 NCBW Newsroom - Regional and Local ActionsThe National & International Scene | Regional and Local Actions | The Research Beat | Resources | Jobs, Grants & RFPs DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH: PEDESTRIAN-FIRST FOCUS -> According to a May 5th Star Telegram article, "Future development in downtown Fort Worth should be done with the pedestrian in mind but should also find ways to transport people to the Cultural District, the Stockyards and even Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, according to a draft report of a new strategic action plan." "Called 'Plan 2023: A Ten Year Strategic Action Plan for Downtown Fort Worth', the 45-page draft report touches on hot-button topics such as transportation, homelessness and bringing a medical degree program to the University of North Texas Health Science Center. But foremost, it sets the tone for a 'pedestrian-first' philosophy toward development and suggests sweeping changes in how the city views downtown's role with adjoining neighborhoods. Among the ideas: building pedestrian bridges and using water taxis to allow pedestrians to cross the Trinity River..." Source: http://bit.ly/13cSe7O AS CYCLING GROWS IS MA SERIOUS ABOUT SHARING THE ROAD? -> According to a May 6th MetroWest Daily News article, "Gas prices are sky high and it beats idling in gridlock. Both the planet and our bodies deserve better than motoring from every Point A to every Point B. Last but not least, it's fun." "Cyclists offer all these reasons and more to explain why their ranks are growing steadily in Massachusetts. By just one measure, the number of Bay State commuters who mainly biked to work spiked 80 percent from 2000 to 2011, from roughly 12,300 people to 22,200, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates..." Source: http://bit.ly/18pDk0c QUINCY (IL) TO SPEND $2.7M IN ROAD & SIDEWALK PROJECTS -> According to a May 6th Quincy Herald-Whig article, "The city of Quincy is looking at about $2.7 million in road and sidewalk projects this summer, including one that has been in the design stages for nearly three years." "The riverfront connector trail project between Edgewater and Clat Adams parks that has been in the planning stages since 2010 is expected to move forward, City Engineer Jeff Steinkamp said. The project includes an 8-foot-wide pedestrian trail and bike path, security fencing along the water treatment plant, landscaping and lighting, and additional parking at Clat Adams Park. A new paved entrance also will be built for Edgewater Park and the Northside Boat Club over the railroad tracks along Front Street." "The city received a $262,000 grant through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program and a $245,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help fund the project. The city is committing $122,293 in TIF money..." Source: http://bit.ly/15kCa7u MIAMI BEACH (FL) ADVOCATES' ROAD RECONSTRUCTION CAMPAIGN -> According to a May 3rd The Atlantic Cities article, "I took a tour of Miami Beach this morning. No, not in person (though I wish), but via the wonders of Google Earth... I wanted to see a stretch of road on the backside of the community--away from the Atlantic--that is being reconstructed by the Florida Department of Transportation. It's a 1.3-mile stretch of Florida Route 907, known locally as Alton Road. My first set of impressions varied from it's nondescript, to it's chaotic, to it's every road in America, to "are you kidding me, it's sunshine and palm trees, where's the beef?" "But, as I looked closer, I noticed the stranded pedestrians. They wouldn't be in the middle of the roadway if they were better accommodated, and I even felt frightened for one or two of them. This is not an easy road to cross conveniently. And, to tell the truth, it doesn't even look that pleasant to drive on. Isn't the reconstruction--required mostly for flood control--an opportunity to make it work better for everyone with a "complete streets" approach?" "That's exactly what a grassroots group called the Alton Road Reconstruction Coalition thinks. I love the[ir] graphic..., which sets out the possibilities and the coalition's position about as clearly and sensibly as I've seen. What they are proposing wouldn't cost that much more, if anything, and it would make both the road safer and that part of the community more pleasant to be in. There are all sorts of wins here, and no real losses that I can see. It's a terrific example of how to do local advocacy, in my opinion..." Source: http://bit.ly/ZBdeRf MN DOT: $3.8 M SAFE ROUTES GRANTS TO 61 COMMUNITIES -> According to a May 4th WinonaDailyNews.com article, "Rushford students might have new sidewalks next year to stroll down on their way to school." "The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that Rushford is one of 61 communities being awarded a Safe Routes to Schools Grant, which funds projects that improve routes children use to walk and bike to school." "This year MnDOT is divvying out $3.8 million among 105 schools in the communities--about $9,000 to each--said program administrator Nicole Campbell, to allow the schools to hire consultants to design routes..." Source: http://bit.ly/18pGtgx Get a jump start on this news by subscribing to CenterLines. Discuss these news articles with other advocates in the Forum section of the ALRC Commons. |
|