May is Bike Month
May features numerous bike events including the Miami Valley Cycling Summit on May 29 in Piqua. Register at www.cyclingsummit.com by May 15th to receive a free lunch and sponsor donated gifts.
Bikeway Plan Update
Staff is working diligently to prepare the draft plan update ready for public review. The Public Comment period for the Draft Plan will open May 13th and at that time you will find it on our website at www.mvrpc.org/bike-plan-update. We will also present the draft update at the Miami Valley Cycling Summit, and host a Public Participation Meeting at our main offices on June 3rd from 4-6 p.m.
Dayton (DYT) Link Bike Share Launch
On May 5, Bike Miami Valley, GDRTA, city of Dayton, and the Region supported the launch of the Dayton Link Bike Share program. The brilliant green 3-speed bicycles were unveiled before a large crowd of downtown employees, regional partners, and supporters. In 2014, the MVRPC Board of Directors adopted a resolution funding the program’s bicycles and stations. Without this capital investment, the launch in Dayton may not have happened this year. The $800,000 in federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds were matched by the city of Dayton ($200,000). The funds were then converted to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds for use by the Greater Dayton RTA which has now assumed ownership, operation, and maintenance of Dayton Link bicycles and stations. GDRTA has opened their bicycle maintenance shop in Wright Stop Plaza. Bike Miami Valley is charged with growing Link membership and advocacy programs. Bike Miami Valley staff are currently housed in the offices of MVRPC at 10 N. Ludlow St.
In addition to Bike Miami Valley and GDRTA, the station sponsors and partners in the Dayton Link include: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CareSource, City of Dayton, Downtown Dayton Partnership, Five Rivers MetroParks, Montgomery County, GDRTA, MVRPC, New Belgium Brewing Company, PNC, Premier Health Partners, Public Health- Dayton and Montgomery County’s Creating Healthy Communities Program, Sinclair Community College, and the University of Dayton.
Lastly, on May 5th, the founding partners received the coveted Horace Huffman award from the Ohio Bicycle Foundation.
Annual Spring Dinner, Regional Steward Award, Brand Identity
The 2015 Spring Dinner demonstrated Regionalism at its finest as nearly 270 participants gathered for dinner, fellowship, and collaboration on April 22. In addition to a great meal, fun and door prizes, the evening brought special recognition to this year’s Regional Steward Award and Agency identity. Bethel Township Trustee Jerome L. Hirt won this year’s Regional Steward Award for his longstanding support of the agency and its long range pl
anning activities including Going Places and the Areawide Water Quality Planning initiatives.
I am thankful for Jerry’s service on the MVRPC Board of Directors since 1990 and to Bethel Township since 1982.
In addition to recognizing the Regional Steward, it was my pleasure to unveil the new agency logo and tagline: Shaping our Region’s Future Together. We are anticipating that the new web site will be functional and operational prior to the June Board Meeting. During the May Board of Directors meeting, we will introduce the new web site to the Board including the new Committee Center which will host the June meeting agenda and packet information
Please consult the recent press releases on these 2 topics for more information.
Federal Funding Bill and Funds Management
The summary chart of recent actions to manage STP and TA federal funding is included in the Board packet. Regarding needed Federal Reauthorization by May 31, it is looking increasingly likely that a short term extension will occur by the deadline.
Upcoming MVRPC meetings:
05/12/2015 6:00 p.m. Public Participation Meeting for Unsewered Communities Project American Legion, Ryan Post 322, 1477 Ohio 503, W. Alexandria OH
05/21/2015 9:30 a.m. Technical Advisory Committee - 10 N. Ludlow St.
05/30/2015 2:00 p.m. Public Participation Meeting for Unsewered Communities Project Wayne Lakes Community Bldg., 100 Community Dr. Greenville, OH
06/03/2015 4:00 p.m. Public Participation Meeting for Draft Bikeway Plan, 10 N. Ludlow St.
06/04/2015 8:30 a.m. Executive Committee 9:00 a.m. Board of Directors – 1515 S. Main