Bloviations

Below is my letter requesting that the four elected representatives from Onslow County (State Senator Harry Brown (NC Sen 6) and State Representatives Russell Tucker (NC House 4), George Cleveland (NC House 14) and Robert Grady (NC House 15)) work with their colleagues in the NC General Assembly and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to assist the City of Jacksonville in planning and funding the Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan.

I ask you all to write your elected representatives to support Jacksonville’s bicycle and pedestrian plan and to ask for their help in funding. I also ask that you write the City Council and Mayor of Jacksonville and urge them to begin planning for these projects. Nothing will motivate action more than written requests from the residents of Jacksonville.

Feel free to use my text or any portion of it for your own letter.

Recently, the Jacksonville City Council approved a long-range vision for improving bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure. This plan recommends the construction of more than 50 miles of sidewalks and 175 miles of marked bicycle lanes and improving existing intersections with marked crosswalks and signals.

It is not safe to bicycle on Jacksonville’s streets due to the lack of marked bicycle-only traffic lanes. The sidewalk network in Jacksonville is often limited to newer housing developments and does not extend into urban and shopping centers. There are very few marked and operational cross-walks to use when crossing streets and the busiest streets, Highway 24/Lejeune Boulevard, Highway 17/Marine Boulevard and Western Boulevard completely lack crossings. The approved plan will correct all of these deficiencies as well as provide for education for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians and will market the appropriate North Carolina General Statutes to residents.

The City will be eligible for Federal and State grants, as well as grants funded by private organizations. Grants will not pay for the entire project, however. I ask that you work with your colleagues in the North Carolina Senate/North Carolina House of Representatives to help fund these projects. I also ask that you urge the North Carolina Department of Transportation to work with Jacksonville City Staff to assist in the funding and planning of these projects.

Making real the vision of Jacksonville’s Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan will be expensive, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investments. Residents will be able to safely walk or bicycle to many of the City’s shopping and recreation areas as well as places of employment, which will reduce the badly congested streets. Children will be able to walk or bicycle safely to schools. Elderly residents will be able to safely bicycle or walk for recreation and exercise. Please help the City of Jacksonville become a safer, healthier and greener community.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Brock