Support Scudder Falls Bridge - The Bike Path to Everywhere

December is turning out to be a banner month for showing up at meetings and testifying to save bikeways. We have one final lump of coal that you need to help us throw into the blast furnace.

The proposed bicycle and pedestrian walkway on the Scudder Falls Bridge is being criticized as a waste of money ahead of a public meeting about an Environmental Assessment on the project. Supporters of the walkway can:

• Send e-mails voicing your support for the walkway.
• Attend the public hearing to show support for the project (see details below).

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission has opened up public comment for the final version of the Environmental Assessment for the Scudder Falls Bridge. This new addition is the result of the demand to publish the environmental impact of charging automated tolls on the bridge (who knew?).

Take Action - Bikes & Peds Deserve Space on Scudder Falls Bridge

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission remains uncommitted to including a walkway on the new Scudder Falls (I-95) Bridge that they plan to build over the Delaware River, even though a new pathway is the number one request from the public. The Commission is taking public comments on its "Environmental Assessment" until February 4, 2009.

Make your voice heard that the new bridge must include a bike/ped pathway:

1 - Submit testimony at one of two public hearings and testify that you support the pathway

• Tuesday January 19, 2010 Villa Victoria Academy, 376 Upper Ferry Road, Ewing NJ (MAP)
• Wednesday January 20, 2010 Sheraton Bucks County Hotel, 400 Oxford Valley Rd, Langhorne, PA (MAP)

2 - Send Your Comments to the Bridge Commission

And Now Let's Hear From A Trail Steward Who Is Opposed To Trails

Looking through the Environmental Assessment I have to date found only one letter that specifically opposed the inclusion of the path on the Scudder Falls Bridge. Ironically it came from the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission. In a letter on August 5th 2008 Executive Director Ernest P Hahn. wrote "While we support the goal of increasing pedestrian access in the vicinity of the Canal Park, because the impacts associated with the construction of the path pedestrian path we do not support its inclusion in the design of the new bridge."

Really? You are not opposed to a 9 lane highway crossing the canal's path but are opposed to the path that connects the trail to the canal towpath in Pennsylvania. Perhaps it should be rewritten to say "While we support the goal of increasing pedestrian access in the vicinity of the Canal Park we are opposed to the most effective strategy that would achieve that goal."

I would suggest that the Commission reconsider their opposition and work with the DRJTBC to come up with suggestions to minimize canal impacts, much like they did for the rest of project.

Sign the Petition for a Scudder Falls Bridge Pathway

Please sign the petition for the inclusion of a non-motorized pathway on the new I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge. http://www.petitiononline.com/scudrfls/petition.html

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) remains uncommitted to the inclusion of the path, citing that the extra cost which will add about 7% to the projected total cost of the project. The pathway has emerged as the top request from the public involvement process.

The petition is the launching of the final push to ensure that the DRJTBC designs a 21st Century Bridge that is accessible to all users of the transportation system, not just diminishing motor vehicle traffic.

The Commission is building the bridge on the basis of an anticipated 28% increase in traffic by 2030. As we have been reporting the $4 gas threshold is driving VMT (vehicle miles traveled) down, already to 2004 levels. Can we really depend on our traffic models at all?

To learn more about the project go to - http://scudderfallsbridge.org/