Transportation Planning
2007 National Planning Excellence Award
AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION NEWS RELEASE
Contacts:
Chattanooga, Tennessee To Receive 2007 National Planning Excellence Award
For Implementing Regional Bicycle Effort
Washington, D.C. – Changing people’s minds about the practicality and
convenience of using a bicycle instead of car to drive to work, complete a
errand, or go on a nearby outing is neither simple nor easy. Yet, the idea
of using a bicycle to get around town is not only gaining popularity in
Chattanooga, Tennessee, but also national attention.
The American Planning Association (APA) has selected Chattanooga as
recipient of APA’s 2007 National Planning Excellence Award for
Implementation. The city completed a comprehensive bicycle plan in 1980,
but efforts to act on the plan did not gain speed until 2001 when the
city’s Bicycle Task Force developed a list of specific goals including
expanding the number of miles of bicycle lanes and signed routes in the
region.
“Chattanooga has shown a deep commitment to realize the goals and vision
of its ambitious bicycle plan,” said Carol Rhea, AICP, chair of the APA
Awards Committee. “Already they are approaching the 200 mile mark in terms
of the amount of new, existing, or previously planned routes, lanes, or
multi-use paths for bicyclists,” Rhea said, noting that the region’s
bicycle network eventually will be 400-plus miles long.
These
efforts by the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee, will be
recognized at APA’s National Planning Conference during a luncheon
ceremony scheduled for April 17, 2007 in Philadelphia. In addition, a
30-minute video about all of APA’s 2007 National Planning Excellence,
Achievement, and Leadership Awards recipients will be shown at the
luncheon. Also, the accomplishments of Chattanooga and the 13 other 2007
awardees will be highlighted in the April 2007 issue of Planning magazine
and on the APA website (www.planning.org).
“Partnerships have been the key to expanding use of bicycles in the
region,” said Melissa Taylor, senior planner with the Chattanooga-Hamilton
County Regional Planning Agency. “Without the high level of cooperation
between public agencies and private organizations, we could not have
accomplished as much as we have during the past six years,” she added.
Among those accomplishments
have been completion of a $50,000 Chattanooga Bicycle Facilities Master
Plan that provides a blueprint for undertaking $24 million in bicycle lane
and route improvements in the region during the next 20 years. Already
$300,000 in federal Surface Transportation Program funds have been used to
create 28 miles of dedicated bike lanes and share-the-road bike routes,
place bike racks on public buses and throughout downtown
Chattanooga, and published bicycling brochures and bikeway maps.
“Chattanooga citizens can expect another 30-plus miles of bike lanes and
routes next spring,” adds Bicycle Coordinator Phil Pugliese.
“More and
more residents are excited about bicycling. Since 2002 we’ve seen a steady
increase in the number of people riding bikes to work, to community events
and for recreation,” Taylor said, adding that 10 communities in the region
have adopted the 2002 Bicycle Facilities Master Plan. “Our area is on it’s
way to become one of the country’s leading places for bicycling.” For more
information about bicycling in Chattanooga visit
www.bikechattanooga.org
or to download the Bicycle Master Plan
CLICK HERE.
For a list
of all of the APA 2007 National Planning Excellence, Achievement, and
Leadership Award recipients, visit
http://www.planning.org/newsreleases/2006/ftp121506.htm. APA’s
national planning awards, considered by U.S. planners to be the
profession’s highest honor, is a tradition established more than 50 years
ago to recognize outstanding community plans, planning programs and
initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their
leadership on planning issues.
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