Rails-to-Trails Conservancy delivers petition to AAA - 51,376 signatures

Right now, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy President Keith Laughlin and dozens of cyclists are at the American Automobile Association (AAA) headquarters in Heathrow, Fla., to deliver our petition that includes your name in support of trails, walking and bicycling.

Your name—along with 51,376 others!

Yep, you read that right.

Today, more than 51,000 Americans—including more than 33,000 AAA members—go on record to call on AAA to support the continuation of crucial federal programs for trails, walking and bicycling.

Today, you have made a powerful statement that trails, walking and bicycling are part of our transportation future.

Today, you have voiced your support for clean, affordable, convenient travel options that save us money, improve our health and add to our quality of life.

For all of this, and so much more, we thank you.

In the coming days, we will send you more details on the petition delivery, including photos and videos of the day’s events. But for now, we just want to thank you for your overwhelming support.

With gratitude,

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

$100 Million sought for roads, bikes, pedestrians

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 

Marin IJ article

Marin County officials, perhaps caught up in the spirit of the season, asked the federal government for a New Year's present this week.

How about handing over more than $100 million for bike path, pedestrian, road and bridge projects? Or maybe twice that much to cover a wide range of other needs as well?

The Board of Supervisors after brief discussion Tuesday endorsed a legislative program for 2011 that seeks $50 million to continue the nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, which got $25 million from the federal government in 2005 to create a network of bike and pedestrian path improvements. A complete bike and pedestrian network in Marin would cost $220 million, county staff said.

In addition, the board will join with the Transportation Authority of Marin to seek $50 million from the federal government to proceed with the Novato Narrows carpool lane and bike path project.

And federal funding is needed to replace the Pacific Way Bridge in Muir Beach, move ahead with flood improvements in the Ross Valley and Santa Venetia, build a public safety facility, restore Hamilton Field wetlands and the Bolinas Lagoon ecosystem, research breast cancer in Marin and pay for Muir Woods shuttle services, the board agreed as it endorsed a shopping list spanning projects in each supervisor's district.

In a nod to state budget woes, the county board doesn't expect Santa's sack to hold much from Sacramento, so officials say
Marin's tin cup will carry a more modest request: Don't cut our revenue.

The board told staff to focus on several state legislative proposals, including allowing the county pension system to become a special district, separating it from the board's purview. The board also wants to ease state affordable housing requirements by reclassifying the county as a "suburban" rather than metropolitan area. In addition, supervisors want state permission to seek voter approval of an eighth-cent sales tax boost to pay for wildland fire protection. Current law limits sales tax increases to increments of a quarter-cent.

Other Marin priorities for state legislators include monitoring parolee releases, halting death row expansion at San Quentin State Prison, banning plastic bags, allowing residents to "opt out" of the SmartMeter program, implementing health care reform and helping Marin General Hospital meet seismic requirements.

The board also agreed with a staff analysis that overall priorities involving state and federal governments next year will include protecting existing revenue, transportation programs, climate change projects, flood protection, and health care and pension reform.

Although officials don't expect Santa to deliver all they have asked for, the legislative program outlines the county's wish list.

"In a quick read someone can see what our priorities are," Supervisor Steve Kinsey noted of a staff report.

Contact Nels Johnson via e-mail at ij.civiccenter@gmail.com

Bicycle detecting cameras being installed along Lucas Valley Road

 Cris Wilson is tuning the bicycle detection equipment for the intersection of Las Gallinas Avenue and Lucas Valley Road

Chris' partner Jason is adjusting the camera on the light pole as Cris advises him.

Kel Harris (Safe Routes to Schools) observes Chris' activities.

To change the light for enabling a left hand turn, place your bicycle on the bicycle emblem painted on the street.

AAA has a world-class trail in its own backyard... funded by TE!

From: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

To: carolynlenert@msn.com

Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 9:45 AM

Subject: Video: Check out AAA's backyard, TE-funded trail!

Dear Carolyn Your Custome,

AAA Mid-Atlantic has a TE-funded trail steps from its front door, but they would deny others the same opportunity? AAA National calls for the elimination of trail programs from our transportation trust fund. even after tens of thousands speak up against this backward position? AAA needs to hear from us NOW!

We've had a lot of surprises here at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) lately. First, a good surprise: In just over two months, tens of thousands of you have signed our petition calling on AAA to support critical, established programs for walking and bicycling from our nation's transportation trust fund. Thank you!

Now, for the real shocker... AAA Mid-Atlantic-the very club that called for the elimination of Transportation Enhancements (TE) from the trust fund-has a world-class trail in its own backyard... funded by TE!

See this video we took of the trail in Wilmington, Del., that runs right up to the AAA Mid-Atlantic building.

AAA Mid-Atlantic has a sidewalk connecting its building to a world-class, TE-funded trail, so we're stunned that they would deny others the same opportunity by seeking to divorce this program from its funding source.

"But that's just the Mid-Atlantic club, right? I mean, they're the only group that's taking this stance... right?"

That's what other AAA clubs around the country have told their members. But now AAA National, which lobbies on federal issues for all AAA clubs, has adopted AAA Mid-Atlantic's stance that gas taxes should no longer fund any trail, walking, bicycling or transit projects, turning back the clock on decades of successful investments in balanced transportation options.

For AAA National to take this position right now, after so many of us have spoken up for the completely opposing viewpoint, is a huge slap in the face.

It's time to really turn up the heat! 

Please ask your friends and family to sign the petition at www.railstotrails.org/AAA. Think e-mails, Facebook, Twitter, or anything else!

Thank you so much for your tremendous support,

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

AAA is and always has been in favor of a safe, efficient, multi-modal transportation system.

WHAT AAA IS SAYING

AAA respects the work of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, but its current petition campaign wrongly characterizes AAA as actively lobbying to eliminate funding for bike paths and walkways. AAA is and always has been in favor of a safe, efficient, multi-modal transportation system.

AAA’s position on the federal transportation program and funding reforms includes support for a transportation system that:

• provides choices and multi-modal opportunities
• is affordable and accessible for all users
• facilitates personal travel needs
• preserves and maximizes the utility of the current system, and
• increases capacity to address growing congestion.
  

Help us show AAA that trail, walking and bicycling programs actually benefit everyone

The president of AAA Mid-Atlantic recently advocated for the elimination of existing federal programs that help build bicycle and pedestrian trails and sidewalks from the trust fund that finances transportation. These funds have helped create more than 19,000 miles of trails, walking and bicycling facilities across the country—likely including your favorite nearby trail. AAA encourages its members to get outdoors and explore the country—including by bicycle—so why do they support cutting programs that help their members do precisely that? If AAA’s false ideas take root, America’s transportation future —one where communities are more livable and people have safe and convenient choices for getting around—is in jeopardy. Help us show AAA that trail, walking and bicycling programs actually benefit everyone, very much including their own members! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The American Automobile Association (AAA) recently  advocated for the elimination of critical, established  programs that fund trails,walking and bicycling from the trust fund that finances transportation. AAA says it supports all types of transportation,  but that doesn't square with the above position,  which would divert money away from walking and bicycling and toward the highway system. http://support.railstotrails.org/site/PageNavigator/AAA  is the link to a petition asking for AAA to support multi-use transit.

Ann L. Riley speaking on "The Value of Urban Creek Restoration"

Dear Friend of Gallinas Creek:

Mark your calendars--you won't want to miss this!

Gallinas Watershed Council is proud to host:

Ann L. Riley  speaking on  "The Value of Urban Creek Restoration"

DATE: Tues. Nov. 9, 2010   TIME:  7-9 pm  

PLACE: Korean Presbyterian Church, 635 Adrian Way in Santa Venetia

Ann Riley is on the Regional Water Quality Control Board and author of

Restoring Streams in Cities: a Guide for Planners, Policy Makers and Citizens

Looking forward to seeing you at this important event!

Ann is a dynamic speaker who has the professional background to answer your questions

on urban stream restoration. She will relay her experiences on gathering community support

and why RWQCB supports watershed based planning for communities.

Seating is limited; please come early.

Refreshments will be served. There will be time for Q&A.

Event is free but donations to GWC gratefully accepted!

For more information, please visit the GWC website at: www.gallinaswatershed.org

Marin County Recognized by U.S. Department of Transportation

Marin County Recognized by U.S. Department of Transportation

RTC TrailBlog » Marin County Recognized by U.S. Department of Transportation

Established in 2005 as part of the federal transportation bill, the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) allocated $25 million to each of four pilot communities: Marin County, Calif.; Minneapolis, Minn., Columbia, Mo.; and Sheboygan County, Wis. The program was designed to help these communities complete active transportation systems, thereby shifting substantial numbers of trips from driving to walking and bicycling. Five years in, the program has already yielded huge results, and Marin County was just awarded the 2010 Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives (EHEI) award by the U.S. Department of Department.

Marin County's flagship initiative through the NTPP is WalkBikeMarin, which aims to make Marin more healthy, livable and environmentally sustainable by encouraging walking and bicycling as everyday transportation options. The EHEI award in the Education and Training Programs category honored WalkBikeMarin for "using a range of education and encouragement activities to promote walking and bicycling."

"This award highlights Marin County's success at maximizing the synergy between infrastructure investment and education in implementing the NTPP program to accomplish a shift from auto transportation to walking and biking," says Marianne Fowler, senior vice president of federal relations for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC).
EHEI awards recognize outstanding examples of transportation projects that either create or improve conditions for human activities while protecting the natural environment. Ten projects received EHEI recognition nationwide.
You can find detailed updates and fact sheets on NTPP accomplishments in all four communities at RTC's website.

---

Posted Tue, Oct 5 2010 9:38 AM by Karl Wirsing (RTC) Filed under: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, marin county, nonmotorized transportation pilot program, u.s. department of transportation, walkbikemari

An enthusiastic turnout for the 2010 Coastal Cleanup Day

Dana Conklin checking out Rich Lawler's feathers.

Lara Garrison and Carolyn Lenert show off their 70 pound truck engine part that they dragged out of Gallinas Creek.

  

Rod Blouin standing beside the eastern pile of debris that was deposited near Los Gamos Drive.  The western pile, of equal size, was deposited near Las Gallinas Avenue.  The County Department of Public Works crew collected the debris.

From the top row to the bottom row:

Mark MacMillan, Carolyn Lenert, Lara Garrison,

Rod Blouin, Dana Conklin, Teresa Lawler,

Jim Forester, Posie Conklin, Rich Lawler,
David Crowne, Supervisor Susan Adams, Barbara George

Volunteers not shown in the photo include Susan Peterson, Kel Harris and Ray Lorber.

Join Our Quarterly Clean Up ! Stay Just 75 Minutes

California Coastal Cleanup Day
(But you don’t have to go that far!)

Join us in cleaning up the headwaters of Gallinas Creek!
Safe Passage Along Lucas Valley Road invites you to join us for our quarterly clean up.

Saturday, September 25, 2010 – 9am to Noon (come for as long as you like!)
Meet at 101 Lucas Valley Road office building parking lot

RSVP SafePassageLucasValleyRoad@msn.com or call 415.479.9193
Bring gloves and water, wear long pants, long sleeves.

Join more than 80,000 Californians that come together annually!
Act locally and clean up Gallinas Creek in your own backyard.

Safe Routes to Schools Green Ways program.

Reading, riding, walking, and arithmetic

 

Walking or biking to school is a great way to start the day, but only if you're safe.

 

  new  

 

Students celebrated St. Patrick's Day and green travel by dressing in green in March as part of the Safe Routes to Schools Green Ways program.Credit Courtesy Marin Bicycle Coalition,  Credit Courtesy Marin Bicycle Coalition http://o1.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/273x203/http://hss-rod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/48563106d31262737159bab1b3434118

 

Buff moms (and dads) ferrying kids around in Burleys and ultra cool Xtracyclers are a signal that school is in session in Marin.  round here we are robust with good health habits, foremost among them, peddling, walking and even hiking to school. 
As a Los Angeles native, I am still surprised and grateful when I can safely cross a street. But, in fact, we are much safer walking and biking than driving, according to Francis Barbour, an instructor at the League of American Bicyclists and the Marin Bicycle Coalition.
A rosy-cheeked commute is a great way to start the school day, raising the spirits and sharpening the mind. Staying out of the car provides kids a lesson in clean energy (humans exhale the same amount of CO2 in one year that a vehicle produces in an hour). Traveling on foot encourages parents and children to take their time and have a conversation. And when people set out on foot and by bike, cars tend to respond. "Traffic actually slows down the more people are walking and riding through neighborhoods," said Barbour.
Like everything else in the school day, however, sharing the road with busy commuters in two-ton SUVs involves a lesson or two:
Be visible:

• Walk or ride in a group.  Parents should always walk young children across the street.  Not only are kids physically small and hard to see – they may not yet be able to correctly gauge the speed of vehicles
• Wear bright clothing
• Use lights at dusk and at night
• Don't ride on the sidewalk, especially where there are blind driveways

Be alert:

• Pay attention to traffic
• Anticipate motorists' behaviors
• Make eye contact
• Don't text or wear headphones when riding or walking through traffic (don't text while driving either!)

Be predictable:

• Use the crosswalk. Drivers are 40 percent more likely to yield to pedestrians crossing at crosswalks. Cyclists should walk bikes through crosswalks.
• Avoid the 'dart out.' According to Safe Routes to Schools, of the leading types of pedestrian crashes 33 percent are due to pedestrians entering traffic mid-block, often from between parked cars. 
• If you are cycling, ride in a straight line, use hand signals and remember that bike riders are subject to the same traffic laws as cars. Learn more about sharing the road at the Marin Bicycle Coalition and the League of American Cyclists.

Ride ready:

• Keep bikes in working order
• Prevent clothing from getting caught in the bike
• Wear your helmet: helmets reduce the risk for head injury by as much as 85 percent according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

If you drive, remember that a car is a deadly weapon:

• Drive now, talk and text later.  The repercussions of distracted driving in Marin and elsewhere are significant. Distracted driving injures over a half a million people each year and kills over 6,000. For more information on this deadly epidemic, visit Focus Driven and Distraction.gov
• Stop and look for pedestrians crossing when making a right hand turn on a red light
• Use major streets as much as possible; residential streets are designed for local use, and you may be held up by cyclists and pedestrians on smaller streets anyway
• Expect the unexpected and be prepared to stop suddenly when children are present
• Look for pedestrians when pulling out of driveways and when driving near vending trucks, buses, parks and schools

One of the best ways we can build healthy and strong communities is to lace up our shoes, snap on our helmets, and advocate for pedestrian and bike safety as well as better street engineering and education in schools and elsewhere.  heck out the resources below to get involved.

About this column:

Alyson Geller, MPH, talks to local doctors and explores health issues that concern us all.

 

Annual Bike Ride Takes Off Saturday

The annual Marin Century bike rides, the bigggest participatory event in the county, will roll out from Vallecito School (onto Las Gallinas) in San Rafael on Saturday.  Some 2,700 cyclists will hit the roads of Marin County roads for short periods of time, to accommodate the Marin Century riders.  From 7am to 10am, the westbound lane of Lucas Valley Road---from west of Westgate to Big Rock will be closed.  And, from 8am to 11am, the northbound lane of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road will be closed from north of Nicasio Valley Road to the top of Rocky Hill.  Careful Out There !

Lucas Valley Road to be repaved

Listed below is an article from the IJ.  The article refers to the repaving of Lucas Valley Road from Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Road.

This repaving project is not part of the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project.  This repaving was previously planned for July of 2009 and has been delayed till now.

The Safe Passage Project is scheduled for completion in 2012.  Engineering studies are expected to begin in January 2011.  There will  be public discussion of the Safe Passage Project prior to the begin of work.

Mark your calendar - Saturday, September 25, Coastal Cleanup Day, will be the next quarterly cleanup day for the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project. 

__________________________

Ghilotti Bros. wins county bike project contract

Nels Johnson

Posted: 08/03/2010 04:11:25 PM PDT

Ghilotti Bros. Inc. will proceed with the county's 2010 "bicycle facility project." The firm was awarded a $238,888 contract Tuesday to move ahead with signs, pavement markings and striping at locations across Marin, with asphalt and concrete widening in some Novato areas.

Ernest Klock, county principal engineer, noted Ghilotti Bros. was low bidder among five firms vying for the job, with a high bid of $382,000 submitted by CF Contracting of Fairfax.

Bike lane asphalt widening, striping and signing in along Atherton Avenue in Novato will include a stretch from Highway 37 to 730 feet east of Olive Drive, and from Armstrong Road and Binford Road to Bugeia Lane.

Signing and striping for bike lanes will proceed at:
- Donahue Street: Highway 101 offramp for 0.2 miles.
- Lucas Valley Road: Los Gamos Road to Las Gallinas Road.
- Kent Avenue: Poplar Avenue to the county limits.
- Novato Boulevard: Point Reyes-Petaluma Road to the city limits.
- Seminary Drive: Ricardo Road to Gilbert Drive.

County supervisors routinely approved the contract, as well as a $23,888 contingency fund to pay for any extras.
Contact Nels Johnson via e-mail at ij.civiccenter@gmail.com.
_____________________________________________________

Traffic speed limit control made fun

Click on the YouTube link listed below to see a video on how to make traffic speed limit control fun!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcaKocRXCB4&feature=channel

Sausalito moves ahead with their multi-use pathway

Multi-use pathway moves forward

By Jessica Mullins

Published: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 5:49 PM PDT

The Sausalito City Council pushed for a resident public workshop after receiving a progress report on multi-use pathway plans.

Soon officials will be creating the first draft of a plan detailing how a multi-use pathway could make its way north through Sausalito, extending from downtown to Gate 6 Road.

A multi-use path is an off-road hard-surfaced path separated from car traffic by an open space or barrier, which has been designated for public use for human-powered travel or movement — mainly, pedestrians and cyclists. There are different pathway options that separate cyclists from pedestrians and provide different widths for each right of way. How wide the path would be, and its configuration, haven’t been decided yet.

The City Council’s update last week on the status of the project was meant to also serve as a public workshop, but the council said it wanted something with more resident involvement. There were about a dozen people in the council chambers attending the discussion at the June 29 meeting.

While the idea of creating some kind of path through northern Sausalito has been around for decades, a federal grant for the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program supplied the impetus needed to begin planning.

A $25 million grant was first awarded to Marin County in 2006 for the pilot program. After six months of review, the Marin Board of Supervisors awarded Sausalito $100,000 to develop a plan for a multi-use path between the ferry landing and Gate 6 Road.

The Sausalito City Council awarded a contract to Alta Planning in March 2009, stressing that Alta should focus on routes along Bridgeway instead of shoreline routes going through the Marinship.

Last week, planning officials pointed out problematic areas they have been studying, and changes that may be necessary, such as decreasing the size of Parking Lot 4 (to which the council had a cool reaction).

The council had approved a stakeholder advisory committee, with appointed members including Sausalito residents and a representative from the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. City Engineer Todd Teachout said some of the committee’s members have not been attending the regular meetings.

Council member Carolyn Ford asked what the city could do to control those who travel too fast on pathways. The council could adopt laws, such as a speed limit for bikes.

During discussion, council member Herb Weiner said it’s essential to continue the pathway effort because “we’re going to see more and more bikes and pedestrians.”

Mayor Jonathon Leone said Sausalito obviously needs a pathway because “there’s no safe place to ride.” He said he has to take his children to Tiburon to teach them how to ride their bikes.

Local architect Michael Rex spoke in support of the project and asked the council to consider scheduling a public workshop.

Resident Pat Zuch said she was concerned about the fate of many old trees on Bridgeway, but that she wasn’t opposed to creating a pathway.

David Hoffman, MCBC director of planning, said what’s been accomplished so far shows what could be done in Sausalito despite many constraints and limitations.

Resident Bob Mitchell, who attended all the advisory meetings, said he felt the advisory committee had been “overtaken” by bicycle advocates, and felt he hadn’t been shown all the data.

Resident Bonnie MacGregor, who was one of the Sausalito residents appointed to the stakeholder advisory committee, said the plans had all been discussed in great detail at the committee’s meetings. “I have seen almost every diagram presented tonight. I don’t know whether Mr. Mitchell was so busy interrupting the meetings he didn’t see it.”

Contact Jessica Mullins at jmullins@marinscope.com.