Thursday, February 11, 2010

HIGHWAY 100 GETS RUMBLED

First impressions suggest our attempts to find reasonable compromise have failed. A popular bike route - Hwy 100 - got rumbled. Click HERE to view pictures. Comments?
From: Jessica.L Wilson, February 12, 2010 7:51 AM
To: tom@evanscenter.com

Tom-
I've gotten several inquiries about this project and talked to Pat about it earlier this week. Unfortunately, this particular project was part of a contract let back in Sept. 2009 before we had our new system in place. If you have questions or want to talk about it more then feel free to give me a call and we can discuss it- its usually easier for me to talk over the phone rather than type everything out.

Thanks!
Jessica L. Wilson
Transportation Planner 4
TDOT Long Range Planning

2 comments:

Tango Bravo said...

There were lots of comments on the HBC message board. I think someone said the job was bid before the new standards were agreed to.

Bruce might know if this is fact or opinion.

coastdownhills said...

I can't say anything certain about this particular job but road contracts do get let out in 5 year blocks.
Even so, it is discouraging when a problem is identified before the first mm3 of soil is turned or asphalt poured only to be told there's no stopping it. It's the road construction equivalent of the SMIDSY (Sorry Mac, I didn't see you) that is irrefutable and so far has worked. Only by not accepting it will it ever change.

However, like the "I was drunk so not to blame for running over that kid." used to be an acceptable excuse for vehicular homicide till MADD changed things, it will take a lot of pressure for lot of years.
Jessica so far is a friend to us but must walk a fine line. TDOT powers can easily pull all Bike Ped responsibilities from her, have no bike ped coordinator at all, claim budget restraints, then ignore totally ignore cyclists. And there is nothing we could do about it as the only person who gives a rat's _ss would be gone.

So what to do? First, write your state Rep and Sen a letter or email protesting rumble strips not in accordance with FHWA guidelines in general and specific examples in your area. We all have some by now. Next a letter to Gerald Nicely,
Commissioner's Office
James K. Polk Building
505 Deaderick Street
Suite 700
Nashville, TN 37243-0349

And finally, Join and be active in Bike Walk Tennessee. It is gaining momentum but is as yet not to big to fail and can use all the help it can get.

Damn! You've got me fired up. I've written the above mentioned letters with lukewarm response, but they all knew me and my position before. This is a national issue most recently brought to a head by some stimulus money for rural road safety that pays for the rumbles with no regard for their need. Where is the League of American Cyclists? Where is the Alliance for Biking and Walking? I'm a member of both. Looks like time for a letter fromm me to them.

Bruce