Pilot Program Updates
Click here to read about Marin County's selection as a Nonmotorized Pilot. For more information, contact Deb Hubsmith, MCBC Advocacy Director, at (415) 454-7430, or deb@marinbike.org
- County Hires Dan Dawson as Pilot Program Coordinator, April 19, 2006
- Marin County Bicycle Coalition Recognized by Board of Supervisors, March 22, 2006
- Pilot Program Moves Forward, March 22, 2006
- Marin County Supervisors to Hear Pilot Program Report, March 8, 2006
- Pilot Program Gets in Gear, January 3, 2006
- Complete Update Log
County Hires Dan Dawson as Pilot Program Coordinator
April 19, 2006
The Marin County Public Works Department announced this week that they are hiring Dan Dawson as the County’s principal transportation planner who will serve as the Marin County Pilot Program Coordinator. Dawson has worked for the County of Marin for the past 10 years in the Community Development Department, currently as a senior transportation planner. He will be moving down the hall to the Public Works Department on May 8 to handle day-to-day operations for Marin County’s Pilot Program, the $25 million federal project designed to test how investment in bicycle and pedestrian facilities from 2006 through 2010 can increase the number of people walking and bicycling for transportation purposes. Similar Pilot Program projects are taking place in Minneapolis, MN; Columbia, MO; and Sheboyban County, WI.
Dawson, from Novato, has served on the Novato Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for the last two years. Dan says, “I am very excited about the opportunities that this funding presents for Marin.”
Last month, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a Pilot Program process for Marin which includes a Public Kick-Off meeting, the creation of a Project Advisory Committee, a public outreach plan, and a hearing before the Board of Supervisors before a final list of projects is selected for funding. Craig Tackabery, who has been overseeing the Pilot Program process since last summer, and will still be involved says, “Dan will be a great addition to the Marin Public Works team. I look forward to working with Dan, and the community in implementing the Pilot Program.”
Marin County Bicycle Coalition Recognized by Board of Supervisors
March 22, 2006
At their meeting on Tuesday, March 21, the Marin County Board of Supervisors unanimously presented a resolution to the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Transportation Alternatives for Marin, commending the organizations’ work on proposing the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program to Congress, and leading efforts to secure the $25 million for Marin County.
The resolution states, in part, “The work of government is greatly enhanced when non-profit organizations and their designated leaders contribute their creativity, initiative, and resources to help further our community goals; and without the relentless and passionate advocacy of Deb Hubsmith, Patrick Seidler, and the unwavering support of the staff and membership of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Transportation Alternatives for Marin, the best efforts of Marin County government would not have been sufficient to have resulted in our selection. Now therefore be it resolved that the Board of Supervisors wishes to commend the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Transportation Alternatives for Marin and recognize the exquisite skills and profound contribution that their efforts have afforded Marin County and the United States of America as we pursue a sustainable transportation future.”
Pilot Program Moves Forward
March 22, 2006
On March 21, 2006, the Marin County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan for implementing the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, which is designed to test how a substantial investment in bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs will increase walking and bicycling, decrease traffic congestion, improve health and benefit the environment. The plan includes: a public kick-off meeting, a public outreach program, an advisory committee to assist with project selection, and the hiring of a Pilot Program coordinator and a pool of consultants to assist with implementation of the program over the next four years. The Department of Public Works indicated that the Marin County Board of Supervisors will make a final determination on the projects to be funded, and this will likely occur during the fall of 2006.
At this same meeting, the Marin County Board of Supervisors unanimously presented a resolution to the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Transportation Alternatives for Marin, commending the organizations’ work on proposing the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program to Congress, and leading efforts to secure the $25 million for Marin County .
The resolution states, in part, “The work of government is greatly enhanced when non-profit organizations and their designated leaders contribute their creativity, initiative, and resources to help further our community goals; and without the relentless and passionate advocacy of Deb Hubsmith, Patrick Seidler, and the unwavering support of the staff and membership of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Transportation Alternatives for Marin, the best efforts of Marin County government would not have been sufficient to have resulted in our selection. Now therefore be it resolved that the Board of Supervisors wishes to commend the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Transportation Alternatives for Marin and recognize the exquisite skills and profound contribution that their efforts have afforded Marin County and the United States of America as we pursue a sustainable transportation future.”
Marin County is one of only four communities selected throughout the country to receive $25 million to implement the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program – the other three communities are Minneapolis , MN ; Columbia , MO ; and Sheboyban County , WI . The four communities will work with the Federal Highway Administration to retain a central consultant to manage a consistent evaluation plan. A final report is due to Congress by September 30, 2010.
To view the County of Marin ’s pilot program plan of action, click here.
Marin County Supervisors to Hear Pilot Program Report
March 8, 2006
The Marin County Department of Public Works will present a plan of action on Tuesday, March 21 to the Board of Supervisors regarding the $25 million Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program. Marin County is one of four communities throughout the United States which was selected to implement the pilot program through federal funds. This is an incredible honor for the County of Marin, and also a great responsibility. The legislative purpose of the program is “to demonstrate the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the transportation load, and represent a major portion of the transportation solution, within the selected communities.”
There is an important point regarding the Pilot Program that MCBC needs to emphasize to the Supervisors. The legislation requires a comprehensive evaluation plan, but it does not provide set-aside funding to do this. As a result, to complete the evaluation component and maintain communications with each of the four pilots, it will be necessary for each of the sites to provide a small portion of their funds to support the national effort. While this may not seem exciting at face value, it is absolutely critical for future federal funding for Marin's bicycle and pedestrian projects, and for the overall success of the national Pilot Program effort.
Pilot Program Gets in Gear
January 3, 2006
I recently returned from a trip to Washington D.C. with Marin County officials to learn more about implementation of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, a new program in the federal transportation bill which allocates $25 million each to four communities throughout the United States including: Marin County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Columbia, MO; and Sheboyban County, WI. The legislative purpose of the program is “to demonstrate the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the transportation load, and represent a major portion of the transportation solution, within selected communities.”
The meeting was hosted by the non-profit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (which played a key role in getting the legislation approved) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which is the federal agency charged with implementing the program. The program began on the evening of December 13 with a receptio
n on Capitol Hill. At the event, Congressman James Oberstar ( Minnesota), who authored the program legislation stated, “We now stand on the threshold of a new era. With this program, we need to change people’s hearts, minds and attitudes. Think of how you want society to look five years from now; and 10 years from now; and don’t say it can’t be done!”
The purposes for the meetings on December 14 and 15 were to clarify eligibility of various projects for funding, to discuss an evaluation process, and to allow time for each of the four communities to discuss the Pilot Program process with an FHWA division representative and a State Department of Transportation official. We learned that the following programs are eligible for funding: infrastructure projects that create a bicycle and pedestrian network; educational programs; promotion; network and project planning; data collection, analysis and reporting; and travel directly related to a project.
The group decided that it would like a uniform method for data collection and evaluation, so that the results will be statistically significant. A project team including five people was appointed to assist with overall coordination for implementation of the four pilots. I am very pleased an honored to have been nominated and accepted to serve as part of that coordinating group. In January, FHWA will also be circulating a list of “criteria” for project selection that will be used by each community for deciding on expenditures.
It was also discussed at the D.C. meetings that the full $25 million will not be available to each of the communities for projects, as there are three key expenditures that must be subtracted from that total including: the federal obligation limits, a contribution from each community for overall data collection and evaluation, and funds for the pilot locations to coordinate the effort through staff and consultant time. At this time, no details are available regarding the exact numbers for these expenditures, however, in past years, the federal obligation limit has been at about 85.1% meaning that only that amount of funds is available for the local program.
On March 21, 2006, the Marin County Board of Supervisors will discuss the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program and reveal a specific public outreach plan and process that will be used in Marin County for the selection of specific projects which meet the forthcoming FHWA criteria. The MCBC will be alerting our members about this event and other Pilot Program meetings through our email bulletin, and our website, www.marinbike.org.
Overall, there is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program. With this opportunity, Marin and the other three communities can show how investments in walking and bicycling are cost effective expenditures that improve the transportation system, as well as a community’s quality of life, environment and public health. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is honored to participate in the Pilot Program process, which we hope will become a leading agent for fostering transportation policies in the United States that are more supportive of walking and bicycling.
