Below is Chester County Commissioner Terence Farrell's response to our questionnaire about bicycling-related issues. He is running for re-election. His answers are underlined below.
Chester CountyCommissioner Candidate Questionnaire - October 2011
Over the last decade, significant numbers of residents in suburbanPhiladelphia have switched over to using their bike to commute to work. Between 2000 and 2009, the percentage of bikecommuters grew by 488% in Chester County, 126% in Delaware County, 84% inMontgomery County and 67% in Bucks.
Despite this growth, bicycle facilities in these counties havelagged behind in Philadelphia. Anonerous PennDOT regulation called the Bicycle Occupancy Permit (BOP) causesmunicipalities to be unwilling to agree to allow bike lanes on stateroads. Consequently, there are only 14miles of bike lanes in the four counties, as opposed to over 200 inPhiladelphia. The Bicycle Coalition isworking to remove this regulatory obstacle to help promote the development ofmore bicycle facilities in suburban counties.
1. Would you support completing the region's Trail Network by funding projects that would complete the Chester Valley Trail and Schuylkill River Trail in Chester County?
As a Chester County Commissioner, I have supported funding for the Chester Valley and Schuylkill River Trails, even when PennDOT did not. Going forward, I plan to continue to support funding for these trails to the best of the county's financial ability.
2. Would you support devoting more federal and state transportation funds to bicycle and pedestrian projects?
If Washington and Harrisburg are able to forward more funding for these projects, I would be supportive of it.
3. Would you support funding a Countywidebicycle plan and its implementation through PennDOT resurfacing projects?
I would consider such a plan, and I would like to hear more details.
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