Pedestrians first

News-Press Letter to Editor 3/5/11
Kudos to Lee County Department of Transportation. I want to give a huge "thank you" to the folks who made the pedestrian crossing of Gladiolus Drive and Old Gladiolus (the entrance to Lakes Park) pedestrian friendly. For years, folks crossing Gladiolus and vehicles were mixing in the crosswalk. There were several near misses, heated exchanges and one-finger salutes. Now thanks to the new design (pedestrian can walk before vehicles get the green) that is a thing of the past. Thank you Lee County DOT.
KIM SUTTON
Fort Myers

A sidewalk 'surprise' for McGregor residents

News-Press 3/4/11
Written by Evangelia Ganosellis

Dan and Betsy Allen enjoy their morning
runs several times a week along the Royal
palm-lined McGregor Boulevard.

But they say their runs aren’t always
smooth or safe. The Allens have to cross
McGregor, traffic-packed in the morning,
twice to access a sidewalk, then to go back
home.

The Florida Department of Transportation
has a plan to improve sidewalks along both
sides of the road and create new ones to
make walking, running and bicycling safer
on McGregor between College Parkway and
Colonial Boulevard.

“It’s a really pleasant surprise,” said Dan
Allen, 67. “We’re impressed that someone’
s paying attention.”

FDOT officials have two alternative plans
for the four sections of McGregor,
beginning at College Parkway and ending
at Davis Drive.

One is to relocate 66 palm trees to place
sidewalks by the road. That plan would
cost about $458,000 in federal funds.

The other plan is to place sidewalks
alongside access roads that line McGregor,
which would make those roads one way
instead of two. That option would cost
about $428,000.

A fifth project, which will be completed
separately from the other four, will
resurface the west side of McGregor from
College Parkway to Keenan Avenue and
add a four-foot paved shoulder and
sidewalk.

That project will cost about $550,000 in
state funds.

FDOT held a public information meeting
Thursday to show their design plans and
take feedback from residents. Officials are
encouraging residents to share thoughts on
the project and what approach they prefer.

“If people have a preference, that’s exactly
what we want to know,” said Debbie
Tower, FDOT spokeswoman.

The purpose of the projects, Tower said, is
to ensure pedestrians are safe.

Not everyone is pleased with the proposed
construction, which is set to begin early
next year.

Missy Ready, 60, lives off McGregor just
north of Davis.

She said access roads provide the same
safety sidewalks would.

“You’re stirring a pot that doesn’t need a
ladle,” she said.

But Matt Horton, 38, said he’s been waiting
for sidewalks since he moved off Keenan
12 years ago.

Horton said his wife hasn’t been able to
safely walk or bike to her job nearby since
they moved there.

“I’m glad to see that we’re here finally,” he
said.

Secretary LaHood's Blog:For bicycle enthusiasts, next week's National Bike Summit looms large

FastLane: March 04, 2011
Here's the word from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood:
Today is Friday, March 4, and for the nation's bicycling enthusiasts that means only one thing: 4 days until the 2011 National Bike Summit. And to get the bike folks geared up for this year's gathering, on Tuesday I went on BicycleRadio.com's "Escape The Peloton" show.

As you can imagine, host Sean Mellor and I talked about a range of bicycling-related topics. From the thrill of watching my grandkids get their first bikes to the way distracted driving affects the bicycling community, we covered a lot of ground.

Click here to listen to my Bicycle Radio interview!

But I think what listeners really wanted to hear us talk about is President Obama's budget request for 2012.

We are very fortunate that, in these hard economic times, the President knows the economic importance of investing in transportation. He has proposed a 127 percent increase to fix our roads and bridges, and to build big projects that will yield economic development and jobs, like high speed rail. And don’t forget our emphasis on livable communities, so that people will have more options for getting around.

I've been to more than 100 cities in more than 40 states across this great country, and everywhere I've gone, people have said they want more ways of getting around. Often, they want to be able to leave their cars behind. This means improved transit like streetcars and buses. But it also means more opportunities--whether as a form of recreation or as a way of commuting--to walk or ride a bicycle safely. We can achieve that through off-street trails, as in the Philadelphia Area Pedestrian and Bicycle Network, or through on-street bike lanes, as along DC's own Pennsylvania Avenue.

One of the most important things to remember is this: the Department of Transportation can help set standards and support programs, but many of the best ideas have come from the grassroots. And that's where next week's summit-goers come in.

Thanks to programs like Bicycle Radio and the Outspoken Cyclist and magazines like Spokes; thanks to the President's willingness to promote bicycling; and thanks to the cycling enthusiasts who have come together in organizations like Transportation For America, America Bikes, the League of American Bicyclists, Complete Streets, and Safe Routes to School, the stars have aligned over the last two years for greater awareness of the valuable role bicycling plays in American transportation. But, as I said in January, if you want that momentum to continue, you'll have to continue that terrific grassroots work.

Finally, as to the burning question of how I will top my famous "tabletop speech" at the 2010 Summit, you'll just have to stay tuned.