Agenda 21 for Bikers

Georgia Department of Bikers & Walkers

Georgia DOT adopts Complete Streets policy Posted on September 26, 2012 by Stefanie Seskin

September 20, 2012 marked a significant day for the Complete Streets movement: the day the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) adopted a Complete Streets policy.

That policy is the product of years of work done by the state’s Complete Streets supporters, including Georgia Bikes, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the cities of Atlanta, Decatur, and Roswell; several transit agencies, and leaders within GDOT. Gerald Ross, GDOT’s Chief Engineer, coordinated a policy task force and collaborated with several stakeholder groups. The comprehensive final policy calls for the Department to “routinely incorporate bicycle, pedestrian, and transit (user and transit vehicle) accommodations into transportation infrastructure projects as a means for improving mobility, access, and safety for the traveling public.”

Last Thursday morning the Georgia State Transportation Board, GDOT’s governing body, unanimously adopted a resolution in support of the the agency’s policy. An official unveiling of the new policy will occur during the Georgia-Lina Bike Summit on October 20, 2012 in Augusta.

The GDOT policy is a remarkable achievement for many reasons. Between 2000 and 2009, over 1500 people died on Georgia roadways while walking. By committing to Complete Streets, the Department will be able to prevent many of these deaths.

Considerations for public transportation are a major component of the policy, something only a handful of other state Complete Streets policies can claim. Special emphasis is given to the need for transit users to be able to safely and conveniently cross roadways to access bus stops and train stations, as well as development of safe streets for people who walk or bicycle to these transit facilities.

Though Georgia’s Complete Streets policy will be incorporated in the State’s Design Policy Manual, the policy itself does not identify tangible steps for implementation action. With such strong support from high-level leadership within GDOT, we expect as much care to go into the policy’s implementation as did its development.  Look up:

§  Georgia DOT’s Complete Streets policy

§  Georgia State Transportation Board Complete Streets resolution

§  Georgia Bikes: “Advocacy works! GDOT adopts Complete Streets policy”

This entry was posted in Complete Streets Coalition, Complete Streets News, Complete Streets Policy, Complete Streets State Policy, Georgia and tagged Complete Streets Policy, Georgia DOT, State Departments of Transportation. Bookmark thepermalink.

Source: smartgrowthamerica.org

Comments:

It’s another sequel to Night of the Living T-SPLOST. While promising congestion relief, our RINOs are delivering more empty bike lanes and sidewalks and lanes for empty buses while MARTA looks at $500 million a year deficits.  Complete Streets adds bike lanes and sidewalks and concrete bike paths through your back yard at 4 times the cost of just fixing the roads. Sharpen your pitchforks, get out your torches and visit your city council or county commission.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader