|
|
 |
Bike/Walk Twin Cities
What is Bike/Walk Twin Cities? 
Bike/Walk Twin Cities (formerly known as the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTP)) was established in 2005 as part of the six-year federal transportation law known as SAFETEA-LU. The law provides $21.5 million to four communities nationwide to evaluate how investments in planning, infrastructure, and public education can increase rates of bicycling and walking and reduce driving. The four pilot communities include Minneapolis and its adjoining communities; Sheboygan County, Wisconsin; Marin County, California; and Columbia, Missouri. Transit for Livable Communities (TLC) was chosen to administer the program in Minnesota.
The Board of Directors of Transit for Livable Communities is the decision-making body for the program in Minneapolis and its adjoining communities. TLC is working closely with its agency partners: the Federal Highway Administration, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the Metropolitan Council.
 The TLC Board has established a 29 member committee to advise it on implementation of the program. The committee includes representatives from neighborhood organizations, non-profits, small businesses, citizen activists, elected officials, and agency partners. The advisory committee meets monthly and is organized into three subcommittees – all meetings are open to the public.
TLC is working closely with the other pilot communities to share information and ideas. TLC meets twice yearly with staff from the other three pilot communities and participates in conference calls twice per month.
Project/Location Eligibility
 Transit for Livable Communities, in consultation with its its advisory committee and agency partners, will decide how the program funds will be used. A large percentage of the funding will be granted out to units of government and agencies for planning, education/promotion, and infrastructure projects.
Although the program primarily focuses on Minneapolis, consideration will also be given to projects that improve access by bicycle, transit, and walking into and out of Minneapolis.
The adjoining communities share a physical border with Minneapolis and include: Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Lauderdale, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Fort Snelling State Park, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Roseville, St. Anthony, St. Louis Park, and St. Paul.
Timeline
TLC plans to have the first of three project solicitations (request for applications) in early 2007.
Measurement
 Since this is a pilot project, measurement is a key partof the program. The pilot communities will be initiating several types of measurements to track the results of the program. First, the four communities collectively hired the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota to do baseline and bookend surveys in the four communities. Those mail and telephone surveys will track travel behavior and attitudes.
In addition, there will be project specific surveying and bicycle and pedestrian counts. This September, TLC organized bicycling and pedestrian counts at 20 locations in Minneapolis. 30 volunteers helped TLC with this work.
Program History
In 2005, Congress passed a $286.5 billion dollar transportation bill. The transportation bill guaranteed over $3 billion for bicycling throughout the nation over the next six years. This included $100 million for a Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTP) and $612 million for a National Safe Routes to School Program, which will promote bicycling and walking to school in all 50 states.
Resources
|
|
