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.