SHA Administrator Neil Pedersen responds to our post
In response to our post "Shortchanges in Md. commitment to pedestrians" Neil Pedersen responds with what I consider rather disappointing news.
Please see our poll in the right hand column, if you are like us you would probably select "All of the above." And I really can't imagine putting forth an argument for just one of the categories. There are places where trails can't be easily be built, there are state roads that bike accommodations can't be easily be built and there are county roads where that bike accommodations can't be easily be built. But if you utilize all to form a comprehensive bicycling network bicycling can take shape. But the state says no, essentially only off-road trails will be supported in Transportation Enhancement Projects (TEP) in defiance of Federal Polices that TEP funds should be used "principally for transportation rather than recreation purposes." Neil then goes to reference recreational trails the state has planed to build with TEP funds and a big fat ZERO for on-road transportation facilities.
Federal Highway Administration highlights best practices for accommodating cyclists, of course Maryland is not mentioned and does not even comes close to following the best practices. The 20 Year Bicycle & Pedestrian Access Master Plan claims to be "Making Maryland the Best State for Bicyclists and Pedestrians" how can this be without following best practices?
Those involved in bike/ped projects know that adding bike/ped accommodations are more economically done during routine maintenance but Neil reaffirms that the state has made up rules so economical bike/ped projects are out of the running as the project must "Be independent projects unrelated to planned or existing highway projects or routine highway improvements." I mean seriously how are we going to fix our road network for bike/peds economically if it has to be a separate project unrelated to routine highway improvements.?
These antiquated policies are what's responsible for launching Maryland from #20 into the top ten worst state at #6 for pedestrian fatalities over the last decade but we are spending lots of money on trails and precious little to fix the current roads. If that doesn't make you feel safer on our roads well then stay the heck off of them I guess.
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Neil Pedersen's response: <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bz89fSgmFcbnNDM3ZTdiN2MtMmM1MC00ZDJhLTlkZmQtNDQ4ODZjMzM4NjVh&hl=en">https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bz89fSgmFcbnNDM3ZTdiN2MtMmM1MC00ZDJhLTlkZmQtNDQ4ODZjMzM4NjVh&hl=en</a>;
Shortchanges in Md. commitment to pedestrians: <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20091123131958843">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20091123131958843</a>;
FHWA Guidance - Bicycle and Pedestrian Provisions of Federal Transportation Legislation <a href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/bp-guid.htm">http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/bp-guid.htm</a>;
FHWA Best practices <a href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/stac_bmp.htm">http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/stac_bmp.htm</a>;
20 Year Bicycle & Pedestrian Access Master Plan <a href="http://www.mdot.state.md.us/Planning/Bicycle/FINALB.PDF">http://www.mdot.state.md.us/Planning/Bicycle/FINALB.PDF</a>;
REFERENCE GUIDE TO FEDERAL AND MARYLAND. STATE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN LAWS AND. POLICIES <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20100106130152356">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20100106130152356</a>;
Maryland's Transportation Enhancement Program Eligibility: <a href="http://www.sha.state.md.us/OPPEN/tep_chap2.pdf">http://www.sha.state.md.us/OPPEN/tep_chap2.pdf</a>;
(Also note the no on-road funding clause.)
#6th worst pedestrian fatality rating <a href="http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesPedestrians.aspx">http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesPedestrians.aspx</a>;