North Madison is (finally) getting bike lanes
January 6th, 2010 by tristan baurickLong sought-after improvements are on the way for two of the island’s most beleaguered roads.
The city was selected to receive a $422,000 federal grant to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety along North Madison Avenue and to work on ways to shore up a section of Rockaway Beach Road threatened by erosion.
The grant is part of a $388 million package aimed at improving transportation in the Puget Sound region.
The city plans to construct shoulders along both sides of North Madison between Highway 305 and Valley Road. The heavily-used section of North Madison lacks space for cyclists and pedestrians to travel. Plans include a separate pedestrian path along the mile-long stretch.
Interim Public Works Director Lance Newkirk said the North Madison improvements would be a key step in the city’s “Core 40” plan to develop a non-motorized transportation network along 40 miles of island roads. He added that city staff will take on the project’s design and engineering, leaving most of the grant funding for construction costs.
The remainder of the grant will pay for an engineering plan to make Rockaway Beach Road safer, Newkirk said.
Both plans were recommended for grant funding by the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council. The preliminary funding decision was made by the Puget Sound Regional Council’s executive board. Final approval by the governor is expected in the coming weeks.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
January 6th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
“The heavily-used section of North Madison lacks space for cyclists and pedestrians to travel. Plans include a separate pedestrian path along the mile-long stretch.”
Leave it to BI for looking toward quality of life outdoor opportunities for the citizens…offering quality lifestyle for all,,,including their seniors.
Congratulations!
Sharon O’Hara
January 6th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Leave it to BI to get federal pork and waste it on a waseteful feel good project. Has anyone ever estimated the the number of commuter miles per year that will be traveled on thisroute?
January 7th, 2010 at 4:01 am
… a wasteful feel good project”?
It seems smart for a town, county, state to encourage an active lifestyle for the taxpayer citizen. To provide for and encourage a healthy and active lifestyle by providing such walking and cycling paths in the community promotes good health… such as BI does for her citizens. It sure beats ill health and enormous health care costs for the tax payer.
Someone should do a study to determine which Kitsap County towns and communities have the healthiest citizens. Once that is determined, evaluate the community provided amenities for their people. I am guessing that BI leads Kitsap County in providing quality lifestyle options leading to the healthiest citizens.
I don’t know that for a fact, but it seems a reasonable guess.
Sharon O’Hara
January 7th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Their sewer system is still leaking into the Sound, but – hey! – they’re bike-friendly.
January 7th, 2010 at 10:02 am
With this improvement, Bainbridge might be close to the standards of the rest of the county. I love how the bike lanes and shoulders end a mile or so BEFORE the elementary school. I guess the kids can still walk in the ditch.
Bainbridge feels privileged for finally gettngwhat most cities/counties have had for years. Shameful.