----- Original Message -----

From: Blaine Wheeler

To: Bob Myrick ; president@... ; Timothy Payne

Cc: Brian Faller

Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 6:43 AM

Subject: Re: questions/comments about state non-motorized plan

Hi Bob - High tech is cool. What do you think of Larry Leveen's thought on Mounts Road:

"The second issue I'd like to address is a project I've been trying to get on the radar screen of agencies here -- a bikeable connection between Thurston and Pierce Counties (well) north of Yelm-Mckenna.

The most obvious choice is a combination of I-5 and Mounts Road. The I-5 bridge over the Nisqually River already has some extra width non-motorized travelers might use, but access TO IT on the bridge is closed off! If that was done to try and prevent "jumpers", it is an act of futility -- any pedestrian who really wants to get there, will. Meanwhile cyclists have to ride on the right-hand travel lane of I-5, with high-speed traffic overtaking them (there is no shoulder on the "roadbed" portion of the bridge). This needs to be rectified and access restored. I have not inspected the surface of this  portion of the bridge and do not know if it will need to be improved for safe travel. Perhaps WSDOT staff could investigate.

Mounts Road is an additional connection route between Thurston and DuPont/points east and north. Mounts Road crosses I-5 via a bridge and leads to the Fort Lewis Golf Course. There is (or was) a dirt road that runs the perimeter of the golf course -- one accesses it by turning right immediately before the golf course parking lot (and after the RR which goes under Mounts Road. The road can be followed east/counterclockwise around the southern part of the golf course. Eventually it turns north. Here there are two options: a fairly short extent north on the perimeter road to connect with Center Drive, or another access that continues between (but with sufficient distance from) the RR tracks and a fence on the left. This access travels underneath the DuPont elevated ramps north of I-5. Eventually one can access Wilmington Drive/Pallisade Boulevard in Dupont (and then points east/north)."

End of Larry idea

----- Original Message ----
From: Bob Myrick <BobMyrick@...>
To: Blaine Wheeler <blainekw@...>; president@...; Timothy Payne <paynet@...>
Cc: Brian Faller <krisnorelius@...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 10:38:35 PM
Subject: Re: questions/comments about state non-motorized plan

Tomorrow, I hope to call Adventure Cycling.  They are working on a nation wide bicycle route system with Aashto( American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials). Recently, I received a sales brochure from DeLorme, the map people.  They have a GPS device that includes a nation wide and world wide road system.  It can be easily edited to provide bicycle route information as an overlay.  I'm envisioning a web site or an Adventure Cycling effort where individuals can include their local route information and, thus, build a nation wide bike route system within the mapping software.  We have not been successful in getting our local governments to set up and maintain a signed system, so I am going high tech.----- Original Message -----

From: Timothy Payne

To: Blaine Wheeler ; president@...

Cc: Brian Faller ; Bob Myrick

Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 10:11 PM

Subject: Re: questions/comments about state non-motorized plan

Blaine:

 

Thanks for the heads up.  Yes, I agree coordination between our clubs would be most beneficial.  I hace cc'd our Government Relations Director, Bob Myrick, to focus some attention to this plan.

 

TIm

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Blaine Wheeler

Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 9:14 AM

To: president@...

Cc: Brian Faller

Subject: questions/comments about state non-motorized plan

 

I'm the Pres here in Oly and am forwarding this message string FYI. 

As you'll read below and see from the WSDOT web page about updating the State's Bicycle Pedestrian Plan (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Bike/BP_Projects.htm)  we've noticed that Pierce County isn't listed and hope it's an oversight you can correct with WSDOT.

I'm also volunteering Brian Faller, our Government Affairs Chair, to keep in touch with you in Tacoma as we write and start working toward the Thurston-Pierce county connection Larry discusses.

What do you think Tim?

Blaine Wheeler
Preseident
Capital Bicycling Club

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Larry Leveen <larryleveen@...>
To: Blaine Wheeler <blainekw@...>
Cc: Kris Norelius <krisnorelius@...>
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 6:33:40 PM
Subject: Re: questions/comments about state non-motorized plan

A letter from the club commenting on the plan would be great at this point. Feel free to plaigerize from my comments.

I pushed to have this connection included in the Regional Trails Plan that TRPC was heading up recently and I think it was included. I'll have to check. If so, that helps us make our case.

Anyway, a letter from the club would be great, thanks.

If you need to refer to the original website, it is at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Bike/BP_Projects.htm

At 7:44 PM -0700 5/25/07, Blaine Wheeler wrote:

Very nice Larry - What would the Club do to help most?

----- Original Message ----
From: Kris Norelius <krisnorelius@...>
To: Larry Leveen <larryleveen@...>
Cc: Blaine Wheeler <blainekw@...>
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 7:03:06 PM
Subject: Re: questions/comments about state non-motorized plan

questions/comments about state non-motorized plan

Larry, the Pierce Thurston is badly needed.   Do you want the CBC to send a letter, ... etc.?

----- Original Message -----

From: Larry Leveen

To: ReevesP@...

Cc: blackvt@... ; Paul Brewster ; jack_horton@... ; info@...

Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 10:00 AM

Subject: questions/comments about state non-motorized plan

Hi Ms. Reeves,

I had a few questions from my quick look at the info on http://wwwwsdot.wa.gov/Bike/BP_Projects.htm

One oddity is that there is no listing for Pierce County that I saw! They MUST have something (even less-urban Benton County does). Was that merely an oversight?


The second issue I'd like to address is a project I've been trying to get on the radar screen of agencies here -- a bikeable connection between Thurston and Pierce Counties (well) north of Yelm-Mckenna.

The most obvious choice is a combination of I-5 and Mounts Road. The I-5 bridge over the Nisqually River already has some extra width non-motorized travelers might use, but access TO IT on the bridge is closed off! If that was done to try and prevent "jumpers", it is an act of futility -- any pedestrian who really wants to get there, will. Meanwhile cyclists have to ride on the right-hand travel lane of I-5, with high-speed traffic overtaking them (there is no shoulder on the "roadbed" portion of the bridge). This needs to be rectified and access restored. I have not inspected the surface of this  portion of the bridge and do not know if it will need to be improved for safe travel. Perhaps WSDOT staff could investigate.

Mounts Road is an additional connection route between Thurston and DuPont/points east and north. Mounts Road crosses I-5 via a bridge and leads to the Fort Lewis Golf Course. There is (or was) a dirt road that runs the perimeter of the golf course -- one accesses it by turning right immediately before the golf course parking lot (and after the RR which goes under Mounts Road. The road can be followed east/counterclockwise around the southern part of the golf course. Eventually it turns north. Here there are two options: a fairly short extent north on the perimeter road to connect with Center Drive, or another access that continues between (but with sufficient distance from) the RR tracks and a fence on the left. This access travels underneath the DuPont elevated ramps north of I-5. Eventually one can access Wilmington Drive/Pallisade Boulevard in Dupont (and then points east/north).

A Google Map to view this connection can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/2ncup6

This connection should be developed, and will require getting several parties around the table -- Thurston and Pierce Counties, Wayerhouser, Fort Lewis, the RR, any utilities with right-of-way there, and WSDOT (and maybe others). I am having trouble finding anyone to take leadership on this project, but there are no other contenders for non-motorized connection between Thurston and Pierce. Fort Lewis is a significant barrier to mobility, that I doubt any other connection, which would be closer to the base's core, could be developed due to security concerns. Therefore, I'd hope that those in authority at the base might be willing to work with us on an access near the not-so-strategic golf course.

The issue of how to best access such a connection in Thurston County should also be addressed. The future eastern extension of the Lacey-Woodland Trail is a logical access, to supplement Old Pacific Highway.

I ask your help in ensuring the inclusion of the I-5 Nisqually Bridge non-motorized improvements as well as the Mounts Road-Dupont connection in the State Plan. Any assistance you can provide in coordinating with the stakeholders (some are copied in this email) that development of the connection would entail is also requested.

Thank you.

--

- Larry Leveen

OlyBikes Locally-Owned Bike Shop

"Bikes, Parts, Repairs and GREAT Customer Service"

http://wwwolybikes.com

Phone: 360-753-7525

(website features FREE bike safety & advocacy  materials)

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-- 

- Larry Leveen

OlyBikes Locally-Owned Bike Shop

"Bikes, Parts, Repairs and GREAT Customer Service"

http://www.olybikes.com

Phone: 360-753-7525

(website features FREE bike safety & advocacy  materials)

---

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