FAQs
List of Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and Map Update?
The Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and Map Update is actually two separate projects. The Update to the 1999 Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan is one project. This project will review the existing plan and policies and update them as needed to be current with new regulations, infrastructure, and Connecticut resident’s needs and desires. It will provide a guide for addressing bicycle and pedestrian needs in Connecticut. The other related part of the project is the Map Update. The existing map was completed in 2002 and will be revised displaying changes in Connecticut’s bicycling infrastructure.
Why is ConnDOT conducting this study? Why is it needed?
The existing Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and Map were last updated in 1999 and 2002, respectively. Since then, a new federal transportation law was enacted, in 2005. Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) has a number of revised guidelines and funding sources. These should be reflected in a new updated Plan and Map. In addition, ConnDOT would like to ensure that the Plan and Map stay current with the needs and desires of Connecticut residents who travel by bike and/or foot.
Who is involved in this study?
ConnDOT is conducting the 18-month project with the help of a consultant team and steering committee. The consultant team is lead by Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. (FHI) out of Hartford, Connecticut. Other members of the consultant team include Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), Alta Transportation Consulting, and Didona Associates. The specific areas of focus of each of the team members include:
- FHI – General team oversight, data collection, mapping, public outreach, plan assembly
- VHB – Facility design guidelines
- Alta Transportation Consulting – Benchmarking review, bicycle and pedestrian benefit analysis
- Didona Associates – Data collection, public outreach
The steering committee consists of representatives from the state’s regional planning agencies and bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups as well as the state Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Public Health.
What is the planning process and time line?
The Update will take place over 18 months, beginning in January 2008 and concluding in June 2009. Plan, policy, and mapping data collection will occur in the first half of 2008. The vision and goals development will follow in mid-to-late 2008. Next, a bicycle demand benefit analysis, facility design guidelines, and statewide bicycle and pedestrian policies will be developed in late-2008 and early-2009. The Plan and Map Update will be assembled and brought to the Steering Committee and public for review and comment in 2009. Finally, the public and interested groups will have ample opportunity to participate in the Plan and Map Update as there will be regular public and group specific outreach meetings over the course of the 18 months. View project schedule.
What will the final product(s) be?
The final version of the Plan Update will be available in both printed and digital formats. The final product of the Map Update will be a poster-sized hard copy as well as electronic version accessible on-line.
When will the Plan Update be implemented?
The Plan Update will be completed in June 2009 and will be implemented shortly thereafter.
What elements will the Plan include? What elements will the Map include?
The Plan Update will include a thorough development of statewide bicycle and pedestrian vision and goals. The Connecticut Department of Transportation bicycle and pedestrian policies will be updated based upon the vision and goals. The plan will include a bicycle and pedestrian benefit analysis as well as facility design guidelines. Finally, federal, state, and local funding opportunities will be considered in the plan. The Connecticut Bicycle Map Update will include layers of information to assist bicyclists traveling in and through Connecticut.
All major elements to be included in the Plan and Map will be reviewed and commented on by the Steering Committee. The public will also have ample opportunity to comment on these inclusions.
How can I make suggestions and get my ideas considered?
You can submit a comment by filling out the comments form on Contact Us. You can also contact David Balzer, ConnDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator directly via email at david.balzer@po.state.ct.us or phone at (860) 462-1062. In addition, you can attend and participate in one or more of the project’s eight planned public meetings, scheduled in Fall 2008 and Spring 2009.
What is the Steering Committee?
The purpose of the Steering Committee is to advise ConnDOT and the consultant team on preparing the Plan and Map Updates. The Steering Committee will meet at periodic intervals over the course of the project and will provide expertise on local and regional issues, deficiencies in the statewide bicycle and pedestrian network, and assessment of improvement and enhancement alternatives. You may view the members of the Steering Committee here.
How can I learn more about the current Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and Map?
A downloadable version of the 2002 Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan is available on ConnDOT’s website at http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1390&q=259670. A downloadable version of the 1999 Statewide Bicycle Map is available on ConnDOT’s website at http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1390&q=292876. In addition, you can contact David Balzer, ConnDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator with any questions on the existing materials via email at david.balzer@po.state.ct.us or phone at (860) 462-1062.
