WHEREAS a sound and functional railway system provides citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States with a safe and an energy-efficient alternative to our current transportation infrastructure by decreasing traffic, air pollution, reducing wear and damage to our roads and providing energy efficient transportation alternatives to cars and trucks; and
WHEREAS President Obamahas strongly advocated the need for rail transportation improvements, including high-speed rail and for greater efforts to promote active lifestyles for healthy Americans,including outdoor physical activities such as walking, hiking and cycling; and
WHEREAS both a superior transportation system and enhanced tourism and recreational activities will provide a needed economic stimulus to both the private sector and our local, state and federal governments; and
WHEREAS the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and federal Intermodal Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) call for improving safety, reducing traffic congestion, improving efficiency in freight movement, increasing intermodal connectivity, and protecting the environment while empowering state and local officials to make the best choices for their citizens; and
WHEREAS VTrans2025 challenges the Commonwealth to take a leadership role in multi-modal transportation by incorporating pedestrian, bike and rail-friendly design, as appropriate, whenever there is a major reconstruction or construction; and
WHEREAS state and federal tax dollars will be spent over the next decade to improve, upgrade and enhance a number of rail corridors throughout the Commonwealth and citizens should directly benefit by the investment of their public monies; and
WHEREAS a network of statewide rails with trails could provide a connecting infrastructure for many of the statewide, long distance trails including the James River Heritage, Beaches to Bluegrass, Potomac Heritage Trail and Interstate Bike Routes 1 and 76; and
WHEREAS it is both timely and appropriate to encourage the planning and implementation of rails with trails projects across America to include such beneficial needs as the development of the East Coast Greenway as part of the proposed Southeastern High Speed Rail project in Virginia and North Carolina; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that as the Commonwealth funds rail expansion, enhancement and renovation projects, bike and pedestrian accommodations - rails with trails – shall be required as an integral and mandatory component of these projects and the Commonwealth shall embrace a true multi-modal design philosophy for current and future rails projects, including the Southeast High Speed, Crescent and Heartland Rail Corridors; and be it
RESOLVED FURTHER that the Commonwealth work with other states to support and promote the extension of these trails to create a multi-state network of trails which will benefit citizens throughout the United States for generations.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 27, 2009
July 27, 2009
Reaching one thousand supporters will signify that our vision for integrated transit is shared by many who value both efficiency and recreation. I ask that you invite those within your personal circles to join this movement before we present our case to the officials.
May 4, 2009
The feedback I have received from many of you highlights just how much our communities desire more thoughtful infrastructure. Behind the scenes, I am preparing to present these arguments to the officials who manage our local transit priorities. This project remains a slow process but your continued persistence ensures our goals stay in view.
Reached 100 supporters
May 3, 2009
6 Comments
I support not removing the rails. Keeping the rails there keeps the railway occupied as a railway. Once the rails are removed the fact that it is a railway can be challenged by the locals.
Here is a look at the many different types of Right Of Ways where you can build trails: http://www.pedestrians.org/topics/row.htm
This project will keep cyclists safe and encourage healthy commuting options while reducing traffic.
Here is a look at the many different types of Right Of Ways where you can build trails: http://www.pedestrians.org/topics/row.htm
We need more places to ride bikes that arent on the shoulder of busy roads. This is a common sense fix for virginia.
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WHEREAS a sound and functional railway system provides citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States with a safe and an energy-efficient alternative to our current transportation infrastructure by decreasing traffic, air pollution, reducing wear and damage to our roads and providing energy efficient transportation alternatives to cars and trucks; and
WHEREAS President Obamahas strongly advocated the need for rail transportation improvements, including high-speed rail and for greater efforts to promote active lifestyles for healthy Americans,including outdoor physical activities such as walking, hiking and cycling; and
WHEREAS both a superior transportation system and enhanced tourism and recreational activities will provide a needed economic stimulus to both the private sector and our local, state and federal governments; and
WHEREAS the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and federal Intermodal Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) call for improving safety, reducing traffic congestion, improving efficiency in freight movement, increasing intermodal connectivity, and protecting the environment while empowering state and local officials to make the best choices for their citizens; and
WHEREAS VTrans2025 challenges the Commonwealth to take a leadership role in multi-modal transportation by incorporating pedestrian, bike and rail-friendly design, as appropriate, whenever there is a major reconstruction or construction; and
WHEREAS state and federal tax dollars will be spent over the next decade to improve, upgrade and enhance a number of rail corridors throughout the Commonwealth and citizens should directly benefit by the investment of their public monies; and
WHEREAS a network of statewide rails with trails could provide a connecting infrastructure for many of the statewide, long distance trails including the James River Heritage, Beaches to Bluegrass, Potomac Heritage Trail and Interstate Bike Routes 1 and 76; and
WHEREAS it is both timely and appropriate to encourage the planning and implementation of rails with trails projects across America to include such beneficial needs as the development of the East Coast Greenway as part of the proposed Southeastern High Speed Rail project in Virginia and North Carolina; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that as the Commonwealth funds rail expansion, enhancement and renovation projects, bike and pedestrian accommodations - rails with trails – shall be required as an integral and mandatory component of these projects and the Commonwealth shall embrace a true multi-modal design philosophy for current and future rails projects, including the Southeast High Speed, Crescent and Heartland Rail Corridors; and be it
RESOLVED FURTHER that the Commonwealth work with other states to support and promote the extension of these trails to create a multi-state network of trails which will benefit citizens throughout the United States for generations.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 27, 2009
July 27, 2009
Reaching one thousand supporters will signify that our vision for integrated transit is shared by many who value both efficiency and recreation. I ask that you invite those within your personal circles to join this movement before we present our case to the officials.
May 4, 2009
The feedback I have received from many of you highlights just how much our communities desire more thoughtful infrastructure. Behind the scenes, I am preparing to present these arguments to the officials who manage our local transit priorities. This project remains a slow process but your continued persistence ensures our goals stay in view.
Reached 100 supporters
May 3, 2009
6 Comments
Railways are a fabulous and fantastic opportunity to use an existing resource/entity for public recreation and enjoyment. If these properties are broken/segmented, they will be lost forever.
I support not removing the rails. Keeping the rails there keeps the railway occupied as a railway. Once the rails are removed the fact that it is a railway can be challenged by the locals.
Here is a look at the many different types of Right Of Ways where you can build trails: http://www.pedestrians.org/topics/row.htm
This project will keep cyclists safe and encourage healthy commuting options while reducing traffic.
Here is a look at the many different types of Right Of Ways where you can build trails: http://www.pedestrians.org/topics/row.htm
We need more places to ride bikes that arent on the shoulder of busy roads. This is a common sense fix for virginia.
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Railways are a fabulous and fantastic opportunity to use an existing resource/entity for public recreation and enjoyment. If these properties are broken/segmented, they will be lost forever.