DTOP aún no esta listo para dar a conocer los nuevos planos del Paseo de Bicicletas

El Capítulo del Caribe del US Green Building Council celebró el Seminario Transportación Sustenable para la Ciudad.  El evento se celebradó en el Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores en Hato Ray, cerca de 100 personas asistieron al seminario.  Una de las presentaciones más importantes de la conferencia fue la de la Planificadora Martha I. Bravo Colunga, PPL, coordinadora del programa peatonal y de bicicletas del Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas.  

En su presentación,  el cual puede ser visto en blog de La Masa, Bravo mostró muchos ejemplos exitosos de paseos de bicicletas en distintas partes del mundo y tambien ejemplos de paseos existentes en Puerto Rico y otros que estan en la fase de planificación.

Surfrider conversó con Bravo acerca del Paseo de Bicicletas de Rincón. Bravo indicó que DTOP esta trabajando en cambios al plan y que estos nuevos planos aún no están disponibles para el público.  Estos comentarios coinciden con información entregada anteriormente por los personeros del DTOP Julio Rodríguez Cabrera y Thelma Valenzuela Sánchez.

DTOP Not Ready to Share New Bike Path Plan

The US Green Building Council recently hosted a seminar on bike paths and the use of bicycles as alternate transportation.   Held at the Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores in Hato Rey, nearly 100 people attended the seminar which featured a presentation by DTOP's Martha Bravo Colunga on "Sustainable Transportation for Livable Cities - Biking & Walking as Alternate Transportation."

Bravo's presentation which can be seen on La Masa's blog featured many examples of successful bike path initiatives from around the world as well as existing and proposed bike paths for Puerto Rico.

Surfrider caught up with Bravo after her talk to talk about Rincón's bike path. Bravo indicated that DTOP has been working on changes to the plan, but that these revised plans were not yet available for public review.   These comments echo earlier correspondence from DTOP's Julio Rodríguez Cabrera and Thelma Valenzuela Sánchez.

Who Knows A Rincónvenient Truth?

Al Gore knows A Rincónvenient Truth

DTOP Haciendo Cambios a los Planos

El Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP o ACT) esta en el proceso de negociar y firmar con el Consultor del Proyecto (los arquitectos) la enmienda de su contrato, para incluir los cambios que la ACT le ha solicitado que realice a los planos de construcción. Cuando se firme esta enmienda al contrato, el Consultor dispondrá de 12 semanas para realizar estos cambios.

Posteriormente se procederá a actualizar los endosos del proyecto, si es necesario, para estar en condiciones de subastar esta primera fase. La Oficina de Ambiental de la Agencia le estará informado a la comunidad el alcance de los cambios que la ACT le ha solicitado al Consultor. El Biólogo Julio Rodríguez (Oficina de Ambiental) está coordinando el aspecto relacionado con informar a la comunidad.

La Fundación Surfrider sometío una alternativa propuesta en enero.

DTOP Making Changes to Bike Path Plans

The PR Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) is currently in the process of negotiating and signing an amendment to the contract with the Bike Path Consultants (architects) to make changes to the proposed Bike Path in Rincón.  Once the contract amendment is signed, the consultants will have 12 weeks to make the changes. 

As necessary, DTOP will go back to agencies to get the necessary permits so that the first phase of the project will be ready for bidding.  DTOP’s environmental office will be responsible for notifying the community of the scope of the requested changes to the plan.  Biologist Julio Rodríguez will coordinate informing the community.

The Surfrider Foundation has been commenting on this project since 2004 and submitted an alternative plan in January.  

Could This Be the Last Hatch?

Over 200 Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) hatchlings made the sprint for life from their nest and into the waters of the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve during the afternoon of January 9, 2008.

The turtle nests were located along the boundary of the maritime zone by Calle Surf. If the bikepath is built as currently designed, this sea turtle nest would be replaced by the footings of a seawall. Turtle nests would also be destroyed by heavy equipment during the construction process.

We’re too slow to avoid bulldozers! Keep the path away from the Marine Reserve!

The hawksbill is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It is also listed as endangered throughout its range by the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

The government of Puerto Rico can help protect this endangered species simply by setting back the bikepath and eliminating all seawalls from the bikepath’s design.

Help save us by moving the bikepath inland!

Surfrider Submits Comments and a Bikepath Alternative

As a follow up to the December meeting at DTOP, the Surfrider Foundation has submitted additional comments to help improve the Rincón bikepath’s design. The suggestions will not only reduce the cost of the project, but will help protect Rincón’s precious natural resources instead of destroying them. After all, aren’t those same natural resources what make people come to Rincón?

Check Out the Alternate Bikepath Map

Or Read the Letter to DTOP