NJDOT announces appointment
of
bicycle-pedestrian advocate
In keeping with this week’s Earth Day festivities, NJDOT Commissioner John J. Haley, Jr. announced the appointment of Bill Feldman, Manager of NJDOT’s Bureau of Suburban Mobility, as NJDOT’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocate. Mr. Feldman had been serving in the position on an acting basis.
"Bill is a tireless advocate for New Jersey’s biking and pedestrian community," said Commissioner Haley. "His appointment highlights the importance this department places on bicycling and pedestrian issues in the nation’s most densely-populated state."
"People in New Jersey want to be able to walk and bicycle for fun, fitness and every day travel," Governor Christine Todd Whitman said. "Both activities are a routine part of our transportation system and we will continue to focus and strengthen our efforts to make bicycling and walking safe and accessible."
"I am honored that Commissioner Haley has selected me for this position," said Mr. Feldman. "The Commissioner has placed renewed importance on working toward a safer and more friendly transportation system for the thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians who use it every day."
"We will continue to review our roadway projects so that they address bicycle and pedestrian travel needs," the Commissioner said. "In all of our roadway projects, we will actively seek out ways to incorporate facilities that serve pedestrians and bicyclists. This is a real commitment and Bill’s appointment highlights the importance we place on it."
In 1995, NJDOT published the Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which provided a vision, policy and action plan for improving the bicycling and walking environment throughout the state. The plan was part of an comprehensive planning process that was mandated under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The plan serves as a strategic planning model for bicycling and walking modes.
NJDOT has been working to achieve the four strategic objectives of the Masterplan: (1) Increase the number of people bicycling or walking to work by 50 percent by the year 2000; (2) Increase the percentage of bicycle and pedestrian trips that are five miles or less from 12.5 percent to 20 percent of all trips; (3) Increase the number of commuters bicycling to transit stations so that 2.5 percent of train passengers arrive by bicycle at least once a week; and (4) bicycling and walking will be two of the top three most popular outdoor recreation activities by 2000.
NJDOT has also included an additional line item in the FY 1998 Capital Program of $1 million to fund a variety of bicycle and pedestrian improvements. NJ TRANSIT is also actively working on many pedestrian-friendly transit initiatives, including the installation of bike storage lockers at rail stations and installation of bus shelters in areas of pedestrian activity
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