Tri-County Complete Streets

 

Draft Summary of Meeting on July 5, 2007

 

Present:  Lyndon Babcock, Cathleen Edgerly, LeRoy Harvey, and Janine Sinno

 

Update on Lansing Mayor’s Task Force on Walking and Biking

 

There is some need and interest in signing up folks to supporting biking in the Lansing area.  The goal is to get 300 people to sign on but some feel that a lot more might be interested.  You can sign up at http://www.midmeac.org/bikelanesupport.htm

 

According to Lyndon, while the City staff  support education about bike lanes, they’re understandably hesitant to full endorse conversion of all possible roads without neighborhood involvement in the affected areas. 

 

Cathleen will send the link to her list of registered bikers.  For folks who’d like to help expand the list of supporters, sign-up forms are available.   Janine wonders if it makes sense to enter the data on line from the yellow sign-up sheets and will check with Jessica on this.

 

There are a number of folks on the Task Force who are not on from Lansing  Lyndon feels like it’s not an exclusive group.  It’s possible that the Committee might evolve into a more regional effort – similar to the Mayor’s quest for regionalization.   The committee meets  next Tues at 1:30 at Foster.

 

There are two committees: 
Use the education subcommittee – (that came up with the Bike Lanes Flier)

Infrastructure committee came up with a list or routes

 

How might we expend our Complete Streets/Task Force Goals Regionally?

o    1 on 1 meetings with traffic engineers – go to them

o    Talk to Kathy Dunbar for ideas 

o    Inform Eric (tri-county regional planning commission) and he might be helpful Ask the Mayor’s task force at the next meeting

o    Targeting teens – instead of rushing them to drivers’ ed. – teenagers get a FaceBook and MySpace to promote biking and walking

o    Safe Routes to School – Bingham is signing on. – this is one source of funding that might relate to regional promotion of walking and biking

 

CATA Clean Commute Updates

·         Cathleen’s been doing orientation at MSU and reaching a lot of students and parents and groups.  It ends in two weeks.     “Tomorrow:  Leave Home Without It”  www.cata.org “Clean Commute Options”

 

·         Ozone Action Day:  

We had one in early June.  Last year we had none.   We talked about the potential negative consequences of negative environmental messages – i.e. people are afraid to go outside – afraid of nature.  “Nature Deficit Disorder”  This is ironic because usually the air is cleaner outside.  Janine mention “No Child Left Inside” – a CT. effort to counteract the hypnotizing lure of TV -- video games.  See http://www.nochildleftinside.org/    Lyndon like Tim Potter’s “900 MPG” approach – helping people see biking as a way to combat Global Climate Change.  Since the EPA is now officially more involved with Climate Change – we’ll probably see some more funding to support these initiatives.

 

MI Transportation Long Range Plan (through 2030) 

Lyndon reminded us of this document that might be helpful in our regional efforts:    www.michigan.gov/slrp   There is a section on page 40 about pedestrian issues. He also mentions that, while 1% is not a lot for non-motorized transporation projects,  regions can be more proactive in making sure these dollars return to their communities.

 

Hagadorn Update

The City has hired a consultant to organize public involvement in solutions for Hagadorn.  The next  meeting is scheduled for July 11.  Lyndon suggests that we contact E.L. residents about this and have them write letters.  Cathleen mentioned  Jim Froelich is the CATA person who might offer insights into CATA-related modifications.  More on this at http://www.re-news.net/marble/hagadorn.htm

 

Moving Our Community Toward Health

PAC (Promoting Active Communities)

We just signed up to do the new PAC for Lansing.  LeRoy will contact folks who helped in previous years and set up a meeting in a couple weeks. He will also include info about the results from last year.   We have until 8/15 to “complete the sheets” ; - )  Cathleen will do the Public Transportation Section.  Folks can enter data on-line.  Please contact LeRoy if you’d like to help and he’ll share the pre-survey and password so that you can start entering data.

 

The MOCTH Coalition members will meet next Monday at 9:30am at  Gone Wired.

 

Capital Area Local First

LeRoy reported that there may be some opportunities to collaborate with “CALF” in terms of maps and promotion. 

 

Business Outreach

Cathleen just sent a letter to larger employers in the area to promote clean commuting options.  Ingham Regional Medical signed up.  Cathleen will be talking to groups about bus routes, alternative transportation options.  Accident Fund will also sign up.  Lansing Board of Water and Light is interested.  Consumers Energy also interested.

 

The County is having a Wellness Picnic on August 8th.  Janine is looking in to prizes for participants. 

 

Green Infrastructure

LeRoy will talk to Nancy about the potential of including bike routes on a layer of the Green Infrastructure Map.

 

Regionwide Biking Event.

Lyndon suggests that we might consider doing this in our region. In Mexico, the President shows up.  In Chicago, the Mayor shows up.  This could be held in our region.  This might be something for our region.  In Beirut, the downtown is closed off to cars every Sunday.