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Excerpts from Appendix C: Regional Bikeway Update |
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Written by groovygirl
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Friday, 30 April 2004 |
Excerpts from Appendix C - Regional Bikeway Plan Update:
"The 1996 Regional Bikeway Plan identified 161 miles of existing bikeways within the Transportation Managment Area (TMA). Since then, an additional 284 miles of facilities have been built, giving the TMA a total of 445 miles of bikeways. These facilities can be categorized as follows:
Bike Lanes 125 miles
Signed Shared Roadways 129 miles
Signed Should Routes 84 miles
Shared Use Paths/Trails 108 miles
A review of current local bikeway plans and bikeways identified in MIS "preferred alternatives" since 1996 indicates that a total of 1,243 miles of new bikeways are planned. These include the following types of facilities:
Bike Lanes 99 miles (MIS)
Signed Shared Roadways 42 miles
Signed Shoulder Routes 0 miles
Shared-use Paths/Trails 1,102 miles
HARRIS COUNTY:
Harris County, through its parks department, flood control district and commissioner precinct offices, has developed an extensive shared-use path system. In May 2003, the commissioners court adopted a parks master plan that will vastly expand this system, providing shared-use paths along most bayous, links between recreational facilities, and between existing and proposed facilities of the city of Houston and Fort Bend County. Shared-use paths currently uder design include one along South Mayde Creek, an extension of the trails from Terry Hershey Park to the METRO Park and Ride lot, as well as a pedestrian bridge east of Dairy Ashford Road. Harris County has 25 bikeway projects in the Regional Transportation Plan and some of them have also received STEP funding committments from TxDOT.
In addition to bikeway projects sponsored by Harris County, several improvement districts have bikeway projects underway or planned. The Greater Greenspoint Management District has (3) three RTP projects to develop a shared-use path system and supporting amenities. A trail project of the Westchase District also received STEP funding committment. TERO has contributed $8.8 million to the city of Houston for implementation of the city's bikeway plan."
"City of Houston -
The City of Houston made significant prgress in implementing its bicycle master plan. The city's current network of facilities includes 255 miles of on-street bicycle lanes and signed bicycle routes, and an additional 10 miles of shared-use paths. Changes to the city's master plan include the temporary suspension of the designated bikeway along 20th Street. Bike lanes were removed from West Dallas and replaced with a shared wide outside lane. The bike lanes along West Alabama were removed as part of the traffic mitigation plan for the reconstruction of Route 50/Spur 527; a bicycle route was assigned to Fairview and other local streets as a substitute for the West Alabama facility. Houston also accelerated development of 100 additional miles of shared-use paths. These projects are entering construction and design review and are funded with local and state funds.
The City of Houston has 12 projects in the current TIP and three in the RTP. These projects, which are slated for implementation by the city of in conjunction with TxDOT, include both shared-use path facilities, as well as improvements to the on-street bikeway network. Eleven of the City of Houston projects received STEP funding committments. "
Refer to Appendix C of the Regional Transportation Plan for further information on surrounding cities and counties. www.h-gac.com |
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