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

Surfrider invited to DTOP to Discuss Bikepath

As a follow up to a meeting in the Mayagüez regional office the prior week, Surfrider was invited to San Juan on December 4, 2007 to meet with Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) officials regarding the proposed Rincón bicycle trail. The meeting was well attended and included the Executive Director of the Highway Authority (ACT) José E. Hernández Borges.

At the meeting, DTOP’s Thelma Valenzuela Sanchez outlined some changes that DTOP intends to ask the architects to make to the plan. Some of these changes, like the elimination of gabions, were a direct result of community outcry. Other changes, like the addition of kiosks, were requested by Rincon’s mayor Carlos López.

While the potential modifications are a step in the right direction, the plans still include a number of seawalls at Domes, Tres Palmas and the Balneario. The overall scale of the project remains vastly overbuilt with minimum pavement widths of 12 feet.

In addition to the documented changes, DTOP officials also agreed to review the placement of the path heading south at Steps Beach and at Marias.

The future maintenance of the path was discussed at the meeting. ACT Executive Director José E. Hernández Borges indicated that while the municipality of Rincón would be responsible for maintenance, there is currently no proposed budget or forecast of the costs required. In a prior meeting, Mayor Carlos López had requested the addition of kiosks that would be leased to help off-set the cost of maintenance. Additionally, DTOP officials indicated that there are no projections for number of users or potential tourism revenue generated by the project.

Surfrider and other members of the community will continue to implore DTOP to make the additional changes necessary to improve the plan and minimize the impact it will have on our local environment. The elimination of seawalls is a priority as coastal armoring will inevitably result in beach loss.

The meeting was attended by:

José E. Hernández Borges – ACT Executive Director
Thelma Valenzuela Sanchez – ACT/DTOP Oficina de Patrimonio Cultural
Julio C. Rodriguez – ACT Oficina de Estudios Ambientales
Dennisse Luciano Collazo – ACT Construcción Región Oeste
Felix Rodriguez Soto – FHWA
Eugenio Fernandez – EFE Arquitectos (Architect)
José L. Torres – FHWA
Jorge A. Ramos Vélez – ACT Región Oeste
Daisy Ramos Pitre - DTOP Oficina Ing. y Agrimensura
Edwin Rivera Malavé - DTOP Oficina Ing. y Agrimensura
Annette Blasini – Surfrider Foundation
Leon Richter – Surfrider Foundation

Take Action to Stop the Bike Path Today!

Please Take Action Today to avoid the destruction of Rincón, Puerto Rico's precious coastline that is so important to the community and its economic well-being.

The PR Department of Transportation's proposed bicycle and pedestrian trail is actually a two lane paved road that will harm or destroy beaches, habitat, beach access and water quality and threatens endangered species including sea turtles and Elkhorn coral. Click below to send a fax urging Rincón's Mayor, the Governor of Puerto Rico, the PR Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to redesign the path with community input so it makes sense for Rincón and protects its coastal resources.

This will only take you 10 seconds. Click the below link to send your letter asking officials to put a STOP to the proposed bike path.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Tell-a-Friend! Visit this web address to tell your friends about this.

Your letter will be sent to the following decision maker(s):
Alcalde Carlos López Bonilla
Governor Anibal Acevedo-Vila
Ing. Carlos González Miranda
Roberto Fonseca

Recuerde Lo Que Podriamos Perder

Al Propuesto Paseo de Bicicletas y Peatones de Rincon
Recuerde Lo Que Podriamos Perder

"Una Verdad Rinconveniente"

Mito 1: Es un camino

Realidad 1: Es una carretera (pulsa para leer más)

Mito 2: Sigue la vía antigua del tren

Realidad 2: Muchas secciones colindan con la playa (pulsa para leer más)

Mito 3: El camino conecta Barrio Puntas con el Pueblo

Realidad 3: La carretera se construirá
en 2 fases. Fase 2 que incluye el camino de la planta Nuclear (Domes) se hará en un futuro (pulsa para leer más)

Mito 4: El camino será verde
Realidad 4: La carretera dañará o destruirá playas, hábitats, accesos y calidad de agua (pulsa para leer más)

Mito 5: Este camino será bueno para Rincón
Realidad 5: Este camino no cuenta con participación pública, otros proyectos municipales no han sido integrados, está desproporcionado y exageradamente costoso (pulsa para leer más)

Remember What's At Stake

The Proposed Bike Path and Pedestrian Trail

Remember What's At Stake:

"A Rinconvenient Truth"

Myth 1: It is a trail
Truth 1: It is a road (click to read more)

Myth 2: It follows the old train right of way
Truth 2: Many sections are built adjacent to the beach (click to read more)

Myth 3: The trail will connect Barrio Puntas to Pueblo
Truth 3: The road will be built in 2 phases. Phase 2 which includes the Domes Trail might be built at some future date (click to read more)

Myth 4: The trail will be green
Truth 4: The road will harm or destroy beaches, habitat, beach access and water quality (click to read more)

Myth 5: This trail will be good for Rincon
Truth 5: This trail failed to include public input, lacks integration with municipal projects, is overbuilt and outrageously expensive (click to read more)

The solution (click to read more)

What you can do...(click to read more)

Surfrider Corre las Olas Radiales

Surfrider estuvo con Toti Figueroa en su programa de entrevistas mañaneras, “Comunicando con Toti Figueroa” en WPRA 990 AM para discutir la verdad acerca del propuesto Paseo de Bicicletas y Peatones de Rincón. El formato del programa radial incluyó llamadas de oyentes y preguntas acerca del propuesto paseo de bicicletas. Muchas gracias a Toti por divulgar la “Verdad” a la comunidad.

Voluntaria de Surfrider Annette Blasini se sienta con Toti Figueroa para revelar la “Verdad” acerca del propuesto Paseo de Bicicletas y Peatones de Rincón.

Surfrider Rides the Airwaves

Surfrider joined Toti Figueroa on his morning talk show, "Comunicando con Toti Figueroa" on WPRA 990 AM to discuss the truth about the proposed Rincón Bike & Pedestrian Trail. The talk show format included calls from listeners and in depth questions about the proposed bike path. Many thanks to Toti for getting the “Truth” out to the community.

Surfrider volunteer Annette Blasini sits down with Toti Figueroa to get down to the "Truth" about the proposed Rincon Bike & Pedestrian Trail.

Surfrider Revela el Paseo de Bicicletas al Comité Porta del Sol

El Comité de Porta del Sol de la Asociación de Hotel y Turismo de Puerto Rico (PRHTA) se reunió en el Mayagüez Resort para discutir asuntos sobre el turismo para el área oeste de Puerto Rico. Hon. Norman Ramirez, Presidente de la Comisión de Turismo de la Cámara de Representantes, no asistió a la reunión y Surfrider ocupó el tiempo con una presentación de “unaverdadrinconveniente.” Para la mayoría de los asistentes, incluyendo Joanne Ferguson, Presidenta del Comité de Transportación del PRHTA, en esta reunión fue la primera vez que escucharon de este tal-llamado “proyecto de turismo y transportación.” Miembros de Porta del Sol quedaron atónitos con los planes para una calle de asfalto de 4m, y están comprometidos a investigar aún más y contactar la Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico.

Surfrider Shines a Light on the Bikepath for the Porta del Sol Committee

The Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association’s (PRHTA) Porta del Sol Committee met at the Mayaguez Resort to discuss tourism issues for western Puerto Rico. Hon. Norman Ramírez, Chairman of the Tourism Commission of the House of Representatives, failed to make the meeting and Surfrider filled the slot with a presentation of “arinconvenienttruth.” For most of the attendees, including Ms. Joanne Ferguson, Chairwoman of the Transportation Committee of the PRHTA, this meeting was the first time they had heard of this so-called “tourism and transportation project.” Porta del Sol members were shocked by the plans for a 4m asphalt road, and are committed to research the issue further and to contact the PR Tourism Company.

DTOP Celebra Taller con Respecto al Paseo de Bicicletas y Peatones de Rincon

El Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas celebró apenas el segundo taller informativo sobre el paseo de bicicletas en siete años. Más de 300 personas asistieron el taller donde aprendieron que DTOP ya tiene todos los endosos, excepto el de ARPE, para construir el propuesto Paseo de Bicicletas.

La mayoría de la gente en asistencia presionó al Alcalde Carlos Lopez, al Dept. de Transportación y a la Administración Federal de Carreteras a re-diseñar el paseo de bicicleta con participación comunitaria.

Mira el video de la ponencia de Surfrider.

No es demasiado tarde...

Mas de 300 Personas Asistieron Taller

Pulsa para ver más fotos del taller

DTOP Holds Public Hearing regarding Rincón Bike and Pedestrian Trail

The PR Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) held its second hearing in seven years on the proposed Rincón Bike & Pedestrian Trail. More than 300 people attended the hearing where they learned that DTOP already has all the necessary permits, except for ARPE, to build the Bike Road.

The majority of the attendees urged Rincón's Mayor Carlos Lopez, DTOP and the Federal Highway Authority to redesign the path with community input.

Click here to watch Surfrider's Testimony from the hearing.

It's not too late to get involved.

Click to see more photos from the hearing

Reparos a ciclovía en Rincón

Activistas afirman que la ruta propuesta a lo largo de la costa agravaría la erosión.

Gladys Nieves Ramírez / gnieves@elnuevodia.com

RINCÓN - Miembros de la Fundación Surfrider hicieron un llamado ayer a los residentes de Rincón para que asistan esta noche a una vista sobre el paseo de bicicletas que el Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP) se propone construir a lo largo de la costa.

La activista ambiental, Annette Blasini, informó que les preocupa la magnitud del proyecto y sus efectos en la erosión, que anualmente está devorando un metro de la costa rincoeña.

Destacó que, según los planos del proyecto, el DTOP se propone construir una carretera de 15 pies de ancho, gran parte de ella sobre gaviones y murallas en la zona marítimo terrestre y áreas de anidaje de tortugas.

Agregó que en ciertos puntos del trayecto habrá puentes y plazas que no se han integrado a los proyectos que ya está construyendo el Municipio de Rincón, como la Plaza de la Amistad y la Ventana al Mar.
Blasini sostuvo que les preocupa, además, el mantenimiento del paseo y el hecho de que el fuerte oleaje en la costa de Rincón pueda socavar las murallas y la vía pueda desplomarse.

“Es una cosa monumental, fuera de proporción para Rincón. Pensamos que iba a ser algo más pequeño, un camino para bicicletas pero es una carretera grande que va a acelerar la erosión porque se convertirá en una barrera al flujo natural del oleaje. Cuando hablaron del paseo se presentó como algo bonito que iba a reducir el tráfico en Rincón, pero si miras los planos, te das cuenta que es otra cosa lo que están proponiendo”, afirmó.

El proyecto de cuatro millas, a un costo de cerca de $20 millones, comenzaría a construirse en el balneario público y continuaría hacia el área de Tres Palmas, donde se erigirá un puente de madera, hasta llegar a la playa Marías. Allí se construirá una plaza y luego continuará hacia Puntas en una segunda etapa.

La vista se llevará a cabo hoy a partir de las 6:00 p.m. en el Polideportivo de Rincón, informó Blasini, quien apuntó que será la primera oportunidad que los ciudadanos tienen para expresarse sobre el proyecto.

Google Map of Bike Path Solution

View Larger Map

Rincón Mayor Gets Rincónvenient News, But Did He Actually “Get It”?

Hon. Carlos López Bonilla allowed Surfrider to reveal the truth in a lengthy meeting in his private office in the new Alcaldía. The Mayor was joined by staffperson Juan Carlos and the two municipal representatives endured the entire “arinconvenienttruth” presentation and had the opportunity to review the actual construction documents from the Planning Board files. The Mayor expressed disbelief that the plans from the Planning Board were accurate. When pressed on how he could have endorsed a bike path without reviewing the construction documents, the Mayor could not provide an answer. Instead, Mayor López promised to contact Departmento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP) to learn more and to request a meeting in Rincón.

Rincón Blogger Peter Aviles followed up with his own meeting with the mayor and reported on his blog:

“We spoke to the Mayor about the bike path, who upon being confronted with a copy of the plans, immediately requested a meeting with the Public Works and Transportation Secretary. He wants to ensure that the bike path plans presented to him are correct and updated. He went on to say that he'll issue a position statement after his meeting. It appears that our Mayor was not fully aware of what was being planned for the most valuable natural treasure of his town.”
Fast forward to the November 8 hearing and it becomes evident that the Mayor is backing the existing plan.