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State transportation agencies, city and county planners, cyclists, trail managers, etc. please continue to review the draft corridor plan (PDF/420k) and provide feedback or suggestions on our Discussion Forums. Learn other ways to get involved and contribute to the project.
NEWS & UPDATES - September 30, 2009
REGIONAL AND STATE MEETINGS IN OCTOBER
Oregon Scenic Bikeways Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Oct 20, Salem Public Library
Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting, Thursday, Oct 22, Newport
Oregon Parks and Recreation has a state Scenic Bikeways Committee and Ginny will be traveling to Salem, Oregon to meet with this group and discuss how their work might fit into the future efforts of developing U.S. Bicycle Routes across Oregon. Later in the week, Ginny will be meeting with the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to levy support for the development of these routes. If you are interested in learning more about these meetings, call Ginny at 800-755-2453 x229 or join us for the Adventure Cycling Regional Gathering at the First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Oct 20 from 7:00-9:00 pm.
Connecting Mid America with Trails and Greenways is a post conference session being offered on Wednesday, October 28 after the Mid America Trails and Greenways Conference in Kalamazoo, MI October 25-27. This special session has a separate conference registration and will zero in on the many regional and multi-state trail and route systems in the mid-American states: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. A special presentation by Michigan’s Assistant Attorney General Ron Emery and Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Josh DeBryun will address liability concerns of on-road bike route designations. Join us for this interactive and informative day-long session. $50 registration.
U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM APPLICATION – now available on the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering website
AASHTO recently posted the USBRS Application and Instructions on the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (SCRN) website. You can also access the contact information for the Task Force members from this page. The SCRN is the group that reviews applications and assigns route numbers. They meet twice per year; at the Fall Annual AASHTO meeting and the Spring AASHTO Member Meeting (places and dates vary).
NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE
We’ve posted a few more items on the Resources page. A Checklist for Designating a USBR (PDF/80k) provides the basic steps for preparing the USBR Application; a Route Development Process (PDF/56k) adapted from a procedure outlined on our Discussion Forums (thanks to contributors Paul V and C Davey for posting their ideas and outlined process) and Rhode Island DOT's Bicycle Route Suitability Report (PDF/20k) an assessment tool for road suitability.
STATES INTEREST PROMPTING STATE MEETINGS – Some states gearing up for planning U.S. Bicycle Routes
Adventure Cycling Association has been contacted by a number of states interested in learning more about the U.S. Bicycle Route System goals and application process so they can begin working towards implementation. Florida and Georgia are working on cross-state connections while other states, including New Mexico, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oregon, are gearing up to complete their own systems while integrating U.S. Bicycle Routes into the mix as possible. Adventure Cycling staff is available to host, moderate or provide additional information such as cartographic services to aid state discussions.
SENATE DELAYS FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILL
At the urging of the U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and the Whitehouse, the Senate voted last month to keep the current transportation bill in place for the next 18 months. A major concern is how to fund the proposed bill, as well as how to replenish the Highway Trust Fund. A gas tax is one option on the table. AASHTO has a menu of options (PDF,1.4M) for Congress to look at as well. Tell us what you think on our Discussion Forums.
SUPPORT THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM
Help make the USBRS a reality, donate today.
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