 WalkBikeMarin is an initiative by the County of Marin to encourage walking and bicycling as everyday transportation as a way to make Marin more healthy, livable, and environmentally sustainable. Bringing together Marin County 's diverse pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects under one WalkBikeMarin umbrella website and initiative will help to make these projects more effective and make it easier for people to learn about them.
The WalkBikeMarin initiative was catalyzed by a recent $25 million federal grant. Marin was one of four communities selected in 2006 to receive this funding to demonstrate how investments in walking and biking could increase the number of people that walk and bike. This funding offers a unique opportunity for Marin County to make significant improvements to make it easier and safer to walk and bike in Marin.
Marin County is one of four communities nationally that has been selected by Congress to participate in a Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program and receive $25 million for improvements for walking and bicycling. The purpose of the pilot program is to demonstrate “the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the transportation load, and represent a major portion of the transportation solution, within selected communities. Read the full Enabling Legislation (Section 1807 of SAFETEA-LU)
A key outcome of the pilot program is a 'before' and 'after' study to document travel habits in each community. This will measure the effect of the pilot program investments and the results will be reported to Congress. This report will help decide whether or not this pilot program will be expanded to more communities in the next Federal transportation funding package.
Because the focus of the program is to encourage use of bicycles or walking instead of driving, projects are likely to be targeted in the most urbanized portions of the county and cannot be primarily recreational. Projects must also be constructed by the end of 2009 at the latest so that their effect can be measured in 2010.
Who is involved
Management and Oversight
The Pilot Program is being managed by the Marin County Department of Public Works. Craig Tackabery, Assistant Director, and Dan Dawson, Principal Transportation Planner, are coordinating its implementation.
Consultants
Alta Planning + Design has been selected as the lead consulting firm for the initial implementation of the Pilot Program. Alta and is team of supporting consultants will carry the program through the following key phases:
- public outreach
- website development
- public workshops
- preliminary cost and feasibility analysis
- priority and ranking methodology for projects and programs
- development of recommended list of capital projects and educational/outreach programs
Subsequent contracts will be awarded for design, environmental, and engineering services for selected capital projects. Some contract may be awarded for selected education and outreach programs that require specialized assistance.
Advisory Committee
The Director of Public Works appointed a nineteen-member advisory committee to assist project implementation. Committee members are participating in community workshops, assisting in the development of the project and program scoring and ranking methodology, soliciting feedback from their respective constituencies, and presenting a recommended schedule of projects and programs to be funded for consideration.
How you can participate
There will be public workshops and meetings throughout the process. To stay informed of these events and other activities, you can subscribe to this page by subscribing to this website. After subscribing to this site, you will be notified via email of upcoming meetings, workshops, and events.
• FAQ
• The pilot program process (as project timeline)
• Schedule for project
Fall 2006 |
“Before” transportation data gathered in Marin County
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November 2006 |
Public Workshop
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December 2006 to February 2007 |
Project and program ranking and prioritization; identification of supplemental funding sources; development of preliminary cost estimates; discussion with local jurisdictions on project feasibility
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March 2007 |
Presentation of recommended project and programs; community workshops
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April 2007 |
Selection of projects and programs to be funded by Board of Supervisors
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May-June 2007 |
Design and environmental review for selected capital projects begins; program development initiated
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Summer 2007 to Summer 2008 |
Selected programs initiated; design, environmental review, and regulatory permitting for selected capital projects
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Summer 2008 to Fall 2009 |
Construction of capital projects
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Spring 2010 |
“After” transportation data gathered in Marin County
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September 2010 |
Final report submitted to Congress describing effectiveness of pilot program investments |
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