No gas required – promoting non-motorized transportation in Sheboygan County

The construction season is winding down, so what’s going on with the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program (NMTPP) projects? Well, we can finally say we have some, not many, but some, projects moving forward yet this summer/fall.

Federal and state requirements have all been satisfied, and the project sponsors have let their projects for construction bids. The Howards Grove School District gains a pathway at the high school constructed by Quasius Construction, Cedar Grove will see part of its South Main Street reconstructed by Ptaschinski Construction, and bike racks have already been installed at county facilities.

Barring any unforeseen issues, we should see many of the other approved 27 infrastructure projects constructed in 2010/2011 with a few larger projects wrapping up in 2012, according to Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDOT’s) current construction schedule. Many projects are being designed now as well as this coming fall and winter. In fact, you have probably seen a bunch of surveyors out gathering their base data as of late.

Following is more detail on what we see on WisDOT’s tentative construction schedule.

In 2010, the town of Sheboygan gains paved shoulders on Mueller Road providing much better bike access; Sheboygan Falls sees its multiple projects completed; County O/Superior Avenue gets bike lanes, sidewalks and wider shoulders constructed to complement the new trail east of Interstate 43; our countywide bike parking initiative will finally transpire as well as bike lane striping in many of our communities; Quit Qui Oc Athletic Alliance sees its pathways completed; and Howards Grove, Adell, and Oostburg complete their sidewalk projects.

When the county received the grant in 2005, we were all optimistic we could complete all of our projects in a shorter timeframe than the typical six to seven years it takes to churn through the federal highway, WisDOT, and local processes. As you can see, we accomplished this goal with a good number of our above projects. However, some of our larger projects will not likely move forward until the 2011 or 2012 construction seasons.

In 2011, Sheboygan hopefully realizes a reconstructed Eisner Avenue, its sidewalk gap-filling project completed, traffic calming projects around 13 of the Sheboygan Area School District (SASD) public schools, and the Union Pacific rails-to-trails project completed. Plymouth hopefully sees County PP expanded for better bike access between the southeastern industrial parks and surrounding neighborhoods, Sunset Drive widened for better bike access into the northern industrial park, and better connections to the Old Plank Road Trail and the city’s existing trail network.

In 2012, Taylor Drive, our most complex project, begins construction as well as Kohler’s multiple projects.

Again, these schedules are tentative. When dealing with the federal and state processes and the complexity of some of our projects, something always seems to come up to cause a delay. We will do our best to stay on schedule.

Better, worse, or indifferent we can say we are not the only pilot community dealing with delays. The other three pilot communities are all having similar issues moving their projects forward. Congress has been made aware of the issues in using federal highway processes for smaller, less complex projects than highways, and hopefully, future legislation takes heed to our suggestions.

As we’ve said before, we thank you for your patience in seeing this process through. Undoubtedly, our projects can only benefit our community. In fact, more and more communities, organizations, and businesses are starting to realize the benefits of bicycling and walking for their citizens, members, and employees. Local governments are clamoring for enhancement funds to make their communities more livable and attractive places to live, work, and play. Small things, like our bike corrals, which attracted in excess of 1,500 bicyclists this summer, are now expected.

Businesses have realized a more active workforce is healthier, more productive, and misses less work. Organizations, such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), are supporting and promoting things like Complete Streets initiatives and legislation where roadways are designed for all users. In fact, Wisconsin is one of only a few states to have recently passed Complete Streets legislation.

It may take some time, but at the end of the day our project’s set Sheboygan County apart and make us a leader for many others to follow. We should be proud to have that responsibility.

As always, for more detail on all of our projects, you can visit the county’s Web site www.co. sheboygan.wi.us and navigate to the Planning and Resources Department’s NMTPP link.