Central MS: District 3

District 3:

Some important highlights in your district:

Starkville: Passed a Sidewalk Ordinance (2010), Has a Helmet Law: Adults & Children are required to wear helmets when biking.  3 Feet signs are in progress.  Cyclist Jan Morgan (Owner of Boardtown Bikes) was hit by motorist in Starkville on Sunday, May 22nd.

Bicycle Clubs in District 1:

• Starkville in Motion: www.starkvilleinmotion.org
• Natchez Bicycle Club: www.natchezbike.org

Other Bike/Ped Projects in District 3:

• Starkville’s “Safe Routes to School” grant application was awarded $281,476 in funding by MDOT in July 2007. The grant will be used to construct or improve walking and cycling routes from neighborhoods to Ward-Stewart, Henderson and Armstrong schools.  View a map of the funded improvements and additions to sidewalks, streets, and bike lanes.

League Certified Instructors in District 3:

Natchez:

• Allen Richard: Allenrichard[at]yahoo[dot]com
• Beth Richard: bethrichard[at]yahoo[dot]com

Starkville:

• Jason Townsend: jtownsend[at]saffairs[dot]msstate[dot]edu
• Joel Martin: jmartin[at]gri[dot]msstate[dot]edu
• John McGinley: johnmcginley[at]gmail[dot]com

Your representative is:  Gregg Harper

ACTION ALERT FOR REPRESENTATIVES!

Here is the most recent “ask” for Representative Harper:  (6/1/2011)

Dear Representative Harper,

As one of your constituents, I am contacting you today to let you know I think bicycling and walking need to be part of the next federal transportation bill.  From 2000 to 2009, 47,700 Americans were struck and killed while walking, and another 688,000 were injured. Furthermore, since 2009, only half a dozen states actually dedicated Highway Safety Funds specifically to bicycle and pedestrian projects.   This is clearly a national problem, as 67 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the last ten years occurred on federal-aid roads eligible to receive federal funding for improvements.  The next transportation bill must ensure that all federally funded road projects take into account the needs of all users.  Legislation such as HR 1780, The Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 sponsored by Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Steve LaTourette (R-OH) would do exactly that. I urge you to sign onto H.R. 1780 today.

Sincerely,  [Your name]

You can also visit the League’s of American Bicyclist’s Action Center to send your letter/email from there.  Find it HERE.

Complete Streets Legislation

Incomplete streets are dangerous for everyone, hinder healthy, active lifestyles, limit transportation choices, and lead to more hard earned money going to fill up the gas tank. We know how to design roads that are safe for everyone and beneficial for our communities. Yet, in most places, this is only done for ‘special’ projects. Complete streets are a cost-effective way to improve safety and accessibility for everyone using the road. Complete streets mean all users are considered at the outset of every transportation project, making walking, bicycling, and taking transit more attractive choices and encouraging active lifestyles that will reap benefits for a generation.  Learn more about Complete Streets HERE

Show your support for a federal complete streets policy;  write and tell your representative to support federal complete streets legislation: S. 584 introduced by Senator Harkin (IA) and H.R. 1443 introduced by Representative Matsui (CA).  Here is a draft:

Dear Representative Harper,

I am writing to encourage you to co-sponsor The Complete Streets Act of 2009 (S. 584) introduced by Senator Harkin. This important piece of legislation would ensure that future transportation investments made by state DOT’s and MPO’s create appropriate and safe transportation facilities for all those using the road – motorists, transit vehicles and riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.  Congress has already indicated its support for complete streets. A provision in the recently enacted energy bill states a “sense of Congress” that complete streets provisions should be adopted.  This legislation clarifies what a complete streets policy should include and makes it part of the transportation planning process at the state and MPO levels.  Please show your support by contacting Richard Bender (Richard_Bender@harkin.senate.gov) or Jenelle Krishnamoorthy (Jenelle_Krishnamoorthy@harkin.senate.gov) in Senator Harkin’s office to co-sponsor S. 584, The Complete Streets Act of 2009.

Sincerly [your name]

You can visit the National Complete Streets Coalition to send a letter/email concerning Complete Streets legislation: HERE > http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/t/6237/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=81

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The Central District Transportation Commissioner is: Dick Hall

ACTION ALERT FOR TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONERS:

Bike Walk Mississippi received word from Central MS Transportation Commissioner and Chairman of the Board, Dick Hall’s office today.  Commissioner Hall’s office informed us that while there will be a rescission of approximately $29 Million dollars, he does not anticipate a significant hit.  We believe that we have allies in our current Transportation Commissioners but we must still show the value for programs that support and fund biking and walking projects.  The programs are: Transportation Enhancement funds (TE), Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ).  Because there is no language in the bill this year that requires proportionality, we simply want to make sure that none of these programs are targeted but rather that the cuts that are made are fair and proportional across the board.

Please offer your support to the Commissioners for the multiuse trail and wide paved shoulders resolution and for fair and proportional cuts across the board. As elected officials (which is not the case in many other states), we need to show our thanks for their support of Transportation Enhancement funds.  While the Commission does not determine the programs that are eligible for cuts, they must make hard decisions about how much to rescind from each program.

Here is a NEW pre-drafted message for your Central District Commissioner Dick Hall: dhall@mdot.state.ms.us

Dear Commissioner Hall,

My name is _____________ and I am a [bicyclist/runner/supporter] in your district.  I wanted to offer my thanks to you for your support in passing the bicycle and pedestrian resolution for implementing both multipurpose trails and wide paved shoulders along new and re-constructed Highways.  I support increased pathways for bicyclists, pedestrians and believe this resolution is a positive step for more inclusive transportation system in Mississippi.

I understand you are in a difficult position as MDOT must rescind $29 Million dollars and as a [bicyclist/runner/supporter], it is important to me that these cuts be made proportionally.  As I’m sure you know, programs that fund biking and pedestrian projects are able to a very high value for the money which is even more important during this tough economic time.  Because of this, I am asking that you please continue to show your support for: Transportation Enhancement (TE), Recreational Trails and CMAQ during the decision process for rescission funds.  I simply would like to see fair and proportional cuts across the board.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued support.

Sincerely,
[Your name]