SPRINGDALE -- Creating a statewide network for bicycle and pedestrian transportation will require work on the local and regional levels to make sure elected officials understand the importance of the plan, the chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission said Tuesday.
"None of this is possible right now without funding," Dick Trammel said during a public meeting on the new Arkansas Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan.
Trammel urged the 25 people at the meeting to work on "governmental relations" within their communities to help bring the plan to fruition. People may not realize the need for the trail system or its potential economic impact, he said.
Most of those at the meeting were already stakeholders in the plan.
Tuesday's meeting was the first of two scheduled by the state Highway and Transportation Department to present and discuss the results and recommendations of the draft plan, which has been in the works since public meetings were held in the spring of 2014 to gather input. The second public meeting on the draft plan was being held Thursday in North Little Rock.
A draft version of the plan is available online at arkansasbikepedplan.com. The highway department has been taking public comments on the draft plan since early October and will continue until Nov. 20.
"Even though this is the presentation of the final draft, it's still in draft mode," said Kim Sanders, the highway department's bicycle-pedestrian coordinator.
Sanders said comments through Nov. 20 will be taken into consideration, and a final plan will be developed. The final plan will be presented to the highway commission for its consideration, she said.
The new plan will address state policies related to bicycling and walking, as well as development of roads, trails, sidewalks and other infrastructure that serves bicyclists and pedestrians, according to a news release from the highway department.
In 2012, the League of American Bicyclists ranked Arkansas 50th in the country in bicycle friendliness. Arkansas' last-place showing prompted Gov. Mike Beebe to form an advisory group of state agencies to look at ways to improve bicycle and pedestrian policies.
In 2013, Arkansas improved 13 spots, to 37th, a rise attributed to better communication of the programs and policies the state already has in place, rather than the development of new ones.
The state was ranked 36th in the nation last year.
The League of American Bicyclists listed four bicycle-friendly communities in the state -- Bentonville, Conway, Fayetteville and North Little Rock. Arkansas State University in Jonesboro was listed as the state's only bicycle-friendly university.
Besides the highway department, other groups involved in the plan include the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, according to the draft plan.
The goals of the plan, according to the draft are:
• To "realize the economic benefits of bicycle and pedestrian-friendly communities and bicycle-related tourism and recreation on Arkansas' roads, shared use paths and mountain bike trails."
• To develop a statewide bicycle and pedestrian network that supports on-road bicycling for recreation and transportation, pedestrian access and safety within municipalities and unincorporated rural communities, development of shared use paths with regional or statewide significance, and access to mountain bicycling venues.
• To conduct research and analysis leading to implementation of specific strategies for achieving zero pedestrian and bicyclist deaths from crashes with motor vehicles by 2025, and reducing injury crashes by 50 percent.
The Highway Department hired the Toole Design Group, a Silver Spring, Md., consulting firm specializing in bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly development, to solicit public input and help develop the plan. The contract was for $300,000, which was funded through federal planning grants.
At Tuesday's meeting, James Jordan of Elm Springs said he wants more trails like the Razorback Greenway, which are dedicated for pedestrians and cyclists.
"I love to bike a lot," Jordan said. "Except I don't like to go on the roads. I really prefer theses multiuse trails. I feel a lot safer on those trails, so I'm really hoping we get more of those ... as opposed to adding a few feet onto the side of a road."
Metro on 11/06/2015