Our perception study examining some of the key tenets of accessibility, recently published our new edited book, was picked up by TheAtlanticCities.com in this article.
Objects on ground may be closer than they appear
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accessibility
Do you live in a city?
A couple of observations about the following diagnostic chart that was recently released on NPR. Its a really good start. It would be fun to have a few more cultural or socially constructed elements as criteria–as opposed to the primary elements being those of the built environment. Right now, there are more or less three that are not built-environment centrci: starbucks, applebees, pets as livestock. But, notice that it all starts with transportation: how do you get to work. This is telling.
And, from bike you go straight to having animals? I guess there is some psychological/sociological research out there about such? Then, I question if the Applebee’s criteria is all that telling?
Top three things for Denver Regional Council Scenario Planning
I was privileged to participate as an expert panelist in Denver Regional Council’s Scenario Planning Workshop earlier in the month. During my 20 minute presentation to the “public” group session, I stressed three points–further demonstrated by the below slides.
1. As it relates to urban planning and future scenarios, we need to scrutinize trends (socio-demographic, travel consumption, etc) prior to hanging one’s hat on those trends that favor particular outcomes.
2. Accessibility should unquestionably be a guiding “Measure of Effectiveness” for scenario planning.
3. There might be a large potential by aiming to increasing land use mix and density in certain key areas around Denver to better “internally capture trips and maximize likelihood for cycling.
DRCOG Metro Vision 2040 Kickoff
This coming June 7 & 8, I will be participating in:
DRCOG METRO VISION 2040 KICKOFF
Thursday, June 7, 12:30-5:00pm – History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway, Martin Room, 4th floor, Denver
Metro Vision is the Denver region’s plan to protect and enhance quality of life by guiding growth, transportation and environmental quality into the future. The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) adopted the original one-page vision statement that is the foundation of the Metro Vision plan in 1992. Now 20 years later, DRCOG is conducting a major update of the plan to address new challenges and opportunities facing the region.
At the June 7 kickoff event, you will:
- Get an overview of the two-year process for developing Metro Vision 2040
- Learn the preliminary results of the Metro Vision 2040 Listening Tour – DRCOG is conducting a series of focus groups, interviews and an online survey to identify key issues the Metro Vision 2040 plan should address
- Hear commentary from a panel of national experts on regional planning and scenario analysis, including Reid Ewing, University of Utah, Paul Waddell, University of California at Berkeley, Uri Avin, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Kevin J. Krizek, University of Colorado.
- Help DRCOG design alternative future scenarios to explore for the Denver region
- Network with Federal representatives from the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration
This workshop is being supported by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, and is part of the Denver region’s Sustainable Communities Initiative.
Land Use Impacts of Transportation Revenue Mechanisms
On June 5, I will be participating in the below:
Land Use Impacts of Transportation Revenue Mechanisms
Urban Land Institute | Transportation Policy and Finance Project Expert Workshop
June 5, 2012
ULI offices, Washington, DC
Workshop goals
‐ Explore, through structured small and large group discussions, the impacts of
various transportation revenue options—including tolls, vehicle miles traveled
(VMT) taxes, and congestion pricing—on land use, development patterns, and
societal equity.
‐ Elevate the importance of land use as various transportation policy and
revenue choices are debated at the federal, state and local levels over the
coming decade.
Background: Almost 60 years ago, the U.S. began building a world‐class, nation‐spanning, expressway system—the Interstate Highway System—funding this system with taxes on the
consumption of motor fuels. But what if tolls had been chosen instead? Would it
have made a difference for U.S. cities and metropolitan land use patterns?
Today, policy makers are facing a similar decision point. Taxes on motor fuels
are a declining revenue source, and the use of tolls and other alternate funding
mechanisms is on the rise. Revenue‐generating mechanisms, such as variable
tolls, appear to promote economic efficiency by better matching price to demand.
By changing the link between the travel and costs, these mechanisms may also
have impacts on land use and development patterns. This workshop and other related activities are designed to explore these impacts, and their implications for equity, and to suggest directions for future research and exploration.
Participants Invitees have been carefully selected for their land use and transportation
expertise. Expected workshop attendance is 14‐16 people.
Outcomes Workshop conclusions will be combined with other research in a widely
disseminated report targeted at policymakers.
Freeway lids…still making news
NPR (in San Diego) reported yesterday of the potential for freeway lids to re-connect communities. The idea–which obviously carries a high price tag (but not ridiculously so considering other transport projects)–still holds good value because it provides land and space (in places without land and space) in addition to the connectivity benefits. Oh, and it also provides endless pedagogical benefits.
Gravity model no more ?
If Nature and Science are the proclaimed “rock star” journals, then it behooves us to pay attention to how some of the research published there might pertain to our specific field (It is not often that transport or other planning applications appear in these venues).
Filippo Simini,
& Albert-László Barabási Nature
Here is an idea that might grow some legs: A universal model for mobility and migration patterns.
Marta C. González,Amos Maritan
484,96–100 (05 April 20 doi:10.1038/nature10856
The authors appear to rightfully “taking down” the tried and true gravity model based on, among other things:
-the size or “attraction” component of either the origin or destination matters less,
-the often used K-factors are site specific,
-impedance functions are too often borrowed,
-it is too difficult to calibrate to local settings and if you don’t, it is prone to big time error.
I have not read the details of their prescribed solution. It sounds good. But, it is interesting (and refreshing) that these improvements are coming from fields not directly tied to either land use or transport. We need more of that.