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U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $293 Million for New Transit Solutions, Economic Development Nationwide

Project Selections Will Expand Obama Administration’s Livability Initiative Agenda, Fuel Economic Recovery for Local Communities

The Federal Transit Administration announced Thursday that Charlotte was one of six U.S. cities to get streetcar grants. One-half mile of track is already in place on Elizabeth Avenue near uptown. [PHOTO: TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com]

A $293 million investment announced today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood means that residents in dozens of communities nationwide will soon enjoy major transit improvements, including new streetcars, buses, and transit facilities.

The nearly $300 million investment is part of the Obama Administration’s livability initiative to better coordinate transportation, housing and commercial development investments to serve the people living in those communities. It is being made through two competitive grant programs, the Urban Circulator Grant Program and the Bus and Bus Livability Grant Program.

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River Meadow Crossing

Allen Kerkeslager helped me find an even better link to connect the RITtweenway with the Genesee Valley Greenway, and Jay Jackson pointed out that a bike ferry could be a way cool and relatively easy way to get the job done.   
 Here is the site we are talking about in google maps.  On the east side of the crossing, the land is reportedly owned by developers planning to create a pond and preserve in the big open areas, and on the west side some unused NYState owned property seems to be waiting for our new lease on life.
The crossing would connect  the “River Meadow Preserve” to an asphalted former water testing facility reportedly owned by New York State.  The landing would offer  near-perfect access to to the Genessee Valley Greenway either via Scottsville Rd and Brook Rd, or southwest by way of the road that exteds from right across the landing.
.  Here is the eastward looking view back to River Meadow Dr.

As for how the crossing would be implemented, one could imagine a bicycle/pedestrian bridge or even a small cable ferry (which could be designed and built by RIT faculty and students!)  
·      River Meadow Crossing 
  • would create new recreational options for local residents,  
  • would create a short and safe bike-commute to and from RIT and RIT’s new Global Village
  • would create a scenic and efficient 10 mile bike ride to downtown Rochester via RIT, Park Point and the Rochester Greenway.
  • would make us essential links in the emerging Rochester-Williamsport Greenway
  • would establish Henrietta, RIT, and Rochester as leaders in the  transition to more ecological, economical, and healthy  life styles. 
  • would enrich the community. 



The “Rochester Bicycle Ecology” is  a flagship project of RIT’s Center for Student Innovation (which I now direct.) 
●     We have been promoting the under-appreciated “Rochester Greenway” that connects Henrietta with Downtown Rochester by way of RIT and the Lehigh Valley North Trail.
●     We organized last October’s Rochester Cycling Summit , helped found the Rochester Cycling Alliance  and  helped put theRochester-Williamsport Greenway on the agenda for NY and PA planners. 
●     In less than a year, we’ve had significant impact, and this  summer we are working with the Rochester Cycling Alliance to stimulate and coordinate a  “Greater Rochester Active Transportation System“.
 
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U.S. Bicycle Route System – FAQs – Adventure Cycling Association

U.S. Bicycle Route System – FAQs – Adventure Cycling Association: “USBRS – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
2. What are the advantages of having a U.S. Bicycle Route?
3. Is there demand?
4. Who is funding this initiative?
5. Are there any existing routes?
6. How are routes decided upon?
7. Who oversees/maintains the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
8. What does designation mean?
9. What stipulations are there for developing U.S. Bicycle Routes?
10. What if the best route or an important connection is not on a road managed by the State Department of Transportation?
11. What is AASHTO?
12. What is the Adventure Cycling Association?

1. What is the U.S. Bicy”

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"Safe Passing" Law passes NYS Legislature

A bill that mandates cars to pass a bicyclist at a “safe distance” passed the Legislature yesterday:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100630006

Thanks to Richard, Harvey, and all the other NYS cyclist advocates that worked hard to get this bill passed! Hopefully the governor will sign, but it appeared to pass both houses with more than 2/3 vote, so an override shouldn’t be difficult, if it comes to that.

-Bill Collins

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"Safe Passing" Law passes NYS Legislature

A bill that mandates cars to pass a bicyclist at a “safe distance” passed the Legislature yesterday:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100630006

Thanks to Richard, Harvey, and all the other NYS cyclist advocates that worked hard to get this bill passed! Hopefully the governor will sign, but it appeared to pass both houses with more than 2/3 vote, so an override shouldn’t be difficult, if it comes to that.

-Bill Collins

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Beyond the Motor City… In Case You Missed it at the Dryden

Screen-Shot-2016-03-20-at-11.32.05-PM

Tonight’s screening of Beyond the Motor City at the Dryden Theater was, in my opinion, a phenomenal event for Rochester. After the film, seven panelists discussed local transportation issues and took questions on the subject from the nearly full audience. Of course, in the allotted timeframe we were only able to scratch the surface, but this is a conversation that we will carry on in the months, and years ahead. If you’re not already, now would be a good time to make sure you’re following Reconnect Rochester on Facebook external link. And, in case you missed tonight’s event, here is Beyond the Motor City in its entirety. Enjoy…

Beyond the Motor City from Film Sprout on Vimeo.