Strategies for Infrastructure Improvements in Urban Neighbourhoods:

An Issue-Oriented Action Agenda for Community Associations

Professor Barry Wellar,Professor Barry Wellar,

Department of Geography, University of OttawaDepartment of Geography, University of Ottawa

Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 CanadaOttawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canada

Shaping Ontario’s Urban NeighourhoodsHamilton Convention Centre

May 5-6, 2001Hamilton, Ontario

ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

PROCESS: THE MATTER OF LEGITIMACY

ELECTEDOFFICIALS

PROFESSIONALSTAFF

THE PUBLIC

COMMUNITYASSOCIATIONSDecisions Advice

Values & Attitudes

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Rational Model of Roles and Relationships in Defining and Achieving

Infrastructure Improvements

Citizens, Shareholders, MembersConsumers, Voters, Interest Groups

Values and AttitudesOpinions, Participation, Support,

Votes, Rejection

ProfessionalsAdvice

Interpretations, Implications,Recommendations

Executives / ElectedsDecisions

Choices, Priorities

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Strategies (1)

AlternativesAlternatives Asphalt / PavementAsphalt / Pavement Back-to-BasicsBack-to-Basics BANANABANANA Bang-for-the-BuckBang-for-the-Buck

Big PictureBig Picture Conservation FirstConservation First Copy-the-USACopy-the-USA Crisis ManagementCrisis Management Economic ImperativeEconomic Imperative

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Strategies (2)

Hearts-and-MindsHearts-and-Minds HolisticHolistic If It Ain’t BrokeIf It Ain’t Broke Jobs, Jobs, JobsJobs, Jobs, Jobs NIMBYNIMBY OPM (Other OPM (Other

People’s Money)People’s Money)

Pay-As-You-GoPay-As-You-Go Positive Positive

ReinforcementReinforcement PiecemealPiecemeal Quid Pro QuoQuid Pro Quo Ready, Fire, Aim!Ready, Fire, Aim!

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Strategies (3)

Research-BasedResearch-Based Risk AvoidanceRisk Avoidance Seat-of-the-PantsSeat-of-the-Pants Squeaky WheelSqueaky Wheel Sustainable Sustainable

DevelopmentDevelopment

TriageTriage User PayUser Pay VeneeringVeneering Where’s the Money?Where’s the Money? YIMBYYIMBY

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Infrastructure:Physical and Human Components (1)

AmbulanceAmbulance ArenasArenas BikepathsBikepaths BridgesBridges CollegesColleges Community CentresCommunity Centres

Computers / Computers / CommunicationsCommunications

Electrical SystemElectrical System Fire StationsFire Stations Food BanksFood Banks GalleriesGalleries

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Infrastructure:Physical and Human Components (2)

Green SpacesGreen Spaces HealthHealth HospitalsHospitals HousingHousing Information Information

TechnologyTechnology IntersectionsIntersections

LibrariesLibraries MedicalMedical MuseumsMuseums Open SpacesOpen Spaces Parking LotsParking Lots ParksParks PlaygroundsPlaygrounds

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Infrastructure:Physical and Human Components (3)

PolicePolice Power Supply/GridPower Supply/Grid PoolsPools RoadsRoads SchoolsSchools SewerageSewerage SidewalksSidewalks

Sports FieldsSports Fields TelecommunicationsTelecommunications Trash/WasteTrash/Waste TreesTrees UniversitiesUniversities UtilitiesUtilities WaterWater

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

“Improvements”

As defined by…As defined by…

The Province of Ontario?The Province of Ontario? The Ontario Ministry of Transportation?The Ontario Ministry of Transportation? The Ontario Ministry of the Environment?The Ontario Ministry of the Environment? The Municipality of ___________?The Municipality of ___________? The ___________Community Association?The ___________Community Association?

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

“Smart Growth”

Questions, Questions, QuestionsQuestions, Questions, Questions What was it before we got smart?What was it before we got smart? When did we get smart?When did we get smart? How do we know?How do we know? What caused us to get smart?What caused us to get smart? Is it contagious?Is it contagious? How long will it last?How long will it last? How do you spell OOPS?How do you spell OOPS?

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Stages of Applied Operational Research

A.A. Pilot StudiesPilot StudiesB.B. Pre-Test StudiesPre-Test StudiesC.C. Trial Run StudiesTrial Run StudiesD.D. Monitoring and Evaluation StudiesMonitoring and Evaluation Studies

• • Emphasis here is on Emphasis here is on fundamentalsfundamentals, so the stages are limited to what are , so the stages are limited to what are deemed to be ‘must’ types of studies for non-trivial deemed to be ‘must’ types of studies for non-trivial projectsprojects..

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Research Variable Evaluation Criteria

A.A. PertinencePertinence

B.B. SupportSupport

C.C. Degree of difficultyDegree of difficulty

D.D. Knowledge / information / data characteristics Knowledge / information / data characteristics and features (status, ownership, openness, and features (status, ownership, openness, access, etc) of variables and about variables.access, etc) of variables and about variables.

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Research Variable Evaluation CriteriaKnowledge/Information/Data Variables

(cont.)

- AvailabilityAvailability- SustainabilitySustainability- DurabilityDurability- RobustnessRobustness

- ReliabilityReliability- CompletenessCompleteness- MarketabilityMarketability

• Vigorous application of these criteria by the researcher, and/or by project evaluators (executives, electeds, professionals, citizens) is an effective and efficient means of moving from potential variables to essential and high priority variables.

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Learning Triangles

Learning Triangles have the capacity to get us beyond the Learning Triangles have the capacity to get us beyond the simplistic to the necessary, but without unduly simplistic to the necessary, but without unduly devilling us with details.devilling us with details.

Learning Triangles cause and assist us to explicitly Learning Triangles cause and assist us to explicitly deal with essential relationships.deal with essential relationships.

Learning Triangles can readily be turned into inter-Learning Triangles can readily be turned into inter-linked chains, which is a powerful research device for linked chains, which is a powerful research device for comparing and contrasting concepts, variables, priorities, comparing and contrasting concepts, variables, priorities, procedures, objectives, etc.procedures, objectives, etc.

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Key Learning Triangles:Project Evaluation

A.A. Decisions / Values & Attitudes / EvidenceDecisions / Values & Attitudes / EvidenceB.B. Outputs / Throughputs / InputsOutputs / Throughputs / InputsC.C. Structure / Function / PerformanceStructure / Function / PerformanceD.D. Utility / Complexity / ReliabilityUtility / Complexity / ReliabilityE.E. Benefits / Costs / AlternativesBenefits / Costs / AlternativesF.F. Pilot Study / Pre-Test / Trial RunPilot Study / Pre-Test / Trial RunG.G. Scope / Scale / FunctionalityScope / Scale / Functionality

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Learning Triangles (cont.)

BenefitsBenefits

CostsCosts

AlternativesAlternatives

BenefitsBenefits

RisksRisks

AlternativesAlternatives

ComplexityComplexity

UtilityUtility

ReliabilityReliability

ComplexityComplexity

SustainabilitySustainability

ReliabilityReliability

CostsCosts

RisksRisks

AlternativesAlternatives

BenefitsBenefits

CostsCosts

RisksRisks

UtilityUtility

SustainabilitySustainability

ReliabilityReliability

UtilityUtility

ComplexityComplexity

SustainabilitySustainability

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

THAT WAS THEN

Context materials for a presentation Context materials for a presentation on “Infrastructure” by Prof. B. Wellar on “Infrastructure” by Prof. B. Wellar

at the 2001 Symposium, at the 2001 Symposium, Shaping Shaping Ontario’s Urban Neighbourhoods, Ontario’s Urban Neighbourhoods,

Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, May 5 and 6, Hamilton, Ontario, May 5 and 6,

20012001

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

THIS IS NOW

Context materials for a presentation Context materials for a presentation on “Infrastructure” by Prof. B. Wellar on “Infrastructure” by Prof. B. Wellar

at the 2001 Symposium, at the 2001 Symposium, Shaping Shaping Ontario’s Urban Neighbourhoods, Ontario’s Urban Neighbourhoods,

Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, May 5 and 6, Hamilton, Ontario, May 5 and 6,

20012001

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Walking Security Index

The Walking Security The Walking Security Index was developed Index was developed by Prof. B. Wellar for by Prof. B. Wellar for the City of Ottawa the City of Ottawa because … .because … .

01/05/5-6 B. Wellar, Urban Neighbourhoods Symposium, Hamilton, ON, 2001

Walking Security Index Project Publications

In 1994, with the financial support of the

Region of Ottawa-Carleton, Dr. Barry Wellar,

Department of Geography, University of Ottawa,

established an applied transportation research

program with a focus on pedestrians. A central

element of the project is the preparation and

distribution of publications–technical reports,

journal articles, conference proceedings and papers, etc. – which inform elected officials,

professional staff and other interested parties on research objectives, methodology, and findings.

The following publications are currently available and can be ordered by contacting Prof. Wellar.

Please see below for details.

1. Design and Pre-Testing of a Survey Instrument to Measure Pedestrian Levels of Safetyand Comfort: A Case Study of the Channelized Cut-Off from Laurier Avenue East toNicholas Street South, Ottawa, Ontario. Barry Wellar, July 1995. 95 pages. Cost $10.00.

2. Walking Security Index Project: Literature Search, Outreach and Research DesignActivities. Interim Report 1. Barry Wellar, April 1996. 75 pages. Cost $9.00.

3. Perspectives on Pedestrian Safety. Conference Proceedings. Barry Wellar, editor,August 1996. 143 pages. Cost $10.00.

4. “Pedestrian Perspectives on Intersection Performance: A Case Study Report onChannelization,” Barry Wellar, in 1996 Annual URISA Conference Proceedings, pp.181-201. Cost $2.00.

5. Findings from a Field Re-Survey of the Laurier and Nicholas Cut-Off Channel (E-S),and Implications for the Walking Security Index. Interim Report 2. Barry Wellar andIngrid Froelich, December 1996. 69 pages. Cost: $8.00.

6. Capability of IS/GIS-Based Intersection Applications to Implement the WalkingSecurity Index (WSI): A Preliminary Status and Prospect Assessment. Barry Wellar,April 1997. 31 pages. Cost $4.00.

Walking Security Index Project Publications

In 1994, with the financial support of the

Region of Ottawa-Carleton, Dr. Barry Wellar,

Department of Geography, University of Ottawa,

established an applied transportation research

program with a focus on pedestrians. A central

element of the project is the preparation and

distribution of publications–technical reports,

journal articles, conference proceedings and papers, etc. – which inform elected officials,

professional staff and other interested parties on research objectives, methodology, and findings.

The following publications are currently available and can be ordered by contacting Prof. Wellar.

Please see below for details.

1. Design and Pre-Testing of a Survey Instrument to Measure Pedestrian Levels of Safetyand Comfort: A Case Study of the Channelized Cut-Off from Laurier Avenue East toNicholas Street South, Ottawa, Ontario. Barry Wellar, July 1995. 95 pages. Cost $10.00.

2. Walking Security Index Project: Literature Search, Outreach and Research DesignActivities. Interim Report 1. Barry Wellar, April 1996. 75 pages. Cost $9.00.

3. Perspectives on Pedestrian Safety. Conference Proceedings. Barry Wellar, editor,August 1996. 143 pages. Cost $10.00.

4. “Pedestrian Perspectives on Intersection Performance: A Case Study Report onChannelization,” Barry Wellar, in 1996 Annual URISA Conference Proceedings, pp.181-201. Cost $2.00.

5. Findings from a Field Re-Survey of the Laurier and Nicholas Cut-Off Channel (E-S),and Implications for the Walking Security Index. Interim Report 2. Barry Wellar andIngrid Froelich, December 1996. 69 pages. Cost: $8.00.

6. Capability of IS/GIS-Based Intersection Applications to Implement the WalkingSecurity Index (WSI): A Preliminary Status and Prospect Assessment. Barry Wellar,April 1997. 31 pages. Cost $4.00.