The Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board (B/PAB) reviews transportation planning proposals and programs affecting bicycle and pedestrian transportation within the Gainesville Metropolitan Area. The BPAB makes recommendations to the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO), the City Commission, and the County Commission on all matters concerning planning, implementation, and maintenance of policies, programs, and facilities for safe and efficient pedestrian and bicyclist activities.
Most recently, the B/PAB has been involved in discussing the improvement of the bicycle/pedestrian path which lies on the south side of State Road 26A and extends from SW 34th Street to West University. The pathway is narrow and in disrepair in several locations making it a potential safety hazard for those who use it. The B/PAB is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to make this a priority project.
In May, the Gainesville City Commission requested that the B/PAB outline "Traffic Calming Strategies and Bicycle Safety Operational Improvements for the College Park/University Heights Special Districts. In June, several B/PAB members attended the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board meeting to discuss preliminary recommendations. As a result, the B/PAB developed several specific recommendations which fall into one of six broad categories:
Other issues:
The B/PAB is aware of the concern over the increased speed limit on intrastate highways (U.S. 441, U.S. 301 & Waldo Road) around the Gainesville area. We have voiced our concern to the state DOT but at the current time, they are unlikely to return the speed limit to 55 mph.
The B/PAB is supporting the "Presidential Task Force on Transportation and Parking." A letter written to President Lombardi praised the bicycle/pedestrian-friendly nature of the report and the initiative taken by UF. The letter also included suggestions for increasing lighting for pedestrian walkways, especially at access points to campus, and for the expansion of SNAP (night time on-campus escort service). Better linkages to the transit system for bicycling and walking, including the installation of bicycle racks and benches at all major bus stops on and off campus, were recommended.
Roadway design projects - Potential improvements for the Glen Springs Road and NE 16th Avenue corridors are being considered.