The Washington State Department of Transportation recently released part one of its Washington State Active Transportation Plan, 2020 and Beyond.
The plan assesses the needs for accessible pedestrian and bicyclist facilities, addresses the increasing number of fatalities among road users, highlights safety concerns, identifies driving speed and roadway crossings as top factors, and exams state right of way and its suitability for active transportation.
The plan also describes the concept of a statewide bikeways and trails network, estimates the cost of improvements in population centers, examines the effects of past infrastructure decisions on safety and mobility, and offers the use of a data-based evaluation tool for state right of way and population centers when analyzing the effects of land-use change.
“Whether you drive, bike, walk, or roll, the state’s highway rights-of-way serve as the backbone of our transportation system,” Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar said. “In the engagement for this plan, we heard very clearly that state routes need to connect people, not separate them. With this plan, we have new understanding to help us work with our partners to create complete, safer, and more accessible networks for each and every one of us, regardless of how we get around.”