The Capitol Region Council of Governments has completed their Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. The goal of the plan is to significantly increase the number of people who regularly use biking or walking as their transportation. On Thursday April 10, there will be a public forum at the Hartford Public Library (6 pm) so that people can give their input on this plan.

Their goals by 2015:

  • all major commute routes to employment concentrations will have appropriate bike
    facilities (bike lanes, bike shoulders, wide curb lanes, or parallel multi use paths)
  • the East Coast Greenway will be completed through the region
  • all commercial developments will have safe and convenient pedestrian access
  • all new residential development will provide the option of non-motorized access to
    surrounding neighborhood destinations
  • standards for bicycle and pedestrian facilities will have been adopted throughout the
    region
  • all the region’s towns will have adopted bicycle and pedestrian plans
  • bicycle commuting in the region will have increased significantly (to 5000 individuals)
  • one percent of all non-commuting automobile trips will have shifted to bicycling or
    walking (a shift of 67,000 vehicle miles of daily travel.)
  • a robust regional trails fund will insure the ongoing construction of multi use paths.

    • It seems that they based some of their goals on the results received on the Active Transportation Initiative Survey that was active from November 2007 to January 2008. In their plan, they also compare Hartford to other metro areas in the country. Madison WI is one place that does much better than Hartford CT when it comes to alternative transportation.

    Later in the plan, they outline how to make a case for their goals. They explained that about 30% of the population does not drive, though that does not mean that 30% rely on biking or walking alone.

    You can read the full plan on the CRCOG website.