Action Alert MoPac Bike and Ped Paths

To: info@ctrma.org, clopez@dot.state.tx.us,
    pdouglas@dot.state.tx.us, scunnin@dot.state.tx.us
    lee.leffingwell@ci.austin.tx.us, mike.martinez@ci.austin.tx.us,
    chris.riley@ci.austin.tx.us, randi.shade@ci.austin.tx.us,
    laura.morrison@ci.austin.tx.us, bill.spelman@ci.austin.tx.us,
    sheryl.cole@ci.austin.tx.us, rob.spillar@ci.austin.tx.us,
    howard.lazarus@ci.austin.tx.us

CC: greg.griffin@campotexas.org, annick.beaudet@ci.austin.tx.us,
    tom@lobv.org

To State, Regional, and City Staff and Officials,

I am writing today to show my support for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations along and across the MoPac corridor as part of the MoPac Improvement Project. I concur with the League of Bicycling Voters and others in requesting bicycle and pedestrian accommodations that include:

1) A contiguous, non-stop, off-street bicycle path and pedestrian path from Parmer Lane to Lady Bird Lake along the MoPac corridor.
2) Complete and improved bicycle and pedestrian connectivity for all crossings of MoPac along the corridor.
3) Improvement of the Johnson Creek Trail system, including connections to all trails and urban streets at the Cesar Chavez Street Interchange.

As a next step for completion of the above, I request a thorough feasibility study to be completed in conjunction with the City of Austin, regional transportation officials, and civic groups such as the LOBV, the Austin Bicycle Advisory Council, and neighborhood groups.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to the elimination of this gap in Austin’s bicycle and pedestrian network.

(your name)
(your contact info)

To: info@ctrma.org, clopez@dot.state.tx.us,
    pdouglas@dot.state.tx.us, scunnin@dot.state.tx.us
    lee.leffingwell@ci.austin.tx.us, mike.martinez@ci.austin.tx.us,
    chris.riley@ci.austin.tx.us, randi.shade@ci.austin.tx.us,
    laura.morrison@ci.austin.tx.us, bill.spelman@ci.austin.tx.us,
    sheryl.cole@ci.austin.tx.us, rob.spillar@ci.austin.tx.us,
    howard.lazarus@ci.austin.tx.us

CC: greg.griffin@campotexas.org, annick.beaudet@ci.austin.tx.us,
    tom@lobv.org

To State, Regional, and City Staff and Officials,

Re: Bicycle and Pedestrian Easements in the MoPac Improvement Project from Parmer Lane to Lady Bird Lake, Austin, Texas

I am writing today to show my support for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations along and across the MoPac corridor as a component of the MoPac Improvement Project. I concur with the League of Bicycling Voters and others in requesting bicycle and pedestrian accommodations that include:

1. A contiguous, non-stop, off-street bicycle path and pedestrian path from Parmer Lane to Lady Bird Lake along the MoPac corridor.
2. Complete and improved bicycle and pedestrian connectivity for all crossings of MoPac along the corridor.
3. Improvement of the Johnson Creek Trail system, including connections to all trails and urban streets at the Cesar Chavez Street Interchange.

At this stage, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) have not yet adequately addressed bicycle and pedestrian accommodations as part of this project. As a next step for completion of the above improvements, I am requesting a thorough feasibility study to be completed in conjunction with the City of Austin, regional transportation officials, and civic groups such as the League of Bicycling Voters, the Bicycle Advisory Council, and neighborhood groups.

In addition to my personal and civic interest in seeing bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the MoPac corridor, there is also overwhelming support from a number of existing policies and plans that govern projects such as the MoPac Improvement Project.

• The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2035 Plan specifies that urban corridors such as this will include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, especially if the cost does not exceed 20% of the total project cost.
• The City of Austin 2009 Bicycle Plan designates this section of MoPac as a City of Austin bike route in need of better bicycle accommodation.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation recognizes the need for federally funded projects to include safe bicycle and pedestrian accommodation. The Secretary of Transportation can withhold federal approval for this project if it does not provide safe accommodation for bicycle traffic along the corridor.
• TxDOT recognizes bicycle and pedestrian facilities as a necessary component of a complete transportation system, per the Texas Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035, adopted November 2010.
• The undergoing Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should recognize the negative impacts of adding motor vehicle travel lanes. At the same time, the EIS should recognize that bicycle and pedestrian improvements will provide net positive impacts on air quality, water quality, noise pollution, traffic fatalities and injuries, and neighborhood connectivity and cultural vitality.
• By implementing the bicycle and pedestrian accommodations as a concurrent part of this larger project, significant construction and administrative cost savings will be realized, and federal funding will be available that otherwise would not be available to Austin.

If you build it, people will come: Experience shows that, if constructed, bicycle facilities will be effectively utilized. Portland, Oregon currently has 6.0% bicycle commuters after beginning substantial bicycle infrastructure investment in the early 1990’s. Minneapolis and Seattle are catching up after similar investments. Copenhagen, Denmark currently has a remarkable 37% bicycle commuters as a result of serious investments beginning in the 1970’s, and they continue to believe in building upon their success.

Thank you for your time on this matter. I will be following the progress of this project and I look forward to seeing the elimination of this large gap in Austin’s bicycle and pedestrian mobility network. Please let me know how I can assist.

(your name)
(your contact info)