Below is a report from VBF’s Barbara Duerk about the Jan. 5 CTB meeting in Dubllin, VA. With the Richmond and Fairfax meetings coming up this Monday and Tuesday, there’s still time for you attend and be heard. Please note that these meetings have been attended by the Secretary of Transportation and various heads of VDOT and DRPT. Now’s your chance! See our previous article about these CTB public input meetings to find out what you should advocate for, and how to go about it.
Bicycling was mentioned by several speakers at the Monday, January 5, meeting of the CTB at the New River Community College in Dublin, VA. CTB members Jim Bowie, Bristol District and Dana Martin, Salem Construction District were in attendance. Secretary of Transportation, Pierce Homer, chaired the session. Administrators from Bristol and Salem, VDOT Commissioner Akern, the DRPT chair, plus the CTB members were at the head tables.
Homer was honest with his assessment of the economy’s financial burden on VDOT. Income for transportation is from the gas tax, sales tax on new and used automobiles and on vehicle registration fees. VDOT is looking to reduce staff by 1,000 employees if the economy doesn’t recovery or the stimulus package doesn’t address transportation. Bridges are a high priority. VDOT has needed to replay bridges over the Elizabeth River on the Kings Highway and others that were built right after WW II. There is no money to do this, so the bridges are closed.
In the Salem construction district, several long term projects are placed on hold. The new I-81 interchange at Ironto to serve the intermodal center and extra lanes between Salem and Christiansburg were added to the six year plan.
Jeanne Duddy, BRBC member, spoke about bicycle recognition as transportation and asked for recognition of AASHTO routes #76 and #1. She thanked the board for successfully getting the routes included on the Va. Official State Transportation 2008-2010 and the VDOT Map of Scenic Roads in Virginia.
Two members of the VBF board spoke of the need to prioritize bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Barbara Duerk’s comments included:
- Virginia bicycle fatalities in 2008 doubled. The elderly population in Virginia is doubling. Therefore we should measure annually the success in implementation of 2004 Bicycle and Pedestrian policies. For example, ask construction districts to provide figures on increased number of bicycle facilities, local policies, regional bicycle advisory committees, increased number of bicyclists.
- Recognize, sign and promote AASHTO approved routes US Bike route 76, the Bikecentennial or TransAmerica Adventure Cycling Route and the Adventure Cycling Route US bike route 1. Note: The Department of Conservation and Recreation is promoting 5 statewide routes. The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, The Great Eastern Trail, James River Heritage Trail, East Coast Greenway and Beach to Bluegrass Trail. There needs to be some recognition of the importance of on-road routes for economic development and tourism in Virginia. The 76 route goes from Yorktown to Astoria, Washington. 570 miles are located on Virginia roads.
- Insure pedestrian and bicycle accommodations are a vital component on all new or upgraded road projects, particularly bridges.
- Provide bicycle use on transit to encourage multi modal transportation.
- Prioritize maintenance projects.
- Support the Dulles Rail connect and expansion of trails for transportation, especially the the Capitol to Capitol trail from Richmond to Jamestown.
- Locally, allow access for a trail connecting Virginia Tech with the Roanoke River Greenway through the proposed intermodal, Heartland Express properties in the Elliston and Lafayette area. The Montgomery County Comprehensive plan includes this trail in their Village Transportation Links Plan. Any development with state money should not exclude use of land for a trail.
- Consider Rails with Trail in developing routes for Connecting the Commonwealth.
James Rosar spoke on the bicycle as a transportation vehicle and encouraged the CTB to value bicycle riders. Traffic congestion, air quality mitigation, personal and societal health issues and educational performance can benefit from the use of a bicycle.
Interestingly, several local officials spoke about the economy and the need to provide walking and bicycling facilities in their area – not just bicyclists any more.
I also issued an initiation to CTB members and staff (naming Jacob Helmbolt specifically), to experience first hand the AASHTO route 76 in May. (on VBF’s annual Cross State Ride)
Comments can be sent to six-yearprogram@vdot.virginia.gov.
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