Foundation and Heights Center, as a board member for the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County as a board trustee for The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, a board member for the Harry Chapin Food Bank and as a executive committee member and programming co-chair for the Southwest Florida Urban Land Institute.

His leadership efforts in various events have helped raise over $200,000 for various organizations and at-risk children. He also served on the first The News-Press Young Professionals Advisory Board this year.

As business development and outreach coordinator for the company, Hustrulid also develops new project opportunities.

He also helps mentor students at FGCU

In her nomination letter, Jeanette Baldwin of Owen-Ames-Kimball said: “He and his colleagues at Owen-Ames-Kimball Company actively support more than 50 local organizations each year by giving of their time, talents and resources.”

 To read about the other finalists, click here.

BPAC sends letter to County Commissioners in support of TIGER wayfinding project

Kudos to BPAC for its letter of support for the TIGER grant wayfinding project, currently under development by the Lee MPO.

Last month the County's Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee sent a letter to County Commissioners voicing its support for the TIGER grant wayfinding project.  The Committee's letter states: "We would like to express our support for the wayfinding project. We believe wayfinding signs will be an excellent advertising tool to educate citizens of our bicycle/pedestrian facilities, will encourage more people to use these facilities as intended, and will increase traffic to area parks and local businesses."

BPAC's letter also thanks the Board for increasing the budget for bike/ped retrofits to $2 million/year in the CIP budget for FY 2016/17-2020/21, as requested by the Committee in 2014.

Click here to read the full BPAC letter.

 Letters of support for the project were also sent in May by the Lee MPO Board's Executive Committee and FDOT District 1 Secretary.

NBC2 News fragment on Complete Streets progress

NBC2 television had a News fragment yesterday featuring the Lee County TIGER grant 'Complete Streets' progress at the FGCU Campus entrance. Watch BWL's Dan Moser being interviewed by NBC2's Joe Roetz.

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.

Complete street initiatives being displayed in San Carlos and Bonita Springs

Exciting to see new biking and walking facilities being constructed as part of the TIGER grant, and to see local communities organizing more events to encourage people to try walking or biking in their neighborhoods.

And see the News-Press video from Friday's TIGER Walk and Bike to School event for San Carlos Park Elementary School students.  

And see the video produced by the Lee MPO project team.  Note--photos below were taken by QCA as part of MPO project (replaced the photos in the News-Press article)

TIGER walk/bike to San Carlos Elementary(QCA [photo)

News-Press May 6, 2016: San Carlos, Bonita Springs to display complete-streets progress Friday, Saturday

By CRAIG HANDEL

May is National Bike Month and Southwest Florida is getting in on the celebration.

In the next two days, a pair of complete-streets projects in Lee County will display path and street improvements that will help walkers and bicyclists.

On Friday, San Carlos Park Elementary School students and their families are invited to take part in the Tiger Walk and Bike to School Day. They’ll walk on the new sidewalks in the San Carlos Park community. The event will start at 7:15 a.m.

On Saturday, cyclists can take part in a leisurely 3-mile bike ride that starts and ends at Liles Hotel in Bonita Springs. That event will run from 4-5:30 p.m. It’s a chance for families to see Bonita’s downtown redevelopment project.

“They’re kind of unrelated how they came about, but they really are connected,” said Darla Letourneau of BikeWalk Lee. “We have to have connected, accessible, safe facilities before people will bike and walk. We have facilities but there are gaps and we’re starting to fill the gaps.”

Students will leave Karl Drews Park at 7:15 a.m. and walk and bike together along Lee Road to San Carlos Park Elementary School on the brand new sidewalk. Students are encouraged to join in along the way.

The San Carlos walk signifies the completed first phase of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Complete Streets Initiative, which is funded through a $10.4 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant. The improvements include more than three miles of newly-constructed sidewalks and safety features in San Carlos Park.

“San Carlos now has a sidewalk system that goes from U.S. 41 on Lee Road all the way up to Alico Road,” Letourneau said. “It’s all connected. Now you can safely walk or bike whether you’re a kid or adult.”

Crews recently completed work on new bike lanes along Corkscrew Road and Six Mile Cypress Parkway. Other parts of Lee that will benefit from the grant are Colonial Boulevard, Daniels Parkway and Florida Gulf Coast University.

The project connects three major portions of Lee: the Tour de Parks Loop, the University Loop and the Bi-County Connector. Together, the three segments form an 85.4-mile combined system for walking, bicycling and transit.

“We want to have facilities on both sides of major roadways so people don’t have to cross as many times to get to their destinations,” said Johnny Limbaugh, project manager with the MPO. “Sometimes they have to go quite a ways to get to a safe crossing route. We want to have complete pathways on both sides.”

Bonita Bike Tour
The first Bonita Springs Historical Bike Tour will pass some of the city’s biggest landmarks.

The event is put on by the Bonita Springs City Bike/Ped Advisory Committee.

“One of our main reasons for having the event is to bring awareness to our safety advisory committee,” said Lindsay Rodriguez, a planning technician with Waldrop Engineering, which is involved in the redevelopment of the city’s compete-streets focus.

“People also can see the progress of redevelopment. And it’s National Bike Month. We have a beautiful city and amazing historic sights so this gives us a chance to promote our downtown.”

Those who register by e-mailing lindsay.rodriguez@waldropengineering.com will be eligible for prize giveaways.

Helmets are required. Bike lights will be given out as well as refreshments.

Related NEWS-PRESS articles:

• TIGER contract in hand, county bike projects to start

• SWFL's dangerous roads an eye-opener for bike specialist

Construction of Lee MPO's TIGER Grant Complete Streets Initiative well underway

The Lee MPO TIGER Complete Streets Initiative grant awarded in 2013, is finally beginning to take shape on the ground. If you've been biking, walking or driving in certain areas of the county you may have come across some of these new biking and walking facilities.  Overall, the project is adding 12.6 miles of new bike lanes, shared-use pathways and sidewalks to fill gaps in the county's bike/ped network, making it safer and more enjoyable for all users. 
 
The Lee MPO has a webpage to provide information to the public about the project and its progress.  Now that several segments of the project have been completed or are nearing completion, narrative updates, complete with photos and project information for each of the three project segments have been posted on the website. Check out what's happening, bookmark this website, and provide us with your feedback (info@bikewalklee.org) about the new facilities you've noticed or experienced. Stay tuned for updates as they become available.

TIGER grant map

Check out these links with new information about the project's status:

 Lee MPO's Lee County Complete Streets Initiative website


Project by Project Updates:

Before photo of Lee Blvd.

  Bi-County Connector

After photo of Lee Blvd. with new sidewalks

New bike lanes on Corkscrew by Miromar

University Loop

Every segment has this type project info

FGCU segment will get underway this summer.

 Tour de Parks
The new bike lanes on Six Mile Cypress to Daniels Parkway have been completed, and the new path along Colonial Blvd. from Veronica Shoemaker to Ortiz has begun construction.

Path construction along Colonial

New bike lane on Six Mile Cypress

 Construction Updates (which includes videos)

 Complete Streets Initiative Frequently Asked Questions

Report by Darla Letourneau

Moser Column: Wayfinding is a vital component of our bike/pedestrian network

Dan's column reminds us of why wayfinding (signs and maps) is important to a successful bike/ped network, helpful to new residents and visitors, and a basic requirement for becoming a bicycle-friendly community (BFC).  Cape Coral and Sanibel (our two BFCs) are leading the way...now we need the other communities in Lee County to step up to the plate, esp. given the federal TIGER grant that was based on connecting our existing loops.

Florida Weekly, Outdoors Section, 2/10/16 

Cape Coral is sometimes known as a “can’t get there from here” place for many, including bicyclists, runners and walkers who are unfamiliar with the city’s extensive canal network. Even though there exists quite an extensive array of pathways, bike lanes and lightly trafficked neighborhood roads that allow cyclists and pedestrians safe passage around much of the city, until recently getting from here to there was often frustrating because of dead-ends created by canals that also serve as effective barriers by default. But thanks to ambitious community volunteers, cooperative city staff and elected officials, and astute business people who seized an opportunity, more than 90 miles of non-motorized routes were signed and marked to make it possible to know where one was and where one was heading.

As motorists we expect — and almost always get — adequate informational and directional markings and signage. In fact, it’s one of the basics of transportation planning and traffic management. So why is that generally not the case for us when we’re non-motorists, at least here in Southwest Florida? Cape Coral and Sanibel are proud exceptions to this problem. Why is it that when we’re on bike and foot we’re expected to speculate on our whereabouts and how to get where we’re going, having to use signs meant for motorists — which frequently don’t provide enough useful/visible information — to find our way? From my perspective, the answer is clearly a matter of priorities among transportation decision makers who are either unconcerned with anything except moving cars or are ignorant of the need. In this day and age it’s hard to believe anyone who’s in such a position could be ignorant of the need.

Signs like this are very helpful, especially for visitors and new residents.

At any time the powers-that-be can put forth the resources to do what Cape Coral, Sanibel and many other communities throughout Florida and the U.S. have done by finally adding wayfinding — easy-to-read signs — to our growing bike/ped network. For one thing, it’s a basic requirement for becoming a bike-friendly community, if that even matters to those who can make a difference. 

Wayfinding is also critical for visitors and new or part-time residents, so it makes sense from a tourism and economic development perspective to help folks get to their destinations. And having the confidence to make a trip by bike or foot safely and efficiently will get cars off the road, which equates to reducing the need to continually spend a staggering amount of tax dollars on road capacity projects, something we continue to do in our unattainable attempt to build our way out of congestion.

A partial wayfinding attempt was made a few years ago when two popular bike routes were designated as such and then heavily promoted. Signs were placed on the 20-plus-miles mile Tour de Park route and less extensive University Loop. Unfortunately the work was left incomplete and didn’t include any other part of our network. But because of requirements written into the significant TIGER grant we were recently awarded, that job could and should be completed and eventually expanded to include our entire network. Of course, getting it done is predicated upon cooperation from each of the various jurisdictions, from Lee County to FDOT to our municipalities. 

At least one is questioning the value of providing this very basic and necessary service for its many residents and visitors, even though the cost of doing so would be a drop in the bucket when compared to what is routinely spent on other transportation projects. Ask your elected representatives and transportation officials what their positions are on this matter — you may be surprised about what you learn. In the meantime, efforts to make this happen will continue in the hope that those objecting will see the light or can be worked around. To learn more and stay abreast of progress and continued resistance, visit BikeWalkLee’s blog at bikewalklee.blogspot.com.

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

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

>> Rotary’s Run for the Rose Garden 5K, Saturday, Feb. 13, Rotary Park, Cape Coral, 3dracinginc.com

>> Edsion Fest 5K, Saturday, Feb. 20, downtown Fort Myers, ftmyerstrackclub.com

>> Hooters Half-Marathon, Sunday, March 6, Fort Myers, hootershalfmarathon.com

Cycling and other events:

>> SWFL Critical Mass, Friday, March 4, downtown Fort Myers, meetup.com/Biking-SWFL

>> Ride for Fallen Heroes, Sunday, March 6, Estero Trek, brotherhoodride.com

>> 18th annual Royal Palm Classic, Sunday, March 13, Fort Myers Brewery, Gateway, caloosariders.org

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

TIGER grant opens avenues of fun, fitness

Thanks to LMHS's Sally Jackson for highlighting the importance of the MPO's TIGER grant Complete Streets Initiative for promoting healthy lifestyles, the goal of the Healthy Lee coalition. Both Healthy Lee and LMHS are BikeWalkLee supporter organizations.

News-Press Sept. 8, 2015

By Sally Jackson, Healthy Lee and LMHS

 http://www.news-press.com/story/life/wellness/2015/09/03/tiger-grant-healthy-lee-county-university-loop-fgcu-bonita/71650388/

 (Photo: Andrew West/The News-Press, Andrew West/News-Press)

Since 2007, Lee Memorial Health System has supported a diverse group of community leaders in the Healthy Lee initiative which conducts research and makes recommendations to improve our community’s health status and our health care delivery system. Healthy Lee strives to actively engage the community in healthy lifestyle activities and education, working to improve the quality of life for everyone who works, plays or visits Lee County.

As part of the Healthy Lee work, the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in collaboration with local governments, applied for and was awarded a $10.5 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Discretionary Grant.  TIGER provides a unique opportunity for the Department of Transportation (USDOT) to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects and Congress has dedicated more than $4.1 billion to the program.

Lee County was one of 52 transportation projects in 37 states to receive funding from the USDOT in 2013, and has designated the grant to improving safety and connectivity on Lee County's bicycle and pedestrian paths. This grant allows Lee County to fill gaps in our regional network and link three high priority loops with committed local funding: 

• Lee County Tour de Parks Route ($5.2 million) is filling in gaps on a 35-mile segment, designed to connect several Lee County parks, anchored by Lakes Regional Park in south Fort Myers, and is focused on significantly boosting eco-tourism in this area. This segment will also connect two spring training stadiums (JetBlue Park and the Hammond Stadium) to the multi-use path system, encouraging alternative and active transportation to games and entertainment.

• University Loop ($2.2 million) is filling in gaps on a 15-mile segment constructing bicycle, pedestrian and transit facilities linking the FGCU campus to the rest of Lee County to encourage safe bicycle, pedestrian and transit travel.

• Bi-County Connector ($3.1 million) is filling in gaps on a 22.8-mile segment that links Lee County, the City of Bonita Springs, and Collier County. The project will add sidewalks, bike facilities and new bus shelters to further support the phenomenally successful year-old LinC Lee/Collier transit route.

These three projects are part of Lee County’s Complete Streets Initiative, and will provide a safe, connected corridor for biking, walking, and transit facilities that stretches from downtown Fort Myers, through Florida Gulf Coast University, and also links to Collier County by transit.

Our community was hard hit by the economic downturn, and access to biking, walking and transit has been essential for families with little or no income.  Not only will these projects create jobs for locals, they open accessibility for families who have no other options for transportation.

Our local economy relies on tourism.  People come from all over the world to enjoy all that Southwest Florida has to offer and these improvements will help promote tourism and small business.
Providing safe paths will increase outdoor activity among the people who live, work and play in Lee County.  It’s a solution that also aligns with the number one priority of Healthy Lee: promoting healthy lifestyles and pursuing ways to create a culture of wellness.  Walking and biking are activities that nearly everyone can participate in at little or no cost.  We hope you’ll take advantage of every opportunity to step out and enjoy all Lee County has to offer.  Remember to use www.HealthyLee.com for more information.

Sally Jackson, System Director of Government and Community Relations for Lee Memorial Health System.  

TIGER Grant project scheduled for July 5

News-Press reporter Craig Handel attended last night's TIGER pre-construction open house and wrote this report.

News-Press, May 27, 2015

BY CRAIG HANDEL, chandel@news-press.com 

http://www.news-press.com/story/news/local/2015/05/26/tiger-grant-project-scheduled-july/27992325/

Don Scott/MPO Director (photo by NP/Craig Handel)

Work is scheduled to begin July 5 on the first stage of the Complete Streets Initiative.
The first areas worked on will be U.S. 41 and Constitution Boulevard, as well as Lee Road. Sidewalks along the south side will be installed. That area was chosen first so it can be completed before San Carlos Elementary students return to school, Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization staff director Don Scott said.

The MPO played host to a pre-construction open house for the initiative at the Estero Community Park Recreation Center on Tuesday night. Project representatives were available to answer questions and review the display boards exhibited.

In the next 18 months, Scott said the project will connect three major areas: the Tour de Parks Loop, which includes areas around Daniels Parkway and Colonial Boulevard; the University Loop around FGCU; and the Bi-County Connector, which will link Lee and Collier counties. Together, the three segments form a system for walking, bicycling and transit use. A total of 11 new LeeTran bus shelters will be built.

5/26 Open House (photo by DLetourneau)

These pathways, paved shoulders and sidewalks will connect commercial, residential, education and recreation facilities that will provide commuters, tourists and others the freedom to move safer.
This project is funded by a $10.4 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant awarded to Lee County by the United States Department of Transportation in 2013.

With the project projected at $9.8 million, there may be $600,000 available to work on an additional element.

“We’re filling in gaps,” Scott said. “Most people will notice there’s major streets on Daniels and Colonial not having facilities for stretches.”

MPO's Don Scott explains a segment to Deborah Chesna. (Photo by DLetourneau)

While he has no data, Scott said more people are riding bicycles. After the project is completed, he said there will be four years of studies to get counts on bicycle-pedestrian use.

Bonita Springs resident Fred Forbes said he’s for bike paths and separating bicyclists from motorists. “It appears they’ve achieved that,” he said.

Naples’ Deborah Chesna said she’s for infrastructure that gets people moving.
“There’s a lot of pathways that continue to go on,” Chesna said. “I’m for anything that gets us off roads and for families to ride so we can give them options.”

Darla Letourneau, a member of BikeWalkLee, said this project should make it somewhat safer and more accessible for bicyclists and pedestrians. However, she said the areas that will be worked on still need improvements at intersections and in areas to help get neighborhoods connected. She said she has received an email from a citizen who doesn’t feel this is a complete street because of issues like these.

“This isn’t the end of it,” Letourneau said. “We now need to come back into the local jurisdictions and maximize use of the facilities.

“This is one piece of the puzzle. Nothing by itself reduces safety. There also has to be enforcement, education, other connections. Frankly, I’m concerned about the intersections because that’s where most of the crashes are.”

Staff and Contractor TIGER Team

Projected timeline for start of Complete Streets Initiative

July: Constitution Boulevard (U.S. 41 to Constitution Circle): Sidewalk along south side; Lee Road (Sanibel Boulevard to Alico Road): Sidewalk along south side
October: Corkscrew Road (Woodlands to Ben Hill Griffin Parkway): Paved shoulders, both sides
November: Daniels Parkway (Six Mile Cypress to I-75): Pathway along south side; Colonial Boulevard (East of Winkler Street to Veronica Shoemaker Road): Pathway along north side
December: Sanibel Boulevard (Iris Road to Lee Road): Sidewalk along south side
January: FGCU (South entrance road): Pathway along south side
February: Daniels Parkway (Treeline Avenue to Red Sox Stadium): Pathway along south side.

What is a Tiger Grant?
The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Discretionary Grant program, provides a unique opportunity for the Department of Transportation to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives. Since 2009, Congress has dedicated more than $4.1 billion for six rounds to fund projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area.

Dan Moser Column: Pain before gain on Fort Myers Beach

Dan's column this week  reviews the history of the Estero Blvd. Improvement project on Fort Myers Beach, which is set to begin construction later this year.  His advocacy corner criticizes FGCU for its lack of bike/ped-friendliness, as the TIGER project gets underway.

Florida Weekly, May 27, 2015, Outdoor Section

It’s going to get much worse before it gets a whole lot better. That may not seem like a good thing but it’s actually great news for residents and visitors of Fort Myers Beach now that work has begun to make the long-awaited improvements to Estero Boulevard. According to project managers, it may take up to 10 years to complete this massive undertaking, which includes utility work, stormwater management, and sorely needed bicycle, pedestrian and transit upgrades — all on the one and only through road on the island.

Even before the community became a municipality in 1995 it was obvious that Estero Boulevard needed to be fixed, especially for the many people walking and riding bikes. To that end, one of the first orders of business the newly formed Town of Fort Myers Beach undertook was to formally lay out its wishes for this county road that serves as the main arterial. Experts were brought in, including renowned planner Dan Burden, to help craft the plan for a walkable community, and the resulting product was formally adopted into the town’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, a guiding document required by the state of Florida. Seeing it finally begin to come to fruition — even knowing all the pain the work will bring — is something I and others were starting to think would never happen.

A good part of Estero Boulevard will include all these features.

Of course there are those who think that because more motor vehicle lanes aren’t being added that this is not really a fix. But there’s no practical or affordable way additional right-of-way could be purchased, so there’s always going to be bottlenecks at either end of Estero Island at the bridges, even if more cars could be accommodated on the roads. So the design that will become reality is the best option for residents, visitors and businesses. I hope those who continue to believe more motor vehicle travel lanes is the answer will eventually accept this Complete Streets project as the real solution.

Advocacy update

Work on projects funded by the TIGER grant — the $10 million award to improve our bike/ped environment — has begun on roads and sidepaths from Colonial Boulevard south to the Collier County line. One notable change that strays from the formally agreed upon project list comes from FGCU. The university’s unexpected backtrack comes with an even bigger surprise. It is nixing the main entrance bike access improvements that would finally bring it closer to the standard of the roads it connects to by claiming “environmental concerns” and “future plans for the entrance.” The bigger surprise is that the “future plans” are already happening: it is somehow creating an elaborate entrance instead, something the university never mentioned as the TIGER plan moved forward, all the way to final design and as recently as a TIGER stakeholder meeting just a few weeks ago.

Since the inception of FGCU, it has resisted making access to the campus bike/ped-friendly, even though both the university and Lee County included bike lanes and sidepaths on the campus’s internal road and Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, respectively. When it first opened, the campus’s main entrance initially lacked even one non-motorized access feature. No bike lanes, bike path or even a sidewalk. After a lot of pressure was put on, FGCU added a pedestrian-scaled sidepath (i.e., sidewalk) on one side of the four-lane entrance road that it considered adequate to accommodate all non-motorized traffic. The north entrance, created a few years after the other, is no better, having only a sidepath on one side.

The TIGER grant project was supposed to add a multi-use path on the south side of the main entrance. Early in the TIGER process it balked at the bikes lanes, so the south side path was reluctantly approved as the only feature to be added. But much to the dismay of many who worked so hard on this project, and even though it would cost nothing, FGCU later decided that allowing even that was going to be difficult, supposedly because they would have trouble obtaining necessary environmental permits. That reason apparently was its own $1.5 million plan, which creates an entrance that completely ignores those on foot or bike. Oh, did I mention the university announced this grand entrance plan just days before a public meeting is scheduled to take input on its master plan update and never told the folks on the TIGER grant stakeholder committee about it at the earlier mentioned meeting? So much for transparency and serving as a model of sustainability. For more about this and many other important community matters, visit bikewalklee.blogspot.com.

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

Upcoming Events 
 Running/walking:

 FMTC Membership 5K, Saturday, June 6, Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)

 Various summertime dates, FMTC Summer Fun Runs, (ftmyerstrackclub.com)

 Various summertime dates, 3D Racing Summer Series, (3dracinginc.com)

 Cycling and other events:

 SWFL Critical Mass, Friday, June 5, downtown Fort Myers (swflcriticalmass.wordpress.com)

 Wheels & Wings, Sunday, July 12, Punta Gorda (peaceriverridersbicycleclub.com)

— 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 or 334- 6417.