Alliance > Media center > People Powered Blog

Entries tagged: Bridge

Last Saturday, the Green Mobility Network held a ride to celebrate the completion of the M-Path Bridge in Miami-Dade County. The bridge, a part of the M-Path Extension, is the final 1.2 miles of a multi-use path that was begun in the 1980s, and stretches from downtown Miami to the county’s southern border.

Discussions about a plan to complete this path have been happening since before the Green Mobility Network was founded in 2007. Since the organization’s beginning, it has monitored and publicized these discussions. Using funds from the stimulus bill, the Metropolitan Planning Organization moved forward in the plans to complete the path.

The Green Mobility Network has worked to increase the use of this trail, and to designate it as a part of the East Coast Greenway. Thanks in part to a 2009 Advocacy Advance Grant, Green Mobility Network was able to advance their ‘Complete the M-Path’ campaign, and increase the ease of biking and walking in Miami-Dade County.

“Until now, anyone needing to walk or ride from one path to the other had to pass through the big Dadeland shopping center parking lot and a warehouse district,” John Hopkins, executive director of the Green Mobility Network, says. “It was discouraging to cyclists or walkers; the timid just stayed away.”

Now the path spans about 30 miles, passing through university campuses, neighborhoods, shopping centers, flea markets, and local shops. It’s an easy, safe, fun way to get around areas of the community. Now it is “a really practical facility for recreation and daily commuting,” Hopkins says.

The past weekend’s celebratory ride was another way to bring publicity and excitement to the newly completed trail. The 125 cyclists who participated in the ride showed their excitement as they cheered the completion. Even the construction foreman came out to see the celebratory ride down the trail, smiling as the riders went by. Click here to see a video of the event from the Miami Bike Scene.

Photo: M-Path celebration ride (credit: Green Mobility Network)

The Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition and New York Bicycle Coalition won a major victory with the design of the new Champlain Bridge connecting Addison, VT and Crown Point, NY. The existing bridge was shut down when engineers discovered critical deterioration last fall. Significant for transportation (100 mile detour), historic, and scenic reasons, getting bike/ped access was a huge goal for both Alliance organizations. The modified design now includes both multipurpose (bike) lanes and raised sidewalks.

Congrats to both coalitions for their critical organizing and winning this great victory! For visualizations of the unique “network tiered arch” bridge go to www.nysdot.gov/lakechamplainbridge/photos-visualizations.

With strong support from the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition, the San Luis Obispo City Council approved the adoption of the Orcutt Area Specific Plan which is set to include 1,000 new homes, approximately 100 acres of parkland and open space, and a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge.

The new bridge will provide a safe crossing over the railroad tracks and will allow for a stronger connection between the Orcutt area and local businesses and amenities. The city council has agreed to finance half of the cost of the bridge by seeking grant money because of its expectations of significant use by San Luis Obispo residents.

The SLO County Bicycle Coalition will continue its efforts in providing strong support for facilities that accommodate active transportation and encourage connectivity within the county.

For more information about the SLO County Bicycle Coalition visit www.slobikelane.org.
To view the Orcutt Area Specific Plan click here.

According to a press release issued by the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has announced an agreement to save the historic Katy Bridge at Boonville. This comes after Union Pacific railroad moved to abandon the railroad right-of-way through the bridge which would have threatened the legal integrity of about 165 miles of the Katy Trail (currently used for biking and walking).

According to Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation:

“Trail advocates across Missouri have been working years to save the bridge

‘The MKT Bridge at Boonville is beautiful, historic, and surprisingly important for the legal health of a long section of the Katy Trail,’ said Brent Hugh, Executive Director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation. ‘That is why trail lovers from across the state have been working for over six years to save and preserve the Katy Bridge.’

The Governor said that with the announcement of the bridge transfer, the Missouri Division of State Parks was prepared to discuss with Boonville officials how the bridge might eventually be incorporated into use by bicyclists, joggers and hikers using the nearby Katy Trail. Boonville is one of the most populous communities along the trail, which is used by more than 300,000 people each year.

Several groups from across the state took steps to build support for saving the bridge. Boonville’s Save the Katy Bridge Coalition has galvanized local support and fund raising, while groups like the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation have worked to develop statewide support. Great Rivers Environmental Law Center filed legal briefs in support of then-Attorney General Nixon’s state lawsuit designed to save the bridge.

‘In 2005, when the state allowed Union Pacific to abandon the Katy Bridge without taking the proper legal steps to preserve the underlying rail corridor, it put 165 miles of the Katy Trail in a very unfortunate legal situation,’ says Hugh. ‘Transferring the bridge to the City of Boonville will resolve that legal problem while also creating a historic and tourist attraction in Boonville. And some day we’d like to see the Katy Trail re-routed to use the historic bridge.’”

Background on the legal issues surrounding the Katy Bridge:

http://mobikefed.org/2005/12/map-of-rail-connections-to-katy-trail.php
http://mobikefed.org/2005/12/abandonment-of-boonville-bridge.php
http://mobikefed.org/2005/06/removal-of-mkt-bridge-at-boonville.php

—-

The Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, founded in 1994, represents the interests of bicyclists, walkers, runners, and trail users throughout Missouri. Through its network of affiliated clubs and groups, MoBikeFed represents over 15,000 Missouri citizens and speaks for the 2 million Missourians who bicycle regularly and the 5.8 million who walk.

The Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation is working to realize its vision of active transportation in Missouri by creating a world-class bicycle and pedestrian network in Missouri, building a movement around walking and bicycling, encouraging more walking and bicycling, and increasing safety for all road users. Find out more or join the federation at http://MoBikeFed.org

Photo: Young bicyclist on Katy Trail with Katy Bridge at Boonville pictured in back. Courtesy of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Foundation.