by Jeff Olson, Principal

February was an incredible month. My projects took me from Jackson Hole, Wyoming to Jacksonville, Florida; from the Adirondacks to the Catskills; and a lot of places in between. Every once in a while it's important to take a deep breath and realize how much we are accomplishing.

Alta Planning + Design is currently developing the City of Berkeley, California's first Pedestrian Master Plan. Berkeley has high rates of walking and is seeking to maintain and improve walking conditions to support the already high walking mode share. According to the 1990 Census, more Berkeley residents walked to work (17%) than took transit (15%). The percentage of Berkeley residents who walked to work was about four times the percentage of walking commuters for the county as a whole.

To develop this Plan, the City is using a cutting-edge mapping process that involves gathering pedestrian infrastructure data from three-dimensional video images. Using a recently compiled video inventory of all roadways in the city, the project team is "extracting" data on pedestrian-related infrastructure including sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, and signage to create a citywide ArcGIS sidewalk centerline file. By efficiently geocoding the existing pedestrian network, we will be able to quickly map needed improvement areas such as sidewalk gaps or lack of curb ramps, and maximize our team’s field inventory time for follow-up and evaluation of solutions. In addition, the sidewalk GIS file will be "routable," meaning that it can ultimately be used as an interactive mapping tool to select preferred pedestrian routes based on factors such as marked crosswalk locations.

The plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2006. For more information about this project, contact Alta Associate Brett Hondorp in our Berkeley office.

The Tualatin (Oregon) High School Cross-Country Running Trail project included site analysis, design development drawings, construction drawings, specifications, and cost estimates. The trail, which has precisely marked distances for competition purposes, is also open to the public. Its many access points to surrounding neighborhoods have made the trail a recreation destination for local residents. Issues in designing the trail included developing a trail surface that was conducive to running while being resilient and low maintenance, providing adequate drainage so the trail can be used year-round, and addressing ADA requirements. Construction of the trail was completed in September 2005.

For more information about this project, contact Alta Senior Planner/Designer Mike Rose in our Portland office.

• Alta Principals Mia Birk and George Hudson were case study authors for BIKESAFE: Bicycle Countermeasure Selection System, a publication designed to assist practitioners with selecting solutions that address bicyclist safety and mobility problems. BIKESAFE will be available online at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/BIKESAFE and at http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/bikesafe. The print version of the guide will include the interactive system on an enclosed CD. To acquire the print version, contact Tamara Redmon (FHWA) at (202) 366-4077.
• Burlington, Vermont's Department of Public Works (DPW) Commission recently voted unanimously to approve a northbound contra-flow bike lane on South Winooski Avenue (between St. Paul and Maple Streets). Alta Principal Jeff Olson contributed to this effort by making a site visit and providing key guidance to the DPW. The recent vote represented the culmination of four years of effort among neighbors, cyclists, and DPW staff. The corridor improvements will include: reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, reducing two one-way vehicle lanes to one lane, and adding two bicycle lanes (one northbound and one southbound).
• The American Planning Association has released the latest edition of Planning and Urban Design Standards, which is the latest addition to the Graphic Standards series published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Alta Principal Mia Birk authored the On-Street Bikeways section in this publication. To order a copy, go to www.planning.org/bookservice or call (312) 786-6344.

Partnering with local landscape architecture firm EDAW, Alta helped develop the trails component of Reno's Open Space and Greenways Plan. Providing a 20-year blueprint for acquiring, protecting, and maintaining open spaces throughout the city, the Plan includes a comprehensive trail development concept to secure new alignments while improving non-motorized travel on existing transportation routes. Through a series of site visits, Alta staff joined local trails advocates to evaluate potential trail alignments along Reno's numerous creeks, rivers, drainageways, and other corridors. Alta also developed trail design guidelines and helped facilitate public outreach events. The Open Space and Greenways Plan provides an opportunity to secure key trail corridors and connections during a period of rapid urban development throughout the city.

For more information about this project, please contact Alta Principal George Hudson in our Portland office.

• Pro-Bono Assistance: Alta staff are available to help community groups and agencies on a pro bono basis, whether it is answering questions or assisting 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 Alta Principals Michael Jones or Mia Birk to find out more about this program.