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In this issue:
- Federal Rails-with-Trail report released - Pedestrian-Transit Connections - Funding Alerts - upcoming grant opportunities! |
Fall 2002
Vol 1 Issue 2 www.altaplanning.com info@altaplanning.com |
Alta led a major three-year study for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on the best practices of trails and bike paths located on or near active railroad corridors. Research includes 24 case studies nationwide, from Maine to Texas to Washington. The Study consists of literature research, before-and-after trespasser counts, liability analysis, interviews with rail and trail officials, best practices in terms of design and operation, and other items.
The final report is now available online at www.altaplanning.com, and will be available in hard-copy format by Winter 2002 from USDOT.
Alta developed the criteria with input from representatives of the Oregon Department
of Transportation (ODOT), Metro (the Portland area regional government), and TriMet.
Alta also developed a weighting system with input from the project's
stakeholders, in order to assign a score for each of the stops analyzed. Findings from the study can be used to inform decisions about transit-stop
placement, reducing pedestrian barriers to transit, and prioritizing transit stop
improvements. This project also provides a good model for inter-agency cooperation
between transit agencies and state transportation departments (DOTs). For more information on this project, please contact Alta Senior Planner Arif Khan
at arifk@altaplanning.com.
Safe and convenient pedestrian connections to
transit are of paramount importance to both the walking environment and transit usage.
Pedestrian-transit access improvements increase pedestrian safety and also lead to
increased transit ridership. Alta recently conducted a research project for TriMet,
Portland's (Oregon) regional transit authority, to address pedestrian improvements around
transit stops. The primary goal of the Pedestrian Connection Analysis Project (PCAP)
was to develop comparative ranking criteria to determine the most needed intersection
improvements adjacent to bus stops. These criteria have been applied to bus stops along
four state highway corridors in the Portland metropolitan area in order to develop a
ranked list of potential intersection improvements. TriMet intends to use the ranked
list to prioritize and solicit funding for potential improvements.
Alta's work developing effective Safe Routes to
Schools tools for communities continues at Alta, led by David Parisi, Brett Hondorp,
and Paul Smith. Completion of major programs for the State of Maine and the City of
San Jose (California) has shown how schools in rural areas and in large urban/suburban
settings can be best managed.
Challenges on the San Jose project, which will cover over 200 schools, included integrating school improvements with other City-sponsored traffic improvements, communication between disparate groups and agencies, and finding a balance between expensive physical solutions versus effective programs.
In Maine, over 5,600 surveys were distributed to parents and students in 16 schools. A high response rate (48 percent) indicated that access to school is an important issue to the public. Over 80 percent of parents of students in grades K - 8 said they currently do not allow their children to bike or walk to school. Although parents recognized the health benefits of walking and biking, they cited their concern for traffic safety, distance and inadequate sidewalks and bicycle facilities.
Selected low-cost measures have been developed and are now being implemented at both urban and rural sites Follow up mode of access surveys will be conducted over the next few months to gauge the impact of these measures. This demonstration project is being used to develop a statewide program for increasing bicycling and walking to school. The research should also be useful nationally.
David and Brett continue to lead research in this field through a Task Force of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Bay Area Section. Let us know if you are interested in being included in this effort.
Alta is leading a pavement arrow study for the City of San Francisco, part of a major research effort being conducted to gain approval of the California Traffic Control Device Committee. The research team includes Mia Birk, Michelle De Robertis, and Dr. Ron Van Houten. The pavement arrows will be used where bike lanes cannot be accommodated, and where bicyclists must share travel lanes with motorists. The research, which includes videotaping four locations on weeknds and weekdays, will seek to identify how the arrows impact bicyclist and motorist behavior patterns, and to determine their effectiveness at integrating bicylists into the travel flow. If you are interested in tracking the results of this study or providing input, please contact Mia Birk at miabirk@altaplanning.com.
Aside from our consulting services, Alta is deeply involved in helping communities become more livable. Some of our programs include:
- Pro-Bono Assistance: Alta staff are available to help community groups and
agencies on a pro bono basis, whether it is answering questions or assiting with
research. Every year we donate hundreds of hours to help our colleagues in a
variety of areas. Call an Alta professional today to find out more about this, or
come into one of our offices and use our library of resources.
- Conference Support Program: Alta offers help to deserving individuals who wish to attend conferences in fields related to bicycles, pedestrians, and trails. This may include plane tickets, other travel costs, and conference costs. Contact Michael Jones or Mia Birk to find out more about this program.
Grant deadlines are approaching! Some deadlines include:
CALIFORNIA- FY 2002-2003 TRANSPORTATION FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES PLANNING GRANTS
Due: October 31, 2002 | San Francisco Bay Area only
The Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) program, sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), encourages communities to recognize the important links between land use, community design, and transportation that provide an incentive for residents to choose a range of travel modes. The program encourages "bottom-up" community planning that support MTC's Transportation/Land-Use Connection Policy. Projects can be awarded up to $75,000.
www.mtc.ca.gov/projects/livable_communities/lcindex.htm
- ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT AND MITIGATION (EEMP) FUND PROGRAM 2002-03
Due: Novermber 22, 2002
The EEMP provides $10 million each year in grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for projects to mitigate the environmental impact caused by new or modified state transportation facilities. Projects are separated into three categories: Highway Landscape and Urban Forestry, Resource Lands, and Roadside Recreational.
http://resources.ca.gov/eem/Grant.pdf
- CALTRANS PLANNING GRANTS
Due: November 1, 2002
Two of the six programs funded under the Transportation Planning Grant can be used for non-motorized transportation and land use planning projects: Environmental Justice and Community-Based Transportation Planning. These one-time grants can be awards of up to $300,000 with a 10% local match.
www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tpp/offices/ocp/cbtpg.htm
- CALIFORNIA BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT (BTA) 2003-04
Due: December 2, 2002
This competitive bicycle facilities funding source is open to agencies that have had a bicycle transportation plan adopted within the past four years that meets all the requirements of Section 891.2 of the Streets and Highways Code.
www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/
- CALTRANS HAZARD ELIMINATION SAFETY PROGRAM 2004-05
Due: Differs by District; as early as October 31, 2002
The Hazard Elimination Safety program (HES) is a federal program that provides funds for safety improvements on public roads and highways, with the goal of eliminating or reducing the number and/or severity of traffic accidents. Candidate projects can be on any public road and must address a specific safety problem using a "quick fix" that does not result in significant environmental impacts. Proposals are accepted in "Safety Index" or "Work Type" categories.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/hesp/hesp.htm
- TXDOT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
Due: December 6, 2002
This is the first year of Safe Routes to School funding in Texas. The program will fund up to $500,000 of safety construction improvements within a two-mile radius of schools.
www.dot.state.tx.us/trafficsafety/srs/default.htm
- ARIZONA STATE PARKS BOARD HERITAGE FUND - TRAILS
Due: February 28, 2003.
These funds can only be utilized for designated trails on the Arizona State Trail System. The FY 2003 grant cycle begins on November 12 with workshops in Camp Verde, Tucson, and Phoenix.
www.pr.state.az.us/partnerships/grants/grants.html
Contact our grant specialist, Josh Abrams, at jabrams@altaplanning.com if you have questions or need help on your grant applications.
Founded in 1996 to provide specialized transportation expertise on bicycle, pedestrian and trail projects, Alta Planning + Designis now the leading firm of its kind in the United States. Our staff includes over 32 planners, engineers, and landscape architects in five states providing a wide array of services. We specialize in:
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Rails-With-Trails
Trail Planning and Design Engineering Traffic Calming Safe Routes to School |
Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plans
Trail Master Plans Environmental Documentation Geographic Information Systems (GIS) |
Sign Plans
Bicycle Maps Bike Facilities Transit Access |
For more information about our work and qualifications, please contact us or visit our website.
Come work for Alta!
Alta is seeking motivated professionals with backgrounds in planning, engineering,
landscape architecture, or related fields; an interest in the bicycle, pedestrian, and
trail fields; and, preferably, some consulting experience. Alta offers excellent pay
and benefits and opportunities for ownership, in addition to rewarding and challenging
assignments. Contact any of our offices or send your resume to
kbaenisch@altaplanning.com.
www.altaplanning.com ~ toll free (877) 347-5417 ~ info@altaplanning.com
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