HomeMy WebLinkAboutA005 - Letter from IDOT to Public Works Director dtaed July 17, 1997 Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010 515-239-1391
FAX 515-239-1982
July 17, 1997
Mr. Paul Wiegand
Public Works Director
515 Clark Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
Dear Mr. Wiegand:
We have received your request for a response to an inquiry from the
city of Ames regarding parking along the Hyland Avenue bikeway on
Sunday mornings from 7:OOam to noon. While the transportation
enhancement funding eligibility is ultimately determined by Federal
Highway Administration we cannot sanction parking on top of a bikeway.
This bikeway is being developed for transportation usage by bicycles.
Allowing motor vehicles to park on a bikeway would make the bikeway
unavailable for its intended usage and would compromise safety by
creating an inconsistency in the availability of the bicycle facility.
Evidence indicates that allowing parking on bicycle lanes can increase
accident potential .
Allowing parking on top of this bikeway could violate the usage
guidelines of the federal funding (Transportation Enhancements) which
was approved for its construction. Facilities for bicycles are
included as an eligible funding activity for usage of Transportation
Enhancement funds, widening streets to accommodate parking areas for
motor vehicles is not.
Sincerely,
Harry S. Budd, Director
Office of Project Planning
HSB:NJB
cc: Mike Clayton, Central Iowa Transportation Center, Iowa DOT
Bob Butin, Central Iowa Transportation Center, Iowa DOT
Larry Jesse, Local Systems, Iowa DOT
Mike Schweyen, FHWA