Pathway plan spikes chances for fundingPathway plan spikes
chances for funding
San Benito County transportation officials have a plan in place
to improve residents’ quality of life and health while cutting down
on pollution from emissions. Now they just have to execute the
ideas, which means finding funding avenues.
Pathway plan spikes chances for fundingPathway plan spikes chances for funding
San Benito County transportation officials have a plan in place to improve residents’ quality of life and health while cutting down on pollution from emissions. Now they just have to execute the ideas, which means finding funding avenues.
The San Benito County Council of Governments extended its comment period for the plan, an update to a pedestrian-bike masterplan from 2002, to July 20. The proposal includes an emphasis on connecting current pathways, making streets safer for school children and others, and making it more accessible for walkers and riders to reach businesses.
Those are admirable goals and are much needed. San Benito County, after all, already has the foundation in place to improve these assets for the community because the weather is mild, the terrain is flat and the surrounding landscapes are beautiful. With such resources, San Benito County severely lacks the kind of convenient pedestrian and bicycle access citizens undoubtedly want, so it should be a priority.
The problem, however, is a lack of locally generated funding to get the jobs done, much like the situation with the city’s Park Hill masterplan, which has laudable attributes but lacks the necessary driving force – money – to proceed without delay, and possibly a long one.
What the San Benito County Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan succinctly accomplishes for now, which is crucial in the process, is having a structured plan in place so the projects are eligible for outside funding sources such as state and federal grants. A COG official used the example when the county received $705,000 a year and a half ago to create a three-mile bike lane from San Juan Bautista’s city limits to Anzar High School. That project should start this fall and was a result of COG having its most current pedestrian and bikeway plan in place. It shows the importance of having blueprints ready to go when an opportunity presents itself.
Without the plan, the county has almost no shot at getting the level of funding that inevitably will be necessary to make significant progress. With it, the chances increase exponentially.
Ultimately, the masterplan sets a direction and momentum for leaders as they embark on the goal of improving accessibility for local citizens choosing the healthier approach to transportation, while inherently reducing the environmental footprint left by vehicles here. In doing so, setting aside more lanes and pathways for pedestrians and bikers – while clearly delineating them as such – will improve safety for children walking and riding to school and elsewhere.
