ADVOCACY ALERT: Submit comments on Tybee Island Project

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is seeking feedback about a proposed solution to reduce crash frequency and severity on US 80/SR 26 from Lazaretto Creek to Tybrisa Street on Tybee Island, Chatham County.

The proposed improvements, which can be seen on the GDOT website, would improve safety and accessibility and reduce the frequency and severity of vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle crashes along the corridor. They would also allow for improved emergency response times and provide better connections to the Bull River and Lazaretto Creek bridge replacements.

Bike Walk Savannah is in support of the project, with the following modifications to increase the safety of people walking and biking:

  • Instead of parking stops and flexible bollards, protect the cycletrack with a continuous curb and armadillo bumps at intersections.
  • 2nd Ave. is part of Tybee Island’s official bike route, but lacks a safe crossing at the intersection. Jones Ave. has a signal, but bicyclists have to go through a parking lot to get to it. This area needs better planning for safe travel.
  • People driving should not cross a cycletrack to back in to parking spaces. Additionally, the proposed design requires a two-phase crossing at N Campbell Ave., which is the main way to get to North Beach, and also has businesses on 3 corners that frequently see vehicles entering and exiting parking lots. During peak times this intersection sees many turning cars, which would reduce the opportunity for safe crossings for people walking and biking. Instead, the crossing should be moved closer to McKenzie Ave. or Byers St., which see a much lower number of turning vehicles.
  • If the crossing remains at Campbell Ave., parking should be parallel and be placed between the motor vehicle lane and the cycletrack as protection.
  • Recommend adding a crosswalk at 6th Ave. to facilitate safer pedestrian crossing opportunities.

GDOT is accepting public comments through April 8, 2024. View the project presentation and find out more information at us-80-tybee-safety-improvements-0019699-gdot.hub.arcgis.com, and click here to take the survey.

ADVOCACY ALERT: US80/SR26 Public Information Open House

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is seeking feedback about a proposed solution to reduce crash frequency and severity on US 80/SR 26 from Lazaretto Creek to Tybrisa Street on Tybee Island, Chatham County.

The Georgia Department of Transportation will host an in-person PIOH where the community will have the opportunity to view presentation materials regarding the US80/SR26 Project, engage with project team members, and submit comments. This project is proposed to improve safety and accessibility and to reduce the frequency and severity of vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle crashes along the corridor.

The Public Information Open House will take place on Thursday, March 28 from 4-8 p.m.

All materials are also available for view on GDOT’s website, including the detailed project presentation. A survey can be found at this link, as well as at the bottom of the page. Feedback must be provided by April 8.

CAT to Hold Public Meetings on Bus Stop Inventory Project

Chatham Area Transit (CAT) is seeking public input on the condition of the system’s bus stops, to assist in the overall update of Chatham’s Transportation System. The Chatham Area Transit Bus Stop Inventory project, currently underway, investigates and documents the current location and conditions of more than 1,000 bus stops and compiles them in a geographic information system (GIS) database. In addition, CAT is going through the process of updating its amenities guidelines for the first time since 2011. 

Chatham Area Transit delivers public transportation services that connect people to the places they need and want to go reliably, safely, and sustainably. 

CAT will host public meetings at the Joe Murray Rivers Jr., Intermodal Transit Center, located at 610 W. Oglethorpe Ave., on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 6 p.m. There will be no formal presentation. These meetings will provide the public an opportunity to preview the inventory findings and provide input on recommended bus stop improvements. 

“We want to hear from every user of the bus system. Your feedback is critical to help us get projects programmed and to upgrade our facilities,” said Executive Director and CEO Faye DiMassimo. 

In addition to the in-person meetings, the public can provide input by completing the bus stop improvement survey at http://tinyurl.com/bdzkdu6f. Surveys will be accepted until March 31, 2024. 

Vision Zero public survey open through Sept. 1!

Thank you to everyone who came out for the City of Savannah’s Vision Zero community meetings! 

The Savannah Vision Zero Action Plan, which was developed last year with an aim to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, acknowledges that many factors contribute to safe mobility and sets clear objectives to achieve the overall shared goal of zero traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

At the drop-in sessions, participants were able to review information, ask questions, and provide input, and at the interactive workshops participants worked in groups to identify opportunities for improvement, areas of concern, and speak directly with City leaders and staff. 

But if you weren’t able to attend, you can still have your voice heard! An online survey containing all in-person exercises is available at savannahga.gov/visionzero through Friday, Sept. 1.

To learn more about Vision Zero and review the current plan document, visit savannahga.gov/visionzero.

Vision Zero Plan Drop-In Sessions and Interactive Workshops

In August, the City of Savannah is hosting Vision Zero drop-in sessions and interactive workshops for the public. 

Drop-in sessions: participants can stop in anytime during the session and stay for the amount of time they have available to review information, ask questions, and provide input. 

Interactive workshops: participants will be involved for the full length of the meeting, which will include presentations, Q&A, group discussion, and exercises to gather input on traffic safety needs and ideas.

Tuesday, August 8

Armstrong Center, Ballroom BC 
13040 Abercorn Street (Corner of Apache and Abercorn streets) 

  • Drop-in Session: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Interactive Workshop: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, August 9

Savannah Civic Center Ballroom
301 West Oglethorpe Avenue

  • Drop-in Session:  11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Interactive Workshop:  6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

To learn more about Vision Zero and review the current plan document, visit www.savannahga.gov/visionzero.

ADVOCACY ALERT: Ask Congress to create a safe sustainable transportation system

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (formerly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework) is moving fast — and so far it looks pretty good for people who bike and walk.

Is it perfect? No. While it is a great step forward that will build safer, more accessible communities — and while we celebrate the wins for bicycling and walking — we can take action today to make the bill better.

Join us and the League in contacting your Senators in support of amendments to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that will mitigate some of the bill’s shortcomings.

We’re asking the Senate to support amendments that would:

  • Bring back key parts of the Bicycle Commuter Benefit (Brown 2236)
  • Require states to set road safety goals that actually reflect better safety outcomes (Klobuchar 2301)
  • Increase funding for the Reconnecting Communities Program to reverse harm caused to Black and brown communities by highway construction (Warnock/Cardin 2167)
  • Require states to fix and maintain roads before building new ones (Kaine 2143)
  • Collect data on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (Cardin 2465)

Read more about these amendments on their blog »

Take action now to show that bike advocates want this bipartisan bill to be as transformative as possible not only for people who bike, walk, and roll, but for everyone.

Click here to sign on.

Participate in the SR-21 Access Management Study!

The CORE MPO, in collaboration with the City of Garden City, is undertaking a State Route 21 Access Management Study from I-516 to Grange Road. The study will provide a vision for SR 21 and a set of recommendations to address the corridor’s operations and safety, and provide mobility improvements, streetscape elements, and increase economic development.
There are a few ways to join in the process!
ONLINE SURVEY
You can participate in an online survey by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/SR21Phase1 or texting “sr21phase1” to 833-382-1387.
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 from 6-7 p.m.
https://bit.ly/2Q7foP8
Meeting ID: 954-4050-2374
Passcode: 983669
COMMENT ON THE INTERACTIVE MAP
Have an idea on how they can improve State Route 21 in Garden City? Use the online tools to add feedback or specific comments. https://wikimapping.com/SR-21-Access-Management-Study.html

April Newsletter: Get ready for Spring!

It’s officially spring in Savannah, which means we’re getting ready for our Bike and Pedestrian Counts!

These counts help us keep track of how people are moving around the City — and help us plan for safer places for people to bike, walk and roll. We have shifts available from April 19 through May 15 all around the City, and you can sign up for a shift on our website.

We also have two action alerts for you this month, one of which is in our own backyard. Friends of Forsyth is soliciting feedback on their proposed designs for the Forsyth Park Master Plan, and you can take their survey at their website.

The other opportunity is a little more technical, and all your help is appreciated! If you’ve ever submitted a traffic calming request, asked the City for a crosswalk, or wondered how engineers decide what type of bike lane to install, you may be interested to learn that it’s not necessarily up to neighborhood residents — or even up to traffic engineer’s wishes.

Instead, these decisions are up to a technical document called the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This manual is meant to create “uniformity” in the look of our road signs and symbols, including traffic lights, crosswalks and all kinds of street markings. Unfortunately, it is full of assumptions and value judgements that privilege driver’s convenience over the safety of people biking and walking.

But we have good news! The MUTCD is currently being revised by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and we have a chance to make it better. Our friends at The League of American Bicyclists have drafted a great overview on the MUTCD and areas of concern, and America Walks has prepared a comment template that you can use. We encourage you to visit their websites and submit comments on the MUTCD by May 14.

Stay tuned for our Bike Month events. See you out biking, walking and rolling!

Caila Brown
Executive Director, Bike Walk Savannah

ACTION ALERT: Do you support dedicating more funding for trails? Contact your state legislators today

At their Feb. 25, 2021 meeting the Savannah City Council adopted a resolution to increase the City’s hotel/motel tax from 6 to 8%. As part of this increase, they have allocated $17 million in funding for trails, sidewalks and other connections between westside neighborhoods, the Historic District and the new arena, and $10 million in funding for to expand the Tide To Town urban trail system.

We support this legislation for quite a few reasons:

  • The completion of the roughly 30-mile core loop of Tide To Town would result in almost 60% of Savannah neighborhoods being within a 1/4 mile or 5 minute walk of the loop, and serve over 100,000 Chatham County residents who live within a 3/4 mile biking distance.
  • This is a project for all Savannahians: nearly 75% of neighborhoods within the Core Loop walking distance are majority-minority.
  • 10 neighborhoods that include Savannah Chatham County Public School System’s Title I schools are within the Core Loop walking distance.
  • According to 2016 U.S. Census Bureau data, 13.7% of Savannah residents lack access to a motor vehicle. These residents rely on walking, using public transportation and biking to get to their jobs, doctors appointments, grocery stores, etc., and providing direct access to dedicated facilities like the Tide To Town Urban Trail System will only further help them.

While the funding is for tourism related projects, we know that Savannah and Chatham County residents of all ages and abilities will be able to enjoy every single project on the list. If you also support this proposed hotel/motel tax increase, we encourage you to contact your state representative or senator today. Click here to find out your representative in the Coastal Delegation.

ACTION ALERT: Savannah City Council to vote on proposed increase to hotel/motel tax

At the Feb. 25, 2021 Savannah City Council meeting, council will vote on a resolution to increase the hotel/motel tax, with a portion of the taxes collected for tourism product development supporting $10 million for “the expansion of the Tide To Town Urban Trail Network,” as well as allocating $17 million “ to create trail, sidewalk, and other connections between the Historic District, westside neighborhoods, and the new arena.”

This modest adjustment, from 6% to 8%, would provide significant funding for trail construction and other much needed infrastructure investments in Savannah and would put us on the map as a world-class destination for biking and walking.

Click here to read the resolution and supporting information from the City of Savannah.

Want to share your thoughts with City Council? We’ve included some sample text below. Click here to find your council member’s email.

My name is [Name] and I am a resident of [District #]. I am writing to you in support of the proposed Hotel/Motel Tax increase, that would support the expansion of Tide To Town and create trail, sidewalk, and other connections between the Historic District, westside neighborhoods, and the new arena. The proposed projects, like Tide To Town, will create safe and welcoming places for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities to walk, bike and exercise safely and experience all districts of our great city. Thank you for your support.