Since I try to do my best to improve my little corner of the world, I like to keep abreast of what my wee burgh of P Dot undertakes to address upcoming challenges of livability, Climate Change (or Climate Weirding, if you prefer), and active modes of transportation.<\/p>\n
I’m sure most of us have heard that many cities are promoting the use of bicycles, walking, and mass transit over single-occupant vehicles as a healthier way of getting around. (Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or in a cave, you should be aware of this. If not, go back from whence you came)<\/p>\n
My wee burgh of P Dot, in a sudden moment of clarity, undertook a massive initiative to map out an Active Transportation Plan in 2014, with an aggressive completion timeline of 10 years (2024).<\/p>\n
See link here: <\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.avtransitiontown.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/2014-06-24_FINAL_Port_Alberni_Active_Transportation_Report.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n This is an extremely comprehensive report (some 89 pages long!), and, I’m certain, quite costly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will see, in the report, very detailed plans to promote both walking and cycling, with timelines to undertake closing gaps in the pedestrian networks (sidewalks, road crossings, and bridges); and creating cycling networks (protected bike lanes, and cross-town pathways). All Good, you say? Not so fast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2017, a local group, Cycle Alberni, with the support of Alberni Valley Transition Town Society (AVTTS) took it upon themselves to complete a review of the Active Transportation Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is the review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n http:\/\/www.avtransitiontown.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ATP_review_09.2017_Report.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n An equally long and comprehensive report (at 91 pages, it is longer than the document it is reviewing!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, in 4 years P Dot has done the very minimum (and in most cases, less than the minimum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is distressing, and crazy-making for those of us who pay attention to such things; there seems to be a willful resistance by the PTB’s at P Dot’s “Ivory Tower”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One stunning example of the “Ivory Tower’s” foot dragging:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On March 21, 2017 the City was awarded a $200,000+ grant from the Ministry of Transportation to build a Multi-Use Path along one of P Dot’s busiest (and most industrial) streets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n See here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.portalberni.ca\/news\/march-21-2017-701pm\/news-release-\u2013-city-awarded-grant-stamp-avenue-multi-use-path<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n To date, that path is nowhere to be seen, and the grant has been rescinded, as P Dot took too long to get their ducks in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And now, in 2020, I see that the BC Government has just opened the grant application intake for its “B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program”<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/transportation\/funding-engagement-permits\/funding-grants\/active-transportation-infrastructure-grants<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since I don’t trust P Dot PTB’s to act on anything unless pushed, I sent them a message on Facebook:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Me: “Has the City applied for any of these grants to further the City’s own Active Transportation Plan (which has a 10 year completion date of 2024)?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n City: \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n City: “That grant intake just opened up and we are all over it”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Me: “Good news. What part of the Active Transportation Plan, specifically, are you applying for funding for?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n City: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Me: <\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m hearing a Cricket Opera here, and it’s pretty tragic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, all one can do is keep pushing, but if P Dot doesn’t pull head out of hind end, the best thing one can do is move away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last person out, please remember to turn out the lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Since I try to do my best to improve my little corner of the world, I like to keep abreast of what my wee burgh of P Dot undertakes to address upcoming challenges of livability, Climate Change (or Climate Weirding, if you prefer), and active modes of transportation. I’m sure most of us have heard … Continue reading Active Transportation Plan<\/span>