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ADOT finalizes Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan update

ADOT finalizes Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan update

December 4, 2013

We’ve got some news to share – ADOT has finalized its Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan update!

This is the update we’ve been blogging about since last year. We also asked for your feedback on it along the way.

So, now that it’s finished, are you curious to know what made it into the final plan update?

You can read the entire plan online – but, let’s run through some of the highlights…

If you read this blog post, you know that ADOT established the original Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in 2003 to improve walking and bicycling options throughout the state.

The finalized 2013 update to that plan focuses on increasing bicycle and pedestrian trips, improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety, and improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along our state highway system.

It was a collaborative effort with Arizona’s metropolitan planning organizations, councils of governments, and members of the bicycling and walking communities. These groups worked together to establish 25 strategies and outline a timetable to reach the plan’s goals. ADOT also conducted two public comment periods, collecting a total of 3,300 responses.

“The intent of the plan is to make it safer and more comfortable for people on foot or bicycle to cross or use Arizona’s highways for travel,” said Michael Sanders, ADOT’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator. “We’ve developed performance measurements to help us evaluate our progress. For example, one goal is to double the percentage of walking and bicycling trips statewide over the next 10 years.”

Specific improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities along our state highway system include bikeway and walkway facilities, enhanced road crossings, sidewalks and ensuring that our infrastructure is accessible and accommodating for people with disabilities. The updated plan is also centered on enhancing bicycle and pedestrian education, such as helping improve bicyclist skills, implementing design training for engineers and planners, increasing awareness and creating a greater understanding for all of us to follow the rules of the road.

ADOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was developed in accordance with federal transportation policy to promote the increased use and safety of bicycling and walking as transportation modes. It is also part of Arizona’s Long-Range Transportation Plan.

“Bicycling and walking are important components of the state’s transportation network. This plan is another step in our commitment to increasing multimodal transportation options for Arizonans,” said Sanders.

Visit ADOT’s website to view the plan online and find details about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. Learn more by checking out our previous blog posts.

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