Toll Bridge Commission OK's Scudder Falls Bridge Bike/Ped Path

As reported by or friend John at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia:
(I know I've been awfully lazy lately with cut and past news).

The Trenton Times and PhillyBurbs.com report that the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced on Monday that a bicycle and pedestrian path will be included on the nine lane Scudder Falls Bridge.

Using our original blog post as the start point, the public campaign to add a pathway lasted 2329 Days or 6 Years 4 Months and 16 Days. The Commission received at least 170 action letters sent through the Bicycle Coalition's Scudder Falls webpage . 1505 people signed the petition online and nearly 200 signed in person.

"The bicycle-pedestrian facility was easily the topic that received the most comments during the public hearing process we conducted late last year and early this year," said Frank G. McCartney, executive director of the commission as quoted in the Times of Trenton.

Many thanks to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and those who supported our campaign including Congressman Patrick Murphy, Congressman Rush Holt, PA State Rep. Santasiero, Ewing Township Council and the Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors.

This is not just a victory for bridge, its another example of retooling the Interstate Highway to function as complete streets. There are many bridges built to Interstate Standards such as the Betsy Ross and Commodore Barry Bridges that one day will have to be rebuilt. I-95 is a local demonstration that this can and should be done with every urban/suburban bridge project.

Of course nothing is set in stone until it is set in stone, and environmental impacts, tolling and two years of final design are still issues that the commission has to deal with. We will continue to work with the Toll Bridge Commission to ensure that the new Scudder Falls Bridge has a bicycle and pedestrian pathway across its span when opens later in the decade.

Deadline tommorrow for comments on Scudder Falls Bridge

As report by John and our friends at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia:

Comments to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission on this issue are due tomorrow, February 4th. Send the Commission an email letter stating your support for a bicycle/pedestrian pathway being included in the final design of the Bridge.

The Philadelphia Inquirer ran an indepth story and editorial today about the I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge and how a bicycle/pedestrian walkway that is being considered by the Bridge Commission may not get included because it is "prohibitively expensive." The Commission is rationalizing that 9 motor vehicle lanes (up from the current 4), 2 lanes for buses and 2 12-wide shoulders are necessary and a given that they will be built, but a bicycle/pedestrian path "is a cost issue" and may not be get included in the final design.

Obviously,we at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia don't agree and are pleased that the Inquirer Editorial Board is with us! The cost of a bicycle/pedestrian pathway is well below the threshold of what the feds consider "unreasonable", and there are other important positive benefits to having providing bicycle/pedestrian access that outweigh costs. Accommodating all users in transportation projects is federal and state policy, and one that this Commission should adhere to. The Commission should be designing a bridge with a 50-75 year life span for a future of more bicycling and walking and not pretend that it doesn't have a role to play in making the region more sustainable. As the Inquirer said today, "it would be an absurd planning decision to build a new bridge that made no room for cyclists and hikers to cross between two historic canal trails."

BCGP Final Comments (pdf)

View Philadelphia Regional Trails in a larger map

Scudder Falls Bridge I-95 Meetings - Last Chance to Push for the Bridge Path

Another good one From John and our friends at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia:

Also before you might forget, see what the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission had to say about providing bike/ped access. It is definitely not the answer you would expect.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and the Federal Highway Administration have released the draft form of the Environmental Assessment for public comment and has announced public meetings to review the findings with public.

The document is over 200 pages but if you have a few hours to skim through it you can download it here. Several options of the bridge were weighed and the report reveals the "preferred alternative". It's a behemoth of a project with 9 lanes of traffic and 4 shoulders (two 14' interior and two 12' exterior).










The "optional" pathway would be placed on the north (upstream or southbound) side of the bridge and the criteria for its inclusion is as follows:

The addition of a bicycle and pedestrian facility on the southbound side of bridge is being considered; a decision will be made during Final Design when costs are refined and cost reasonableness can be determined.

The two meetings are:
Tuesday January 19, 2009 Villa Victoria Academy, 376 Upper Ferry Road, Ewing NJ

Wednesday January 20, 2009 Sharaton Bucks County Hotel, 400 Oxford Valley Rd, Langhorne, PA

At both meetings the Open House begins at 5PM and the Public Presentation begins at 7PM.

The public is invited to submit written comments by February 4, 2010:

1 - At the Public Meetings

2 - Via email at scudderfallsbridgeEAcomments@hntb.com

3 - Or via Letter:

Kevin Skeels, PE
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
110 Wood and Grove Streets
Morrisville, PA 19067

For questions or more information regarding the project, please call the project hotline at 800-879-0849

NJDOT Issues a Complete Streets Policy

From John and our friends at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia:

Below is the New Jersey Complete Streets policy signed by Commissioner Dilts. This is a big step forward and we (the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia) are pleased that NJ DOT has joined the Delaware, Oregon and other states with complete streets policy (we at WalkBikeJersey are equally pleased).

The policy is long and involved so it will take some time for us to fully analyze its potential effectiveness. At first glance we like the inclusion of resurfacing projects and the offering of incentives for Local Aid projects (the transportation money for towns and counties). On the other hand we are concerned about Exemption 5 (highlighted below in bold italics) which suggest that safety or timing issues could result in the exclusion of complete streets elements (we at WalkBikeJersey agree). A broad statement that may offer lots of wiggle room for reluctant project managers. To take an objective eye on the policy consult the Complete Streets policy elements.


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
POLICY

I. PURPOSE
To create and implement a Complete Streets Policy in New Jersey through the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of new and retrofit transportation facilities within public rights of way that are federally or state funded, including projects processed or administered through the Department’s Capital Program.

II. DEFINITIONS
A Complete Street is defined as means to provide safe access for all users by designing and operating a comprehensive, integrated, connected multi-modal network of transportation options.

III. BACKGROUND
The benefits of Complete Streets are many and varied:
• Complete Streets improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, children, older citizens, non-drivers and the mobility challenged as well as those that cannot afford a car or choose to live car free.
• Provide connections to bicycling and walking trip generators such as employment, education, residential, recreation, retail centers and public facilities.
• Promote healthy lifestyles.
• Create more livable communities.
• Reduce traffic congestion and reliance on carbon fuels thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Complete Streets make fiscal sense by incorporating sidewalks, bike lanes, safe crossings and transit amenities into the initial design of a project, thus sparing the expense of retrofits later.

IV. POLICY
The New Jersey Department of Transportation shall implement a Complete Streets policy though the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of new and retrofit transportation facilities, enabling safe access and mobility of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users of all ages and abilities. This includes all projects funded through the Department’s Capital Program. The Department strongly encourages the adoption of similar policies by regional and local jurisdictions who apply for funding through Local Aid programs.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
POLICY

1. Create a comprehensive, integrated, connected multi-modal network by providing connections to bicycling and walking trip generators such as employment, education, residential, recreational and public facilities, as well as retail and transit centers.

2. Provide safe and accessible accommodations for existing and future pedestrian,
bicycle and transit facilities.

3. Establish a checklist of pedestrian, bicycle and transit accommodations such as
accessible sidewalks curb ramps, crosswalks, countdown pedestrian signals, signs,
median refuges, curb extensions, pedestrian scale lighting, bike lanes, shoulders and
bus shelters with the presumption that they shall be included in each project unless supporting documentation against inclusion is provided and found to be justifiable.

4. Additionally, in rural areas, paved shoulders or a multi-use path shall be included in all new construction and reconstruction projects on roadways used by more than 1,000 vehicles per day.
Paved shoulders provide safety and operational advantages for all road users. Shoulder rumble strips are not recommended when used by bicyclists, unless there is a minimum clear path of four feet in which a bicycle may safely operate. If there is evidence of heavy pedestrian usage then sidewalks shall be considered in the project.

5. Establish a procedure to evaluate resurfacing projects for complete streets inclusion according to length of project, local support, environmental constraints, right-of-way limitations, funding resources and bicycle and/or pedestrian compatibility.

6. Transportation facilities are long-term investments that shall anticipate likely future demand for bicycling and walking facilities and not preclude the provision of future improvements.

7. Address the need for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross corridors as well as travel along them. Even where bicyclists and pedestrians may not commonly use a particular travel corridor that is being improved or constructed, they will likely need to be able to cross that corridor safely and conveniently. Therefore, the design of intersections, interchanges and bridges shall accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians in a manner that is safe, accessible and convenient.

8. Design bicycle and pedestrian facilities to the best currently available standards and practices including the New Jersey Roadway Design Manual, the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, AASHTO’s Guide for the Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities, the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and others as related.

9. Research, develop and support new technologies in improving safety and mobility.

10. Make provisions for pedestrians and bicyclists when closing roads, bridges or sidewalks for
construction projects as outlined in NJDOT Policy #705 – Accommodating Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic During Construction.

11. Improvements should also consider connections for Safe Routes to Schools, Safe Routes to Transit, Transit Villages, trail crossings and areas or population groups with limited transportation options.

12. Establish an incentive within the Local Aid Program for municipalities and counties to develop and implement a Complete Streets policy.

13. Improvements must comply with Title VI/Environmental Justice, Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and should complement the context of the surrounding community.

14. Implement training for Engineers and Planners on Bicycle/Pedestrian/Transit policies and integration of non-motorized travel options into transportation systems.

15. Establish Performance Measures to gauge success.

V. EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions to the Complete Streets policy must be presented for final decision to the Capital Program Screening Committee in writing by the appropriate Assistant Commissioner and documented with supporting data that indicates the reason for the decision and are limited to the following:

1) Non-motorized users are prohibited on the roadway.
2) Scarcity of population, travel and attractors, both existing and future, indicate an absence of need for such accommodations.
3) Detrimental environmental or social impacts outweigh the need for these accommodations.
4) Cost of accommodations is excessively disproportionate to cost of project, more than twenty percent (20%) of total cost.
5) The safety or timing of a project is compromised by the inclusion of Complete Streets.

An exemption other than those listed above must be documented with supporting data and must be approved by the Capital Program Committee along with written approval by the Commissioner of Transportation.

VI. AUTHORITY
N.J.S.A. Title 27
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DRPA Commits to Ben Bridge Ramp

From John and our friends at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia:

Yesterday's the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) put their 2010-2014 Capital Program into the sunshine on at a public meeting and on their website. Included in the year of 2012 is 3.2 Million Dollars for an ADA accessible ramp on the Camden side of the Ben Franklin Bridge (south walkway). Previous 5 year Capital Budget programs included the ramps but placed it in "Later Years", a category which serves as a placeholder for long term (and often unfunded) projects.

We commend DRPA for prioritizing the bridge walkway. We hope that design and construction happens in a timely manner. The Bicycle Coalition is willing and able to provide technical assistance and to promote public outreach of this important bi-state connection.

John asks: Is my morning bike schlep/cardio workout at risk?
DRPA plans to replace these steps with a ramp in 2012.