In January, WABA launched our business membership program. Today, we are excited to introduce our newest business members, three companies dedicated to promoting bicycling, each in their own way.
Custom-made by Primal Wear
The grant-winning projects include both feasibility studies for several jurisdictions and actual implementation and opening of bikeshare stations for others that are further along in the planning and design process. The winners are divided into two categories – funding to implement a bikeshare facility and funding for a feasibility study to determine potential bikeshare station locations. The Bikeshare Grant Program is funded through the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program and will cover 80 percent of the total project cost. Local jurisdictions are required to pay a 20 percent match. The winners of grants to implement bikesharing systems are: Baltimore City, Montgomery County and joint partners with University of Maryland at College Park and the City of College Park. The winners of grants for feasibility studies of potential bikeshare stations are: Frederick City, Howard County and joint partners with Prince George’s County and the City of Greenbelt.
Building on the success of Capital Bikeshare in DC and Arlington County, Montgomery County is preparing to summit a grant application to Maryland DOT to incorporate bikesharing in the lower county region. The plan for 400 bicycles at 50 stations was presented last night a public meeting at the County Executive offices in Rockville.
County planning and transportation officials presented proposed station plans for the urban areas of the county (Bethesda, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Friendship Heights) and north along the legs of Red Line. The additional stations will provide connections between those activity centers and DC. A side note, in planning talks DDOT has agreed to expand bikeshare stations north between the system core and the new clusters in Bethesda, Silver Spring & Takoma Park to help connect the entire system.
Montgomery County DOT Director Art Holmes spoke briefly about the expansion of bikeshare to the county. In his remarks, he told attendees, “we are very committed to this program”. Officials cautioned that the bikesharing program is contingent on the awarding of the state grants and may need to be built in phases. However, they feel very confident in their grant application. The Maryland grants are through Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds with a local match of 20% required.
Attendees were asked to give ideas (put stickers on a map) for possible station locations. Consultant to the county, Paul DeMaio of MetroBike, explained the siting requirements for a station including access to direct sun, enough space, ownership, access to the station, proximity to bicycle infrastructure, etc. Those not at the meeting are invited to submit their ideas on the Capital Bikeshare Crowdsourcing Map.
WABA is excited to see bikesharing grow and promote bicycle transportation in the region. We hope to see the needed infrastructure improvements, education offerings and necessary enforcement to make the system a success in the county as we have seen in DC and Arlington. National Mall and Memorial Parks (NAMA)/National Park Service (NPS) proposes to participate in the Capital Bikeshare program by permitting five bikeshare stations on NAMA/NPS managed property. The Capital Bikeshare program is a regional alternative transportation amenity for visitors and residents and has quickly become a viable form of public transportation. Participating in this bikeshare system would fulfill the goal of enhancing bicycle use at the park, as envisioned in NAMA’s 2008 National Mall Visitor Transportation Study and the 2010 National Mall Plan. Increasing bicycle use reduces traffic congestion, fossil fuel use and air emissions, and provides an additional and affordable form of access to destinations throughout the park. Proposed locations for the five Capital Bikeshare stations are as follows: (1) Smithsonian Metro Station entrance area on the National Mall Location: West of the existing information kiosk on Jefferson Drive, in the gravel area, adjacent to paved sidewalk. (2) Lincoln Memorial area Location: On Lincoln Memorial Circle between 23rd and Daniel French Drive at the former interpretive transportation kiosk area. (3) Jefferson Memorial area Location: South of East Basin Drive from the bus pull-off between the curb and existing sidewalk, west of crosswalk intersection. (4) Washington Monument area Location: Jefferson Drive between 14th and 15th streets at the bus pull-off along the sidewalk east of the kiosk. (5) FDR/MLK Memorial area Location: Ohio Drive at West Basin Drive, at the bus pull-off, on the sidewalk west of existing kiosk. These locations have been selected based on their proximity to visitor destinations, access to compatible modes of transportation such as Metro and bike paths, and connectivity to other Capital Bikeshare stations. They are located in the vicinity of “Visitor Transportation Stops” as shown on the Circulation Map for the Preferred Alternative in the National Mall Plan. The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking the public’s input concerning the Capital Bikeshare stations. Please visit: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/Capitalbikeshare for materials and information on how to comment. NPS will receive public comments through December 28, 2011.
I believe the Bethesda area is particularly well-suited for expanding our bikesharing system. With its high metro ridership, proximity to existing bikeshare stations, and already congested roads, I believe conditions are such that a network of stations would serve our constituents there quite well.He goes on to list a number of community and business group already supportive of the expansion, argues that bikeshare could be useful to mitigate BRAC traffic impacts near the National Naval Medical Center, and notes the potential of the White Flint area to provide a “missing link” in the bikeshare network between his proposed Bethesda-area network and the stations coming to Rockville. Click here to access the full letter.