Working within the System to Create Active Streets
Format: 60 minute panel
Abstract: Fostering walkable, active streets requires an understanding of how government works – particularly the transportation agencies, engineers, and elected officials who often serve as gatekeepers to change. Learn about how to build the relationships, partnerships, political support, and resources necessary to create successful, healthy streets.
Presenters:
Presenter: Kelly Morphy WALC Institute
Co-Presenter: Molly O'Reilly America Walks
Co-Presenter: Gary Toth PPS
2. “Walking Institute” America Walks Project for Public Spaces Walkable and Livable Communities Institute “Why Walking and Walkability? The Latest Info to Make the Case” “Core Principles of Walkable Places and Lessons Learned” “Creating Programs that Get People Walking” “Working within the System to Create Active Streets” “Talk with Walking/Walkability Experts” 3PM, Room 318 “Funding Community-Based Walkability Efforts” 4:15PM, Room 311
3. Kelly Morphy
Executive Director
Walkable and Livable Communities Institute
Gary Toth
Senior Director of Transportation Initiatives
Project for Public Spaces
Heidi Hansen-Smith
Community Programs Coordinator
Healthy Hawaii Initiative, Hawaii Dept. of Health
Molly O’Reilly
Board Member of America Walks
President of Idaho Walk Bike Alliance
4. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
Working with Street Designers & Engineeers
Gary Toth
Project for Public Spaces
Pro Walk Pro Bike Pro Place
May 2, 2014
5. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
2
34 years at the New Jersey Department of Transportation
7 Years Director of Transportation Initiatives at PPS
Invested Career working at the community/agency interface
Bachelor’s Engineering Stevens Institute of Technology 1973
11. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
Pre-Automobile Era We Had a Different Problem to Solve
Street design HAD to accommodate all users
Relationship of land use to streets was critical for survival
16. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
Getting hit in the head with a rock is a bad way to start an open minded conversation
General Principles
17. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
Don’t be afraid to escalate
If Respectful Communication Doesn’t Get You What You Want
General Principles
18. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
“If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten!”
When all else fails, then you can get tough
General Principles
19. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
“If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten!”
George Carlin
When all else fails, then you can get tough
General Principles
20. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
Observe/gather information at different times of day.
Do not seek solutions—stick to “building a case” for the government jurisdiction to solve the problem!
Define the problem, not the solution
How to Partner
21. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
The PPS Street Audit Tool
Define the problem, not the solution
Resources
How to Partner
29. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
Where is the flexibility?
•
Functional Classification
•
Design Vehicle
•
Design Speed
•
Ranges in tables
•
Level of Service is NOT a mandate
30. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
“You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar” Rose Toth, circa 1960
General Principles
36. •Build Partnerships
–Relationship building
–Education
–Persistence
•Recruit Champions
•Partner with Transportation
Agencies & Officials
Passing & Implementing Complete Streets Policies
Reality Check: Policy change is hard work – Implementation is harder
37. Build Partnerships
• Elected Officials
– Mayor
– State Senators & Representatives
– Councilmembers
• State Agencies
• County Agencies
• Advocacy Groups
– AARP
– Hawaii Bicycling League
– Hawaii Public Health Institute
– Nutrition & Physical Activity
Coalitions
38. Champions need support
–Provide political cover
–Rally the advocates
–Provide funding support
Recruit Champions
39. •Ask how you can support THEM – don’t tell them what to do or what YOU need
•Find the common ground and language that you both speak
–Safety
–Perception
–Funding – leverage opportunities
•Bring solutions – not problems
•Incorporate the HEALTH
message
Partner with Transportation
Agencies & Officials
40. Challenges
•There will be many!
•Change takes time – it’s all about seizing opportunities
•Not everyone is ready at the same time
–State DOT
43. How We Won
•
Persistence!
•
Organize/Strategize
•
Build support widely
•
Analyze independently
•
Offer better alternatives
•
Find and support allies within the system; Find the ones who can say “YES”
45. The Early Days
•
Good Luck: Premature Press Coverage
•
One Thousand Friends of Oregon
–
Connected those concerned
–
Ultimately a crucial ally
•
Organized from the first meeting
–
Chose a name: STOP – Sensible Transportation Options for People
–
Divided tasks
–
Coordinated regularly
46. Who Decides?
Metro Council
Cities
JPACT TPAC
Counties
Voters; the Public
47. We Deemed Important:
•
Independent Analysis
–
Reinterpreted study numbers to show project not needed, effective
–
Published and cited
•
Grassroots activation and education
–
Countless community meetings along alignment
–
Built membership ~500, newsletter list of 2,500
–
“If Freeways Were the Answer, Los Angeles Would be Paradise”
48. We Deemed Important, 2
•
Offering alternatives
–
People felt they couldn’t be “nimby” without an alternative (or two)
–
A new paradigm
49.
50. Eight Myths of Traditional Traffic Planning
Myth 1: Traffic projections are important in deciding what roads are needed. Myth 2: Planners are not responsible for how much people want to use their cars. Myth 3: Predicted traffic growth must be provided for. Myth 4: Bigger roads are safer roads. Myth 5: Bigger roads increase people’s mobility. Myth 6: Bigger roads advantage more people than they disadvantage. Myth 7: It is not the job of traffic planners to look at wider social, political and environmental trends. Myth 8: Planning should be left to the experts.
51. The LUTRAQ Principles:
1.
Focus the community toward transit.
2.
Encourage a variety of uses.
3.
Create streets for people.
4.
Provide public open spaces.
5.
Design the community for livability.
6.
Involve citizens in the creation of their community.
52. Our Work:
•
Working from the inside
–
Members of ODOT’s Citizen Advisory Committee
–
I served on Metro’s Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee (TPAC)
–
I became president of my Neighborhood Assn. to oppose from that platform
–
Others did similarly
53. Our Work
•
Swaying decision makers
–
Educating!!
Copies of Traffic Calming
Sharing news of developing LUTRAQ study
–
Attending hearings
Large crowds, well identified
–
Behind the scenes
54. An Enduring Victory
•
Light rail has been extended throughout the Portland Metro region
•
Metro now takes walking and bicycling seriously
•
Portland’s newest bridge has no automobiles!
•
Smart Growth organizations are now serious players in transportation
55. Lessons Learned
•
Persistence!
•
Organize/Strategize
•
Build wide support
•
Analyze independently
•
Offer better alternatives
•
Find and support allies within the system; Win the ones who can say “YES”
