[oldcoote]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Claremont bike lanes won’t be fast-tracked
(Hamilton Spectator, Matthew Van Dongen, Jan 19 2016)

Even extra cash can't fast-track the creation of Claremont Access bike lanes this year.

Several city councillors asked Tuesday what it would take to add separated bike lanes in 2016 to the Mountain access, where a cyclist was struck and killed late last year.

"Can funding speed this thing up?" asked Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr, who discussed with fellow councillors how to pool ward infrastructure cash if required.

The short answer is no, said Daryl Bender, the city's cycling project manager. He said the traffic and collision studies, community consultation and related work for the project require either more time — or more staff — than is currently available in 2016.

Pushing forward the Claremont project this year would mean other cycling projects "would have to fall off the table," he said.

The committee voted to endorse the staff plan to report back late this year on the proposed cycling solution for the Claremont access, with construction in 2017.



2017 achievable target for Claremont Access bike lane
(CHML News, Ken Mann, Jan 19 2016)

It’s not as fast as some would like, but a timeline is in place for construction of a dedicated bike lane up the Claremont Access.

Staff will complete the study and design work before pitching a solution to city politicians before the end of the year. Plans are to build the bike lane in 2017.

Transportation Planner Darryl Bender says that’s as fast as they can go, noting that a long list of other cycling infrastructure projects are already on the books in 2016.

He stresses that “money isn’t the only obstacle”. Bender adds that staff also have to be available to review, manage and advance a project.

The Claremont bike lane was fast-tracked in early December, after kindergarten teacher and mountain resident Jay Keddy was struck and killed while cycling on the access.

Ridiculous. The only information you need is that a cyclist died. Period. Stop with the studies as to how a bike lane will impact cars, and accentuate how it will save lives.