Let’s go back to 2006. There was some heartburn with local bicycling and pedestrian advocates at that time when Spokane took part in a Federal Highway Administration (FHA) Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP). Four other communities were also chosen to participate; Columbia, Missouri; Marin County, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Over the span of 4 years, each of those communities received $25 million to be used toward constructing a network of nonmotorized transportation infrastructure facilities, including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian and bicycle trails.
Spokane was chosen as a ‘control community,’ meaning we received no funds, which is why some people were upset.
It’s now four years later and the FHA wants to know how giving, or not giving, money to the communities for nonmotorized projects affected each community. Several thousand surveys were mailed out last week asking local folks about their transportation habits. If you received one, PLEASE fill it out. It will help the federal folks gauge the need for nonmotorized facilties in our community. Plus they’ll give you $5 to do it. Now we’re talking.
If you’d like to see results from the initial survey and study, four years ago click here.