Typically improvements in infrastructure for bicycles and pedestrians are obtained by regional grants. The San Mateo Transit Authority (TA) on which two of our local community members sit (with voting rights) has a call for projects with a deadline coming up very soon. This is a matching grant and will be judged using a number of criteria, ranging from connectivity to public transit, to sustainability, and serving an underserved community (ie. those who cannot afford a car, and bike to service jobs in Burlingame) etc.
The Public Works Dept., working with an advisory committee of Burlingame cyclists and pedestrians (B/PAC) is applying for such a grant to study a project— it is a Class II or better bike “facility” that will run between Murchison Drive to the north and Douglas Avenue in our downtown area. Currently, there are Stenciled “Sharrows” (meaning, the bikes and the cars are supposed to share the road (Class III) but striping a lane meant uniquely for the use of bike riders is generally seen as safer, particularly when children are riding.
It is very important in the judging phase of the grant that said projects have community support via written letters. These are relatively easy letters to write and a PDF from the city’s public works department shows the essential bullet points to include in the letter.
● Safer facility for all users (recreational bicyclists, commuters, students, etc.)
● Impacts to the underserved community
● Air quality concerns
● Impacts to local retail businesses
● Proximity to transit stations
The letters of support need to be completed and e-mailed to Andrew Wong in the Public Works Dept. of Burlingame at awong@burlingame.org ASAP. The deadline is this Thursday, December 16th. If we are able to show the study for design of the project has strong potential and support via the letters there is a good chance we will receive funding. Please consider sending a letter of support now.
Here is the "sharrow"
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