Advocacy
2009 Statewide Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Jan 28
The Final Version of the CT Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the Connecticut Department of Transportation is now available on the project's website: http://www.ctbikepedplan.org/. The Update will result in a Plan and a Map providing Connecticut's residents and visitors with information on bicycle and pedestrian policies, facilities, and needs.
Mark Your Calendars for Our Legislative Reception Jan 24
Please join us for CCBA's 3rd annual Legislative Reception Wednesday, February 10, 2:00 – 3:30, at the State Capitol in Room 310. Mingle with other bicycle/pedestrian advocates and legislators. We'll discuss our past successes and future plans, while seeking support for additional bike/ped-friendly legislation in 2010. At the reception, we’ll be announcing our legislative proposals for this year. It’s very important for our legislators and the media to see how many constituents support a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly Connecticut, so please urge other supporters to join you on February 10. We had success in the 2008 and 2009 legislative sessions - let's do it again in 2010.
Red Light Camera Enforcement Jan 03
The CT Livable Streets Campaign is planning to push for state legislation that will enable camera enforcement of red light running. If you are interested, go to their website http://www.livablestreets.com/projects/ct-livable-streets/project-home and you can learn about the campaign and how to get involved.
Discussion on Parking and Traffic Jan 03
In partnership with the Yale Journalism Initiative, Yale Transportation Options will host two special guests on Tuesday January 19th, 2010. The topic is “Traffic, Parking and our Green Future.” Tom Vanderbilt, author of the New York Times bestselling book Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us), and UCLA Professor and Yale Alumnus Donald Shoup (BE’61, PhD ’68), author of The High Cost of Free Parking, have agreed to visit Yale to discuss issues of sustainability through the lens of traffic and parking.
The discussion will certainly touch such multidisciplinary topics as land use, economics, human behavior, transportation engineering, social change, and the health of the community.
This event is open to the public and will be held between 7:00 and 8:30pm on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010. Campus location TBA. For more information, see the event flyer.
Advocates Show Your Strength: Time to Contact the Governor Dec 06
Public Act 07-7 designated $12 million in bond funds to be used to
develop bicycle facilities in the state of Connecticut, with a
particular focus upon the East Coast Greenway. However, these funds
will not become a reality unless this item is placed upon the bond
commission agenda. Governor Rell sets the bond commission agenda. The
funds will flow through the DEP and DEP Commissioner Amy Marrella has
publicly expressed her support for the release of these funds.
You can help by letting the governor know that you support this use of state bond funds. Here are some points you might make:
- Specifics about the funding – it is in Section 68 of Pa07-7, it provides $12 million over 2 years
- Shifting trips from auto to bicycle is an important element of the state’s climate change action plan
- The bicycle can help with many societal problems – the obesity epidemic, air pollution, traffic congestion
- Our state’s bike path system is disjointed, this funding will help fill essential gaps
- Make it personal, explain why more bike facilities are important to you, your family, and your community
Let’s make clear that bicyclists are a large constituency in CT!
Complete Streets Initiative Update Dec 04
We reported in July, 2009 on the passing of the CT Complete Streets legislation. Click on the "Complete Streets Initiative" link on the left pane for an update.
Is Connecticut Doing Enough to Keep Pedestrians Safe? Dec 04
Transportation
for America and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership have
released their report Dangerous by Design, which looks at pedestrian
crash rates and transportation spending for pedestrians across the
country. In Connecticut, spending on pedestrian safety and pedestrian
facilities is not proportionate to the level of pedestrian danger in
the state. Although Connecticut spends more than some states on
pedestrian safety, the amount of funds spent is very low in comparison to the
danger encountered by pedestrians on our roads everyday. Currently, pedestrian fatalities make
up about 13% of all crash fatalities statewide. But in Connecticut, spending on pedestrian improvements is
less than 2% of all transportation spending or just $1.67 per person.
We know how to build safer streets. Complete Streets take into account the
safety of all road users, including motorists, walkers, cyclists, and public
transit riders. Let your
legislators and state and town officials know that it’s time to change the way
our tax dollars are spent. The lives
of cyclists and pedestrians are no less valuable than the lives of motorists.
CT Department of Transportation Announces Publication of State's 2009 Long-Range Transportation Plan Jul 26
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing the
completion of the State’s 2009 Long-Range Transportation Plan (2009
LRP). The LRP is a federally mandated policy document that outlines the
State of Connecticut‘s transportation policies and strategies for at
least a 20-year period. It is updated every three to five years. The
2009 LRP, which updates the 2004 LRP, covers the period 2009 -2035.
For more information, click here or visit the ConnDOT website: http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1373&Q=443732
Federal Legislation of Interest Apr 19
Surface Transportation Reauthorization
In October 2009, the federal Surface Transportation Authorization bill (SAFETE-LU) will expire. This bill governs the level of funding for transportation over a 6 year period and lays out the programs for transportation expenditures. The reauthorization process will be very important to advocates for pedestrians and bicyclists. This is where the rubber meets the road – will there be funds to make the country more bike and pedestrian friendly? Will there be funding for transit systems? Or will we continue with an auto centric system?
You can be a part of the discussion. The Connecticut Association for Community Transportation (CACT) and Connect-ability are hosting a gathering for a discussion of reauthorization on April 29, 2009, 10:30 am at the Great Hall, Union Station, Hartford, CT. Click here for the event flyer.
To learn more about what national bike and ped advocacy groups are saying about reauthorization:
America Bikes: http://www.americabikes.org/docs/Platform.pdf
Transportation for America: http://t4america.org/platform
National Petition – Federal Clean Energy Bill
Right now, one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from transportation! Transportation for America is calling upon likeminded individuals to join them in asking congress to strengthen the transportation section of the new climate bill. heir position is that the federal clean energy bill must offer meaningful incentives for states and local governments to clean up transportation systems, it must support local initiatives to provide transportation alternatives and set state-wide goals and transportation pollution reduction goals that are in line with the national goal to build a cleaner future. http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/t/3224/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=323
CLEAN-TEA
Citing the need to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the transportation sector, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act (CLEAN-TEA). In a statement on the introduction of CLEAN-TEA, Blumenauer noted that a third of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation and that vehicle miles traveled are growing at a faster rate than population.
CLEAN-TEA would act as a companion to comprehensive climate change legislation proposed by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, aimed at combating global warming through a national carbon cap-and-trade program. Blumenauer's CLEAN-TEA bill would require that ten percent of any proceeds collected from the auction of credits would go to fund transportation projects that would decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Examples of projects that could receive funding are: transit and passenger rail, transit-oriented development, and enhanced bike and pedestrian paths.
Buckland Area Transportation Study Apr 08
Public Information Meeting Scheduled for April 22, 2009. The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that a public informational meeting will be held to discuss the findings of the final phase of the Buckland Area Transportation study. For more information, please visit the ConnDOT website .
Legislative Watch Apr 07
Currently, CCBA is most closely watching the following bill. Contacts to your legislators would be helpful. Attendance at the public hearing (date to be announced) will be critical:
SB 735 - AN ACT REQUIRING THE USE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR NONMOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION. This act would require that a minimum percentage of transportation funds be used for enhancements to non-motorized transportation. We are not yet aware of a public hearing date. Track this bill at: http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=735&which_year=2009&SUBMIT1.x=20&SUBMIT1.y=11&SUBMIT1=Normal
The following are additional legislation that have been brought to our attention by various bike-ped groups throughout the state:
SB 149: AN ACT CONCERNING THE INSTALLATION OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS BY MUNICIPALITIESNote: This bill has been modified to be a pilot program for New Haven only.
Report on CCBA Legislative Reception on Feb. 11 Feb 22
Bicycle advocates and legislators convened in the State Capitol on February 11, 2009 to share a vision of a more bicycle-friendly Connecticut. Coming off of last year's successful legislation, we are hopeful that the state will pass additional laws in 2009 to improve bicycle access and safety. CCBA's Advocacy Chair, Deb Dauphinais, shared our past successes and our hopes for 2009 and introduced our legislative host, Rep. Tom Kehoe who shared his support for bicycle-friendly initiatives. Rep. Kehoe is this year's Vice-Chair for the Transportation Committee. Additional speakers included Transportation Co-Chairs Sen. Donald DeFronzo and Rep. Tony Guerrera and CT Commission on Children’s Legislative Director Elizabeth Brown. Sen. DeFronzo stated, “You have created the most powerful and visible coalition in support of change in transportation in the state.”
Become an East Coast Greenways Ambassador Nov 26
CCBA supports East Coast Greenways mission to create a linear trail from Florida to Maine. Just think of the wonderful connections this could provide for our communities! ECG is currently seeking volunteers to serve as Ambassadors in ME, NH, MA, RI and CT, to engage in outreach, promotion and advocacy efforts in your local area. To learn more, please visit: East Coast Greenway
CRCOG's Active Transportation Initiative Nov 26
New Pedestrian/Bicycle Plan for the Region: the Capitol Region Council of Governments has adopted a New Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan for the region. Members of CCBA were actively involved in the development of this new plan. Now comes the challenge of actual implementation. There is a need to show that residents support the development of a Walkable and Bikeable Region. YOU can help. Go to CRCOG’s website where you can download a copy of the plan AND, you can download the Walkable/Bikeable Coalition materials. Show your support by filling out the form, or by writing a letter of support. And ask others to join the campaign. No obligation or fees, this is just an expression of support for a Walkable Bikeable region.
The State Department of Transportation is updating its Bicycle and Pedestrian plan. The consulting team for the project is led by Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. with assistance from VHB, Alta Transportation Consulting, and Didona Associates.
A very active advisory committee will be involved throughout the process. Charlie Beristain, CCBA Board member, is representing the CCBA on the committee. You can learn more about the project at CT Bike Ped Plan