2. MetroCOG bike/pedestrian plan

".:, comments. The media also showed immense interest in the planning process and provided their assistance in spreading awareness about the plan, its goals and objectives, and its significance to the community. Two public input meetings were held in the month of March. Interest group meetings were also organized with the Riverkeepers, the Kiwanis and the Concordia Cycling Club. There were Twenty three residents and thirty two members of the Kiwanis who attended the meetings. Fourteen written comments and three phone calls \\.'ere also received. Notices for both public input meetings were published in the local official newspaper, The Forum. Interest groups and advocacy groups were contacted through e-mails and by word of mouth. A bike survey was posted on the Metro COG website and links were sent to major employment centers in the Fargo-Moorhead downtown area in association with the FM Chambers and the FM Downtown initiative. Thirty four responses were received from the survey. It was ensured that all segmcnts of the population \\'cre offered an opportunity to participate in the planning process. The suggestions, comments and feedback received from the technical advisors and the general public were taken into consideration while developing the plan goals and objectives and programming and prioritizing the projects. 1.5 PLANNING PROCESS A comprehensive planning method was adopted for the Metropolitan Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan development process. The basics steps involved were: 1- Consistency review of lhe 2000 Metropolitan Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan L- Public input and interest group meetings and bicycle use survey to identify needs, issues. and opportunities for the bicycle and pedestrian network !-- Identification of emerging issues !-- Fonnulation of vision statement, goals, and objectives .!- Review of federal, state, and local bicycle policies, plans, programs, and funding mechanisms .!- Inventory and analysis of existing bike and pedestrian facilities and signage facilities !._ Identilication of major trip generators, critical gaps, barriers, crash locations, and cause L- Ranking the existing bicycle and pedestrian routes !.- Selccting the ideal principle bicycle and pedestrian network 1.- Reviewing existing and future land use L- Recommending projects t.- Evaluating the projects on the basis of four screening factors: Technical soundness. Environmental sensitivity, Financial feasibility, and Social acceptability .L- Prioritizing the projects .!- Listing long range and short range projects and financial forecasts L_ Preparing the Draft plan 1_ Seeking public and technical input from the local residents and technical committee advisors 1_ Seeking approval of plan from all member jurisdictions and the involved committees. In addition to following a comprehensive planning process, the document also focused on the four attributes of planning: L- Engineering L- Education L- Enforcement .L Encouragement FM METROPOLITANBICVCLEAND ~EDESTRIANPLAN 2005 Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council ofGc:',:erllments. -4 -