The League of American Bicyclists has just announced 150 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFB) in 39 states and the District of Columbia.  The largest group of awardees in the program's history, this latest round grows the ranks of BFBs to more than 800 businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies in 46 states and the District of Columbia.

Congrats go out to Bicycles East in Glastonbury, with eight employees, for earning Silver BFB status, and to Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, with 7086 employees, for earning Bronze BFB status.  

Bicycles East and Pratt & Whitney join four other CT businesses with BFB status, including:

• REI West Hartford- Silver 2012, with 41 employees
  
• Connecticut Mental Health Center - Bronze 2013, with 139 employees
• CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection -  Bronze 2012, with 750 employees, and 
• Whitcraft LLC - Bronze 2011, with 430 employees.

Click here for the list of Fall 2014 Bicycle Friendly Business awardees
Click here for the list of ALL current Bicycle Friendly Businesses

On Tuesday Bike Walk CT participated in a panel discussion at the Old State House's "Conversations at Noon: The American Dream Machine: Bicycles Past, Present, & Future." 

The program will air on CT-N tonight (9/18) around 8 PM. It's also available on demand from CT-N at http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=10697 and on YouTube (here or below).

About the program:  From high-wheelers to bicycles to electric cars, all made in one Hartford factory. Author Steve Goddard explains how a Civil War veteran became the father of the American bicycle and then went on to build other dream machines. 

After his lecture, Mr. Goddard joins a panel of experts for a conversation on making Connecticut more bike friendly and promoting bike racing among kids. Our guests include Aidan Charles, the Founder and Executive Director of CCAP, and Kelly Kennedy, Executive Director of Bike Walk Connecticut. Diane Smith moderated.

Photos above courtesy of the Old State House and CT Historical Society collection, 2000.194.27

Tune in this Saturday, Sept. 20 for another edition of the MetroHartford Alliance’s new radio show, “The Pulse of the Region,” with Alliance President and CEO Oz Griebel. The show airs Saturday morning at 8 a.m. on ESPN Radio, 97.9 FM. This week’s guests are Jackie Mandyck, Managing Director of the iQuilt Partnership, and Doug Suisman, Founder & Principal of Suisman Urban Design, who will discuss the urban design plan for Downtown Hartford and remind listeners not to miss this Saturday’s EnvisionFest Hartford, featuring more than 100 free events throughout the city. 

The iQuilt Plan links Hartfords cultural assets with a vibrant and innovative pedestrian network. Its centerpiece is the GreenWalk, a one-mile chain of parks and plazas connecting the gold-domed Capitol in Bushnell Park to the waterfront of the Connecticut River.

For one weekend in September, the cycling world will turn its attention to Hartford, Connecticut and the CT Cycling Festival. As some of the best professional and amateur cyclists come to Hartford for the season’s most anticipated late-season race events, the state of Connecticut draws its attention to downtown Hartford.  MORE

• The weekend kicks off with the CT Gran Fondo on Saturday! There's still time to register!  There is still time to sign up for the beautiful and challenging 45 or 100 mile rides!  Register at https://www.bikereg.com/ctcyclingfestival 
• THE CT CYCLING FESTIVAL KICKS OFF A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH CPTV! The exciting 8-corner criterium races, and the weekend's special events, will be televised and re-played as part of CPTV's partnership with the CCAP.
• BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY FOR A FUN DAY AND ENJOY THE GREAT WEATHER!  Everyone is invited to enjoy the CCAP bounce house and fun crowd giveaways. Don't forget to sign up the kids for the one-lap kid's race in the afternoon on Sunday!
• CHRIS CLARK PERFORMS FOR ALL SATURDAY AND SUNDAY!  Saturday: 1PM, 3PM, and 5PM at the North Atheneum: 600 Main St.  Sunday: 11AM, 12:30PM, and 3PM on the race course in front of the main stage and expo.
• YOU DON'T NEED A BIKE TO ENJOY THE CT CYCLING FESITVAL!  Runners of all ages and abilities are welcome to race in the Hartford Courant 5K, Sunday at 11:30AM. Register online or in person starting at 8:30AM.
  
• TRUMBULL STREET BECOMES A MOUNTAIN BIKER'S PLAYGROUND ON SUNDAY!  Come out and race your friends on the unique and handmade riding obstacles!
  
• CELEBRATE THE VIBRANCY OF HARTFORD ALL WEEKEND LONG!
  Envisionfest has something for everyone. If you've never had an opportunity to experience the popular festival, make it a priority for this weekend! More info can be found here.
  

Bike Walk Connecticut is pleased to welcome BSC Group and Kurt A. Prochorena as our latest business member. 

BSC Group offers engineering, planning, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, and ecological services. 

Based in Boston, the company also has offices in Glastonbury CT, as well as Worcestor and on Cape Cod.  To learn more about BSC Group, see www.bscgroup.com.

The US DOT's Federal Transit Administration is making $19.98 million available to support comprehensive planning associated with Transit Oriented Development (TOD).  Awards will range from $250,000 to $2,000,000.

According to the notice from FTA, “the grants will fund comprehensive planning that supports economic development, ridership, multimodal connectivity and accessibility, increased transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and mixed-use development near transit stations.”  

FTA intends to fund planning work that would likely not occur without Federal support and is seeking comprehensive planning projects covering an entire transit capital project corridor.   

In a nod to the importance of regional cooperation, "Only one application per transit capital project corridor may be submitted to FTA. Multiple applications submitted for a single transit capital project corridor indicate to FTA that partnerships are not in place and FTA will reject all of the applications."

Proposals must address six aspects explained in the funding notice, including how the project “increases access to transit hubs for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.”

With the FTA open to receive grant applications, T4America has organized an online session to explain the program, how it works, and what kind of applications FTA will be looking for. We’ll have Therese McMillan on hand, Acting Administrator of FTA, as well as experts from Transportation for America to discuss this new program. Find out more information about this T4A webinar taking place on Friday, September 26, and register.

The closing date for proposals is Monday, November 3, 2014 at 11:59pm EDT.

Bike Walk Connecticut is interested to hear who will apply from CT.  Please let us know at bikewalkct@bikewalkct.org.

More information:
FTA Funding Announcement:  http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13077_16135.html
Transportation for America:  http://t4america.org/2014/09/10/new-grant-program-to-support-smart-development-around-transit-lines-is-open-for-business

Thirteen Communities Awarded $5 Million to Strengthen Commercial Districts
 
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that 13 municipalities across Connecticut are being awarded $5 million in grants to develop or improve town commercial districts in an effort to attract small businesses, grow jobs, and improve pedestrian access and livability in town centers.  The grants are part of the state’s Main Street Investment Fund, which is administered through the state Department of Housing.
 
“These grants are a great way for the state to support our cities and towns in their efforts to develop and improve their commercial centers,” said Governor Malloy.  “This program responds to the unique needs of individual communities all around the state by creating partnerships with local governments and merchants to improve aesthetics and pedestrian access, attract new businesses, new customers, and new residents — ultimately breathing new life into our smaller commercial centers.”
 
The Main Street Investment Fund provides financial incentives to eligible municipalities as well as owners of commercial private properties for expenditures that directly support and enhance a qualified project.  Awards are no more than $500,000 and can be used for expenses such as building improvements, signage, lighting, and streetscape improvements.
 
The funded projects are:
 

• Berlin has been awarded $204,300 for the second phase of the Berlin Main Street Streetscape project. The project will continue new sidewalks, permeable pavers and street trees on the New Britain Road and Farmington Avenue sides of the Kensington Center Triangle. A new crosswalk and a permeable paver accent walk will be installed around Deming Park at the Kensington Road entry to the triangle. Also, a permeable paver accent will be added at the Farmington Avenue entry to the triangle, as well as new decorative lights throughout the project area.
  

 

• Bethel will receive $290,149 to improve the town’s commercial center.  The project — to include new sidewalks, accessibility ramps, signage, streetscape, and safety improvements — will create a walkable and ADA compliant downtown by improving public safety and pedestrian access, creating a community gathering place, and increasing recreational opportunities.
  

 

• Coventry will use its $405,000 award to implement various elements of the South Coventry Village Plan. The plan calls to extend the sidewalk on Main Street to serve town hall, the police station, Orchard Hill Active Adult Community, a day care, and a church; make improvements to the historic Tracey Shoddy Mill; and create a pocket park by Teleflex Medical on Main Street.
  

 

• Farmington plans to use its $425,000 award to implement recommendations of the comprehensive design plan for the revitalization of Unionville Center. Along the northern side of Rt. 177, the town is proposing a complete streetscape project of 1,900 linear feet, linking the New Horizons Village to Unionville.  As part of this project, a loop of improved sidewalk will be created along Mill, Platner, and School streets.  The improved sidewalks would promote greater pedestrian accessibility, improve aesthetics, and increase foot traffic to the various businesses in the area.
  

 

• New London has been awarded $500,000 to improve pedestrian access to businesses in the downtown commercial area. Funds will be used to complete improvements along Eugene O’Neill Drive, transforming the car-focused thoroughfare with difficult to find parking with directional and way-finding signage, improved lighting, enhanced pedestrian connections, and trees appropriate for an urban setting.  Activities will include site improvements, sidewalk improvements, site planting/lighting, etc.
  

 

• Newington will begin the next phase of the Town Center Development Program with its $470,000 award. Plans call for improved pedestrian connectivity between the “Constitution Square” municipal parking lot and existing businesses on Main, Market Square, and East Cedar streets with nearby senior and workforce residential buildings on Constance Leigh Drive and the retail Plaza on Lowrey Place.
  

 

• Norfolk will use its $500,000 award to convert a five-acre wetland, meadow, and hillside — colonized by invasive plant species — into a storm water park called City Meadow, complete with boardwalks and resting places utilizing low-impact development techniques. This innovative project will save a threatened pocket of wetlands and allow residents and visitors to pass through to appreciate the diverse ecosystem.  Project activities include restoration of wetlands, pond creation, stone swales/site stabilization, public access improvements, retaining walls, trails, timber bridges/decks, and landscaping.
  

 

• Pomfret was awarded $166,000 to go toward construction of a sidewalk to provide a safe, inviting link from two private schools, numerous churches, and the public library to the town’s unique village district that houses numerous businesses. The sidewalk will run along a street that provides a direct link from the town green and the village district.  Landscaping and uniform signage on public buildings throughout the town will create a sense of unity and identification.
  

 

• Rocky Hill will continue the town’s effort to re-create its town center with its award of $422,551. Project activities include re-aligning portions of the Silas Deane Highway, decorative crosswalks and intersection treatment, decorative traffic islands, landscaping, street furniture, and pavement overlays.  The project design elements will enable pedestrians to easily and safely utilize alternative modes of transportation by easing access to the existing bus transit system operating within the project area and Silas Deane Highway corridor.
  

 

• Seymour will receive $375,000 to make the downtown area compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The plan calls for replacing trees whose roots are displacing the sidewalks.  Funds will also be used to replacing lighting fixtures that are 20 years old and inefficient, saving the town about 77% in energy costs.
  

 

• Vernon received a $400,000 award to promote redevelopment efforts the downtown area in the Rockville section of town. The project, which will include replacement of windows and doors, exterior clean up, and installation of streetscape elements, will encourage further development around the existing transportation node and nearby a major transportation corridor, conserve and restore cultural and historical resources, and reuse a brownfields site.
  

 

• Wilton plans to put its $425,000 award toward the Wilton Center Sidewalk Restoration Project throughout the town center. This project, which will address various safety concerns related to ADA, providing public sidewalks within the vehicle travel way, dovetails with other completed downtown improvements such as the installation of benches, concrete roadway curbing, 75 decorative street lamps, seasonal flower pot arrangements, and the 2010 completion of the Veteran’s Memorial Green.
  

 

• Windsor was awarded $417,000 for improvements in the commercial, civic, and cultural center of the town. Funds will be used for construction of a new sidewalk along Mechanic Street and Batchelder Road, granite curbing, street lighting and other incidental improvements in Windsor center, an area where three state highways converge and contains an AMTRAK passenger rail station that will be upgraded as part of New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail program.
  

 
###
 
For Immediate Release: September 16, 2014
Contact: David Bednarz
David.Bednarz@ct.gov
860-524-7315 (office)
860-770-9792 (cell)

Tonight is the big night! The final public meeting with ConnDOT on the Merritt Parkway trail feasibility study is tonight at 7pm in Greenwich (Town Hall Meeting Room, Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Rd).

Please consider joining the Merritt Parkway Trail Alliance prior to the meeting at 5:30pm for a get together at Cosi (129 West Putnam Ave, Greenwich). The group will discus strategy, letters of support & next steps. Please email molly@greenway.org if you plan to be there. 

If you haven't already submitted a letter of support for the trail to DOT, please consider doing so and forward the template to your friends, family & colleagues (http://www.greenway.org/?attachment_id=4618).  (See more below.)

Let's keep the momentum going. Hope to see you tonight!


Letter of Support Information
Please support the Merritt Parkway Trail. October 3rd is the deadline for comments. If ConnDOT does not have enough people saying they favor, in concept only at this point, a multi-use trail that connects the 8 towns along the Merritt Parkway, this valuable project will die on the vine. 

There are a couple of points that people seem to be confused about:

1. The trail would run along the Merritt Parkway (on average, about 75 feet from the roadway), buffered by landscaping and fencing. It will not be right next to the cars.
2. Supporting the trail at this point means asking ConnDOT to go ahead with the next stage of planning, which includes answering the significant questions we all have about funding, timelines, environmental impact and total cost.
3. There is no financial cost or obligation to take this next step. Support now does not mean "please go ahead and build it."

If you think a connecting trail across Fairfield County would be a good idea then we urge you to send a letter or an email to ConnDOT. We have created a form that will let you email them easily, or print it out and send it by mail: 

Here is the URL to the form to support the trail:
http://bit.ly/parkwaytrail

And this is a link to read more about the trail itself.
http://www.merrittparkwaytrail.org/

Bike Walk CT attended the gubernatorial candidates' forum on transportation today in North Haven.  As CT News Junkie's Christine Stuart aptly noted, "Walking and biking were two forms of transportation not raised at the forum Monday."  If we want Connecticut to be a better place to bike and walk, it's time to make walking and biking part of the mainstream transportation conversation. 

Read the CT News Junkie article:
Foley, Malloy Challenge Each Other Separately On Transportation
Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said he’s spending more on transportation than previous administrations, while Republican challenger Tom Foley said traffic congestion in Connecticut has gotten worse over the past few years.

Malloy and Foley spoke separately Monday at a forum sponsored by a broad-based group of state and regional transportation organizations. Foley addressed the group first and was followed by Malloy.

The two spoke separately about the balance between highways and public transit. Malloy wants to increase investment in both areas, but Foley would be focused mostly on highway expansion.

“Any purposeful strategy to push people out of their cars and onto mass transit, I really don’t think is going to work,” Foley told the group at the Best Western in North Haven. Read the full story here.

Other news coverage:
Malloy, Foley Face Off On Transportation Today | FOX CT
Foley: Traffic 'shameful'; Malloy claims progress
Malloy, Foley Address Transportation Issues at Forum
The Day - Malloy and Foley Address Transportation ...
Foley, Malloy Vow to Spend More on Transit But No Plan to ...

Bi-State Trail Summit
New Haven to Northampton Trail Group
Saturday October 18, 2014
Eno Hall, 754 Hopmeadow Street/CT10
Simsbury CT.

In only a few more years, the longest interstate rail trail in New England will be complete, but what does that mean for tourism and economic development in our region? 

There are lessons to be learned from NY and our keynote speaker, Fran Gotcsik of Parks, Trails New York has first-hand knowledge about not only what happened there, but how it came to be. Cost is $20 and includes a box lunch.

State and local officials from along the entire 84 mile corridor as well as tourism and hospitality industry officials, advocates and the press are invited.

There will be  an optional, guided bike tour of the area. Go to www.2014TrailSummit.org for the agenda and information about the keynote speaker and the bike tour.

Please register at:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-interstate-trail-summit-tickets-12405957553?aff=es2&rank=15