I’m happy to say that the City of Northfield, Minnesota, has created a nonmotorized transportation task force, which will exist for one year. The city council approved the resolution creating the task force (2007-051) on Monday, May 7, and the Park and Recreation Advisory Board approved 10 members the next evening. To see the text of the resolution, go to the city council packet for May 7, and see pages 23 and 24.

The task force members include myself, Bruce Anderson, Anne Bretts, Kirsten Cahoon, Dan Kust, Neil Lutsky, Randy Perkins, John Stull, Richard Vanasek, and Peter Waskiw. While some members identify themselves simply as interested citizens, others represent groups and organizations such as RENew Northfield, Northfield Public Schools, Northfield Rotary, the Park Board, St. Olaf College, Carleton College, and the Mill Towns State Trail. One interested citizen is an employee of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, another works for northfield.org, and one, John Stull, is a former mayor of Northfield. We do not as yet have members from neighboring communities such as Dundas and Bridgewater, though we hope that will change.

Here are the mission and goals of the task force, quoted from the resolution:

Mission: To enable and promote walking, cycling, and other human-powered activities as safe forms of transportation, thereby creating healthier, more vibrant, and more energy-efficient communities.

Goals:

1. Hold public meetings to gather input from the community

2. Explore the establishment or expansion of a Safe Routes to Schools program, including possible application for grants

3. Locate and apply for other funding opportunities, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield grants supporting “active living”

4. Provide input to the revisions of Comprehensive Plans; clarify what existing plans are in place (for example, Northfield’s Trail Master Plan)

5. Identify locations for possible biking and walking routes that are not on existing plans and that will connect important destinations, including the library, swimming pool, Dundas Dukes playing field, and other sports fields; integrate a route system with existing or future regional and state trails, specifically the Mill Towns State Trail

6. Apply to the League of American Bicyclists for the Bicycle Friendly Community designation; pursue actions required to achieve the designation

7. Create a report of other recommended actions for local governments, including possible recommendations for the Greenway Corridors project, education programs, signage, and maps. Specific actions may also be accomplished in these areas as well.

8. Work with local organizations and employers to encourage nonmotorized commuting

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 9th, 2007 at 10:52 am and is filed under Biking/Walking, Energy, Environment and Ecology, Minnesota, Northfield.