Goodspeed Lecture, Denison University Dr. Stephanie Kaza, University of Vermont

November 7, 2011

���Transportation Planning

for Resilience

Goodspeed Lecture, Denison University Dr. Stephanie Kaza,

University of Vermont November 7, 2011

Dr. Stephanie Kaza, University of Vermont Energy Action seminar, October 14, 2013

Transportation Cycling

What it is Using bicycle transport to get to work and around town for basic transportation needs. What it isn’t Recreational cycling, racing, a team sport, off road fun, a family outing Why it matters §  Biking is an efficient way to travel with low

environmental impacts §  In some places in the world (Holland and

Denmark, for example) more than half of the total trips are on bikes.

§  In Vermont it is less than 1 percent. ���Burlington is a bit higher but still small.

§  Having transportation options creates flexibility and resilience. ���

Transpo Cycling in Burlington

Burlington and its transportation cycling §  City vision = complete streets §  Steady but slow progress toward more

options §  Dominant funding still for road maintenance

and vehicle support §  Rural culture sees less need for cycling

infrastructure §  Few comprehensive bicycle planning

documents

Transpo Cycling in Burlington

Serious Limitations §  Incomplete bike routes across city §  Dangerous, unmarked intersections §  Lack of coordination with UVM campus §  Many hazardous behaviors Much more could be done!! §  Constantly changing student population §  Inadequate enforcement §  Inadequate funding §  Inadequate signage

Transpo Cycling in Portland

§  City vision = an integrated transportation system with at least ¼ of all daily trips by bicycle §  2030 Bicycle Plan is a comprehensive planning document §  Long history of transportation planning, Bike and Ped Bill in 1971, first bike plan 1996 §  Sent delegation to Netherlands and Denmark to study best practices §  One of three platinum-rated cities by League of American Bicyclists

Premise: Community resilience depends (partly) on availability of transportation options. Mobility = Adaptability

Portland Model

Portland’s bike-friendly reputation Goal of being a “world-class bicycling city” and bike tourist destination 315 miles of bike lanes, 7% bike commuters, >100 bike shops and businesses

Supported by •  Extensive best practice infrastructure = bike boxes, bike corrals, bike signals, bike lane

markings, designated bike boulevards, bike mileage signs •  Bike maps for all sections of the city and surrounding areas, translated into five

languages for New American communities •  Education programs for schools, motorists, SmarTrips workplace options, legal clinics •  Major events = Bike Commute Challenge, Bike to Work Day, Providence Bridge Pedal

Key Links http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/ Portland Bureau of Transportation http://bikeportland.org/ bike blog, info central for bike shops, clubs, news http://www.travelportland.com tourist info on getting around Portland by bike http://btaoregon.org/ Bicycle Transportation Alliance, lead bike advocacy group

Portland Model

Key Planning Documents •  League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Community application, 2008 •  Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030, adopted February 2010 •  The Portland Plan, adopted April 2012 •  Bicycle Transportation Alliance 20-year Strategic Plan •  BTA Blueprint for Better Biking, 2005

Key Players •  Portland State University •  Alta Planning and Design •  Portland Bureau of Transportation •  Office of the Mayor •  Travel Portland •  Portland Planning Commission

Evaluating Effectiveness

The FIVE E's (League of American Bicyclists criteria) [a framework for evaluating progress] •  Engineering: infrastructure for safe cycling access such as designated bike lanes, lights,

parking; showers and lockers for commuters

•  Education: bike-safety programs, mentorship for new commuters, equipment tutorials

•  Encouragement: benefits and incentives for bike commuters such as paid mileage for trips made by bike; loaner bikes for short trips; earn-a-bike programs

•  Enforcement: role of law enforcement community in supporting and protecting cyclists

•  Evaluation & Planning: bicycle master planning; business programs and policies that promote bicycling; metrics on crashes, fatalities, ridership and ways to improve

Evaluating Effectiveness

OTHER E’s (from research study) •  Equity: equitable access for all neighborhoods and people of all incomes •  Economics: cost effective transportation for personal, family, city, state budgets •  Energy/Environment: CO2 emissions reduction, reduced vehicle impact, cleaner air •  Exercise: promoting health (cardiovascular, muscular) through bicycling •  Effective Leadership: importance of key people in organizations, agencies, advocacy

groups, to build a history of effective action •  Exuberance: promoting conditions for creativity and resourcefulness through fun

“E” Resilience Values

E Category Values Examples

Engineering design solutions, collaboration

Steel Bridge bike path addition, Eastbank Esplanade, business wait list for bike corrals

Education self-reliance, family, share the road

Safe Routes to Schools, PSU citizen class, BTA work with driver ed classes

Encouragement teamwork, comfort, support

Bike Commute to Work Challenge, SmarTrips program, covered bike storage

Evaluation accountability Bicycle Network Gap Analysis, League of Am Bicyclists application, bicycle counts, intersection studies

Enforcement responsibility, safety tickets for running stop lights, diversion class for offenders

Equity fair share, equal opportunity

program expansion to New Americans neighborhoods, maps in relevant languages, Sunday Parkways rides to attract new riders

Economics cost effectiveness cargo bike boom, Move by Bike, high modal split at Portland State University

“E” Resilience Values

E Category Values Examples

Exercise health, thriving Bike to Work challenge

Energy/Environment stewardship, personal action

Tabor to River project to mitigate stormwater via bioswales on bike boulevards

Effective Leadership civic service, community

Mayor Sam Adams, Rep Earl Blumenaur, engineer Rob Burchfield, Mia Birk, Bicycle Transportation Allliance

Exuberance imagination, fun, creativity, vision, resourcefulness

ZooBomb, Pedalpalooza, Multnomah County Bike Fair

Planning for Resilience

Twelve Citywide Measures (The Portland Plan, 2012) 1.  Equity and Inclusion 2.  Resident satisfaction 3.  Educated youth 4.  Prosperous households 5.  Growing business 6.  Job growth 7.  Transit and active transportation 8.  Reduced carbon emissions 9.  Healthier people 10. Complete neighborhoods 11. Safer city 12. Healthy watersheds Objective: By 2035, 70% of Portlanders walk, bike, take transit, carpool, or work from home.

Planning for Resilience

Resilience “Without healthy, thriving, prepared people we cannot achieve our highest goals, implement our best plans for dealing with climate change or secure Portland’s position in the global economy. Without a city that is physically designed to last, future generations will not benefit. We want a city where we are better on a good day so we can bounce back from a bad day. It requires that everyone thrive and everyone participate.” (Portland Plan, 2012)

Resilience Capacities •  Capacity to recover from impact – physically, mentally, emotionally •  Capacity to assist others in recovering from impact •  Capacity to support resilience infrastructure at the local community level

Planning for Resilience

Transportation planning needs to be part of energy planning for a sustainable future. •  Thinking holistically •  Cultivating local governance •  Reducing health costs •  Minimizing environmental impacts •  Generating spirit for innovation •  Helping make life FUN

Planning for resilience is a social/cultural investment for a healthy future.

Bicycling can play a significant role in this effort.