Transportation plan approved

While many Bloomington children were out asking for candy Wednesday night, several residents were at City Hall asking for the City Council's approval of the city's proposed alternative transportation plan. The plan, which would implant sidewalks, pathways and multi-use trails over the next 10 years, passed unanimously, 7-0. \n"The plan is very specific in the beginning," City Plan Director Tom Micuda, said, referring to the city's plan to execute certain projects over the first four years and then evaluate what needs to be done.\n"As we go past the first four years, we'll try to fill in gaps in the system up until 2010," he said.\nSouth Lincoln Street resident Larry Mongin, an IU employee, said he sees many bicyclists and cars pass by his house every morning.\n"I don't think I have to tell you which one I prefer," he said. "We really need these facilities." Mongin said he'd like to see the plan taken down from 10 years to five but thanked city officials for the hard work they have put into the project.\nSeveral residents of Matlock Heights who attended last week's preliminary vote also showed up to speak again.\nNancy Brinegar said that it's a "wonderful plan" but that she would like to see less traffic on North Dunn Street. Neighbor Iris Yob, an IU employee, agreed.\n"I think this is the best thing I've heard in the 20 years I've lived in Bloomington," Yob said. "I'm so happy about it and thrilled about it that I hope you all will move forward with it."\nSpecific projects have not been determined, said Micuda, but "there will be public processes to deal with individual projects as they move forward."\nFunding for proposed projects will be used from a mix of the annual $500,000 transportation fund and grants, Micuda said. Council member Chris Gaal said he hopes the city can "seek and obtain other funding opportunities through state and federal transportation funds and grants."\nWhile council members praised the plan, some were concerned over potential costs of maintenance and security. Council member David Sabbagh, who opened the meeting by reciting the Emancipation\nProclamation in his full Abraham Lincoln costume, raised questions about police patrolling and snow removal in winter.\nMicuda said that maintenance costs would probably be handled by the parks department as well as the Public Works department and that policing of the trails would depend on how much use they receive.\n"It looks like the kind of money we're talking about over the long-term for maintenance is pretty minimal," said council member Andy Ruff. \n "We're voting on a conceptual plan...we're not voting on particular designs tonight," Gaal said. "The priorities are to connect schools, parks, places of employment, shopping areas, places where people need to go, and to make those pieces fit together in a coherent way, and will lower barriers to people hopping on their bikes or walking to where they need to go"