Thanks for Bikies subscriber Matt Logan for keeping track of the ugly details of what WisDOT and the legislature is up to during the budget. It's nasty work, and I appreciate that he is willing to do it.
On that nte, I just saw this additional affront to bicycling on our local roads tucked into the JFC memo on details of their transportation deliberations: A proposal to prohibit state funds being used on Community Sensitive Solutions. <http://www.forwardlookout.com/2015/05/transportation-budget-up-for-vote-on-friday/23527> (See last item at the above link to Matt's blog.) I don't have time to type out a description of what CSS involves, but it is recommended by the federal government <http://contextsensitivesolutions.org/content/topics/what_is_css/>and has been accepted practice throughout the industry for a long time. FHWA describes it as > *Context sensitive solutions (CSS) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary > approach that involves all stakeholders in providing a transportation > facility that fits its setting. It is an approach that leads to preserving > and enhancing scenic, aesthetic, historic, community, and environmental > resources, while improving or maintaining safety, mobility, and > infrastructure conditions.* Here is the WisDOT page on the Hwy 41 project that used CSS: http://projects.511wi.gov/wis441/community-sensitive-solutions/ What this means is that communities that really want and need bike lanes, sidewalks, space for bike parking, transit pullouts, and other features for road users who aren't driving won't be able to work with WisDOT to get those features on state roads in their communities. It also means that WisDOT won't be able to use staff time andnsportation resources helping figure out what is appropriate for the community. How can anyone vote against something that is "sensitive" to the "community?" Well, it's just another way to cut biking and walking out of transportation. Robbie Webber Transportation Policy Analyst 608-263-9984 (o) 608-225-0002 (c) [email protected] All opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer or any other group with which I am affiliated.
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