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Entries tagged: Vermont

What’s the economic impact?

Not surprisingly, that question has been a common theme and focus at this year’s massive Transportation Research Board meeting. And, up in Vermont, Alliance member organization Local Motion worked with a local consulting firm, Resource Systems Group Inc., to answer that question for the Green Mountain State.

On Tuesday afternoon, Beth Isler from RSG Inc. drew a crowd to her TRB presentation on the “Economic Impact of Walking and Biking in Vermont.” In conducting the study, Isler explained, she worked with the advocates at Local Motion to distribute more than 150 surveys to bicycle- and pedestrian-related businesses across the state. But that’s not all. She also tapped into data from the Vermont Agency of Transportation on road project expenditures, accessed statistics on visitor spending related to biking and walking events, utilized modeling from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute and correlated information from Walk Score with real estate sales.

The result? Even in a small state, where locals joke that summer lasts just two weeks, biking and walking provide a significant boost to the local economy. Among Isler’s findings:

• According to VTrans data, the construction and maintenance of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects and programs brought $17 million in funding to the state, resulting in more than 230 jobs and $10 million in wages associated with those jobs.

• Based on survey data, bicycle- and pedestrian-related businesses brought in more than $56 million in revenue, generating more than 1,000 jobs and $26 million in associated wages.

• Forty major events related to biking and walking attracted more than 16,000 participants who brought with them 45,000 additional family and friends. The result? $9.5 million in revenue and 160 jobs which resulted in $4.7 million in wages.

• Using models from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, RSG calculated that the vehicle miles avoided by the 68 million miles walked and 28 million miles biked resulted in as much as $85 million in consumer and public health savings.

• RSG also cross-referenced the closing prices on real estate with the Walk Score of those locations. On average, the property values of homes in walkable neighborhoods were $6,500 higher than those in car-dependent areas. Add all those homes together and walkability added more than $350 million to the local economy.

Bottom line: In 2009, biking and walking created at least 1,400 jobs, $41 million in personal income (wages) and $83 million in revenue. In addition, the health and property value benefits could bump that up by more than $400 million. Now those are the kinds of numbers that get policymakers’ attention.

I’ll upload the presentation to the Alliance Resource Library soon.

The Bike Month celebrations continued last week, as two more states adopted Complete Streets measures.

In Vermont, Alliance members Local Motion and the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition worked to advance and win a measure that “ensure[s] the needs of all users of VT’s transportation system — including motorists, bicyclists, public transportation users, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities — are considered in all…transportation projects.” The bill was signed in to law by Governor Peter Shumlin on May 18 (pictured above) and advocates hope its passage will elevate the reputation of the Green Mountain State.

“Among other things, this should help reverse Vermont’s declining bike-friendliness ranking from the League of American Bicyclists,” Local Motion noted on its blog. “Among the 50 states, Vermont ranked 17th when the ranking started three years ago. In 2010, we fell to 34th. This bill, along with the Safe Passing Bill last session, should boost Vermont’s ranking.”

Out in the Midwest, Missouri added to its burgeoning reputation as a Complete Streets leader, too. Last month, the Show Me State had several policies highlighted as model measures in a new analysis from the National Complete Streets Coalition — and last week advocates celebrated a complete streets resolution at the state level, as well.

“The Complete Streets Resolution, HCR 23, passed and encourages agencies to build streets in Missouri that work for everyone — motorists, cyclists, walkers, runners and those who use public transit,” Brent Hugh, director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, said in a press release. “We are extremely pleased with the passage of this resolution, which expresses the General Assembly’s support for Complete Streets and urges cities and agencies across Missouri to pass their own Complete Streets policies.”

That wasn’t the only progress in Missouri this session. Advocates also declared victory in long-running campaigns for:

• The Bicycle and Pedestrian Holiday Observances bill, SB 180, which officially adds Bike Week/Month and Walk to School Day/Week/Month to the state holidays calendar; and
• The educational “Same Roads-Same Rights” specialty bicycle license plate for automobile, which was given final approval by a legislative committee and should be on sale as early as this summer. (Speaking of which: Have you signed up for the Alliance Mutual Aid Call on “Fundraising with License Plates” on June 22? Register here!)

Congratulations to advocates in both states! Read more from Local Motion, VT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition or the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation.

According to Vermont’s Local Motion, the Vermont Legislature just passed two critical roadway safety bills this session and plans to remove mountain bike trails in Essex were halted.

According to Local Motion:
“1) Ban on Texting While Driving (S.280)

The VT House and Senate put aside their differences and agreed to a bill that bans texting for all drivers and also bans cell phone use by teenage drivers. The Governor indicated he would sign the bill. Thank you Local Motion members who responded to our advocacy call! Thanks also to Senator Mazza for seeing this through. Free Press Coverage

2) Safe Passing Bill (H.540)

Thanks to the tremendous leadership of Nancy Schulz and Judy Bond of the VT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, the Legislature passed a bill clarifying how motorists must pass walkers, cyclists and other “vulnerable roadway users” and also prohibiting motorists from threatening behavoir towards walkers and cyclists. Read the final bill language here. If you appreciate this work, please consider joining the VT Bike/Pedestrian Coalition.

3) Saxon Hill Mtn Bike Trails Spared…For Now

Thanks to the leadership of Fellowship of the Wheel, Chittenden County’s mountain biking club, over 100 people turned out to a public forum where the Town of Essex was considering a development proposal that would have removed nearly all mountain biking trails from Saxon Hill. The next day the developer withdrew the project’s plans.”

Learn more about Local Motion.

Learn more about the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition.

Over 100 people attended the 2nd annual Chittenden County Bike/Pedestrian Summit sponsored by Vermont’s Local Motion. According to Local Motion, “Keynote speaker Mary Collins, Author of American Idle: A Journey Through Our Sedentary Culture, challenged the 110 attendees to see physical activity in new way. After a cross country tour talking to families, coaches, sports professionals, doctors and planners, Mary concluded that getting out and getting active is a civil rights issue. For people living in poverty or living in cities, active lifestyles aren’t always possible. Being in shape doesn’t necessarily mean having the self-discipline to go to the gym; it also means having public spaces and a built environment that are safe and encouraging to people to get outside and move.

Read more: An Inspiring Walk/Bike Summit!

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.

On April 17th, Nancy Schulz, Executive Director of the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, had the chance to present to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood at the Vermont State House. In her presentation, she highlighted the pent up demand for funding needs for biking and walking infrastructure and education, and how his help is needed to get increased funding in the transportation bill. Sec. LaHood responded to Nancy by saying he will incorporate a “Livable Communities” program into the next bill so that people who want to bike, walk, jog, and “get out of cars” will be able do so.

For more information, click here…

Burlington, Vermont’s Local Motion is celebrating and encouraging human powered motion even in the coldest of times. Local Motion helped sponsor Great Ice in Grand Isle this month, an event they say transforms Lake Champlain into a “icy playground.” The event features numerous outdoor activities including the F-f-frozen Chosen Regatta, a friendly competition inviting all ages to build and race their own funky, human powered machine on the ice! Contestants race solo or in teams and prizes are awarded in several categories.

Click to read more…