LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE

March, 1995 and March 1996

LOCAL PROGRAM

Transportation Position adopted at the March 30, 1996 Annual Meeting Transportation. Action in support of present positions especially on a transportation system that includes a comprehensive Eastern Sector Study and the implementation of a visioning process by the Leon County MPO to ensure environmentally sound planning and citizen participation in the decision making process. Transportation Position adopted at the March, 1995 Annual Meeting

• Action in support of present positions, especially on a comprehensive transportation system that includes environmentally sound planning.

The LWVT reached consensus, through that study, on several critical transportation issues. LWVT supports a transportation system that protects the environment and neighborhoods and gives incentives for multi-person transit.

To this end, LWVT supports parking limitations, dedicated high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOVs), Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies such as flex-time, telecommuting and ride-sharing. The LWVT agrees that consideration should be given to a light rail system. The LWVT supports establishment of a countywide bicycle and pedestrian system of bike lanes, bike paths and sidewalks to facilitate motor free transportation. Emphasis is placed on accommodating people who cannot or choose not to drive an automobile.

The LWVT supports creation of a balanced transportation system which emphasizes protection of the environment and underscores the need for alternatives to single occupancy vehicles. The LWVT, therefore, opposes the proposed limited access beltway known as the Northeast Parkway because of its devastating environmental impact, specifically on Lake Lafayette, and the fact that a corridor must be created -- it does not already exist -- and its adverse affect on mass transit planning. Additionally, there are no funds set aside for this Northeast Parkway; funds would be taken from other transportation projects already planned.

Adopted at the April 19, 1994 Board Meeting The League of Women Voters of Tallahassee (LWVT) reached consensus on several transportation issues after more than a year of research, in-depth study by committee, dissemination of information through the VOTER, and discussion by members at the 1994 Annual Meeting and at special consensus meetings held during April and May of 1994. All members of LWVT were invited and encouraged to participate. The following positions were adopted by the LWVT Board at their May 1994 regularly scheduled meeting affirming the general membership consensus at the special consensus meetings.

1. Sidewalks and bikeways should be included in all new and normal* resurfacing, drainage and roadway widening projects by both city and county.

• This is an appropriate policy

• LWVT should oversee the implementation of such a policy

• LWVT should help determine the working definition of "Normal" resurfacing to the extent we can.

• LWVT should oversee the determination of which projects are appropriate, to the extent we can

• Normal: no curbs, no drainage ditches, no impediments to adding bike lanes or sidewalks.

• be an essential component of the Tallahassee/Leon transportation plan

• consider correcting the impediments on a route if there is no "normal" connector route to complete a given countywide bikeways/sidewalk plan

• include oversight by LWVT

4. LWVT supports incentives which would create the desire to use multi-person transportation as opposed to single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) by the following means:

• Parking limitations, financial incentives, HOV lanes, preferential parking

• Telecommuting

• It would have a tremendous, adverse impact on the environment, especially on Lake Lafayette

• It would adversely impact need for and consideration of mass transit

• It would contribute to development sprawl

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