Why not?
Complete Streets at the State Level
January 30, 2012
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Last week, I attended the State of Michigan’s Complete Streets Advisory Council (MI-CS) meeting held in Lansing. This group consists of 18-representatives (MDOT) representing different stakeholder groups. They are tasked with making policy recommendations to the State Transportation Commission by the beginning of the summer in order for that commission to have time to enact complete streets policy by August 2012.
Although a bit wonky, this is critical work. The policy created will go into effect across the state influencing the process for construction and re-constructing of roadways by MDOT, road commissions and engineering departments. Afterwards, communities will still have trouble spots in the public right of ways, but they will have an additional, and I trust persuasive, state policy tool to implement projects that put safety and place as paramount, as opposed to simply moving cars at high speeds.
At the meeting, there was some confusion amongst the council about what complete streets actually are and what it means. For instance, some representatives were concerned that it meant every road needs to have a bike lane. Or, that the state will be forcing communities to implement sidewalks without fully understanding the specifics at the local units. This isn’t the intention of the law.
Key to that progress is the fundamental realization that complete streets policy is about redefining the process to include planning and design aimed at accommodating all users in the context of a transportation network that works within the character of place. In short, designing streets that make a place better and serve more needs than simply being places for people to drive through.
The advisory council is still finding its way (aren’t we all). They meet again in April and public comment to help them reach a shared vision is encouraged. I made an un-prepared public comment at the meeting and will send a follow-up email soon. I’m working on a draft of what I will send that I will post here tomorrow morning.
I encourage readers to send the advisory council a quick message at the following email:
MDOT-CompletestreetsAC@michigan.gov
A few things they need to hear:
- The impact safer and more inviting streets will have for you and your community.
- Why redesigning our approach to public right of ways is important for future needs.
- Tell them a story.
To be involved locally with complete streets, check in with the Complete Streets Coalition being run through the Grand Vision website.
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Related pages
- Traverse City to Consider Complete Streets Resolution (MyWHaT)
- Complete Streets: Connected Communities (Grand Vision)
- Michigan Complete Streets Coalition (MI-CS)
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Contributions greatly appreciated.
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The Dutch Response to Road Deaths and an Energy Crisis
January 27, 2012
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The Dutch commitment to cycling and transit didn’t just magically appear, it was a choice against considerable odds associated with the onslaught of hyper-consumerism in the name of progress.
Two conditions galvanized political will to change course, the slaughter of children and elderly whose freedom of movement was limited by the growing commitment to the automobile and the oil/energy crisis of the 1970′s that showed clearly the un-sustainability of a reliance on imported fuel.
The result: leaders of The Netherlands made a choice to invest in a more conservative path forward that created a sensible transportation system that put people first. The rest is a history with enviable results.
via markenlei
The solution was found in the political will on a national and municipal level, with both decision-makers and planners, to deal with this situation by turning away from car-centric policies and making way for alternative transport like cycling.”
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Related: A Dutch intersection to indeed envy.
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Contributions greatly appreciated.
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Heads Up: TC’s Corridor Study
January 26, 2012
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A couple of weeks ago, Traverse City kicked off a public phase of what has been dubbed the corridor study. The project objective is to come away with revitalization plans for 5 of the City’s most infamous streets. Garfield Ave., Eighth St., Fourteenth St., E. Front and W. Front are included in the study being conducted by Houseal Lavigne Associates, a firm that specializes in “Community Planning, Urban Design, and Economic Development.“
Yes, we’ve seen these processes before and many have not come to fruition. For example, the City invested tens-of-thousands of dollars and countless citizen volunteer hours into a model for easing the negatives on Division St. (CS:CC) and Grandview Parkway (MW) in 2010 and 2011. Both those plans are sitting on a shelf somewhere and the mere mention of the “R” word makes the commissioners and staff quiver in their saddles (click here for an overview of the R word).
Yet, this corridor project, funded by a federal livability grant, has potential and is a worthy cause. An 8th St. revitalization would be a game-changer and Garfield Ave. is, relatively speaking, an easy one. Despite my nature, I remain optimistic.
The first meeting held on January 11 had a healthy, mostly positive showing of citizens who understand the issue is greater than moving traffic. Most of the comments expressed were about redesigning the corridors into better places, and in turn, places that better serve the needs of residents and visitors alike. It is early in the process, so we might as well dream big.
Public input is a major part of the process and you can do so online by making your asset map.
Have you made your planner map yet? What do you trust will happen?
Click through to start your own map
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Contributions greatly appreciated.
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The Power of the Grid
January 25, 2012
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Recently on Henry Morgenstein’s “Essays”, he calls attention to the planning truth that goeth unspoken: the power of a healthy grid of streets.
If you have a grid of ten street by ten streets – you can all envision that – if you seek to go by car from one corner of the ten street grid to the other far corner, there are 184,000 possible ways to do that. You heard correctly, 184,000 ways to get from point A to point B.”
He continues, applying the analogy to Traverse City.
The point of all this? If you make one major road — the Old Town by pass for instance — they’ll all come roaring down that wide & welcoming way — and it will soon be stinky, clogged, overcrowded, noisy….
But if you leave the situation alone, some will come down tenth, some will go down seventh, some will take State, others Cass, others union.”
Traverse City residents and fearful fearless leaders have heard this here before … and here (MW). The lesson repeated over and over and over and over is: maximize your grid while treating all your streets as livable streets (StreetFilms). Do it responsibly, of course. Slow our 2-3 ton beasts down and stop investing in ”car cannons”– those arterial speed zones that border and divide the community. The attempt to “solve” our traffic problem with more arterials is insane in the full Einsteinian sense of the word.
To flip the approach, start thinking about people cannons (MW).
Henry concludes with a call for sanity. Balance.
For at least the next 20 years, let us focus all our resources on making towns navigable by foot, by car, by trolley, by bus, by train, by tram. It is not so much that we will ban cars as that we will make the alternatives enticing, fun, inexpensive, readily available, safe & warm. Everything that cars are now.
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Of course, isn't this how we arrived at our current problems?
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Thoughts?
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Contributions greatly appreciated.
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Aspirations of MyWHaT
January 24, 2012
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As some undoubtedly noticed, MyWHaT the blog has been on a bit of a hiatus. The past month was a necessary distancing from the project that had become a compulsion almost every morning. As the main contributor, I was a tad fried and to be honest, I simply needed some sleep.
This takes more time than I care to admit. The blog, social media content, research, tracking of meetings, and occasional advocate role associated with MyWHaT can easily dominate. That’s not a complaint; it has been a rewarding experience over the last two years. We’ve seen some payoff on the ground with better design, better policy, better process, better participation.
People who otherwise would only be ranting at home and within their own circle are reaching out to engage in the community. They are doing so, in part, because they are motivated by information and discussion made accessible via MyWHaT. As was written to me concerning the impact of the blog:
It is one of the sites necessary to knowing what is happening in T.C., why bike-ability and walk-abilty matter, and why consciously designing our community spaces is important.”
It’s good to know that perspective is out there and thank you to the people “out-there” that have helped provide the perspective, knowledge and support to make it successful.
As I warm back-up the keyboard, I would like to re-visit some of what this project attempts to do and what it has done. A special thank you to everyone who took the time to answer the 2011 MyWHaT Reader Survey that has provided some tea-leaves to consider the past and what’s to come. In the near future, I’ll lay out ideas for moving forward, but for now I’d like to explore the intention.
MyWHaT aspires to…
…Facilitate learning & questioning for the potential of public spaces and to bring to attention how the design of those spaces shapes our lives–whether we intend it to or not. If we aren’t designing for people, it won’t be for people.
…Build a network of people discussing these issues in a constructive, positive and actionable way. Readers of MyWHaT have shown a propensity to carry ideas into a wider community. The replies to the first question of the 2011 reader survey suggests we are achieving this objective.
…Inspire possibilities for action and for being the change you wish to see. Again, the survey suggests MyWHaT is influencing people’s behavior. 28% of the survey respondents said a post or comment on MyWHaT inspired them to alter their “use of public space” including how they move around. There has been a handful of people express that a post opened up the possibility for them of walking to work–that’s heart-warming. A fine measure of community is the number of people who walk to work.
…Encourage engagement of readers to represent the interest of the commons at public meetings, through letters of support or directly volunteering for an issue. Ultimately, the championing of our public spaces needs to reach those making and guiding the decisions–the elected and appointed officials, government and agency staffs and other luminaries that hold influence over the former. Again, from the survey, 30% of MyWHaT readers were moved to contact public officials on one or more issues. 24% did so in person and 5% had enough of other people representing them and actually stepped-up to sit on a local board or commission. If you can’t serve, adopt someone holding a seat of power and offer your advice directly.
…Reclaim the commons as a place to bring citizens together. In the last 70-plus years we’ve created a culture of consumers instead of citizens engaged to work towards a shared vision. As a result, the majority of public space exists simply to pass through. We can do better. We can design public space that celebrates and strengthens community. We aspire to elevate that perspective in the public discourse.
…Generate support for this experiment to thrive. Those associated with MyWHaT are critically aware the need to take broad perspectives on issues and to do so with clarity of intention. We aspire to bring focus to the idea that the design of public space needs to be inclusive to all and designed to provide freedom of movement regardless of the means. With the current state of affairs, this isn’t possible without a broad coalition of encouragement and support.
And, the ask…
From the results of the survey, the concern of this blog’s sustainability and ability to thrive has considerable support. 82% of survey respondents expressed a willingness to contribute financially. If you find value in the discussion generated through MyWHaT, a one-time donation of $5 to $500 or setting up a monthly subscription is greatly appreciated. A donation is an act from the heart that gives credence to work. More than the money, the act provides considerable impetus to continue.
If you have another idea in how you can contribute to this project, please don’t hesitate to send me a message. If need be, we can set up a time to discuss over coffee. Making connections is, in the end, the ultimate goal.
Thank you all for your support and attention over the last two years.
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2012: The Dragon Rolls In
January 23, 2012
2 comments
Happy New Year!
The Car is no match for propelling ones-self。
(車不如自行 • chē bùrú zìxíng）
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FYI: 2012 is the year of the black-water dragon. In general, that means a year of strength and good fortune. With the inclusion of water, it is a calmer, more empathetic dragon open to collaboration, cool deliberation, and the making of intelligent decisions. Yet, it remains a dragon and needs to be approached with caution.
Good luck.
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MyWHaT report from 2011
January 2, 2012
1 comment
Happy 2012! Two days in and so far so good. We’re still on winter break here, but wanted to share some of the numbers from 2011.
Winter riding, finally here.
There were 376 posts last year and a total of 886 posts since the MyWHaT launch in 2010. There have been over 2,000 reader comments in that time span as well.
The busiest day of 2011 was October 26th with over 700 views with a post titled: What is wrong with Gary Howe? (That helps the self-esteem). However, the most viewed post from 2011 belongs to a graphic post titled: My Car Sucks $7,000 A Year Out Of The Local Economy…Sorry.
Other posts with high unique hit counts involved Traverse City’s proposed W. Boardman Lake Ave. The pros and cons of W. Boardman Lake Ave. and Megan Old’s guest post BLA: Let’s Call A Spade A Spade being the top two on that subject.
The Bayfront Plans also attracted attention for the discussion around phase one at Clinch Park and the fate of the mini-train ride.
Guest contributors continued to attract readers. Former Mayor Chris Bzdok’s Shedding Discrimination: Eventually, we’ll all just be neighbors and Joel Gaff’s Sharing Streets With Angry People: The Front St. Incident were in the top 10 in terms of hits.
The Other Side of the School Car-line, Beware of the Very Unforgiving Door Zone… Seriously, and A Baaaa-d-Ass Traffic Calming Device rounded off the most visited list for 2011. The resource page Michigan Roundabouts & Resources also continues to attract interest.
The 2011 MyWHaT Survey will close this week, so if you want to contribute your perspective on this blog and its future direction, I invite you to do so today. The responses so far have surpassed expectations…thank you!
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(Survey will pop-up and if you have trouble, use this link: MyWHaT Reader Survey)
In the meantime, winter break continues. Instead of writing, I’ll be “sticking” some under-viewed posts, and a few reader recommendations, from last year to the front page this week.
If you’re itching for Citizen engagement opportunities, this week the City Commission votes on the 2012 Clinch Park plan (Tues., 6pm), the Planning Commission considers the CVS Pharmacy project (Wed., 7pm) and TC’s Parks and Recreation Commission discusses goals for 2012 (Thurs., 6:30).
Go play in the snow!
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MyWHaT: More Good Than Harm.
Ways to stay in touch
- Send me message and introduce yourself.
- Subscribe to receive email feeds of future posts (upper right corner).
- Follow me on Twitter (no sabbatical there).
- Follow MyWHaT on Facebook.
Thank you
Quick Update on TC’s Next Great Third-Place
December 21, 2011
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Screen-grab via my inbox…Community Partners for Dog Parks is on it!
Parkour + Skiing + A Town = Pretty Cool
December 17, 2011
2 comments
by Sherpas Cinema via Price Tags
All around excellent…there is even something for my transit buddies. And, I’d be amiss not to point out the covered sidewalk at the 2 minute mark.
OK…back to sabbatical.
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Survey still open, please help with your opinion…thank you.
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