Sanibel bridge tollbooth and shoulders project almost done!

The biking facilities from the corner of McGregor and Summerlin up to the tollbooth to the Sanibel bridges are almost done! First, the roadway on Summerlin was resurfaced with improved shoulders for cyclists, then the Sanibel tollbooth project, funded with stimulus funds, was begun in February. The crews have been working at night for the past 2 months and, according to the LeeDOT project manager, Sarah Clark, the work should be completely finished within 2 weeks. We rode over yesterday and took the above photos. The last photo shows that the section coming through the tollbooth is what remains to be completed. Thanks to everyone at LeeDOT for this major improvement! See you on the Sanibel bridges!

p.s. In the News-Press Mailbag on 4/12/10, there was a letter to the editor thanking the MPO and Lee County officials for this project.

Florida to address bicycle and pedestrian safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
04/08/10

CONTACTS:
Ken Bryan, Florida Director Dick Kane, Communications Director
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Florida Department of Transportation
850.264.3067 850.414.4590
ken@railstotrails.org dick.kane@dot.state.fl.us

FLORIDA TO ADDRESS BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Formation of New Council Sets Stage for Statewide Improvements

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has announced its plan to establish a statewide initiative on bicycle and pedestrian mobility. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Partnership Council, to convene in early June of this year, will make policy recommendations to FDOT and transportation partners throughout Florida on the state’s walking, bicycling and trail facilities. Their mission is to assemble the many different partners needed to make statewide improvements in safety and facilities integration.

“I am tremendously excited and thankful to FDOT for supporting this collaboration and recognizing the important role that walking and bicycling can play in increasing transportation options and helping make our communities healthier places to live,” says Ken Bryan, director of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Florida Field Office, a leading advocate for the state’s bicycle and pedestrian policy reform. “This council is uniquely positioned to provide statewide leadership.”

The formation of the Partnership Council is the result of many state leaders aiming to make Florida a national model for bicycle and pedestrian safety. Among the biggest supporters have been State Representative Julio Robaina, State Representative Gary Aubuchon, FDOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos and FDOT Assistant Secretary for Intermodal Systems Development Debbie Hunt.

“Our focus is building a partnership to make Florida a more friendly state for pedestrians and cyclists. Everyone on this council has a role in that effort,” said FDOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos. “This really will be a collaborative effort to make the Sunshine State a better place to get out and walk or ride your bike.”

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Partnership Council will include representatives from multiple state agencies, local governments, and external stakeholders, including walkers, bicyclists and trail users. They will make recommendations on design, planning, safety and other programs involving bicycle and pedestrian issues.

The announcement of the new council came during the 2nd Annual Florida Bike Summit, hosted by the Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) in Tallahassee, Fla. FBA Director Laura Hallam says FDOT’s initiative “really sets the stage for this year’s summit and will be welcome news to Florida bicyclists.”

Click here for more information about Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

NOTE: BikeWalkLee's requests to the State Legislature in February included: "reinstate a state-level Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board that would make recommendations to elected officials and FDOT." We are pleased that there has been some response to our numerous requests to the Governor, FDOT, and the State Legislature for bold actions to make Florida's roadways less dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Sanibel will be constructing the "Captiva Connection" this summer

by Bill Sartoris of the Sanibel Bicycle Club:

The Shared Use Master Plan for Sanibel identified several areas for improvement on the 22 miles of shared use paths on Sanibel. One of the key safety issues was the gap in the completion of the path adjacent to Sanibel-Captiva Road. The path currently ends at Pine Avenue at the west end of the island. Prior to the repaving of Captiva Drive on Captiva Island, which included shoulders on both sides of the road, few people biked on the very narrow Captiva Road. Subsequent to the repaving the shoulders are seeing extensive use as an unmarked bike lane. Riders are forced to use the Sanibel-Captiva Road from where the path ends at Pine Avenue to the Blind Pass Bridge, which connects Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Both the City and the Sanibel Bicycle Club consider this a significant safety issue.

The Sanibel Bicycle Club and the City jointly applied for a grant to cover part of the cost of the construction of the path. When the grant was not received, the Sanibel Bicycle Club and the City agreed to jointly fund the construction of the path. The total project cost is $80,000 with the City contributing $65,000 and the Sanibel Bicycle Club contributing $15,000 from the Trails In Motion Fund. The Trails in Motion Fund was established by the Bicycle Club to raise funds to support and improve the path system on Sanibel. Bicycle Club representatives met with the City management, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and with members of the City Council to get approval of this project. The City Council approved the City's contribution for the project, and it should be completed sometime this summer. The path will be an 8 foot wide asphalt side path. This is the first new path segment to be constructed on Sanibel in several years. The City and the Sanibel Bicycle Club continue to work collaboratively to implement the recommendations that were contained in the Shared Use Master Plan.

Any persons interested in contributing to the Trails In Motion fund can get information by going to the Sanibel Bicycle Club website at and click on "Support the Paths".