ABetterShreveport Needs Your Help This Weekend!

[Stephanie Pedro]

While you are out and about this weekend patronizing our businesses in the vicinity of the three intersections, can you please print out this letter and have the business owners or managers sign their support for crosswalks at these intersections? 

I'm about to go to the Vietnamese Restaurant and Chase Bank, but the rest are up for grabs.  Just state which businesses you plan to go to by emailing a-better-shrevep...@googlegroups.com where you are going.

Many thanks!  

Stephanie

On Sat, Jul 2, 2011 at 2:45 PM, Stephanie Pedro <step...@vicinibuild.com> wrote:

Please see attachment.

On Sat, Jul 2, 2011 at 2:43 PM, Stephanie Pedro <step...@vicinibuild.com> wrote:

Dear ABetterShreveport Board Members, 

Please see the attached letter of response per Sen. Shaw's request to DOTD.  He met with Secretary LeBas face-to-face on our behalf, and with Caddo Commissioner Matthew Linn's request.

Below is our response back to DOTD.  The District office prepared the memo, and made it apparent that they do not understand the parameters of the Complete Streets Policy.  Instead, they pegged ABS as being misunderstood.  I have heard from DOTD in BR that the traffic engineers are really bad at synchronizing lights, and bike/ped makes it seem like an impossible task for them, so they opt out instead.

In addition to this response, I have alerted the regional FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) and blogged to Secretary LaHood (US DOT) on our cause.  

Further, I was startled to see how much $$ states give back to the feds due to not implementing bike and pedestrian improvements--some kind person posted this info on our A Walkable Bikeable Shreveport FB page.  I spoke to the infrastructure committee of the City Council and encouraged them to prepare multiple applications for the Transportation Enhancement grants due July 29, but the staff was present, and made the case that they were too busy, and also didn't want to outsource the grant writing--any suggestions on getting this City to move forward?

Sincerely,

Stephanie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Stephanie Pedro <step...@vicinibuild.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Subject: Re: CROSSWALK AND PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL INDICATION STUDY
To: sherri...@la.gov
Cc: sh...@legis.state.la.us, "Carmody, Rep. (Chamber Laptop)" <tcar...@legis.state.la.us>, ml...@caddo.org, ma...@shreveportla.gov, City Council <oliver....@shreveportla.gov>, loren demerath <ldem...@centenary.edu>

Dear Secretary Lebas,

ABetterShreveport.org received the letter summarizing the study performed by District 04 regarding bicycle and pedestrian facilities inclusion into the Youree/Kings, Youree E. Washington, and Shreveport Barksdale/E. Kings intersections.  Thank you for your order of this study.

In the letter, the District 04 Operations Engineer believes that ABetterShreveport.org "is misinterpreting the contents and the intent of our Complete Streets Policy.  The intent of the policy is to consider pedestrian and bicycling activities during the design phase of qualifying projects." 

I have attached the Complete Streets policy that clearly states its intent:

• "On all new and reconstruction projects that serve adjacent areas with existing or reasonably foreseeable future development or transit service, DOTD will plan, fund, and design sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities.  The appropriate facility type will be determined by the context of the roadway."  Two transit routes (Youree and Kings intersect this intersection with nearby bus stops).
• "On all new and reconstruction projects, DOTD will provide bicycle accommodations appropriate to the context of the roadway - in urban and suburban areas, bicycle lanes are the preferred bikeway facility type on arterials and collectors."

Further, the Policy states "Restricting non-motorized access should not be considered as an appropriate strategy with the exception of those limited access facilities where bicycle and pedestrians are prohibited.  DOTD will strive to ensure projects do not become barriers to pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users by providing appropriate safe crossings, providing corridor continuity, and ensuring transportation projects comply with the current accessibility guidelines."  

Finally, "Exceptions for not accomodating bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users in accordance with this policy will require the approval of the DOTD Chief Engineer."

The intent of the policy is to PROVIDE--not consider-- pedestrian and bicycling facilities during the design phase of qualifying projects.  Restricting pedestrian, wheelchair, and bicycle modes is not an appropriate strategy.  The citizens of Shreveport need DOTD's Chief Engineer to ensure that these projects do not become barriers to pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users.  

Thank you for your time and efforts in this important matter.

Very respectfully,

Stephanie Pedro

Strategic Director

ABetterShreveport.org
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Stephanie Pedro
Vicini LLC

(vi-chee-knee)

www.vicinibuild.com
318-751-7271

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Stephanie Pedro
Vicini LLC

(vi-chee-knee)

www.vicinibuild.com
318-751-7271

--
Stephanie Pedro
Vicini LLC

(vi-chee-knee)

www.vicinibuild.com
318-751-7271