Hi-
Over the past year, there has been quite a bit of discussion related to the need for implementation of the city’s Bike and Pedestrian trail plan. For those of you not familiar with this plan, it is located on the web at
http://www.sanangelompo.org/bikeped.php. The plan includes multiple action items, which are clearly outlined in Chapter Six (“Implementation”) of the plan document. There are several reasons why the initial aspects of that plan have not yet been implemented, but funding and a strong show of community support are obviously key factors.
The eventual implementation of the Bike/Ped plan has far reaching impacts that include safety, quality of life, health/fitness, and improving the general perception of San Angelo as a place to live. The proposed plan components would benefit our school children, senior citizens, university students, Goodfellow AFB personnel, and would help encourage residents of all ages to become more active.
I recently met with Shawn Lewis, Planning Director for the City of San Angelo, to discuss what is needed to get this project moving. Mr. Lewis indicated that the interested citizens can do several things that will ultimately help move toward implementation of the plan. Those actions include the following:
• Provide guidance and support to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) via service on Bicycle and pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). This group would represent the cyclists, runners, and walkers who ultimately would use the Bike/Ped infrastructure.
• Support city guidelines that would require the inclusion of sidewalks, green space, and Bike/Ped needs in all new private and public sector construction, to include subdivisions, commercial development, and road/bridge design.
• Where appropriate, collaborate with the city to identify and access the private and public sector funding needed to construct Bike/Ped facilities. This might include tax monies, grants, and private donations.
• Speak as a large and unified voice in support of the Bike/Ped plan. Given the current fiscal demands for capitol improvements within the city and surrounding regions, implementation of the Bike/Ped plan will not be high on the city’s list of projects until there is broad based support by citizens and their elected officials. We need to make our voice heard.
One of the things that we can do to start moving forward is to meet with Mr. Lewis as a group. Although I’ve paraphrased what he explained to me, it is important for you to hear him in person and be able to ask questions or present individual perspectives. If you have some thoughts on how, where, and when we might schedule a group meeting with him, please let me know and I’ll help get the meeting organized.
Bill Cullins
