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GRANT APPLICATION TO SOUND CYCLISTS BICYCLE CLUB (d r a f t 7.28.16) SUBMITTED DATE/TBD BY: Town of Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee Sullivan Independence Hall, 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 http://fairfieldct.org/bikeped CONTACT: Donald Hyman, 61 Northfield Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
[email protected] mobile# 917 846 6767 MISSION: The Fairfield Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee’s mission is stimulating and facilitating implementation of the Town of Fairfield's Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The Board of Selectmen approved plan is in turn aimed at encouraging safe walking and biking for transportation, recreation, improved health and quality of life. The plan’s vision makes clear that walking and biking conserve energy, enhance air quality, reduce traffic and the need for parking and improve health and fitness. Walking and cycling also invigorate the local economy through increased access to local businesses and greater potential for tourism. Our Board of Selectmen appointed committee is the officially designated advocacy and educational task force to help achieve these communitywide benefits. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: To create safer and more bicycle friendly corridors linking different parts of town, Fairfield town departments in 2014 began creating a network of clearly signed and striped bicycle routes on the shoulders of appropriate town roads. With review and support from our committee, the town of Fairfield Engineering, Health and Public Works Departments and with final approval by the Fairfield Police Commission, three bicycle routes have been designated so far with more to come. (See attached bike route flyer) State grant funds allowed for two of the three bike routes, the 6.4 mile Shoreline Route and the 3.5 mile Mill Plain Road Route, to be clearly marked as bike routes. Bike route signage enhances public safety by reducing ambiguity for motorists and others using the road, making clear that bicycles can be expected to share that particular road. Unfortunately, budget reductions at both the state and local level have made it impossible to find funds to pay for similar safety marking and signage for our third route, the 4.2 mile Library to Library Route that links the main public library in downtown Fairfield to the Fairfield Woods Library branch in the Stratfield section of town. Taken together, the three routes would form a converged network of wellmarked corridors for cyclists to more safely use exploring scenic and popular areas of our community. Our hope is that Sound Cyclists can provide us funds cover costs for constructing 60 signs (30 in each direction) along the now invisible Library to Library Route. The town engineer advises that each sign costs $50 plus $30 for two sections of breakaway posts for a total of $80 per sign. A total grant of $4,800 would allow us to complete this strategic component benefiting all cyclists riding through Fairfield. ANNUAL BUDGET OF ORGANIZATION: We receive no budget appropriation. Any help from Sound Cyclists is very welcome!
