MyWHaT

Along the TART Trail (Photo: GLHowe)

Rails-to-Trails is leading a push to help support U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer’s (Ore.)  Active Community Transportation Act, H.R.4722. The passage of the act would create a $2 billion fund focused on building bicycling and walking networks, and do so through a competitive grant process similar to transit and road infrastructure.

Contact your representative to encourage them to support this act. With Michigan already losing out on millions in federal transportation funds, it seems logical that now is the time to support more targeted bills. You can visit the  Rails-to-Trails or Michigan Complete Streets to learn more about the bill.

You can follow the bill through congress at GovTrack.us

Is this how the Boardman Lake Trail will be completed?

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UPDATE: The 8th Street Kerfuffle is still in the ‘system’ somewhere between FHWA, MDOT, and the CITY. The city has requested approval for a list of traffic calming and active transportation additions to the project. MDOT had to pass that on to FHWA which will determine whether or not things like lane narrowing, turn lane removal and addition of bike lanes exceed the threshold for a ‘normal change of order’. You’re encouraged to contact Senator Carl Levin’s office to request any and all possible support from the senator’s office. We’re looking for a little flexibility to ensure that the money is spent wisely & that we move towards a complete street. You can hand deliver your letter to his TC office: 107 Cass Street Suite E Traverse City, MI 49684-2602

A promising sign out of the 8th Street Kerfuffle is an invigorated Traverse City planning commission. Wednesday night’s meeting was the first time that capital improvements were judged on whether or not they conformed with the city’s master plan. Although they allowed for the projects to move forward (minus Barlow, Airport Access & Hannah-which will have further review), there was a poignant & promising discussion that a re-prioritization from staff is needed. Planning Commissioner Ross Richardson offered a clear re-cap and promising comment on this web site after the meeting.

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After last week’s study session, tonight’s city commission’s agenda seems fairly–ho-hum. A list of purchasing orders, ‘routine’ approvals and a clearing of the way for TCLP to use its dark fiber for the wireless internet program.

8th Street is not the agenda. But will be discussed (at least by me).

The city is waiting on a meeting with the MDOT executive director to present the case that a ‘change of order’ is mostly paint and won’t delay the project. MDOT needs to sign-off on this late change. The regional office already declined.

Still, other than the Plan for TC web site, run by Mayor Chris Bzdok, there has been little sign from the city commission & staff that the 2010 8th Street construction and the lack of effective process in fulfilling its master plan, are of major concern. Perhaps tonight they will respond.

Plan on attending to use public comment as a reminder that anything other than making 8th Street a complete street in 2010 is a failure.

Agenda and Packet

TC Planning Commission Study Session

Tomorrow night’s planning commission meeting is a chance to address some of the process. The meeting is a joint meeting with the DDA to discuss 2010-2016 Capital Improvement plans. Not the sexiest of meetings, but it is one way to get ahead of upcoming projects before they are designed. The difficult part is determining what staff is actually talking about and what items are actively being implemented…it will be educational…  Agenda and Packet

Drop a comment if you plan to attend or have something you’d like said in your absence…

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As Iowa begins legislative process to protect cyclists and Michigan does the same nothing, it’s helpful to consider the widely used European model of “Strict Liability”

In Netherlands, the driver of a moving motor vehicle is always liable in a crash with bicyclists, and I assume, pedestrians. The argument is that drivers simply need to cut their speeds when in situations where there are bicyclists. In this short video explanation, Hans Voerknecht explains why it makes sense, basically coming down to the fact that “car drivers should be aware that they are in a machine that could kill.” (video via www.IPayRoadTax.com )

In the past few years there have been several cases in Northern Michigan where it could be argued there was inadequate laws in place to protect pedestrians and bicyclists in crashes. Perhaps a ‘strict laibility’ law would clean up all the loop-holes?

Fred Schaafsma, who is the Local Cherry Capital Cycling Club safety and education director and who was born in the Netherlands, says it is just the way it is there. “It isn’t so much liability, as responsibility,” he said. “It’s the responsibility of drivers because the impact of their actions is much greater than the impact of cyclists. We are way behind in Michigan in our (bike/ped) laws.”

In fact, Michigan has a similar law in place for snowmobile users riding on a roadway. They have access to the road, but if there is an accident, regardless of the circumstances, it’s their fault. In fact, the suspicion is that if Michigan were ever to adopt a ‘strict liability’ concept, it more than likely would be reversed and blame would be placed on the bicyclists. Why? As explained to me, the law was determined by looking at the number of users. Since bikes are not the primary use of the roads, they’d more than likely get the shaft. Well, they could try.

Do drivers of motorized vehicles have extra responsibilities?

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At issue: This spring a major project to replace water & sewer mains along 8th St. will take place between Barlow and Garfield. This includes a repaving of the road. Unfortunately, the repave doesn’t include improvements for bicycle commuters or enhanced crosswalks.

Instead, the city has prioritized keeping limited south side parking, current lane-widths (12-13 feet) and a relatively new left turning lane that runs an entire block. In addition, they are adding left turning lanes in both directions at the Barlow St. intersection.

This will be major obstacle for implementing more balanced transportation strategies for the next 20-30 years. It not only doesn’t include improved amenities for non-motorized traffic, it offers no attempt at street calming despite the high number of automobiles going over the posted 25mph.

It is plain that the city engineering department has no intention of encouraging non-motorized commuters on Eighth Street.

The problem: The contract for the work is already signed and it is moving forward. It also includes federal stimulus funds that may be forfeited if there is a change of order to accommodate a new design. As has come to be expected, the time and money squeeze is in full effect.

So, the question is, “What do we do?”

Contact the city.

At least three city commissioners have voiced a commitment to pursuing an altering of the current design. Mayor Chris Bzdok will be posting information on the Plan for TC Web site by mid-week.

Please, if you’re interested in a Complete Street on Eighth, Contact the city manager & city commissioners today. Ask them:

What is the current status of the 2010 Eighth St. repave and design?

Does it include designs for bicycle commuters and traffic calming? If not, why not?

Will they revisit the issue? (Keep us posted.)

(More questions, share them with us in a comment…)

Be sure to mention that the infrastructure policy strategy (PDF) includes a complete street approach and that you are willing to support any effort to revisit the design.

This is not an easy change of order. It is in effect an MDOT project on a city street–they hold the power through the power of the purse.  Still, there are options and more may become clear as this week progresses. For beginners, here are some choices:

1. Get a second opinion. Can a complete street approach work within the current footprint? For instance, traffic lanes can be as narrow as 10 feet to create room for bike lanes. Why keep the lanes at 12 or 13 feet?
2. Design a shared roadway. If there is absolutely no room for bike-lanes (doubtful), can shared-lane markings be used to help calm speeds & give a visual cues for riders. Bike Sharrows, although newly used in the United States, are a possible and an inexpensive possibility.
3. Mandate a retrofit. They could allow the current redesign to take place to secure the funds, but direct that a retrofit be designed and implemented within one year.

A fourth option, is to accept staff opinion & direction for Eighth Street. This option supports an incomplete, disconnected, poorly implemented pedestrian and bicyclist policy. It also makes irrelevant year’s of citizen time & energy that specifically calls for traffic calming and bike lanes along 8th Street.

Hopefully, that is not the final outcome, but it’s up to us to make certain of this.

Call or send a inquiry to the city.

• City Manager R. Ben Bifoss Traverse (231) • 922-4440 • bbifoss@traversecitymi.gov
• Mayor Chris Bzdok • 932-0319 • chris@envlaw.com
• Cmmn. Jody Bergman • 929-3438 • jbergman@ci.traverse-city.mi.us
• Cmmn. Barbara Budros • 929-3438 • bbudros2@ci.traverse-city.mi.us
• Cmmn. Jim Carruthers • 922-7768 • jccarruthers@gmail.com
• Cmmn. Ralph Soffredine • 946-0344 • rsoffred@ci.traverse-city.mi.us
• Cmmn. Michael Gillman • 941-1277 • mgillman@conklinbenham.com
• Cmmn. Mary Ann Moore • 947-3527 • maryannmoore@charter.net

You may also consider contacting the city engineering department to register a complaint.

• City Engineer • Tim Lodge • 922-4466 /228-7546 • tlodge@ci.traverse-city.mi.us

Mark February 8th as the date to have already called, written, emailed city staff and representatives. Then, join what will be a packed house on February 8th.

Cut, paste & fire option: bbifoss@traversecitymi.gov, chris@envlaw.com, jbergman@ci.traverse-city.mi.us, bbudros2@ci.traverse-city.mi.us, jccarruthers@gmail.com, rsoffred@ci.traverse-city.mi.us, mgillman@conklinbenham.com, maryannmoore@charter.net, tlodge@ci.traverse-city.mi.us

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Will you pledge to contact the city manager and city commission on this issue?

What other options are out there?

What’s your long-term vision for 8th Street?

NOTE: Mayor Chris Bzdok and commissioners Maryann Moore and Jim Carruthers are aware of the concerns, but they and other commissioners need to continue to hear support for a redress.

PLEASE PASS THIS POST ON:

High-speed rail in the United States?

The week’s chatter:

• Teen drivers? declining numbers particularly when given options
• U.S. Mobility declines, NYTimes asks why (community building increases?)
  
• In defence of cul-de-sacs, with a redesign
• Still, Suburbs have transit challenges
• MI Senate ixnays texting-while-driving but limit it to a secondary offense=dumb
• Record Eagle compare’s it to seat-belt law

• No, gas tax hasn’t risen & isn’t high
• New Jersey gets tough at crosswalks
• I want a transportation manifesto!
• I also wanted a bus-pass-dang. BATA Survey winners announced

• China re-learning: 車不如自行! (The car is no match for the bike!–chē bùrú zìxíng)
• Philly BLOG discusses boost to business for bikability & gardens
• And look! This Sunday in Traverse City, Community Garden guru to speak
  
• Parking garages continue to rise (annualized cost–$2,300 per space)

But really, it’s the week of public transportation.

• Hey US Senators!!! Public Transport = Jobs (send a message)
• The Big-O understands that equation as ‘game changer’ announced & VP Biden’s smile gets even bigger
  

Grants announced for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act High-Speed and Inter-city Passenger Rail (PDF) stimulus and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood calls it “an absolute game-changer for American transportation. We will make passenger rail more efficient, providing better service in travel markets across the country.“

Image courtesy of DOT, via The Infrastructurist

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What else?

Well, at least that’s the current & future impression ….

Less than a year after passing a new infrastructure policy strategy (PDF) that includes using a complete street approach, the planned 2010 Eighth Street Reconstruction, running from Barlow to Garfield, includes no design elements for bicycle use or improved pedestrian access/crossings.

Ouch! That’s embarrassing. And, unfortunate.

Myself and others have asked city staff and commissioners about potential last-minute options as ground will be broke in the spring. I’ve yet to hear back from anyone with any positive developments. As new information is available, I’ll let readers know.

I have a feeling that the city may need some encouragement & support from residents to help them satisfy their own policy. It would be a shame for a small section of Eighth Street to stay an incomplete street for the next 20-30 years, which is about the cycle of major reconstructions.

Stay tuned…

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North Traverse Heights Neighborhood Association

Mayor Chris Bzdok was in attendance at last night’s North Traverse Heights Neighborhood Association meeting to give his spiel about changing the process of implementing city projects. He’d like to see city commissioners act more like “advocates for city residents“, taking direction from them individually and from the neighborhood associations. As well as, getting city staff to look to the neighborhoods for direction at the beginning of projects instead of in the middle or near the end. Amen.

What came out last night was that the mayor had asked the 7 neighborhood association chairpersons to make a list of the most important city issues.

Vicky Springer, chair of the Oak Park Neighborhood, read a draft.

Top on the list:

• The calming & improvements of city streets. She expressed a collective interest in limiting cut-through traffic, reduction of speeds and better maintenance.
• Improvements for non-motorized traffic. There is strong interest for increased education and enforcement of traffic laws for automobile drivers, as well as more bicycle pathways and amenities. She listed several problem areas: 8th St., Garfield Ave., Woodmere Ave. and in-particular the pedestrian cross walk at Washington St. and Garfield Ave.. That cross walk has been been a failed attempt by the city at least twice in the last decade.

Other issues were access to the beach, improvement of parkland, tax increases during a time of home devaluation, festivals and improvement of BATA. On the last note, she expressed a strong interest in riding the city buses if it was more convenient.

As expected, the issue of increasing number of pedestrian and bicycle commuters was discussed with the standard complaints: running of stop signs, lack of lights, walking or riding on the wrong side of the road. What needed to be corrected was the perception that people not driving cars must be related to past drunk driving convictions or “something”. A resident quickly spoke up to say that many people are making the choice to ride for economic, environmental or lifestyle choices.

Clearly, education opportunities remain.

Over 30 people were attendance at the North Traverse Heights Neighborhood Association

Last night’s meeting, like most, began with reports from the sector patrol officer and planning and zoning department. There wasn’t anything unexpected–many citations, signage issues, and a 25-year-old male, who rides a bike, who is prime suspect number one for some recent “tagging” on garages, buildings and signs. The discussion then went into a lengthy discussion about self-protection and the use of pepper-spray. Huh?

Click here to find information about your Neighborhood Association.

Do you take part in your neighborhood meetings?

Have they been useful?

UPDATED:With photo at 11AM

What about this idea for Traverse City to set a goal for non-car commuters?

Would you support a goal to decrease car use to 50% of total commute trips by 2030?

Is it doable? Desired? Is there even a way to measure it?

There is a baseline. The Carfree Census Database uses the U.S. census to track how people are moving about and whether they own a car.  In 2000, of Traverse City’s 14, 551 residents:

• 1.76% were bike commuters
• 6.21% were pedestrian commuters
• 1.2% were public transit users
• 8.79% of households didn’t own a car.

That’s 9.17% of commuters not using a car to get around the city.

It leaves plenty of room for growth,  and is still oddly promising that almost 900 people in town simply walk as a primary means of transportation. Considering the ease of bike commuting when combined with walking and increased BATA use and the future of $20 a gallon gas, and all of a sudden 20/30/50 by 2030 seems in reach (20% pedestrian & bike commuters, 30% bus transit and 50% car use by 2030.)

To do this the city and county must encourage those with the means to choose more active modes of transportation, because in Michigan it is mainly college towns or towns with high rates of unemployment & poverty that have higher rates of non-car use.

A conscious choice

Increasing use of public space improves quality of life and is good for business. (photo: Gary L Howe)

Most Michigan cities of similar size (10,000-25,000 population) had much less non-car commuters: For example, Alpena 5.61%, Adrian 6.46% and Harrison at .76%. However, Highland Park had 24% of its commuters traveling car-free. This has more to do with the 38.3% of Highland Park’s population living below the poverty line than a conscious choice to walk, bike or ride the bus.

Marquette, a university town, has around 13%. (Ann Arbor is around 26%.)

Traverse City is unique. It’s a destination for both tourists as well as residents.  It’s also a small town that thinks of itself as a larger city. We have a relatively low poverty rate, so already many people are making an active choice to be car-free.

The question is, does the public and city/county officials support action to actively create a car-less future?

Jarrett Walker at Human Transit in a recent post looking at these numbers asks the question how cities can match the active commuter numbers of the top 50 cities in the United States:

How long will it take for a city that lacks age, poverty, or dominant universities to achieve the kind of low car ownership that these 50 demonstrate?  How soon, for example, will a city be able to create a combination of density, design, and mixture of uses that yields the same performance as an old city that naturally has those features?

People come to Northern Michigan for the quality of life. That matches recent findings of why anyone moves anywhere. In a future post, Wheels will cover some of those findings and suggest why local governments need to worry less about driving economic growth, and more simply creating, improving and maintaining desirable places to live.

As the region and the city become more populated, the numbers wanting more transportation options will continue to climb. To get there, the city needs to develop a vision, strategy, and specific goals to get it done.

What do you see in the census numbers?

What percentages would you like to set for 2030?

Previously posted: Dec. 14, 2009:

Kudos to the City of Hamtramck for involving the residents in a specific and effective way in developing the Master Plan with an interactive collaborative map.

Participants are offering visionary ideas that are more long-term and also commenting on very concrete issues like busted curbs and poor snow removal coverage.

Screen Grab of the City of Hamtramck's Online Master Plan Collaborative Map

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Can you see something like this being used in Northern Michigan?

Is there an interactive map already being used in your community?

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