BikeWalkLee asks Lee Legislative Delegation to strengthen bike/ped safety laws

BikeWalkLee is speaking at the October 14th annual Lee County Legislative Delegation meeting to request the members of our delegation to support efforts to strength laws that make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists (most importantly the Passidomo bike safety bill (HB 253), along with three other priority areas (bike tourism, transit, and equitable distribution of transportation dollars to SWFL) in the upcoming legislative session. Darla Letourneau will make BikeWalkLee's presentation at Wednesday's meeting. Click here for the advance letter we submitted.  

WGCU recorded the entire meeting and posted the testimony of all the speakers on their website (BWL testimony on afternoon video at 55:27-1:01). Also see the Cape Coral Mayor's statement that asked for funding for sidewalks near schools (see Exhibit G). 
 

BWL's Darla Letourneau with Rep. Fitzenhagen at 10/14 mtg

October 1, 2015

Members of Lee County Legislative Delegation:

BikeWalkLee, a coalition working to complete Lee County's streets, promotes policies that enhance the safety and usability of our roadways.  BikeWalkLee wishes to thank the Lee Legislative Delegation for its support of several of our priority requests last year, which were enacted and/or advanced during the last Legislative Session. The purpose of this letter is to highlight important priorities we hope the delegation will support in the upcoming legislative session:

 

1) Efforts to strengthen laws that make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists; 

2) Focused strategies that enhance economic development through bike tourism; 

3) State support for a robust public transit system; and

4)  Equitable distribution of transportation dollars to SWFL.

1. Stronger laws for bike/ped safety

Our top priority continues to be the need for stronger laws and enforcement tools to make Florida roadways safer for pedestrians and cyclists.  For over a decade, Florida has held the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians and cyclists.  (Locally , Lee County ranks in the top quarter of the most dangerous areas in the  state.)  In August, there was yet another report confirming Florida's "worst in country" ranking--this one by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  This national report found that Florida had the highest rate of bicycling deaths of any state in the nation--0.57 per 100,000 people, more than double the nationwide rate of 0.23 per 100,000.  As the recent Tampa Tribune article stated, "Perhaps most disturbing, while other states have found ways to dramatically cut bicycle deaths during two periods measured over the last three decades, Florida has barely made a dent--reducing the number less than 10 percent.  Only Wyoming made a poorer showing."

 

One of the reasons Florida has made so little progress is its lax driver safety laws.  Florida ranks as the seventh worst state for driver safety laws, as ranked by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.  There is clearly a relationship between high bike/ped fatality rates and lax driver safety laws.  It is critical that Gov. Scott and the Florida Legislature continue to make roadway safety the top transportation priority, with a goal of greatly reducing bike/ped fatalities.

Our top legislative priority last year and again this year is enactment of HB 231, the bike safety bill introduced and championed by Rep. Passidomo and co-sponsored by Rep. Fitzenhagen.   It was extremely disappointing to see this bill, which passed both the House and Senate almost unanimously, become a casualty of the abrupt ending of the Legislative Session last year.  We are pleased to see that Rep. Passidomo has already introduced a strengthened version of her bill for the 2016 legislative session.  It is gratifying to see the Southwest Florida legislative delegation  play a statewide leadership role in improving the safety of our roads for people biking and walking.  This effort is strongly supported by our community--the Lee MPO, the Collier County Commission, municipalities in Southwest Florida, the local media, as well as Naples Pathways Coalition and BikeWalkLee.  We urge you to again lead this fight for improved safety for cyclists and make enactment of this bill a top priority for the upcoming session.  

We also appreciate the Delegation's support of Gabby's Law for Student Safety, which was enacted last year. This bill changes the "hazardous walking conditions" criteria and requires both local governments and school districts to work on fixing the hazards within a reasonable timeframe.  It is another tool aimed at making it safer for school children to walk or bike to school, and local communities will be working on its implementation this year.

The Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) continues its statewide bike/ped safety campaign, led by  FDOT District 1 Secretary Billy Hattaway, aimed at reversing Florida's dubious distinction of being the most dangerous state in the nation for cyclists and pedestrians.  This Fall, FDOT will be announcing policy and guidance changes to implement its 2014 complete streets policy, which will provide additional tools for state and local agencies to change the way roads are designed so that they're safer for all users.  Support by the Governor and the Legislature for these positive FDOT initiatives  are important to sustain the momentum and focus on improving Florida's dismal bike/ped safety record.

 

While FDOT has made bike/ped safety a top priority and Secretary Hattaway is providing strong leadership, it will take time before we see the benefits in terms of fewer bike/ped fatalities and injuries. The issues that have made our state so dangerous are deeply imbedded in road design and land use. Change requires support from state laws, enforcement, public awareness, and driver behavior.  Similar to successful drunk driving and seatbelt campaigns, it takes years of work using many different tools to change people's behavior and get results.  Over the past three years, the Legislature has begun to strengthen its driver safety laws, but much remains to be done.  

In addition to passing legislation to strengthen the laws, it is important that the new laws be aggressively implemented by both law enforcement agencies and the judicial system.  For example, while the Legislature's 2014 enactment of the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act (strengthens penalties for leaving the scene of a crash and was named for the Miami cyclist who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2012) was a major step forward,  aggressive enforcement and prosecution of this law is critical to stopping the growing number of hit-and-run crashes. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)is to be commended for making this a priority, however, hit-and-run crashes in Florida are a growing problem and much more needs to be done by the entire law enforcement community and judicial system.  While we are not proposing further legislation at this time, anything that our state legislative leaders can do to encourage law enforcement to aggressively enforce and prosecute the law you passed in 2014 would be appreciated.

While the Florida Legislature finally adopted a “texting while driving” ban in 2012, it was only a first step and a weak bill.  Distracted driving (including texting while driving) is contributing to the rise in the share of traffic fatalities involving pedestrians and cyclists, including the increase in hit-and-run crashes.  It is critically important that the Legislature take action this year to strengthen the texting law so that texting while driving is made a primary offense.  Last year we supported HB 1, which made texting while driving a primary offense, doubled the fines, and provided enhanced penalties for violations when committed in a school zone or school crossing.   We urge the Lee delegation to not only support this legislation, but to champion it.

It is also important that the Legislature not adopt legislation that will worsen our existing road safety problems, such as bills to raise speed limits on Florida roads any other bill that would make matters worse.

A new urgency to focus on this issue was reflected in the Surgeon General recent national "Call to Action" to make walking a national priority. This campaign focuses  on the need to build communities where walking is a safe and convenient option.  Not only is this critical to fighting the obesity epidemic, it is important to the economic health of our communities. Over and over, people have shown that  they want to live and work in walkable communities.  As the most dangerous state in the country for people to walk and bike, Florida is starting off with a serious handicap in providing its citizens with the tools-- safe and accessible walking and biking infrastructure--that provides  the ability to stay physically active and healthy.  There is pent-up demand for walkable communities. Those areas around the country that have created vibrant walkable neighborhoods are reaping the economic benefits from their investment, while Florida lags behind.  Much is at stake for Florida's future in making our roadways and streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.  We urge the Legislature to make walkability and bike/ped safety a higher priority and an integral part of the State's economic development strategy. 

Click here to continue reading BWL's statement re: three other priority areas.

New national report: "Core Values: Why American Companies are Moving Downtown"

Smart Growth America released a groundbreaking report today documenting the importance of walkable downtown neighborhoods and transit to attracting businesses downtown.  The 2 hour kick-off webinar (click here) with business leaders from many companies and cities was excellent and worth watching, too.  Lots of lessons for SWFL in terms of economic development strategies.  Download the report.


Core Values: Why American Companies are Moving Downtown

NATIONAL OVERVIEW
MAP
FULL DATA*

Hundreds of companies across the United States are moving to and investing in walkable downtown locations. As job migration shifts towards cities and as commercial real estate values climb in these places, a vanguard of American companies are building and expanding in walkable downtown neighborhoods.

Why are companies choosing these places? What are the competitive advantages they see in these locations? And what features do they look for when choosing a new location?

Core Values: Why American Companies are Moving Downtown examines the characteristics, motives, and preferences of companies that have either relocated, opened new offices, or expanded in walkable downtowns between 2010 and 2015. Smart Growth America partnered with global real estate advisors Cushman & Wakefield to identify nearly 500 companies that have made such a move in the past five years. Of those, we interviewed representatives from more than 40 companies to gain a better understanding of this emerging trend.

The research reveals an enormous diversity of businesses choosing to locate downtown. The companies included in our study represent over 170 specific industries, including 15 software developers and 29 information technology companies, 45 manufacturers, 11 universities and colleges, 7 food production companies, 6 advertising agencies, and 6 oil and gas companies. The group includes 52 companies on the Fortune 500, and 12 of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” from 2015. And these companies are of all sizes, from just a few employees to thousands.

Their investments have taken a variety of forms. Our study included relocations, consolidations, expansions, as well as the creation of new offices or companies. Of the nearly 500 companies included in our investigation, 247 relocated from a suburban location (either within the metro area or from a different region), 92 opened a new downtown location or branch, 73 relocated within downtown, 41 expanded existing downtown office space, 20 consolidated a suburban and downtown location, 10 moved from a different downtown, and 9 were brand new companies.

These companies’ new locations are dramatically more walkable than before. The average Walk Score of companies’ previous locations was 52; the average Walk Score of the companies’ new locations is 88. Similarly, Transit Scores went from an average of 52 to 79 and Bike Scores went from an average of 66 to 78.

This trend is visible across the country, in big cities and small ones, in the middle of the country and the coasts, as well as in secondary markets within larger metropolitan areas. An online interactive map includes more information about where in the country these moves are happening.

We also explored the motivations for these companies’ moves. Smart Growth America conducted interviews with senior-level employees at these companies to understand why they chose the location they did. In the course of our interviews six common themes emerged explaining why companies chose to locate downtown:

• To attract and retain talented workers. As companies compete for new hires and the best talent, being located in a vibrant neighborhood is considered a crucial selling point. The businesses in our study report that current and potential employees want neighborhoods with restaurants, cafes, cultural institutions, entertainment, and nightlife as well as easy access by public transportation.

• To build brand identity and company culture: A downtown location projects innovation, connectedness, uniqueness, and allows companies to literally be at the center of things. For many companies, moving downtown was a way to set themselves apart from their competitors and to inspire their employees to live up to related brand aspirations.

• To support creative collaboration: Many companies chose locations in dynamic, creative, engaging neighborhoods to help inspire their employees and encourage collaboration among co-workers as well as with employees at other companies or in other industries.

• To be closer to customers and business partners: Streamlining the process for employees who take in-person meetings with clients and partners downtown.

• To centralize operations: A central downtown location, because of its proximity to everything, was a natural choice for many companies when consolidating multiple locations, particularly if those locations were spread out over a single region.

• To support triple-bottom line business outcomes: For many companies, investing in a city’s center was an opportunity for good corporate citizenship and a way to use their sizable investing power for good. Some reported that triple-bottom line business practices came with the ancillary benefit of making them more attractive as an employer.

Common themes also emerged about what companies looked for when choosing a new location. Many interviewees said they chose vibrant, walkable neighborhoods where people want to both live and work. Companies also wanted their new location to be accessible by a range of transportation options, emphasizing in particular commuting choices for their employees as well as convenient access to the rest of the city and the region. Great office space was another important factor for these companies, and many highlighted renovated warehouses or other unique and inspired architecture that dovetailed with a desire for similar neighborhood qualities. Companies noted that a warm welcome on the part of the city—whether through outreach, a personal welcome, help with permitting, or financial incentives—also factored in to their decision making process. And finally, companies noted that a clean, safe downtown was a fundamental requirement for their choice of where to move.

Cities, for their part, can learn from this. Understanding what companies look for and why should help local leaders understand how they can compete more effectively for these businesses. Smart Growth America is dedicated to helping communities across the United States create these kinds of places.

*This "full data" link includes the company by company research results for the report's 493 companies that either moved to or expanded in walkable downtown locations between 2010 and 2015. The table includes the full list of those companies; the category of their move*; their previous address (if applicable); their new address; and the Walk Score for each company’s previous and new addresses, where data were available.  Additional data about these companies—including the total square footage of the new offices, their North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and those codes’ official description as well as Transit Scores and Bike Scores for each company’s previous and new addresses, where data were available—are included in Appendix A on page 28 of the full report.

BikeWalkLee comments to BoCC on its "growth increment funding" budget proposal

The FY 2015-16 budget process has begun in Lee County. At the Board of County Commissioners' meeting on June 2nd, they will consider a proposal to set aside some of next year's general fund budget for transportation. BikeWalkLee shared its views on this proposal in a May 29th letter (see below).

 

FY 2015-16 Budget Process

The next important date is June 16th, when the Board will hold a workshop (no public comment allowed) to discuss the draft FY 2015-16 budget.  This document should be made available to the public prior to the 6/16 workshop. The Board will set the millage rate on August 4th, and then hold a second budget workshop (again no public comment allowed) on the final draft budget on August 18th.  The two formal public hearings on the budget (required by state law) will be held on Sept. 9th and Sept. 23rd.  Prior to that, the only opportunity for public comment on the draft budget will be at the regular BoCC meetings on Aug. 4th and 18th (at the end of those meetings under either "Public Presentation of Matters by Citizens" or "Public Comment on Work Session" agenda items).  The public can always communicate its views to Board members in letters, phone calls, and meetings throughout the process.

BoCC members:
 John Manning: dist1@leegov.com, 533-2224
Cecil Pendergrass: dist2@leegov.com, 533-2227
Larry Kiker: dist3@leegov.com, 533-2223
Brian Hamman: dist4@leegov.com, 533-2226
Frank Mann: dist5@leegov.com, 533-2225

May 29, 2015

Dear Commissioners:

BikeWalkLee, a coalition working to complete Lee County's streets, works for a balanced multi-modal transportation system that values transportation choice, connectivity, economic opportunity, livable communities, community character, safety, and quality growth.  

On June 2, you will be considering staff's "growth increment funding" proposal, and BikeWalkLee would like to communicate its views in advance of your deliberations.  Those views are:

•  If the Board plans to use some of next year's general fund budget for transportation, a significant portion of these funds should be dedicated to bike/ped retrofit projects and transit funding. 

• All road projects in the CIP should be designed with a complete streets approach in an effort to improve the safety for all road users. 

• Finally, we recommend that you act now to restore impact fees to the 100% rate. 

The Board is being asked to provide policy direction for development of this year's draft continuation budget.  The staff's "growth increment funding" proposal is simply a methodology for arriving at a dollar amount to earmark in the budget process from general fund (which comes from property taxes) for infrastructure projects.  In reality, this proposal is simply filling the hole created by the loss of impact fee revenues.  The proposal shows $7.9 million being earmarked for that purpose next year--filling the estimated $7 million/year hole created by your 55% reduction in road and park impact fees collection rates.

As we stated throughout the impact fee debate, we supported the county's 25-year policy that growth should pay for growth and warned that if developers were not charged the full cost of the infrastructure necessitated by that development, the taxpayers would be picking up the tab.  Your proposal makes that scenario a reality-- the shortfall in impact fee revenues would now be paid for with property taxes.

BikeWalkLee agrees that additional funds are needed to implement multi-modal transportation projects and retrofit dangerous conditions for users. We also believe that, in some instances, the general fund is appropriate for these purposes.  For example, a $2 million/year allocation would allow the Board to fully fund the recent BPAC request for stand-alone bike/ped retrofit projects to attack the extensive backlog of 85 approved and prioritized projects (totaling $68 million).  Lee County ranks as one of the most dangerous areas in the country for pedestrians and cyclists and it's important that our elected officials take actions to make our roads safer. 

For the past four years, we have been highlighting the new fiscal realities in the transportation world--the transportation funding of the past has been reduced at all level of government and isn't coming back.  Given this new reality, local governments must figure out how to maximize their local revenues for transportation and best invest these dollars to maximize the benefits.

Unfortunately, during the impact fee debates over the past two years, the Board ignored this fiscal reality and drastically cut impact fees. Impact fees are one of the three main sources for transportation funding in Lee County--the other two (almost equal) sources are tolls and gas taxes.  When we pointed out that the out-year costs of the Board's approved 5-year transportation CIP was significantly underfunded, the response was that "the CIP is balanced" so these road impact fee dollars were not needed.  It's regrettable that the truth about the transportation funding needs was not part of the impact fee debate so that the consequences of forgoing these revenues could have been considered before the decision was made to continue a significant reduction in collection of the full costs of public infrastructure investments necessitated by new development.  For road impact fees alone, the 5-year loss due to the Board's policy decisions is an estimated $33 million.

The "growth increment funding" proposal does nothing to address the larger transportation funding deficit, which staff estimates to be $400 million.  The only reasonable next step to address this shortfall would be to restore the impact fees to the 100% collection rate.  While these two steps (the incremental growth proposal and restoring impact fees to 100%) will clearly not fully fund the transportation deficit, it would put the county on a path to a longer term solution. The reality is there are no additional federal or state funds that are going to come bail us out, as Commissioner Kiker suggested at the March 19th BoCC workshop.  The federal Highway Trust Fund is broken and Congress has clearly demonstrated it is not capable of addressing our nation's infrastructure funding crisis.  Likewise, Gov. Scott has made it clear that he's not planning to raise revenues to deal with the state's transportation funding needs, as some other states have done.  So, that leaves it up to each community to find ways to address this problem-- by astutely maintaining available local revenues and by spending those revenues as smartly and cost-effectively as possible.  The only fiscally responsible approach is to equitably maximize the revenue sources available to the county.

A missing piece in this discussion is the other important part of the transportation system--transit. To increase the economic competitiveness of Lee County, reduce overall transportation costs, and increase our quality of life, we need a healthy transit system.  Research shows that you can't build your way out of congestion, i.e. more road lanes brings induced demand, putting more cars on the road.  A multi-modal system is the only viable option to save money in infrastructure costs and manage congestion in a crowded future. 

As the Board considers spending some general funds for infrastructure needs, it should also be increasing general fund expenditures for LeeTran operations.  The county should be proactively preparing to meet the future demand of a population projected to grow to over 1 million by 2040. LeeTran services were cut back in 2013-14 and, while funds were restored in last year's budget, damage was done to the system's viability. As a result of these cutbacks, transit became a less reliable means of travel to work or other essential destinations.  Investments in public transportation are the fiscally responsible way to meet the transportation needs of a growing area such as Lee County.

In summary, if the Board plans to use some of next year's general fund budget for transportation, a significant portion of these funds should be dedicated to bike/ped retrofit projects and transit funding.  Further, all road projects in the CIP should be designed with a complete streets approach in an effort to improve the safety for all road users.  Finally, we recommend that you act now to restore impact fees to the 100% rate. 

Thank you for considering our views.

Sincerely,

 

Darla Letourneau

on behalf of BikeWalkLee

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 Recent Letters to BoCC on topic:

May 9, 2015: BikeWalkLee asks County Commissioners to support BPAC's request for additional bike/ped retrofit funds

Jan. 29, 2015: BikeWalkLee letter to BoCC opposing extension of impact fee reductions

Aug. 14, 2014: BikeWalkLee letter to BoCC on LeeTran budget and proposed fare increase

May 31, 2015: News-Press Letter to Editor from David Urich, "Restore full impact fees"

BikeWalkLee's testimony at Jan. 13th Lee Leislative Delegation Meeting

 BikeWalkLee is speaking at the Jan. 13th annual Lee County Legislative Delegation meeting to request the members of our delegation to support several specific items of interest to BikeWalkLee in the upcoming legislative session (bike/ped safety (including a stronger "texting while driving" law), bike tourism (including funding for a regional trail alignment study), transit (including support for better medical transit services), and equitable distribution of transportation dollars to SWFL).  Kate Gooderham will make BikeWalkLee's presentation at Tuesday's meeting.  Below is the advance letter we submitted.

Kate Gooderham

December 19, 2014

Members of Lee County Legislative Delegation:

BikeWalkLee, a coalition working to complete Lee County's streets, promotes policies that enhance the safety and usability of our roadways. The purpose of this letter is to highlight important priorities we hope the delegation will support in the upcoming legislative session:

 1) Efforts to strengthen laws that make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists;

2) Focused strategies that enhance economic development through bike tourism;

3) State support for a robust public transit system; and

4) Equitable distribution of transportation dollars to Southwest Florida.

 

BikeWalkLee wishes to thank the Lee Legislative Delegation for its support of several of our priority requests last year, which were enacted during last year's Legislative Session. This year’s priorities are explained in detail below; and we would be happy to discuss any of them further at your convenience.

1. Stronger laws for bike/ped safety

Our top priority continues to be the need for stronger laws and enforcement tools to make Florida roadways safer for pedestrians and cyclists. For over a decade, Florida has held the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians and cyclists. (Locally, Lee County ranks in the top quarter of the most dangerous areas in the state.) One of the reasons is it also ranks as the seventh worst state for driver safety laws, as ranked by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. There is clearly a relationship between high bike/ped fatality rates and lax driver safety laws. It is critical that Gov. Scott and the Florida Legislature continue to make roadway safety the top transportation priority, with a goal of greatly reducing bike/ped fatalities.

In 2011, Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Prasad launched a statewide bike/ped safety campaign aimed at addressing this problem and brought in FDOT District 1 Secretary Billy Hattaway to head up this campaign. We were especially pleased with the recent issuance of a FDOT statewide complete streets policy. Complete streets are safer streets and, by adopting a complete streets policy, FDOT is signaling that safety requires a culture shift that says roadways are for everyone and we need to design, construct and manage roadways with all users in mind. It is critical that these positive initiatives started under Secretary Prasad continue with the new FDOT leadership team.

While FDOT has made bike/ped safety a top priority and Secretary Hattaway is providing strong leadership, it will take time before we see the benefits in terms of fewer bike/ped fatalities and injuries. The issues that have made our state so dangerous are deeply imbedded in road design and land use, and require support through state laws, enforcement, public awareness, and changing people's behavior. Like successful campaigns to stop drunk driving and to get people to buckle their seatbelts, it takes years of work using all the tools in the toolbox to change people's behavior and get results. Over the past two years, the Legislature has begun to strengthen its weak driver safety laws -- but much remains to be done.

The Legislature is to be commended for enacting the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act (named for the Miami cyclist who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2012), which strengthens penalties for leaving the scene of a crash. While the law went into effect July 1, 2014, hit-and-run crashes that injure or kill cyclists or pedestrians are occurring at an alarming rate. It's critical that both law enforcement investigating these crashes and the judicial system that decides whether to prosecute and how to sentence, aggressively implement a "zero tolerance" approach to hit-and-run drivers, charging and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law. Without strong enforcement, we will have an epidemic on our hands. While we are not proposing further legislation at this time, anything that our state legislative leaders can do to encourage law enforcement to aggressively enforce and prosecute the law you passed last year would be appreciated.

While the Florida Legislature finally adopted a “texting while driving” ban in 2012, it was only a first step and a weak bill. We believe that texting while driving and other distractions is one of the main reasons for the increasing number of pedestrians and cyclists who are killed on our roads, including the increase in the number of hit-and-run crashes. Thus, it is critically important that the Legislature take action this year to strengthen the texting law so that texting while driving is made a primary offense. Once that is done, law enforcement will have the tools necessary to implement this important measure. 

With our dismal bike/ped safety record, a stronger texting law is critical. Last session several bills were introduced (including SB 322) but none of them made it through either body. Action on this legislation this session will be a critical test of the Legislature's commitment to improved bike/ped safety. We urge you to support HB 1, the first bill filed for the 2015 session, which makes texting while driving a primary offense, doubles the fines, and provides enhanced penalties for violations when committed in a school zone or school crossing. We urge the Lee delegation to not only support this legislation, but to champion it.

We also support the proposed bike/ped safety bill that the Collier County Legislative Delegation recently endorsed, which will be introduced by Rep. Passidomo. 

Finally, it is important that the Legislature not adopt legislation that will worsen our existing road safety problems, such as the bill to raise speed limits on Florida roads, which the Governor vetoed last year. We urge our delegation to oppose consideration of a re-introduction of this bill or any other bill that would make matters worse.

2. Focused strategies for economic development through bike tourism

We applaud the Lee Delegation for its support last year of the Coast to Coast Connector Trail (C2C), a 275-mile trail from Cape Canaveral National Seashore to St. Petersburg that will enhance economic development through bike tourism. We are pleased that Gov. Scott supported the funding last year and that FDOT is taking a leadership role in the implementation of this project. We are excited about the long-term plans now getting underway to develop a Southwest Coast Connector Trail that would start in Tampa/St. Pete area (where it would join the C2C trail) and come down to Naples, linking up with the planned River of Grass Greenway Trail that will connect to Miami. The Lee and Collier County MPO bike/ped committees are now working to identify the best route for that trail. 

The Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation will be seeking legislative support to accelerate work on these regional connector trails, including a request for an appropriation of $10 million to be directed to FDOT and regional MPOs to fund a regional trail alignment study for each of the three regional trails envisioned, including the Southwest Coast Connector Trail in Southwest Florida. We urge the Lee Delegation to support this request.

The $10 million federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant which the Lee MPO was awarded last year for its Complete Streets Initiative project, sets the stage for enhanced economic benefits from bike tourism, which is big business both nationally and globally. States and communities across the country are racing to gain a competitive advantage to capture a share of this growing lucrative niche market, especially attractive for international travelers and a younger demographic. With Florida's temperate winters and flat terrain, the potential for destination bike tourism is an economic development strategy for Florida with an enormous potential for high returns on our investment. 

Bike tourism is already gaining traction in Lee County with the recent completion of Cape Coral’s 90-mile bicycle routes system, thanks to an outstanding partnership between the Cape Coral Bike-Ped group and the City of Cape Coral. Building on these successes, FDOT District 1 just approved the Lee MPO's request for funding to conduct a feasibility study (called PD and E) for a shared use path that will connect the Cape Coral system to Pine Island. While it will be years before this project is constructed, when this 2.3-mile link between these two communities is complete it will open even more bike tourism opportunities for this region.

Having a safe and connected countywide biking and walking network will allow Lee County to promote bike tourism, bringing much needed revenues to small businesses and the tourism industry. Biking is increasingly popular among our visitors, with 18% reporting that they biked while they were here in 2012 (up from 12% in 2011). The Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau recognizes the untapped potential of bike tourism and, for the first time, participated in the national bike tourism conference in November, along with a representative for Visit Florida.

3. State support for a robust public transit system

LeeTran's success is a vital part of this area's growing reputation as one that is on a clear path to a more sustainable, livable, high-quality of life. However, lack of adequate operating funds for transit services is putting Southwest Florida at great risk of being left behind economically. Investments in transit are not just about mobility connections for residents and workers--they're about the larger economic impact. Companies and their workers want to locate in places with a vibrant public transportation system, and regions without them will be left behind. We need our leaders at both the state and local levels to focus now on how to not only maintain the transit system we have, but how to grow it into a more robust system. 

We are also concerned that changes by the Florida Legislature to Medicaid in 2011 have created unintended consequences at the local level, creating devastating funding losses for the provision of vital transportation services to the medically-needy. As a result, Lee County's provider of these services, Good Wheels, is unable to meet the demand for transportation services to critical medical treatment, such as dialysis and cancer treatment, for the medically-needy. We urge the Legislature to support funding for medical transit services and work with local governments and service providers to make permanent changes in the Medicaid program to fix this problem.

4. Equitable distribution of transportation dollars to Southwest Florida

Finally, our region is being left behind in the big, long-term transportation trends taking place in Florida:

·        Long-term rail planning is happening everywhere in Florida except our region;

·        The port system planning is everywhere except our region; and

·        Florida's State Interstate System (SIS) long term plans pay minimal attention to our region.

These are big regional patterns that will drive economic resiliency and they are coalescing within specific regions of the state; all with the flow of transportation funds. 

The recent decline in proportionate share of transportation dollars coming to SWFL takes on far greater significance in this bigger picture patterning. The common factor within all of these big cycle commerce developments is the integrated, future-oriented, transportation networks. Transportation dollars are beginning to solidify and coalesce within other regions in Florida, and our region is being left behind and will fall further and further behind if nothing is done to address the problem now. 

The Lee Legislative delegation needs to educate itself on these funding trends and press to be included in these big picture plans for Florida's future to ensure that our region receives equitable transportation funding which is vital to the long term economic vitality of Southwest Florida.

We look forward to continuing to work with you on these issues.

Darla Letourneau

on behalf of BikeWalkLee

cc: Lee County Commissioners

Gil Penalosa inspires SWFL officials and advocates at FTPA conference

 Tuesday was an inspiring day for complete streets advocates in SWFL.  Check out the short TED video of Gil Penalosa and you, too, will be inspired.

Jenn Hagen and Diana Giraldo with Gil

 On Oct. 28th about two dozen SWFL officials and advocates attended Gil Penalosa's inspiring keynote address at the statewide Florida Public Transportation Association annual conference in Naples.   In attendance was Bonita Springs Mayor, Ben Nelson; Bonita Springs City Councilwoman Janet Martin; and Fort Myers City Council member Forrest Banks. 

Gil spends time with advocates after meeting

Transportation and sustainability staff from both Bonita Springs and Collier County were there, along with the Lee and Collier County transit directors, Collier County MPO Director, four representatives from BikeWalkLee, and several people working on the Streets Alive event coming to the City of Fort Myers on Nov. 2nd. 

In addition, FDOT District 1 Secretary, Billy Hattaway was there along with a full contingent of FDOT staff who are working on complete streets and transportation transformation in District 1.  Not only did he inspire us with his speech, he spent 30 minutes after the presentation talking to a team of us about some of our specific issues, which was very helpful.

Jenn Hagen (Bonita), Billy Hattaway, and Councilwoman Martin

 Project for Public Places describes Gil Peñalosa as "the world’s most passionate and well-traveled promoter of Streets as Places—putting people before cars in some of the most important public spaces in cities worldwide.  As Executive Director of 8-80 Cities, Gil now travels the world, working on the front lines of change, and collaborating with leading Placemaking advocates, practitioners and politicians to build a collective movement to transform cities around people. His story, his experience and his message are a central thread to how cities need to change in this century."  See our earlier blog for more background.

Gil was introduced by FDOT District 1 Secretary, Billy Hattaway, who hailed his efforts and the importance of his ideas for Florida.  Gil's presentation, with lots of photos and stories, electrified the audience who gave him a standing ovation.   

There were several 'take away' messages for us:

•       The question is, how would you like your community to be?

•       These are political issues.

•        Elected officials need to understand that change doesn't happen by consensus...they have to listen to the people, but they were elected to make decisions and to lead.

•    What we need are champions for change...champions don't take no for an answer--they look for ways around the obstacles and barriers.  He described how NYC's Transportation Director, Janette Sadik-Khan, was a champion for change.

• He argued for lower speeds on our streets and for a network of separated cycling facilities.

•   He focused on two topics--sustainable mobility and public spaces....the goal is to create vibrant cities.

Mayor Nelson and Councilman Banks with FDOT officials

•     The most important public policy of economic significance for individual households is to make it possible to downsize from two to one car.  Right now $1 of every $4 of household income is spent on transportation mobility!

·         He outlined five key ingredients for moving from talking to doing:

1.       develop a sense of urgency (building more roads to solve congestion is like pouring more gasoline on the fire)

2.       political will

3.       leadership

4.       "doers"

5.       public engagement

•          He urged local officials to start by looking at what can be done this year...what is low cost, low risk, and high visibility.

  

  Trinity Scott (Collier transit) and Carmen Monroy (FDOT)

•   He urged us to build alliances--transportation, planning, public health, schools, private sector...again bringing it back to the message:  creating a vibrant community is a political issue.

Although his 45 minute speech is not available on video, here's a 14 minute speech he gave on TED, which gives you a good flavor of his message and his energy. 

 See the BikeWalkLee Facebook page for complete photo album from event

Report by Darla Letourneau