Examples
Palo Alto BikeStation, California
The Palo Alto BikeStation combines the healthy activity of bicycling with the convenience of transit. BikeStation Palo Alto was established in 1999 at the CalTrain depot, a central hub for the CalTrain commuter train line, SamTrans bus lines, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) bus lines, Dumbarton Express, as well as Stanford University's Marguerite shuttle. The conversion of an abandoned 1,500 sq. ft. luggage room provides a secure area for multi-modal commuters to leave their bicycles while taking the train to or from their final destinations. Bicyclists have access to a range of services at the station, including repairs, rentals, air for their tires, and lockers. CalTrains also allows bikes on every train, and bike commuting has proven so popular that special cars are now dedicated to transporting bikes. This provides additional options for bicyclists, serving to enhance this healthy alternative to commuting by car.
More Info: http://www.bikestation.org/
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Safe Routes to School, California
One of the most important transportation needs for
children is a safe route for walking or biking to school. Being hit by a car
while walking or biking is one of the leading causes of injury and deaths for
California children aged 5 to 12. But fewer kids are walking or biking to school
than ever before: about 10 percent of children now walk to school, compared to
about 75 percent a generation ago. Public health officials believe this is one
of the reasons that children in the U.S. are facing an epidemic of
obesity.
In California, transportation advocates have joined forces
with public health officials to address this problem. They worked to pass
state-level legislation aimed at securing TEA-21 federal safety money for a new
"Safe Routes to School" program. The program uses one-third of the state's
federal safety set-aside to fund grants to local communities to install
crosswalks, sidewalks, traffic control devices, traffic-calming in neighborhoods
and around schools, and bike lanes and off-street trails. Stakeholders are now
working to secure education and promotional funding to complement each capital
construction project.
The first Safe Routes to School bill, signed into
law in October 1999, authorized about $20 million a year for two years. The
program proved so popular that it was reauthorized in 2001 for another three
years, at $25 million per year. Nine other states around the country are now
pursuing similar programs following California's lead.
More Info: www.dhs.ca.gov/routes2school/ and http://www.saferoutestoschools.org/ and www.transact.org/Ca/saferoutes.htm
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Harmony Road Traffic-Calming, Delaware
In Newark, Delaware, residents and state officials worked together to find sensible solutions to dangerous, high-speed traffic along Harmony Road. The effort is one of the first applications of traffic-calming measures to a major road; Harmony Road carries 18,000 vehicles per day. After an initial closing of the road failed, officials and citizens worked out an alternative traffic-calming plan using chokers and center islands. The plan helps keep traffic within the speed limit and gives pedestrians more priority as cars move through this residential neighborhood that includes an elementary school and a hospital. The success of this effort has lead to the creation of a statewide traffic-calming manual for use by other communities seeking to slow traffic and increase safety along major roads.
More Info: www.deldot.net/static/reports/manuals/traffic_calming/DelDotFinal.pdf
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Capital Crescent Trail, District of Columbia
Built on the corridor of the old Georgetown Branch
railroad, the Capital Crescent Trail provides pedestrian and bicycle access
between Bethesda, Maryland, and downtown Washington DC to both commuters and
recreational users. The trail climbs from the level of the Potomac River in
Georgetown to downtown Bethesda (elevation 300 feet) at an imperceptible grade.
The trail connects the Maryland residential, commercial, and employment centers
of Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Silver Spring, to Washington D.C. Bicycle commuters
enjoy easy access to two Metro stations in the area, as well as a nearly
intersection-free bicycle "highway" to jobs in downtown Washington. On the
weekends, hundreds of people and dogs use the trail for exercise.
The
effort to create the trail required ten years of collaboration between the
Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, the National Park Service, Montgomery
County, the Maryland Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. Land acquisition and trail construction cost more than $25
million.
More Info: http://www.waba.org/ and http://www.cctrail.org/
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Metro Security System, District of Columbia
Since 1999, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has partnered in an ongoing program for chemical and biological protection with three Federal government agencies - the U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE), Justice (DOJ) and Transportation (DOT) - to improve the safety and security of the Metrorail system against chemical or biological terrorism, so-called weapons of mass destruction. WMATA is one of the few transit agencies in the U.S. with a multi-year strategic test and implementation program of this nature with the Federal government. The intent is to share the results of this program with the transit industry in this country and around the world. WMATA has installed test systems designed to detect a biological or chemical attack in several Metrorail stations, and it plans to expand the program to additional stations within the next few months.
More Info: http://www.wmata.com/
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Sidewalks and Walking Paths, Florida
Walking is an important and healthful transportation option especially for older adults. Naples, Florida, with a median age of 65, installed a network of sidewalks to make it quicker and safer to walk downtown. The city, which was designed in the late 1800s, has a grid street system, which did not originally include sidewalks. ISTEA Transportation Enhancements Program funds paid for the design and construction of walking paths to link neighborhoods with recreational opportunities, the town center and other destinations.
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In 1991, Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, and citizens joined forces to create the Bicycle Advisory Council in order to develop strategies to make Chicago more "bicycle-friendly." Their goal is to encourage bicycling as a safe, healthy alternative for commuters as well as to enhance the experiences and opportunities for recreational riders. Since then much has been achieved. A big part of the effort has been the installation of more than 7,000 bike racks, with space to park thousands of bicycles, at businesses, libraries, shopping areas and many other locations. Chicago also boasts over 40 miles of new or improved bikeways and more plans are underway to expand and improve the network of bike lanes and bike routes. In addition, city-sponsored "Bicycling Ambassadors" debuted this year, appearing at events and festivals throughout the city to offer bicycle education and safety tips. Recent events like Bike Chicago 2001 included more than 100 bike activities throughout the city during May.
More info: http://www.biketraffic.org/ and www.cityofchicago.org/Transportation/BikeInfo/
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Advanced Operating System (AOS), Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan's transit system has taken many of the most significant innovations in bus travel of the last few years and has merged them into the first integrated advanced operating transit system. The heart of the system is a computer on each bus that simultaneously monitors location via GPS, passenger count, and engine and transmission status. The system automatically changes destination signs, makes announcements to passengers, monitors safety through audio and visual displays and surveillance cameras, and coordinates all of this information with a transportation control center. This development has created a very efficient urban transit system that is able to respond quickly to emergencies. The reliability of the system has helped contribute to a 15 percent surge in ridership in Ann Arbor.
More info: www.theride.org/aos.htm
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Bicycling in Missoula, Montana
Missoula, Montana uses a variety of innovative means
to make bicycling and walking a friendly, safe experience. Over the past few
years, Missoula has extended its trail system and created an inter-connected
bike lane network, and is working on a master sidewalk plan. The most notable
improvements are two pedestrian and bicycle bridges that make it easy to cross
the Clark Fork River. The graceful span of the California Street Bridge
reconnects the North and West-Side neighborhoods with the south Riverfront. The
bridge, designed by local firms Carter and Burgess and O'Neill and Zimet, is
built with cable-stay truss construction, giving a light appearance to the
structure. The original California Street Bridge served motorized and
non-motorized uses, and was removed from use in the 1980s because of its age and
condition. The restored crossing for travelers on foot and bicycle is about 400
feet long and 13 feet wide, with one pier located on the island in the
river.
These facilities make it easier for the members of Missoula's
20% Club who pledge to bike, walk, carpool or ride transit at least once each
work or school week. The club newsletter Walk 'n Roll celebrates Club members'
accomplishments and provides transportation information. Missoula also offers
bike racks for free to non-profit organizations, at a 50 percent discount for
others, and has installed a number of bicycle-friendly traffic-calming measures
in neighborhoods around the city. All of these efforts are part of Missoula's
"non-motorized transportation" plan, aimed at making Missoula a safe place for
bicyclists and walkers.
More Info: http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/
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Bike and Pedestrian Access, New Jersey
Stemming from former Governor Christine Todd Whitman's vision to build 2,000 miles of bike paths by 2010, New Jersey has developed an extensive program for providing bike and pedestrian funding in the state. The state has set aside over $9 million for local bikeways out of its transportation trust fund. In 2000, over 18 counties received grants for a range of bicycle friendly projects, from paths and bikeways to making roads and bridges more accessible by bike. New Jersey has also pioneered the Centers of Place program, designed to fund development and redevelopment of town centers. Pedestrian links and sidewalks in Cape May and Freehold are successful examples of projects from this program.
More Info: www.state.nj.us/njcommuter/html/bikewalk.htm and www.state.nj.us/transportation/lgs/programs/stateaid/centers/centers.htm
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Tribal Roads Management, North Dakota
In an effort to enhance safety and improve the infrastructure of the tribal roads system, the Standing Rock Reservation has developed a new, state of the art traffic management system with assistance from TEA-21's Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP). Using GPS and a computer mapping program, they have successfully catalogued and mapped the entire reservation, from the largest road to the smallest house and driveway. With this system complete, they are now in the process of linking up all aspects of their government in order to create a single source of local information. So, for example, whenever the police report an automobile accident, the time, location, and details of the incident are geographically recorded in the system. Also, reservation officials have been using the new system to closely monitor congestion and road conditions on Sioux Village streets in order to create an accurate and detailed action plan for the region's transportation future. As each piece of information is recorded, the system processes and updates its statistical analysis, providing an instantaneous update of the state of the region's transportation infrastructure.
More info: www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp/00/nd1.htm
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Portland Traffic-Calming, Oregon
Portland is committed to traffic calming in order to ensure the health and safety of its citizens. Traffic-calming slows down automobile traffic and makes the road safer for other users of the right of way, such as people walking or bicycling. Numerous studies have demonstrated the value of traffic-calming for reducing fatalities. A recent international study showed that roundabouts at intersections reduce collisions by an average of 82 percent. Portland takes these lessons to heart through an extensive traffic-calming system involving speed humps, roundabouts, stop signs, street narrowing, speed limit signs, and police enforcement. The speed hump program, for example, is designed for neighborhoods with low volume/high speed traffic problems. Neighborhoods that can demonstrate these types of problems may qualify for the "streamlined" speed hump placement program, or may even decide to purchase speed humps from the city. The City also re-engineers local service streets and neighborhood collector streets, using many of the techniques named above to calm traffic. In addition to city-based solutions, residents are encouraged to find creative solutions for slowing traffic, such as planting trees, lawn signs, and community enforcement campaigns.
More Info: www.ite.org/traffic/index.htm
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Bike and Pedestrian Planning, Vermont
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) Bicycle
and Pedestrian Plan seeks to create a safe environment for two forms of
transportation that improve human health: walking and bicycling. The planning
process includes extensive involvement from a bicycle and pedestrian advisory
committee made up of bicycle users, pedestrian and bicycle advocates,
professional transportation planners, engineers, and bicycle tour operators. The
plan provides overall guidance for improving access and mobility for bicyclists
and pedestrians.
One good example of Vermont's pro-bicycle approach is
the work of the Lake Champlain Bikeways program. This program was initiated in
1993 by a group of bicycle enthusiasts, public and private agencies, and
individuals from Vermont, New York, and the Province of Quebec. They developed a
mission to promote bicycling throughout the Lake Champlain Region. With funding
from the National Park Service and the active involvement of local cyclists, the
Bikeways Initiative aims to create and promote a network of international,
inter-connected bicycle routes around Lake Champlain in New York, Vermont and
Quebec.
More Info: www.aot.state.vt.us/planning/BIKEPED.htm and www.champlainbikeways.org/
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Transportation projects can help preserve environmental treasures while making them more accessible for public use. In 1996, Alaska Governor Tony Knowles established a "Trails and Recreational Access for AlasKans" (TRAAK) Board. The purpose of TRAAK is to encourage the development of new trails and recreational resources within Alaska. TRAAK projects focus on trails that safely tie neighborhoods, parks, and commercial areas together, as well as highway projects that incorporate bike and pedestrian trails, trail heads, pullouts, picnic areas, and other facilities. An important part of this effort was the establishment of the Alaska Trails System, a network of forty-one trails throughout the state that deserve special recognition for their recreational, scenic, and historic value. The group of preeminent trails includes such well-known trails as the Iditarod Trail from Seward to Nome, as well as water-based trails such as the Yukon River Water Trail. The program is funded through a dedication of 10 percent of all federal highway funds.
More Info: www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/aktrails/trailsys.htm
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Unlimited Access for University Students, California
Universities around the country have discovered that
one way to ease parking woes, congestion, and air pollution is to encourage
students to take the bus. As a result, universities and public transit agencies
across the country have united and created a program called Unlimited Access,
which provides fare-free transit service for over 825,000 students, faculty, and
staff members at more than fifty colleges and universities throughout the United
States. The university typically pays the transit agency an annual lump sum
based on expected student ridership, and students simply show their university
identification to board the bus.
UCLA began its Unlimited Access pilot
program, BruinGO, with the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines in the Fall 2000,
and has extended it through June 2002. It allows for more than 60,000 UCLA
students, faculty, and staff to ride any Big Blue Bus fare-free, at any time and
anywhere - not just for trips to and from campus. BruinGO is unique in that the
university students, faculty and staff swipe their free multipurpose BruinCards
at the bus fare box to "pay," and the University pays the transit agency 50
cents per ride. The payment system also provides unparalleled data-collection
opportunities. Each time a card is swiped, the electronic card reader records
the card number, the bus route number, the direction of travel, and the time of
boarding. When the boarding data are combined with university databases,
researchers can potentially track ridership patterns along a number of different
socio-demographic dimensions.
More Info: www.transportation.ucla.edu/bruingo/BruinGO.asp
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Metro Square in Sacramento, California
Metro Square is a development of 46 single-family, detached homes built in 1998, located one mile from Sacramento's city center. But residents don't have to drive to downtown, as Metro Square has many neighborhood amenities within walking distance, including a convenience store, a supermarket, a school, a park, and public transit service. It also features connected streets, bicycle network markings, crosswalks and other traffic controls at intersections, traffic-calming measures, and shade trees along its sidewalks, all of which make it inviting to pedestrians and bicyclists. In fact, survey results indicate that Metro Square residents may be over four times as likely as residents in conventional Sacramento developments to accomplish daily tasks by walking and may take only half as many driving trips, driving a total of between only 50 and 60 percent as many miles.
More Info: www.nrdc.org/cities/smartgrowth/char/
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One way to reduce the impact of driving on air quality is to help commuters pool their resources and share a ride to work. In Atlanta, Georgia, the private company VPSI provides MetroVanPool service, coordinating over 119 vanpool routes serving 25 counties in the Atlanta metro area. The service puts together groups of between six and fifteen people who all live near each other, and travel to a common destination or work center. MetroVanPool provided over 12 million trips in the Atlanta area in 2000 alone, helping commuters avoid 19 million miles of solo driving. Metro Van Pool provides the vehicle, the insurance, and the maintenance in the program - the group provides a designated vanpool driver. The volunteer drivers have access to their van on evenings and weekends, and also receive a free ride to work. Passengers pay from $68 to $185 per month, depending on the distance traveled and the style of the van their group chooses. In all cases, the price is significantly below the costs associated with driving alone. For those who are concerned about getting home in case of an emergency, the service also provides a guaranteed ride home.
More Info: http://www.metrovanpool.com/
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Combining brownfields redevelopmentin downtown locations and alternative transportation incentives can be a win-win for business, cities and the environment, as the Atlantic Steel Project XL demonstrates. In this case, Jacoby Development proposed the creation of a mixed-use (residential, retail, office, and entertainment), transit-oriented development on a 138-acre brownfield site in Midtown Atlanta, formerly the home of Atlantic Steel. To provide adequate auto and transit access, the site plan requires construction of a bridge to connect the site to the local fixed rail transit system and highway ramps to improve highway access. Because infill development projects with transit access reduce driving, the entire project qualified as a Transportation Control Measure that helps meet Clean Air Act requirements.
More Info: www.epa.gov/ProjectXL/file7.htm
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Treasure Valley Community Partnership, Idaho
Though suburban sprawl may conjure up visions of LA or Phoenix, the rugged, southwest corner of Idaho also faces serious traffic and air quality problems stemming from poorly planned growth. But there is hope for Boise and its fast-growing suburbs. The Treasure Valley Community Partnership brings together business, community groups, and local government officials to make new connections between transportation and land use. Since its inception in 1997 at the urging of Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles, this formalized partnership has worked to improve the process of governance in the region so that all of its citizens are better served and policy decisions can be made in a more informed and strategic manner. Since 1997, the Partnership has tackled water quality, transportation, air quality, and public safety and will continue to work on rail transit, parks and open space, comprehensive planning and outreach. Current efforts to improve quality of life through better transportation planning are being addressed through a Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP) grant aimed at finding ways to remove barriers to smarter transportation and land use choices.
More Info: http://www.tvfutures.org/
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Alternative Bus Fuel, Kentucky
In an effort to reduce physically and environmentally harmful emissions, as well as to reduce dependence on foreign oil, communities are finding creative ways to fuel their transit fleets. Bus commuters in the Cincinnati metropolitan area are getting to work under the power of French-fry grease. Transit agencies serving the Cincinnati and Covington region have begun powering their vehicles with "biodiesel" - a blend of discarded fast-food grease and regular diesel. Officials from the Ohio- Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments note that the half-million gallons of biodiesel to be used during particularly sensitive months (such as July and August) will generate fewer toxins and smog-forming pollutants while requiring few adjustments to diesel engines.
More Info: www.newuses.org/EG/EG-23/23CinnBiodiesel.html
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Sustainable Development Strategy, New York
In 1999, staff of the New York Metropolitan
Transportation Council, the downstate metropolitan planning organization,
established several "sustainable development strategy" efforts in the Hudson
Valley. They have brought local governments, state transportation agencies,
citizens and local business communities together to examine how zoning,
community design and transportation infrastructure plans can promote community
goals. The approach is a promising one for making the essential land
use-transportation connection in the context of home rule. Consultants hired by
the MPO, state, or county conduct outreach, charrettes and scenario
development.
In Rockland County (northwest of NYC), the collaboration
of the Town of Orangetown, NY State DOT and the county has produced a
transportation and land use plan for the Route 303 corridor through community
charrettes and meetings. The process has led the DOT to abandon a long-contested
expansion of Route 303 and the Town to develop new land use plans that include a
new "overlay zoning district" along Route 303 that limits new residential and
commercial entrances onto the highway and requires off-highway connections
between adjoining commercial lots. It also plans future mixed-use villages along
the corridor and provides a cycling/walking path parallel to the
roadway.
More Info: www.route303.net/index.shtml and www.202and6.com/home.html
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Variable toll pricing, also known as value pricing or
congestion pricing, applies market forces to rush hour travel by charging
peak-period drivers more than off-peak drivers. Measures like these both reduce
congestion and serve to reduce energy use and protect the
environment.
The New York metro region has been a leader in using value
pricing. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority set the trend in January 2000 when it
approved a two-tier toll increase. The first increase created an incentive for
electronic toll payments (E-ZPass) and offered significant discounts for
off-peak travel. The second increase, set to take effect in January 2003, will
make those incentives even more dramatic. Eventually, cash payers will pay 37
percent more than E-ZPass users and peak hour drivers will pay 13 percent more
than off-peak drivers. In addition, the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey
recently began charging higher tolls at rush hour at several of its bridge and
tunnel crossings into Manhattan, including the George Washington Bridge and the
Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. Tolls for peak-period drivers are $1.00 higher than
for off-peak drivers.
More Info: http://www.tstc.org/
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Bicycling is one of the cleanest and most energy-efficient modes of transportation available: and one of the best places to use a bike to get around is Portland, Oregon. Bicycling Magazine named Portland, Oregon as the best city for bicycling in the United States in 2001. Portland's success is due in large part to its extensive planning efforts, innovative projects, and close work with the local Bicycle Transportation Alliance and citizens. The City's master plan includes provisions for enhancing bicycling as a commuter option through increasing transit access and parking for bicycles. Currently, there are over 2,000 bike racks throughout the city, many centrally located near "Bike Central" locations, a network of facilities that provide bicycle commuters with permanent clothes storage, showers and other facilities, and secure bicycle parking. In addition, the city provides extensive information on safe bicycling, including a map of the best streets for bicycling. Portland has also initiated a program to paint "conflict" areas of bike lanes blue to heighten motorist and cyclist awareness of the potential for crashes.
More Info: www.trans.ci.portland.or.us/Traffic_Management/Bicycle_Program
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In Rhode Island, the Town of Lincoln recognized that a local transportation corridor, the Great Road, was also a major historic resource that required preservation. The road is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest road in the Blackstone River Valley. It is a touchstone of U.S. colonial history and a boon to statewide tourism efforts. The community worked with state officials to secure federal Transportation Enhancements funds to preserve the road's historic character. The town was able to protect open space around the Eleazer Arnold House (1867), preserving a meadow and preventing development of a strip-mall. The project also led to the restoration of the exterior of the 1812 Moffitt Mill, a significant and highly visible historic landmark on the Great Road. New pedestrian walkways improve pedestrian access to both the Mill and the Eleazer Arnold House.
More Info: http://www.nationaltrust.org/
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Caprock Canyons State Park Trailway, Texas
Transportation Enhancement funds were used by the State of Texas to convert a 65-mile stretch of abandoned railway to a multi-use facility, providing access for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. Passing through numerous towns north of Lubbock, the 12-foot wide trail provides opportunities for alternative transportation and a scenic trail to view the canyons. The conversion sought to preserve as much of the original character of the area as possible, including the use of wooden timbers to support the interior of the 772- foot Clarity tunnel where a colony of Brazilian free-tailed bats now make their home. In addition, the trail preserves 46 bridges of the original railway. With facilities and parking available at eight sites along the trail, Caprock is convenient for recreational users and commuters alike.
More Info: www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/des/enhance/projcat8.htm and www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/caprock/article.htm
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Quality of life is about more than a community's
physical infrastructure - it's about the opportunity for citizens to be involved
in the decisions that affect their lives. Formed in 1997, Envision Utah
demonstrates this important principle. It is a unique and dynamic partnership of
citizens, business leaders and policy-makers, working together to plan a Quality
Growth Strategy for the Salt Lake City region. It offers a vision to protect
Utah's environment, economic strength, and quality of life. The four-phase
planning process used a baseline inventory, modeling using sophisticated maps,
and surveys, workshops, and planning sessions involving thousands of
residents.
One of Envision Utah's projects is to help with
transit-oriented development by providing specific tools and resources needed to
implement changes in codes, zoning ordinances and general plans. Envision Utah
will work with select communities, to plan transit-oriented developments that
will serve as destination points, with shops, housing, and office space within
walking distance of the new TRAX lightrail line. Envision Utah seeks to plan
growth in a way that preserves critical lands, promotes water conservation and
clean air, improves region-wide transportation systems, and provides housing
options for all residents.
More Info: http://www.envisionutah.org/
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Zion National Park Bus System, Utah
Once as crowded as a downtown street during rush hour, Zion National Park is now serene and natural again thanks to an innovative new inner-park transit system. In order to ease congestion, multi-passenger shuttle vehicles operate as the only motorized transportation in the 6.5-mile Zion Canyon. Visitor comments indicate that the open-air buses allow them to enjoy Zion's lofty formations such as The Great White Throne, The Watchman, Grotto Picnic Area, Angels Landing, and Weeping Rock with nothing to obstruct their view. The transportation system also includes remote parking in town and a "town loop" to eliminate congestion on the streets of Springdale at the park's south entrance. Visitors can still use private vehicles to tour the park on Utah Highway 9. The National Park Service is now pursuing alternative transportation plans in a number of popular parks in order to improve the natural experience for visitors.
More Info: www.nps.gov/zion/trans.htm
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West Virginia's support for Scenic Byways is almost unmatched in the country. More than 10 projects were designated and funded in 2001 alone by the National Scenic Byways Office. One example is the Midland Trail. Cutting across central southern West Virginia, the Midland Trail, old U.S. Route 60, is one of the oldest routes in the United States. Its designation by the State of West Virginia as a Scenic Highway recognizes its integral role in the history and development of our nation. The designation also acknowledges the Trail's unique scenic, natural, recreational, historical, and cultural qualities. Across centuries, the Midland Trail has served multitudes of buffalo, Native Americans, westward-moving pioneers, U.S. Presidents, Senators, and armies on the march.
More Info: http://www.byways.org/ and http://www.scenic.org/
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Traveler Information System, Arizona
The City of Tucson is part of a public-private
partnership aimed at making drivers' lives easier. The city has teamed up with a
local traffic reporting company to create and implement a new Traveler
Information System based on Intelligent Transportation System technology. Tucson
has been able to provide reliable, detailed travel information for its
commuters, while improving its management of crashes, breakdowns, and other
problems. The city has also increased its investment in smart roads, coordinated
traffic signals, electronic signboards, and other advanced transportation
technologies.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this program is its
financing through a public-private partnership. Federal assistance helped
initiate the ITS program in 1996, but there was no mechanism for continued
maintenance. In order to meet the financial needs of the program, the city
developed a contractual agreement in which the city gives all traffic data
directly to the private firm METRO NETWORKS/Tucson for their commercial traffic
reports in exchange for flight time for city staff to observe roadway
conditions, prime-time commercial slots for peak-hour transportation
announcements, a percentage of sales of traffic data, and personnel to monitor
and operate the control center. In addition, under the deal the private firm
agreed to pay for a full remodeling of the computer center and Traffic
Engineering Division offices. Estimated costs avoided by the city:
$68,000.
More Info: www.pagnet.org/its/
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Light rail and subway trains are popular in part because of their speed and convenience. Now some transit systems are giving the same attributes to some bus lines. "Think Rail, Use Bus" is how people have been describing the new Bus Rapid Transit system in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles MTA has two new "MetroRapid" bus routes to complement MetroRail and replace existing limited-stop systems. These routes feature low-floor buses with a distinct image and fewer stops, as well as message boards at stops that tell patrons when the next bus will arrive. Traffic lights detect approaching buses and extend the green to give them up to 10 seconds longer to get through the intersection. Much of the system is made possible through Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) real-time bus tracking technology. Capital costs were held to roughly $8.2 million that covered two major bus lines stretching 42 miles. Since the lines opened in June 2000, travel time has decreased by 25 percent, and ridership has increased by 37 percent.
More Info: www.mta.net/metro_transit/rapid_bus/metro_rapid.htm
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Transportation Incentives for New Housing, California
In the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the biggest
contributors to regional traffic congestion is the lack of affordable housing
close to jobs. The region has produced as many as nine new jobs for every new
housing unit since the mid-1990s.
Recognizing this connection between
the lack of housing and the resulting two hours commutes that cause regional
traffic congestion, San Mateo County (just south of San Francisco) launched an
innovative program to provide transportation funds as a reward to local
jurisdictions that build new housing in walkable neighborhoods close to jobs.
The program started in 1999 with a set-aside of $2.2 million in flexible state
and federal highway funds. Among the first recipients was Redwood City for
planning a new 430-unit apartment complex near a commuter rail station. Their
award of a $750,000 transportation grant will enable the city council to make
improvements on an adjacent main street. The grant program is restricted to
transportation expenditures, but for the first time makes a critical
transportation- housing link and is rewarding - rather than punishing - local
jurisdictions who build infill housing that many public officials and private
developers often find difficult to construct.
Viewed as a stunning
success, San Mateo County is about to double the size of their housing incentive
program. Their vision is sparking similar efforts now underway in at least 15
other counties in California.
More info: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/
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Expanding Light Rail Options, Colorado
Denver's Central Corridor light rail opened in 1994,
and was highlighted in STPP's Five Years of Progress report. The success of the
first phase of the project has led to increased investments and interest in
light rail as a means to enhance quality of life in the region's communities. In
July 2000, an 8.7-mile extension of the Southwest line opened. It has exceeded
ridership projections by over 50 percent, carrying over 13,000 riders per day.
Ridership projections are for 22,000 per day by 2015.
Other communities
in the Denver area will soon see the benefits of light rail, with the Central
Platte Valley spur opening in 2002. This project connects to three sports
stadiums, an amusement park, and Union Station.
Evidence shows that
Denver's light rail is serving to increase choices for residents. A fall 2000
ridership survey found that 50 percent of riders are using light rail for a trip
they previously would have made by car.
More Info: http://www.transitalliance.org/
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Guaranteed Ride Home, District of Columbia
One of the main concerns that people have with riding transit, carpooling, or biking to work is how they will get home in an emergency. Washington, DC's Guaranteed Ride Home Program seeks to solve this problem by providing commuters who regularly carpool, vanpool, bike, walk or take transit to work with a taxi ride home when an emergency arises. To be eligible, commuters must register, and must be commuting via alternative modes at least twice per week. Commuters can use the service to get home up to four times per year. Best of all, the GRH ride home is free.
More Info: www.wmata.com/riding/guaranteed_ride_home.htm and www.mwcog.org/commuter/Bdy-Grh.html
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SmarTrip, District of Columbia
Making transit easier to use increases commuting options and speeds commute times, improving quality of life for a region's residents. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Agency (WMATA) employed these important principles in its development of SmarTrip, the first "contactless" smart-card system for mass transit in the U.S. SmarTrip is an automated, rechargeable fare-payment card that lets travelers enter parking garages and Metrorail trains without standing in line or making any cash transactions. Users simply pass their card over a detector at the fare gate, and uses are automatically recorded on a central server and deducted from the traveler's account. Users don't even have to remove their card from their wallet or purse.
More Info: www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.htm
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MARTA Rail to the Airport, Georgia
For business and leisure travelers, Atlanta's MARTA rail system works hand in hand with Hartsfield International Airport to provide a hassle- free travel experience. The MARTA train stops right in the airport, just steps away from the baggage carousels. The station itself includes a baggage check desk staffed by several airlines, and all trains have ample room set aside to stow luggage. Seven of MARTA's rail stations offer secure long-term parking, so travelers can easily park, ride, and fly. In addition, the 16-minute ride from downtown provides airport and airline workers with easy access to their jobs.
More Info: http://www.itsmarta.com/
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Oahu 21st Century Vision, Hawaii
If you want an example of how to use local tools successfully, look at Oahu, Hawaii, which combined a variety of local tools, citizen involvement, land use planning, and alternative transportation approaches to improve community quality of life. When the Mayor of Honolulu revealed a land-use vision in September of 1998, a great deal of discussion ensued - discussion designed to improve the planning process through the use of visual preference surveys and neighborhood planning charrettes in an effort called "21st Century for Oahu: A Vision for the Future." The plan called for limited growth, establishing a light rail system, more pedestrian friendly neighborhoods, and mixed-use approaches to revitalizing neighborhoods. Community design teams consisting of residents, planners, and city and state officials met on and off for over a year to develop plans and approaches that citizens, businesses, and elected officials can support. Although the overall plan is still in the development phase, a number of steps have been taken to promote more efficient use of resources, such as establishing a hub and spoke bus system and creating several bike trails.
More Info: www.co.honolulu.hi.us/mayor/vision/
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When road widenings are necessary, they can be done
in a way that preserves and enhances the local community. Traffic between Paris,
Kentucky and Lexington, Kentucky on the historic Paris Pike is increasing
dramatically. In 1971, the daily traffic count was 6,580. In 1992, it had
climbed to 10,400, and by 2020 it is expected to nearly triple to 29,000. While
the community recognized the need for more capacity, residents also wanted to be
sure that the widening of the roadway would serve to enhance, not damage,
community quality of life.
The City of Paris, Lexington-Fayette County,
and the County of Bourbon formed the Paris Pike Commission to develop a
corridor-wide land use plan as part of an agreement to widen the road. With
power to coordinate land use among 12 jurisdictions in a 12-mile corridor, the
new Commission is ensuring that the construction of the new road and the new
zoning to protect the area are proceeding hand in hand.
The new road
has been designed using "context-sensitive" design principles, aimed at
preserving the character of the historic road as well as panoramic views of the
countryside. The designers went to great lengths to preserve mature trees by
curving the divided road around them. Among the trees saved are a
64-inch-diameter burr oak and two towering hickories, preserved where the
historic Monterrey settlement once stood. A patch of endangered running buffalo
clover at the William Thompson farm was transplanted out of harm's
way.
More Info: www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/news/041301/burdetteldocs/13burdette.htm
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The Independent Transportation Network, Maine
Portland's Independent Transportation Network (ITN) is a non-profit membership organization designed to provide transit service to older adults that is as flexible and convenient as a private automobile - and totally self-sustaining. The concept is to link ITN members in need of transportation with volunteer or paid drivers. A user's fee is based on miles traveled and is paid through a cashless pre-paid account system so it can be paid by the user, their relatives or a business. The drivers transport people 65 and older anywhere within the greater Portland, Maine service area, reaching from Wells in the south to Yarmouth in the north. ITN service is available 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, offering seniors maximum choice and freedom.
More Info: http://www.itninc.org/
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Reducing the need to commute through telework incentives is one effective means of improving quality of life for all employees. The Maryland State Telework Partnership with Employers helps employers understand and implement telework options by offering free consulting services. In the Washington, DC metropolitan area alone, over 250,000 people commute to work over phone/data lines instead of by automobiles or public transit. This represents 12 percent of the region's workforce, a 65 percent increase from 1996. With the potential for 300,000+ more workers to be effective telecommuters, teleworking has the option of dramatically reducing automobile dependency, while increasing community quality of life.
More Info: www.teleworksmart-md.org/
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The State of Maryland provides a variety of
incentives to help residents and businesses make transportation decisions that
will enhance community quality of life. For example, the Live Near Your Work
program provides eligible homebuyers with $3,000 to help them purchase a home
near their workplace, while the Transit Station Smart Growth Initiative provides
funding to developers to pay for transit-related improvements near train
stations.
Both programs are part of Maryland's groundbreaking smart
growth legislation, which encourages better development and transportation
practices not through dictates, but through incentives and disincentives. The
program has three goals: (1) to save valuable remaining natural resources before
they are forever lost; (2) to support existing communities and neighborhoods by
targeting state resources to support development in areas where the
infrastructure is already in place or planned to support it; and (3) to save
taxpayers millions of dollars in the unnecessary cost of building the
infrastructure required to support sprawl.
More Info: http://www.smartgrowth.state.md.us/
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Part of transportation equity is making sure that all
segments of society are adequately served by the transportation system. The
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission addressed transportation equity by
researching whether transportation served all communities adequately in the
Columbus metropolitan area. Moreover, MORPC created an Environmental Justice
task force to identify places where transportation investments were creating
negative environmental impacts for low income and minority communities. Task
force members included members of existing policy, technical and citizen
advisory committees, council members, and public interest groups that represent
minority and low income people. In doing so, MORPC not only engaged
non-traditional partners in the planning process, but also utilized community
participation to frame and inform transportation decisions.
MORPC used
socioeconomic data to create maps and determine if lower income and minority
populations had reasonable access to jobs, education, medical facilities and
other basic needs. MORPC conducted the analysis to comply with the Executive
Order on Environmental Justice and the planning requirements of ISTEA. MORPC
found no significant EJ issues. MOPRC will, however, continue to apply
additional measures to the analysis and update the current analysis with 2000
Census figures.
More Info: http://www.morpc.org/
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Eastgate Town Center, Tennessee
Sometimes the best transportation solutions are
really all about developing land in a way that minimizes the need to travel in
the first place. The Eastgate Town Center mall redevelopment in Chattanooga is a
good example: developers are turning the mall into a real town center, by
creating housing, parks, civic buildings and a town square on what used to be
vacant parking lots.
In 1997, store occupancy at Town Center, about
five miles from downtown Chattanooga, was down to 27 percent and the mall was
failing. However, when AT&T stepped in to lease one of the anchor store
sites, local officials were inspired to attempt a full-scale revitalization of
the mall. In January 1998, they invited local residents and business owners to a
weeklong planning process. The participants pushed planners to build a
multi-purpose town center with both retail and residential opportunities.
Residents and workers will be able to enjoy a hiking trail to a nearby wetland
and, hopefully, a proposed greenway. Thousands of jobs are coming to the area -
jobs that are within easy walking and biking distance of homes and
shops.
More Info: www.doverkohl.com/redevelop.html
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The Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) 20-mile light
rail "starter" system opened on a phased schedule between June 1996 and May
1997, and right from the beginning the project was about more than providing a
train ride: it was about "transit-oriented development."
Communities
surrounding the original 15 stations got easier access to jobs through the
train, but the new light rail system also brought over $800 million worth of
economic development into those communities. DART and the City of Dallas viewed
the rail line as an important part of encouraging smart development. DART has
had such success with the system, both in terms of ridership as well as
community revitalization, that a 12.3-mile extension is under construction with
additional service expected to suburban areas in 2002 and 2003.
More Info: http://www.dart.org/
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Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Vermont
The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps shows how the
expenditure of transportation funds can in itself help members of the community.
The VYCC is a non-profit organization that hires diverse teams of young adults
for work on conservation projects, and in the process trains and educates them.
In 1997 the Corps began to take on transportation projects through grants from
Vermont's Agency of Transportation, made possible through ISTEA's Transportation
Enhancements program.
The Corps begins by engaging the community,
working with community coalitions, city planning commissions, parks,
transportation managers, recreation directors, and others to identify important
projects that the corps can implement. One of the VYCC's most successful
transportation projects is the West River Trail Project, which was started in
1998 in collaboration with the Windham Regional Planning Commission. The project
is transforming 15 miles of an abandoned railroad into a multi-use trail,
linking 4,500 acres of public land and three communities along its route. In
2000 the Agency of Transportation joined as a partner and provided funding to
support the cost of VYCC crews working on the project, which will be completed
in 2002. The VYCC's participation is but one part of Vermont's extensive
Transportation Enhancements program.
More Info: http://www.vycc.org/
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The OmniRide system in Virginia combines general transit service with paratransit service to better serve both disabled users and the general public. The system, operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), combines fixed stops and flexible routing within 3/4-mile of established routes. Transit schedules have margins for deviations, and the control center alerts drivers to changes. This creative system allows the agency to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act more efficiently than with parallel paratransit and fixed route services. This approach also improved coverage to the general public in a low-density area. The smaller paratransit-style vehicles are also more appropriate for neighborhood streets. With continued onboard ITS developments and an expansion of operating hours, ridership on OmniRide has recently jumped 58 percent to 1,900 riders per day. The system also has automated statistical analysis built in to help improve routes and schedules.
More Info: http://www.omniride.com/
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Route 50 Traffic-Calming, Virginia
In 1994, plans for widening Route 50 in Virginia
outside of Washington DC and for constructing bypasses around the towns
generated such apprehension that concerned citizens decided to organize into
what became the Route 50 Corridor Coalition. The early members of the Coalition
were concerned that the widenings and the planned bypasses around the small
towns along the corridor would invite sprawl and destroy the character of the
area.
Convinced it could find a more acceptable alternative, the
Coalition set up a plan for public involvement and contracted with an
independent traffic-calming expert who helped the group define their vision for
the future of the Rural Route 50 Corridor: a scenic, rural area in a historical,
agricultural, quiet, and natural setting. To achieve this vision, the coalition
developed a traffic-calming proposal which included entrance features to
identify distinctive areas, reduced speed limits and traffic-calming measures in
the villages to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and other nonmotorized users.
Virginia DOT agreed to work with the Coalition to revise and implement a
traffic-calming plan, and now members of the Coalition are working alongside
VDOT to create the new plan for the corridor.
More Info: http://www.pecva.org/ and www.uap.vt.edu/cdrom/cases/route50.htm
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The Sweetwater County Transit Authority in Wyoming created the Sweetwater Transit Authority Resources (STAR) system to replace a large number of client-based, agency-operated transportation services with a single, coordinated, demand-response system that serves persons of all ages and abilities. STAR serves a very large and sparsely populated rural county. Almost one-half of the rides are to members of the general public, 31 percent to persons with disabilities and 23 percent to older adults. The system offers high-quality, dependable service and one-stop shopping for riders. Although the program started in 1983, it was able to dramatically improve service with a 1994 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to purchase new buses, radio equipment and computers.
More Info: www.nccic.org/ccpartnerships/profiles/star.htm
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Alaskan Marine Highway System, Alaska
For Alaska, the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS)
is as important as traditional Interstate highways for connecting isolated
Alaskan communities with centers of economic opportunity. The mission of the
AMHS is to provide for the safe and efficient transportation of people and goods
between the continental United States, Alaska and Canada, while providing
opportunities to enhance economic development, improve quality of life and
provide access to health, welfare and social services. One regular use of the
AMHS is the shipment of container vans. These vans carry time sensitive cargo
such as fresh fruits and vegetables to rural communities within the system.
Local businesses, such as grocery stores and restaurants, have contracted with
the AMHS to make scheduled deliveries of these important
products.
Although the service has been available for more than 40
years, the 1990s have seen critical improvements. For example, in 1996, the
Alaska Marine Highway began "whistle-stop" service to the small communities of
Tatitlek and Chenega Bay, made possible by the construction of new docks that
provide staging areas for oil spill response capabilities in Prince William
Sound.
More Info: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/
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Bicycle Racks on Buses, California
Studies show that people are most likely to use public transit when it is within a quarter-mile walking distance or when it's within a three-mile biking distance. Making it easier for bike riders to take their vehicles along on public transit opens up a wider area for bus systems to attract riders, and can make the difference for workers using the bus to reach suburban jobs some distance from the nearest bus stop. Transit agencies around the country recognize this fact and have installed bike racks on buses at a record pace - in fact, more than 21,000 racks are installed nationwide. Los Angeles County is one of the most recent transit agencies to support this approach, using Transportation Improvement Project funds to purchase and install 700 new racks on buses. The most common response to the bicycle-friendly fleet enhancement is overwhelming increases in ridership. Sunline Transit in Thousand Palms, California actually canceled their bicycle rack marketing campaign due to the overwhelming response as soon as the bike racks appeared. Up the coast, the Seattle Metro system is recording more than 40,000 uses per month on its rack-equipped fleet.
More Info: http://www.sportsworks.com/ and http://www.mta.net/
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Bank of America's Commuter Cash, California
More and more employers are recognizing the value of offering their employees a cash alternative equal to the value of a parking place if they commute by other modes. This typically reduces driving by 10-30 percent, and promotes equity by giving non-drivers a benefit comparable in value to what drivers receive. Bank of America's non-driving commuters in the Los Angeles basin are rewarded with cash payments that vary according to the approximate environmental benefit of their modal choices. For example, a telecommuter gets $1.00/day, a carpooler between $1.75 and $2.25, a mass transit rider $2.75 and a walker or biker $3.00. These are paid out in 25- dollar increments with a B of A Debit Card, and can be applied to TransitChecks. The program is simple to administer since employees report their commutes monthly.
More Info: www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/transportation/commute.asp
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Transportation Funding for Livable Communities (TLC), California
The nine-county SF Bay Area Metropolitan
Transportation Commission decided to use the flexibility of federal TEA- 21
funds to experiment with an innovative, community-based transportation funding
program. Created in 1997 under the banner of "Transportation for Livable
Communities" (TLC), the program consists of two pots of money: one for
neighborhood planning grants and a second for community capital improvements.
Neighborhoods, civic groups and local businesses are asked to envision low-cost
projects that can improve livability, safety, and access for the disabled, and
local economic development. Main street revitalizations, neighborhood bus
shelters, pedestrian bridges, business district improvements, bicycle trails,
safe walking and bicycling routes to schools and many other types of projects
are then eligible for the capital funding program.
The $9 million a
year program has proven so popular among local governments and the public that
the Commission recently agreed to triple its size to $27 million a year. The
Sacramento and Los Angeles regions are now also considering similar TLC-type
programs. Agency staff and commissioners note that it is one of the most
publicly popular and visible programs ever undertaken by the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission in its 30-year history.
More info: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/
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Think everyone in California has to own a car? Think again. In San Francisco and Oakland, residents can forgo the hassle and expense of actually owning a car through the San Francisco car-share program. Modeled on programs in European cities, those wishing to participate in the City CarShare program pay an up front deposit and monthly fee, and then pay $2.50 per hour and 45 cents per mile to rent one of three different types of cars, a VW bug, a VW Golf, or a VW Jetta. With pick-up and drop-off locations in 11 sites around the city, this service gives citizens the security of knowing they can use a car when they need it, but without sinking thousands of dollars into car ownership, maintenance, or insurance. Car-sharing programs like San Francisco's increase access to transportation for those who may be unable to afford a car, and also enables working families to devote more resources to other needs. Funded through a combination of public and private funds, including TEA-21 funds, this non-profit program serves the community in a way that expands mobility options and also enhances economic opportunity for everyone. Car sharing is available in nine cities in the United States, with more programs on the way.
More info http://www.carshare.net/ and http://www.sfcarshare.org/
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South Beach, the second largest tourist area in
Florida is challenged by the same congestion and development problems as other
popular areas of the country. The Miami Beach Transportation Management
Association, Inc. (MBTMA) has sought to improve opportunities for businesses,
tourists, and residents alike through the ElectroWave service, initiated in
1998.
The circulator system of seven, 22-passenger, energy efficient
electric buses operates 18 to 20 hours per day, 365 days per year, serving the
hotels and attractions of this major tourist area. ElectroWave makes 29 stops
and is close to more than 3,500 municipal parking spaces along the route. The
brightly painted, low-floor buses run on a simple easy-to-understand route, and
the fare is just 25 cents. The service has exceeded all ridership expectations,
providing over 1.3 million trips to tourists and other travelers who would
usually drive.
The system was developed after extensive analysis of
business activity, traffic patterns, parking availability, and resident and
visitor activities and preferences. The MBTMA and the City of Miami Beach
developed the ElectroWave through funding partnerships with the Florida
Department of Transportation, Florida Power and Light, Florida Alliance for
Clean Technologies, Clean Cities, the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
(ICLEI).
More Info: www.commuterservices.com/electrowave.htm
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Location Efficient MortgagesSM, California
Location Efficient MortgagesSM (LEMs) give more people more buying power when it comes to purchasing a home, particularly in urban areas that offer convenience and accessibility. Research by the Center for Neighborhood Technology, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and STPP has shown that households in "location-efficient" neighborhoods -pedestrian-friendly, compact areas with easy access to amenities and good transit service-own fewer cars per household and drive fewer miles annually than comparable households in many suburban or rural areas. This is because they don't need a car as often, given the broader range of transportation options that exists in these areas. A product that is purchased by Fannie Mae, a LEMSM allows lenders to recognize the savings that result from reduced car use. Thus lenders can "stretch" their standard debt-to-income ratio, ensuring that more low- and moderate-income families, first time homeowners and dedicated transit users can qualify for mortgages, or larger mortgages than they otherwise could obtain. This recognition can increase credit availability by $36,000 to $48,000 for a first-time homebuyer with a household income of $50,000. LEMs are now available in the metropolitan regions of Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles; and should be available in Philadelphia and Atlanta in 2002.
More Info: http://www.locationefficiency.com/ and www.cnt.org/lem
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RIDES Transit Program, Illinois
Meeting transportation needs is an important factor in providing economic opportunities to rural areas. The RIDES program in rural Illinois recognizes this fact, helping link rural area residents to jobs, services and training. RIDES coordinates more than 80 agencies to connect transportation needs with economic development and prosperity, including: the Departments of Aging and Mental Health, senior centers, colleges, job training, adult day care, childcare, and workforce development. Through cooperative agreements, these organizations come to RIDES to have their transportation needs met before they buy vehicles and try to provide their own service. Every RIDES route is open to the general public and clients from different agencies ride together on all vehicles. In providing service to a nine-county area, some of which have little or no transit funding of their own, the RIDES program seeks to provide rural citizens with the same economic opportunities as those living in more urban areas - without having to own or drive their own car.
More Info: http://www.ctaa.org/
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The Advanced Regional Traffic Management and
Information System (ARTIMIS) is helping to manage congestion and help drivers in
the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.
The ARTIMIS system uses more
than 80 cameras, 57 miles of fiber optic cable, and more than a thousand sensors
to monitor 88 miles of freeway. When the control center receives word of a
problem, motorists, transit drivers, law enforcement, and others can be notified
via 43 changeable message signs, the ARTIMIS website, and through the
SmarTraveler telephone advisory system. The Center can also dispatch up to five
Freeway Service Patrol Vans to help clear crashes and perform other
duties.
More Info: http://www.artimis.org/
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Strategic Passenger Transportation Plan, Maine
To boost Maine's tourism industry without overloading
its transportation network, the Maine Department of Transportation created its
Strategic Passenger Transportation Plan in 1996. Using funds from the
Enhancements and CMAQ programs, this plan focuses on the creation of an
integrated, multi-modal passenger transportation system that supports and
promotes tourism.
In combination with the recent return of passenger
rail service between Boston and Portland, and the success of the high speed
ferry service between key tourist destinations, the plan is expected to create
1,400 new full time jobs and provide $48 million per year in direct economic
benefits.
Perhaps the best-known outcome of this plan is the free
Island Explorer. These low-floor, propane-fueled, bike rack-equipped buses
provide free service to visitors to Maine's Acadia National Park from the island
town of Bar Harbor. Launched in June 1999, the free Island Explorer was an
immediate hit with both locals and tourists. Ridership was an astonishing 3,000
passengers a day, which equated a reduction of 1.3 million vehicle miles from
the park's roads during its first summer in operation. In its second summer,
Island Explorer more than doubled its fleet of buses (to 17 total). Despite a
decline in park visitation, ridership on the Island Explorer increased 40
percent from the previous year.
More Info: www.exploreacadia.com/index.html
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Research shows that people care about having easy access to their workplace, whether it is through a short auto commute, access to public transportation, walking, or biking. Employers that recognize this fact are able to attract and retain highly skilled workers. The State of Maryland helps employers compete for these workers through the Commuter Choice program. The program extends tax credits to employers who pay for transit or vanpool benefits for employees or gives cash incentives to carpoolers, cyclists, walkers, or telecommuters. The largest incentive of its kind in America, this program picks up half of the cost of commuting through tax credits of up to $360/year per employee. The program was recently extended to include nonprofit organizations, and a "Cash in Lieu of Parking" program. Employers across the country are taking advantage of tax-law changes that encourage alternative community benefit.
More Info: www.commuterchoicemaryland.com/
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SMART Transit Service, Michigan
Sometimes, it's the little things that count. The
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation in Detroit, MI (SMART)
clearly makes every effort to listen to community needs, and these efforts pay
off. In one case, SMART learned from a chamber of commerce representative that
if it would have one of its buses arrive at a shopping mall 15 minutes before
the mall opened, more of the mall's employees would be able to take transit to
work. After SMART redesigned its service to provide more access to suburban job
centers and "reverse commute" services, these workers, as well as over 1 million
others, had new or improved service. This reinvention took place in the
mid-1990s as part of a larger effort to provide greater employment-related
transportation services in response to the job growth in the suburban
areas.
In addition to reinventing the system, SMART also initiated a
number of innovative marketing efforts, such as the "Get-A-Job, Get-A-Ride"
program providing free monthly bus passes to new workers. One of SMART's most
recent efforts is to initiate a computer system to help job developers locate
jobs and daycare centers near transit services. As a result, SMART has had
ridership increases for 29 consecutive months.
More Info: www.welfareinfo.org/suburbanmobility.htm
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MetroLink Light Rail, Missouri
Within three days of its 1994 opening, the St. Louis
MetroLink had over 180,000 passengers. Within two years MetroLink averaged
40,000 daily riders - twice what was projected and more than the year 2010
forecast. It serves many of the city's central attractions, including the
historic riverfront district at Laclede's Landing, the Convention Center, Busch
Stadium, the Kiel/Civic Center, Union Station (redeveloped as shops,
restaurants, and a major hotel), Washington University Medical Center, the
University of Missouri-St. Louis and the Lambert-St. Louis International
Airport.
According to ridership surveys, St. Louis residents use the
system for both work and recreation, with 69 percent of total riders commuting
to work, and approximately 15,000 fans using the trains to get to St. Louis Rams
football games. Overall, light rail ridership remains high throughout the
workday and on weekends. The region is currently working on an extensive
expansion of the system connecting communities across the county, into Illinois,
and providing linkages to the two major airports in the region.
More Info: www.bi-state.org/ and http://www.cmt-stl.org/
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Transportation needs do not always have to be met using government resources - the private sector can play an important role as well, especially when improved transportation can increase business and economic activity in a particular region. The Las Vegas Monorail is a perfect example. Linking seven stations over four miles to eight resorts and the Las Vegas Convention Center, the sleek, driverless monorail (think Disneyland for grownups) will provide a quick and comfortable ride through the heart of the resort corridor, currently gridlocked with commuters and tourists. The Las Vegas Monorail is scheduled to enter revenue service in early 2004. The system is expected to carry 19 million passengers in its first year of operation.
More Info: http://www.lvnvmonorail.com/
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The Kearney Connection, New Jersey
Sometimes, just a small amount of track can make all
the difference. This one-half mile track connection linked New Jersey Transit's
Morris & Essex (M&E) line with Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and permitted
direct rail access for thousands of daily riders to New York's Pennsylvania
Station in Manhattan. Previously, New York City-destined customers terminated
their rail journeys in Hoboken and transferred to the PATH system or
ferries.
Opened in June 1996, the connection gave rise to NJT's
enormously successful "Midtown Direct" Service. Ridership today is double the
expectations made five years earlier at its initiation. Daily users of just this
service are in excess of 10,000 and the connection has succeeded in removing
many thousands of motor vehicles from the state's clogged highways along with
attendant atmospheric emissions.
More Info: www.nj-arp.org/
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Rocky Mount Train Station, North Carolina
Faced with increasing urban flight, the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina undertook a radical, $9.5 million project to renovate its dilapidated railroad station into a stunning, state of the art multi-modal transportation complex. The new building has become an important stop for Amtrak, Greyhound, Carolina Trailways intercity bus, and the Rocky Mount city bus service. This center for regional commerce and transportation has been designed to revitalize downtown Rocky Mount, and was funded through TEA-21 Transportation Enhancements funds. The project was supported by the Great American Station Foundation, which is working to return historic rail stations all over the country to their status as vital transportation and economic hubs.
More Info: http://www.stationfoundation.org/
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The Linden Transit Center is the first of a number of
similar transit centers being planned by the Central Ohio Transit Authority
(COTA). The Center provides space for businesses and meets neighborhood needs
while serving as a transportation hub. Most of the 20,500 square-foot, two story
facility is occupied by a privately operated child-care center, a bank, and
medical and other retail tenants, right alongside comfortable facilities for
COTA bus patrons. Opened in fall 1999, the Linden Transit Center anchors the
Four Corners project, which includes the new home of the Columbus Metropolitan
Housing Authority and a Columbus Division of Police substation.
The
center was made possible through a number of public-private partnerships
including a $2.1 million Federal Transit Administration Livable Communities
Grant, which was matched with $270,000 from the Ohio Department of
Transportation.
The Linden Transit Center will be linked by express bus
service to another transit center under development in the Easton community,
about five miles away. The express connection to Easton is expected to
eventually connect workers to about 40,000 jobs.
More Info: http://www.greaterlinden.org/
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"Ride Happy or Ride Free", Ohio
On January 2001, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) initiated the "Ride Happy or Ride Free" program, offering free rides to passengers not happy with their trips. Believed to be one of the few programs of its kind in the nation, it is similar to a "money-back guarantee" offered by many retailers in the private sector and represents consumer- oriented transit service. Transit authorities will use the information provided by customers to improve bus service in the Cuyahoga County region. According to George F. Dixon III, President of the RTA Board of Trustees, "this is the ultimate customer service program. RTA is putting its money where its mouth is. When you pay for a ride, we guarantee you that you will be pleased by our service. If you are not, we'll give you a free ride."
More Info: http://www.gcrta.org/
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Road to Work Oklahoma, Oklahoma
As is the case in rural communities across the
country, residents of Talihina, a small town in Southeastern Oklahoma, lacked
access to living-wage jobs. The community had a 15 percent unemployment rate.
Sixty miles away in Fort Smith, Arkansas, poultry processing plants were in need
of workers. In the mid-1990's, the KI BOIS Community Action Foundation worked
with the Talihina transit agency and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
to develop a shuttle service to link people with these employment opportunities.
Workers using the service were trained to drive the vehicles.
With the
help of Job Access funds from TEA-21, the Road to Work Oklahoma project has been
expanded to more than 100 van and bus routes serving hundreds of workers through
cooperation with 18 rural transit agencies. The vans and buses pick up
low-income workers at their homes and deliver them to jobs at factories and
plants often 30 to 40 miles away, for just a few dollars a day. The routes allow
working families to maintain two incomes without the expense of owning two cars,
and provide businesses with reliable workers. KI BOIS, a nonprofit group, is
planning further expansion to serve workers in all 75 rural transit agencies in
the state.
More Info: http://www.kibois.org/
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Bonds for Bikepaths, Rhode Island
Rhode Island is spending millions of dollars on a statewide system of bike trails-including about 50 miles of new bike paths. In November 1998, the voters of the state overwhelmingly approved bonds for bikeways. In 1999, the state's transportation department announced that instead of tearing down the beautiful and historic Old Jamestown Bridge, they would study its reuse for pedestrians and bicyclists. Perhaps one of the best examples of Rhode Island's support for bicycles is the East Bay bike path, a 14.5 mile, 10 foot wide, ribbon of asphalt that provides a safe place for unobstructed cycling. Users can enjoy the sights, sounds and smells as the path takes them by coves and marshes, over bridges, and through state parks from Providence to Bristol along the abandoned railroad line. For the greater part of its length, it passes along or near the shore of Narragansett Bay. With connections to B&Bs, restaurants, and other tourist amenities, the East Bay path, as well as the Bayside path, have proven to be excellent tourism draws for the area.
More Info: www.dot.state.ri.us/WebTran/bikeri.html
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Pay-As-You-Drive Auto Insurance, Texas
Texas drivers may soon have a new way to save on the
costs of car ownership: use-based or pay-as-you-drive auto insurance. For
decades, car insurance has been an almost fixed cost for motorists. Whether you
drive a little or a lot, you pay nearly the same premium. In 2001 the Texas
legislature passed H.B.45, authorizing motor vehicle insurance to be offered by
the mile, not just by the month. The change was inspired in part by a pilot
program introduced by Progressive Insurance Corporation in 1998 that set auto
insurance premiums based upon distances driven. Many Texas policyholders raved
about the premium savings - an average of 25 percent over "traditional"
insurance policies.
The new law will allow drivers to buy insurance for
units of 1,000 miles or more at a time, with proof of insurance validity shown
by their odometer, rather than by the calendar. With a distance- based policy,
people who drive less than average, including many women, urban residents,
transit users, and older people, could save hundreds of dollars a year. The
Federal Highway Administration is now conducting studies in Georgia and
Massachusetts to measure the wider potential of pay-as-you-drive
insurance.
More Info: www.insure.com/auto/progressive700.html
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Richmond, Virginia has broken ground on the renovation of the Main Street Rail Station, designed to reintroduce rail service to downtown Richmond. Once the first phase of the project is complete, the way will be clear for improvements that will allow passenger rail service to begin and end at the station, and for other facilities to be constructed that will integrate bus/trolley, airport shuttle and taxi services. The goal is to establish Richmond as a major hub of a highspeed, Southeast Rail corridor connecting communities from Florida to New York and Boston. The project receives funding from the Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP) as well as state and local funds.
More Info: http://www.richmondgov.com/ and www.transportation.org/community/preservation/doc/tcsp_va.pdf
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Union Station Restoration, Washington
For decades, Seattle's great symbol of the railroad
age stood barren amid the city's active aerospace and high-tech industries.
Union Station, which reopened in October 1999 after 28 years of deterioration,
has undergone a transformation that will help recapture its role at the heart of
the city's transportation system.
Several developers attempted
unsuccessfully to restore the building before the Union Station Associates, a
joint venture between Nitze-Stagen & Co., Inc. and Microsoft cofounder Paul
Allen, acquired the property in 1997. Later that year, they entered into a
public-private partnership with Sound Transit, the regional transit authority,
to restore the building. The building's systems were upgraded, original
architecture was preserved and 90,000 square feet of office space was created.
Nitze-Stagen also upgraded the building's air conditioning, heating and
ventilation systems, as well as the unique arched window on the station's south
wall.
Union Station is now home to Sound Transit's headquarters. By
2006, the facility will be the hub for Seattle's light rail system. In November
2000, the restored station was honored with a National Preservation Honor Award
from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
More Info: http://www.nthp.org/
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Park East Freeway Decommissioning, Wisconsin
The City of Milwaukee is using transportation dollars
to spur economic development in a new way: by removing an un-needed highway to
make room for development. The Park East Freeway spur was built as part of an
abandoned plan to circle Milwaukee with freeways. Now, it provides access to the
downtown at only three points, while cutting the city off from its
waterfront.
Studies show that its replacement with a surface street
will not negatively impact traffic in the area. Redeveloping the vacant land
under the freeway will result in hundreds of millions of dollars of investment,
including the new Harley-Davidson Museum. The replacement will release a minimum
of 20 acres for reinvestment, as much retail space as 8 WalMarts. This area is
highly valuable for economic opportunity, given its proximity to the waterfront
and the business district. The downtown plan developed by the city and local
citizens calls for mixed-use development in the area, combining offices, shops,
and housing.
More Info: www.mkedcd.org/pdfs/ParkEastNews1100.pdf
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