TriMet GM Neil McFarlane knows
that better biking and walking
access to transit will result
in more trips.
(Photo © J. Maus)
TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane knows how important it is to get the right language into Transportation System Plans (TSPs) — the documents that dictate many of the transportation policies and investments in cities and counties throughout our region.
Back in June, McFarlane sent out a letter urging cities, counties, and other jurisdictions to beef up support for bicycling and walking projects at the outset of their TSP updates.
I got a copy of the letter and have pasted the key paragraph below (emphasis mine):
“TriMet wants to support your goals by providing quality transit service that boosts mobility, improves access to jobs, fights congestion, and enhances the sustainability of our region. But as you may know, many areas still lack the basic sidewalk infrastructure to allow and encourage access to our service. As a regional partner, your work on safety issues, traffic operations that affect transit, and pedestrian and bicycle projects are fundamental to our ability to serve the mobility needs of local areas and of the region. We provide the service, but you control much of what makes transit successful. Safe and walkable streets are fundamental to good transit, because every transit rider is a pedestrian first and last.”
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