FYI
Begin forwarded message:
From: Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board walkmgw@yahoo.com Date: February 29, 2012 8:22:01 PM EST To: Delegate Fleischauer barbaraf@wvhouse.gov Subject: NOTICE: Hearing Tomorrow Afternoon at W.Va. Capitol on Road Bond Amendment Reply-To: Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board walkmgw@yahoo.com
Delegate Fleischauer - I hope all is well as the session nears its close. My wife, Laurie, and I greatly appreciated the letter you sent us a few years back in recognition of our dual-nomination to the DP's 100 Most Influential list. In reading the press release below from WVBT about the road bond amendment hearing for tomorrow I had a thought: if a road bond is passed could language be added to require a minimum percentage of any road bond-funded project be spent on pedestrian/bicycle facilities on/along that road that is a) located in a municipality and b) where desired by that municipality? Often, road projects are undertaken by the DOH without a broader understanding that walking and bicycling are healthy, traffic reducing, road-wear reducing, cost-saving, non-motorized transportation options. If such a stipulation can be added, I recommend a 5% minimum, based on the data that show 5.2% of all traffic fatalities in West Virginia are pedestrians.
Further, West Virginia spends a woeful 0.6% ($1.55 per capita) of federal money on pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (4th lowest, nationally), only 2.9% and 0.2% of state residents, respectively, walk or bike to work, and obesity and physical inactivity related costs average $208 annually per taxpayer (6th highest nationally). Interestingly, a case study of infrastructure improvements in Baltimore, Maryland showed that for each $1 million spent creating on-street bike lanes, pedestrian projects, or roads, 14, 11, and 7 jobs were directly or indirectly created, respectively. Thus pedestrian/bike infrastructure projects provided a bigger bang for the buck in job creation! For these reasons I ask the state invest in its residents and taxpayers, who have borne the burden of unwisely spent transportation dollars for far too long.
I appreciate consideration of this request. Christiaan
*Please note, much of the data for this email were taken from the Alliance for Bicycling & Walking 2012 Benchmarking Report which provides a summary of national and state-data, including the FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) and the ACS (American Community Survey) - two legitimate, well-respected, unbiased sources.
Walk more, safely
Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Christiaan Abildso, Chair Bill Reger-Nash, Vice Chair http://www.morgantown.com/ped-safety-board.htm
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: WVBT info@keepwvmoving.org To: info@keepwvmoving.org Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 3:04 PM Subject: NOTICE: Hearing Tomorrow Afternoon at W.Va. Capitol on Road Bond Amendment
TO: WVBT Partners
RE: W.Va. House Committee To Hold Hearing on Road Bond Amendment Thursday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m.
DATE: February 29, 2012
There will be a hearing on the proposed $1 billion road bond amendment on Thursday, March 1, at 3:00 p.m. in the chamber of the W.Va. House of Delegates. The hearing has been called by Delegate Barbara Fleischauer, chair of the House Constitutional Revision Committee.
W.Va. Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox, along with industry and labor representatives, will talk about highway funding needs.
ACTION NEEDED: WVBT supporters are encouraged to attend the hearing to show industry support for highway funding. Members can park at Laidley Field and ride a shuttle to the Capitol.
Directions to Laidley Field I-79 S towards Charleston become I-77S (portions toll) or I-64 E towards Charleston (portions toll)
Take the US-114/Greenbrier St. exit (EXIT 99) toward State Capitol Merge right into Greenbrier St./WV-114 toward State Capitol At the traffic light, turn right onto Washington Street….go to next traffic light and turn right onto Elizabeth Street. End at Laidley Field
Delegate Fleischauer - I hope all is well as the session nears its close. In reading the press release about the road bond amendment hearing for tomorrow I had a thought: if a road bond is passed could an amendment be attached to require a certain percentage of any road bond-fund
Walk more, safely
Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Christiaan Abildso, Chair Bill Reger-Nash, Vice Chair http://www.morgantown.com/ped-safety-board.htm
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: WVBT info@keepwvmoving.org To: info@keepwvmoving.org Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 3:04 PM Subject: NOTICE: Hearing Tomorrow Afternoon at W.Va. Capitol on Road Bond Amendment
TO: WVBT Partners
RE: W.Va. House Committee To Hold Hearing on Road Bond Amendment Thursday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m.
DATE: February 29, 2012
There will be a hearing on the proposed $1 billion road bond amendment on Thursday, March 1, at 3:00 p.m. in the chamber of the W.Va. House of Delegates. The hearing has been called by Delegate Barbara Fleischauer, chair of the House Constitutional Revision Committee.
W.Va. Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox, along with industry and labor representatives, will talk about highway funding needs.
ACTION NEEDED: WVBT supporters are encouraged to attend the hearing to show industry support for highway funding. Members can park at Laidley Field and ride a shuttle to the Capitol.
Directions to Laidley Field I-79 S towards Charleston become I-77S (portions toll) or I-64 E towards Charleston (portions toll)
Take the US-114/Greenbrier St. exit (EXIT 99) toward State Capitol Merge right into Greenbrier St./WV-114 toward State Capitol At the traffic light, turn right onto Washington Street….go to next traffic light and turn right onto Elizabeth Street. End at Laidley Field
-
Frank Gmeindl