Originally Posted by
irwin7638
Oh we all agree the resurfacing needs to be done, here in Michigan, most have been placed back on the schedule until absolutely necessary. The budgets in this state (with a falling population) are disappearing before they can be put on paper. In this county they have placed all resurfacing on hold until their budget stabilizes. But that is what the planning commission is trying to help prioritize for the state, where money can be effectively spent in the coming years since the funds for non-motorized facilities is limited. Are there any efforts being made in the Toronto area to get public feedback to prioritized the routes which are developed for cycling? I think the time being spent here in local communities is going to make a tremendous difference in the coming years.
Counties should, like cities have an ongoing budget for repairs, this would include road resurfacing, bridge re-decking, line painting and other similar projects, and you can pretty much determine that if you resurface a particular road today, that in 2039 you will be back there doing the same job again. Pushing back todays maintenance simply means that you will either have a much bigger job in the future, or more projects to complete a couple of years down the road. In some places states/provinces are actually running deficits to fund some of these projects, simply to keep construction workers employed.
Toronto has the infamous bikeway network, a planned collection of bike lanes and routes covering the city, with 1004km of bike lanes, sharrows and off road paths. As of October 6, 2009 they had 418km actually build, so at the current average rate they will probably be finished closer to 2031 then 2011. Part of the problem in Toronto, is that to install a bicycle lane, you need to go through a process similar to a zoning variance, with public consultations and a council vote. Building anything that passes in front any business is likely to bring the wrath of the local Business Improvement Association, because we all know that only people in cars, parked within 5mm of the front of the business the want to waddle into, ever buy anything.
What is needed is an update to the road standards that requires all streets that are rebuilt with more then a certain number of motor vehicles per peak hour, have a bicycle lane installed, if there is room, when the street is repainted , if there isn't room, then when street construction work is planned.