Archive for the ‘Advocacy Alert’ Category
March 7th, 2013 | 
Author: Reminder — BWAM offers an easy way to find or offer a ride to Helena for the Bike Walk Montana Summit (see article below) March 14-15. Fill out the form and you’ll be contacted.
Mark your calendars now for the Bike Walk Montana Summit in Helena on March 14-15. Thursday, March 14 will feature an evening reception and social with keynote presentation by Scott Bricker, Executive Director of America Walks. Friday, March 15 is a full-day program with a mix of presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities. Highlights include a keynote address from Lt. Governor John Walsh, and insight from local and national experts on funding, promoting bicycle tourism, facility design, educational programs, and much more! In addition to educational sessions, participants will have opportunities to explore tools and resources that communities may use to improve and promote biking and walking, learn more about MAP-21 and the Transportation Alternatives Application Process, and network with others from all across Montana. To learn more and join Bike Walk Montana, visit www.BikeWalkMontana.org.
From Transportation for America:
The US Department of Transportation is gathering public input on the new MAP-21 performance measures and other metrics with a public, web-based tool that anyone can weigh in with.
The transportation bill passed by Congress in July had a lot of references to performance measures — and just as many question marks as to what those performance measures would actually be. As you can guess, exactly what we decide to measure will have a huge impact on what does and doesn’t get built in the future. What will those performance measures be? What will DOT recommend?
To help them decide on the performance measures and freight policy for the new transportation bill, USDOT is allowing the public to both submit their own ideas and vote all of the recommendations up or down with a click of the mouse. Transportation for America has created a list of ideas that we recommend that you click “agree”or “disagree” with. You’ll have to register and create an account to submit any feedback. We will monitor ideas that are submitted and send out a follow-up email later this week with more suggested ideas to support.
Here are some of the titles of ideas we recommend you click to “I agree” with and show your support:
Freight:
- Public Health & National Freight Goals/Strategic Plan
- National Strategic Plan should identify major freight corridors
Performance Measures
- A Real Way to Measure Performance
- Separate national bike & ped fatality & injury measures
- Reporting: Clearer standards, better and more accessible data
Sincerely,
James Corless
Director, Transportation for America
UPDATE: Governor Schweitzer chose not to opt-out of the Recreational Trails Program, resulting in the recreational trails set-aside being applied to the State’s transportation alternatives funding. MDOT supported the decision and recognizes the funding as important to supporting many of Montana’s recreational opportunities including hiking, bicycling, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles. Developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities for the enjoyment of Montana citizens and visitors through the Recreational Trails Program will continue.
Do you enjoy riding or walking on Missoula’s network of multi-use recreational trails? Do you wish you had more trails like this closer to where you live or work? If you answered yes, then you will want to take action today.
State Governors are now allowed to opt out of receiving funding from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) that distributes federal funds to states to support the construction, maintenance and development of all types of recreation trails, due to a change in the recently updated federal transportation bill, MAP-21.
It is possible that Governor Schweitzer may refuse to receive RTP funding for recreational trails in Montana—trails that boost local economies, keep people active, and enhance your personal health and well-being – if we don’t let him know how important this program is to us.
people for bikes.org is working with the International Mountain Bicycling Association and the Coalition for Recreational Trails to make sure states don’t opt out of these critical trail funds, but your help is needed. Please add your voice to those asking Governor Schweitzer to continue dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program. Send a strong message to Governor Schweitzer using this easy form. The deadline for Governors to opt out is September 1st, so your quick response is needed.
ACT NOW TO SAVE RECREATIONAL TRAIL FUNDING IN MONTANA!
Posted in Advocacy, Advocacy Alert, Transportation | 
Tags: funding, People for Bikes.org, Recreational Trails Program, trails | 
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Free lunch is included when you attend the informative monthly APBP Webinars sponsored by BWAM. Previous offerings in this series have been well attended. Register early to avoid missing out. And as a bonus, pre-registered attendees are treated to free lunch!
On Thursday, January 10th, at noon, in conjunction with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), we will be hosting a pre-recorded webinar entitled Wayfinding Options for Cyclists in the 1st Floor Conference Room at Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, 350 Ryman Street. But we don’t want you to miss your lunch, so all attendees who pre-register at the BWAM APBP Webinar Registration page will have a freshly prepared lunch compliments of BWAM.
Bicycle wayfinding signs are different than other signs placed in the right of way because they are part of a system of sequential destination information; thus, planning, placement and maintenance are critical to maintaining the system.
The presentation will cover these topics:
- The value of providing wayfinding for urban cyclists
- Approaches to planning and implementation
- Strategies to determine and prioritize signed bicycle routes
- Issues of planning, placement and maintenance of signs, including sign design and placement within the right of way that integrates guidelines from the 2009 MUTCD, the 2012 AASHTO Bicycle Guide, and the AASHTO Green Book
- Special issues related to trails
Don’t miss it or the delicious lunch. Sign up now!
The next webinar February 14 is Best Practices in Pedestrian Wayfinding.
Bad news on the federal front for active transportation. Federal funding potentially available to support future Missoula active transportation projects has been significantly reduced as a result of the federal transportation bill agreed to Thursday June 28. Thanks to everyone who sent messages to our senators and representative over the last several months. Our voices joined thousands from around the country and kept the losses lower than they would have been.
The program that allocates federal transportation dollars to local street safety projects like bike lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks has morphed into a much more general fund for anything that can be considered an air quality improvement strategy. States have great leeway to shift funds around, and bike/ped projects will have to compete with road projects and much more.
“Transportation Alternatives” (TA) has also absorbed the Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails programs, which used to have their own dedicated funding. And it can be used to fund “planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways.” The TA funding was reduced from $1.2 billion in FY 2011 to $700 – 750 million. Read the rest of this entry »
Bike Walk Montana (BWM) is the new statewide advocacy organization that was founded by a volunteer leadership team which put together the Founding Summit that took place in Helena in April 2012. That group charted a course for the organization’s future and now a volunteer board is being formed to carry out those action plans.
BWM’s mission is to make biking and walking safe and accessible for all. Their vision for the future of cycling is that in all communities across Montana, cycling and walking are safe, everyday, mainstream activities. Cycling and walking are recognized, accommodated and funded as legitimate and essential modes of transportation. As a result, Montanans enjoy an enhanced quality of life, a cleaner environment, and better health. Montana is a model for innovative cycling and walking facilities and programs.
BWM is currently striving to establish a strong, diverse Board of Directors. Read the rest of this entry »
