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