Tuesday, November 13, 2007
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.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Mess of the Week! -The Piñones Bike Path
In 2001 the Piñones Bike Path was the Winner of FHWA 2001 Environmental Excellence Award for Nonmotorized Transportation.
Just 6 years later the same project was featured at the Mess of the Week in July 16, 2007 edition of the San Juan Star. Check out the photo on the lower right.
The caption reads, " The Piñones Boardwalk designed as a walkway and bicycle route along the ocean in Piñones is rotting away. Lack of maintenance on the structure is creating a hazard, to the point that some of the wood planks are already missing."
Just 6 years later the same project was featured at the Mess of the Week in July 16, 2007 edition of the San Juan Star. Check out the photo on the lower right.
The caption reads, " The Piñones Boardwalk designed as a walkway and bicycle route along the ocean in Piñones is rotting away. Lack of maintenance on the structure is creating a hazard, to the point that some of the wood planks are already missing."
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