Walk-Bike-Roll: Activating Your Community

63 North Fraley Street,Kane PA 16735

19 May, 2023

Description

The PA Route 6 Alliance and PA WalkWorks/the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, with key sponsorship from West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund and the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, are working together to bring a workshop on active transportation planning for rural municipalities to Kane on Friday, May 19, from 9 to 4:30pm. The program will feature locally tailored presentations from a national expert discussing how to move from the recently adopted regional Active Transportation Plan completed by the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission to the municipal level and making sure that momentum is continued for expanding not just greenway and trail access but also the use of active modes for everyday transportation within individual municipalities. The goal is for every community to have safe, accessible, inviting connected opportunities to walk and bike, whether for recreation and sport or transportation and tourism. Natalie Villwock-Witte is a transportation engineer and researcher at Montana State University and author of Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Realized in Communities of Under 10,000. The work includes case studies of multiple communities in Kentucky, Florida, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Vermont – many with relevance for the small boroughs and hamlets of Northern Tier Pennsylvania. The information shared will be relevant to municipal officials and employees, planners, community leaders with non-profit organizations and institutions in health care and education, local business owners, whether large employers or small operations, as well as members of the general public. Everyone who is interested in active living-based economic development, and healthy options is welcome. An initial outline of the schedule is provided below. The schedule continues to be further refined as the date approaches, including in particular more details for optional pre- and post- tours by bike and on foot on the evening of Thursday, May 18, from 6 to 7:30pm, and the morning of Saturday, May 20, from 9 to noon. Space for up to 12 on each tour. Bring your own bike (if possible, reach out for other options). The event is free, including lunch and snacks, but seating is limited so registration is required. It has been broken down into a morning session from 9am to 11:45, working lunch from 11:45 to 1:15, and afternoon from 1:30 to 4:30pm. When you register, you will need to include add-ons for each session (or tour) you wish to attend. People are welcome to attend the program throughout the day, but if you need to budget your time, the morning will be most relevant for officials involved in infrastructure design and construction, lunch for businesses looking to promote and build off of active living opportunities, and the afternoon for community members working to expand interest, understanding, and enthusiasm for walking and biking in their area. That said, every session will provide information and opportunities for brainstorming relevant to making local communities more walkable and bikable. People are welcome to register for all three segments, just one, or just two. In addition to the primary guest speaker, there will be information and input provided by the event partners: West Penn Power Sustainable Energy FundThe North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development CommissionPA Route 6 AllianceThe National Center for Rural Road SafetyThe Western Transportation InstituteMcKean County PlanningKane Area Development CenterThe Pennsylvania Downtown CenterPA WalkWorksFor more information or help navigating the registration process, please contact either [email protected] or [email protected].