CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS SPEAK ON HOW BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROGRAM CAN HELP REDUCE TRAFFIC
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 8:30 - 9:30 AM SHERATON HOTEL, PETALUMA
745 BAYWOOD DRIVE
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) and Congressman James Oberstar (D- Minnesota), Senior Democrat on the House of Representative's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will attend a "Bicycle Breakfast" tomorrow in support of bicycle transportation in Marin and Sonoma Counties. Specific topics to be discussed include: Safe Routes to Schools, the planned North-South Greenway, and bicycle use can play a leading role in reducing traffic congestion.
The media is invited to this invite-only event which takes place at the Sheraton Petaluma Hotel at 745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma in the Great Blue Heron Ballroom. Speeches by both Congressional Representatives will take place between 8:30 - 9:30 AM, before an audience of local elected officials, staff representatives from both counties, and members of the Marin and Sonoma County Bicycle Coalitions.
The presence of the ranking Congressional representative (Congressman Oberstar) confirms federal support for what Marin County Supervisor John Kress calls "ambitious and visionary"; a plan to create a North-South Greenway which will parallel Highway 101 along the railroad right-of-way for 80 miles from Sausalito to Cloverdale. Modeled after European facilities, the Greenway will ease traffic on Highway 101 by linking cyclists and pedestrians to transit hubs, schools, commercial centers, residences, and shopping - on a pathway separated from automobile traffic.
The financial requirement for building the North-South Greenway is within reach: $3.9 million in funding has already been allocated to open the Cal Park Hill Tunnel, an old railroad tunnel which will connect downtown San Rafael with the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. "This is a huge step forward for the idea of Marin as a national model for alternative transportation," says Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey.
Organized by Transportation Alternatives for Marin (TAM) and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC), the August 7th "Bicycle Breakfast" will unite Congressional leaders, local elected officials, County staff members, professionals, and bicycle advocates to increase awareness and support of the North South Greenway and Safe Routes to Schools, in a new era of inter-modal transportation.
In addition to the two Congressional speakers, Debbie Hubsmith, executive director of the MCBC, will discuss the phenomenally successful Marin County Safe Routes to Schools program, which was selected in August 2000 to be a National model. Hubsmith says, "Safe Routes to Schools is getting America back on its feet. The program is changing the habits of a generation of schoolchildren." Patrick Seidler, founder and president of TAM, will discuss the role of the North-South Greenway in the nation's evolving transportation, energy, and health policies. He says, "We have a great opportunity to be a positive influence and make our neighborhoods safer by promoting health and efficient transportation.
