VTrans 2040 multimodal plan and survey

[PotomacCyclist]

@n18 91910 wrote:

Done. As a governor, I would build secure bike rooms with showering facilities, and overhead super highways bridges for bikes use only.

Two ELITEs (if I could vote twice).

[bobco85]

Taking the survey, I found myself focusing more on traffic congestion and commute times/distances than specifically cycling as far as the entire state of Virginia is concerned. It’s strange to say on a cycling forum that I think the state of VA’s major transportation problem isn’t directly related to cycling.

Regarding the emerging technologies section, I didn’t find any of them to be very effective in dealing with those two major problems (traffic congestion and commute times/distances), so I offered an additional one that I KNOW would be effective (but politically impossible): a congestion/traffic/emission tax. However, I do also think that pushing (perhaps a better word would be incentivizing) corporations to promote telecommuting or have multiple smaller offices that cover a larger area instead of a isolated central location could also help.

My governor-for-a-day response mostly related to the expansion of commuter bus routes along major highways and interstates that incorporates dedicated bus-only lanes into its design. This way, people would have more of an opportunity to walk/bike/drive to their local transit center, hop on a bus with dedicated lanes (I imagine the bus whipping by slow-moving traffic), and walk/bike to their office instead of hopping in their car and slogging through traffic. My focus would be to get more people out of their cars to relieve congestion (and promote cycling).

[cyclingfool]

Another thing not brought up in the survey (AFAIR, but I mentioned it in some “comments” box) is land use. Fundamentally, a lot of our problems stem from sprawl-style big lot McMansion development, which promotes auto dependence. As long as people feel that they should be able to have a 1/2 acre lot in Loudoun County and expect a 30 minute car commute to somewhere inside the Beltway w/o paying tolls, there’s going to be a lot of disappointment in the transportation system. It’s also going to be difficult to plan meaningful, accessible, equitable transit and/or provide quality bike/ped infra. But then, no one wants to think that critically, so sprawl on!

[Anonymous]

I said I thought the question about which one thing would be first choice for focusing investment on (or however that was worded) was not the best question because transportation modes are interdependent. Public transportation is good to have, but buses aren’t very useful if you don’t have pedestrian accommodations for safely getting to and from bus stops, as an example. Besides which, for a statewide survey, I would be shocked if the best use of transportation dollars was the same everywhere. Some places will be in desperate need of repairs to existing infrastructure, others need congestion relief, etc. And it’s not as if there’s a single transportation method that’s best for everyone in all situations. (At least not until we all get our own personal jet packs. c’mon, it’s 2014 already, weren’t those supposed to be handed out to everyone at the millenium? maybe i should have put that in the survey?)

[mattotoole]

PotomacCyclist,

The Virginia Bicycling Federation should definitely be spreading the word about stuff like this. I wish I were more on top of things, but I’m out of state and working insane hours. So thanks for posting this. I couldn’t have done a better job, so I hope you don’t mind I used your alert: http://www.vabike.org/vtrans-2040-intermodal-transportation-survey/

BTW I did complete the survey.

[dasgeh]

Done. FWIW, my “governor for a day” answer:
First, start a program to train all Virginia State and local Police in pedestrian and cyclist safety, and make it clear that protecting the lives of people getting around is a primary purpose of the police. Work with the AG to create clear interpretations of the pedestrian and bike safety laws to be used in that training.
Design driver education programs, including more strenuous driving tests, centered on safety of vulnerable road users.
Instruct VDOT to prioritize projects that improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and that fill holes in the walking and biking network, especially in the more densely populated parts of Virginia.
Transfer authority for roads within Arlington County to Arlington County government (Lee Hwy/29, Washington Blvd/27, Glebe Rd/123)

[Terpfan]

Oh, they will love my Governor for a day recommendations. Top of my list was a commuter tax benefit for cyclists and/or a permanent sales tax holiday. And of course infrastructure needs along with a new provision in law to automatically guarantee a tie of DOT funding to percentage of population using said infrastructure in all capacities. Etc etc

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