Title
Resolution to Support Participation in Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor was identified by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) as a participant in its 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is seeking to double the federal government funding dedicated to non-motorized transportation in the upcoming transportation reauthorization bill. Ann Arbor is one of forty communities nationwide nominated by the RTC for such an investment. Overall, the increase of funding would result in two billion dollars of investments in active transportation nationwide.
The City of Ann Arbor, in cooperation with the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study and other community partners, worked to develop a set of priority investments that could be implemented provided funding were made available through an Active Transportation program. The priorities in our proposal fall under three broad categories: developing a non-motorized system connecting the Ann Arbor region to our City's downtown; overcoming the bridges and underpasses that separate the City of Ann Arbor from surrounding communities; and advancing work on two important greenway connections (the Border-to-Border Trail and the Allen Creek Greenway). The complete Ann Arbor Area case document is attached for viewing.
Attached please find a resolution supporting the City's Participation in the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation. The RTC will be releasing the nation statement on October 20, 2008. Adopting this resolution will allow the city to state its official support and appreciation for this initiative and call attention to this important transportation system.
Staff
Prepared by: Eli Cooper, A.I.C.P., Transportation Program Manager
Reviewed by: Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Nearly half of all trips in the United States are three miles or less and with significant investment in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure there is an opportunity to demonstrate a substantial shift to these healthy, non-motorized transportation modes;
Whereas, Fourteen percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States involve bicyclists and pedestrians, yet less than one percent of all federal road spending addresses non-motorized needs.
Whereas, SAFETEA-LU created the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program to construct a network of non-motorized transportation infrastructure facilities in order to demonstrate the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the transportation load, thus playing a major role in transportation solutions;
Whereas, Four communities (Columbia, Missouri; Marin County, California; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; and Sheboygan County, Wisconsin) were selected to each receive grants of $6,250,000 per fiscal year for four years to participate in the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program;
Whereas, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy seeks to expand this program in the next federal transportation reauthorization to include at least 40 communities, with $50 million per community over six years to promote active transportation (trails, biking and walking) for mobility;
Whereas, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has identified the Ann Arbor, Michigan area as a potential candidate for the expanded program, called the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation;
Whereas, The greatest potential to increase walking and bicycling in Washtenaw County is within Ann Arbor and nearby suburban communities;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor's 2007 Comprehensive Non-motorized Transportation Plan calls for constructing inter-municipal links and closing the gaps in the regional pedestrian/bike path network;
Whereas, Our region benefits from active bike-pedestrian-trails groups in most municipalities and a strong regional advocacy organization, Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition;
Whereas, Ann Arbor is ranked as a Gold-level Community by the State of Michigan's Promoting Active Communities Assessment and is constantly striving to improve active transportation opportunities available to its community; and
Whereas, Municipalities in Washtenaw County continue to plan and develop active transportation infrastructure to:
· improve air quality,
· relieve congestion,
· promote healthy lifestyles,
· support public transportation,
· improve transportation efficiency,
· create safer alternative transportation routes,
· reduce the burden on infrastructure maintenance,
· promote economic vitality, and
· invigorate our sense of community;
RESOLVED, That City Council of Ann Arbor strongly support Ann Arbor's participation in the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation for the significant non-motorized transportation opportunities it will provide.