CBC Director Meets with SCCOG Staff
By David Hiller, September 7, 2001
CBC Executive Director
David Hiller met with Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments
Assistant Director Dick Guggenheim to discuss a number of issues. Chief
among them was getting to know SCCOG and developing a mutually beneficial
relationship.
A pleasant surprise
emerged from the meeting and left us hopeful for a strong partnership
in Southeastern, CT. If his name sounds familiar, it's because Dick
used to ride with the Rose City Cyclists (Rose City has long since merged
with Pequot Cyclists, an active club in the Southeast). His forty-plus
years of riding in the region leaves him in an excellent position to
understand the infrastructure needs of area cyclists.
For those of you
interested in bikability and walkability in the Southeast region, getting
to know SCCOG should be a top priority. Mr. Guggenheim indicated that
the public, activists and even some municipal officials don't understand
the role SCCOG plays in the region. Among other things, the local Council
of Governments is solely responsible for developing the region's transportation
policy. It is also the conduit through which requests are made for state
and federal transportation funds.
This year SCCOG
adopted its Regional Transportation Plan for 2001-2002. Most significant
is the hard work Mr. Guggenheim in preparing a thoughtful Pedestrian
& Bicycle Plan for the region. Within it SCCOG has designated proposed
bicycle and pedestrian routes and acknowledged that, "Expanding
bicycle and pedestrian facilities would strengthen the region...".
We'd like to thank SCCOG for their efforts on behalf of bicycling and
walking in their region and we're looking forward to working with them
in the future.
David
Hiller is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Bicycle Coalition.