Happy Anniversary Alta Portland!

A note from Alta Portland office founder Mia Birk:

Alta principal Mia Birk with her son Skyler on the Cycle Oregon weekend ride. Alta also celebrates Cycle Oregon's 21 years of showcasing and investing in Oregon.

Ten years ago, I left the City of Portland Bicycle Program and joined Alta founder Michael Jones in expanding Alta beyond California. My one-year old Skyler was crawling round the floor, eating paper and pulling pots and pans out of cabinets while I called prospective clients and churned out memos and reports on a $100 ink jet printer.

Within the first year, I was joined by trail designer extraordinaire George Hudson. We soon moved out of our home offices to a 900 sq. ft. storefront in a downtrodden neighborhood that popped as soon as Starbucks moved in. We were besieged by customers who confused us with the florist shop next door. We didn't complain though, seeing as our sidewalk was fresh flower heaven. We figured we'd be there at least three years, until we were five staff, but starting looking for new space a year later when we had crammed in seven.

We then bought and remodeled a funky old 2,500 sq. ft. warehouse on the border between a residential and semi-industrial area. Again, we figured that with space for 15 people, we were set for many years; a year later we were 20 people on top of each other. We then bought and renovated a 10,000 sq. ft. historic 1892 building in the central eastside next to downtown, and have added 12 more offices nationwide.

In the field of planning and design, the greatest measure of success is seeing your ideas built. When I was at the City of Portland, I loved this. At Alta, I've gotten to multiply that joy exponentially. We have worked in more than 40 U.S. states and four countries. We have implemented more than 5,000 miles of bikeways and walkways, touched more than 1,000 communities. Even better still, we have enhanced the health and daily lives of millions of people.

Read more about the growth of Alta in my forthcoming book: Joyride: One Woman's Journey to Empower People and Transform Communities. For ordering information, see: http://mia.altaprojects.net/preorder.php

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IBPI Celebrates Two Years of Learning, Professional Development, and Research

It's hard to believe it's been only two years since Alta Principal Mia Birk helped launch the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation at Portland State University. Under Director Lynn Weigand's leadership more than 200 professionals from across North America have joined our courses in bicycle and pedestrian planning and design, accessibility improvements, trail planning and design, and bicycle boulevard planning and design. Each goes back to their community better equipped to create a more livable future.

PSU's graduate and undergraduate students have the opportunity to get this knowledge as part of their studies in urban studies and planning. Research projects focus on evaluation of facilities and programs in Portland, including the Safe Routes to School program, use of green bike boxes, and the new cycle track slated to open this summer.

IBPI's professional development workshops give practitioners critical information to make their communities more sustainable and friendly to bicycling and walking, including a week-long intensive course using the city as a living laboratory.

Alta was proud to partner with IBPI, the City of Portland, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, and the Association for Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals on the hot-off-the presses, just released Bike Boulevard Design Guide. Read more about it below in this newsletter, and get your copy today at: http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/guidebook.php

Congratulations to IBPI on its jam-packed first two years. And, a big Thank You to IBPI for all it is doing to advance the academic field in support of bicycling and walking as integral elements of our transportation system! For more information, visit www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu.

IBPI’s Weeklong Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Course in June attracted a stellar crew of planners and engineers from across North America.

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Safe Routes to School programs across the country are changing the habits of an entire generation of children, creating healthier kids, healthier communities, and a healthier planet.

Now, you can be a part of that revolution. Attend this year's Safe Routes to School National Conference August 19-21 in Portland, Oregon, and learn how you can start a Safe Routes program in your neighborhood, or improve the one you've already started. With dozens of presentations, hands-on seminars, tours, and events, it will be a conference that will be both educational and fun.

Co-presented by the National Center for Safe Routes to School and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, Alta is a proud sponsor. You won’t be disappointed! Visit www.SafeRoutesConference.org to learn more and register.

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Steve Durrant, Alta senior landscape architect, with former Portland mayor Bud Clark on the fifth annual Visionaries Voyage, July 11, 2009

An effective technique for energizing community bicycle and pedestrian efforts is to go for a ride! Celebrating its fifth year, Cycle Oregon's Visionaries Voyage introduces regional decision-makers to the opportunities and challenges cyclists face in creating a well connected regional bikeway infrastructure. Started in 2005 with just 40 participants, the ride has grown to 150 mayors, councilpeople, senators, representatives and staff. Like the good-ole-days of bonding on the golf course, bonding by bike puts a smile on the faces of all involved.

"It was a positive and spirited event," says Diane Wiatr, City of Tacoma, who organized a similar bike ride with Planning Commissioners, Public Works and City Council last year. "Afterwards, we each discussed what we had seen, the good, the bad and the ugly. From there we forged a new Complete Streets Multi-Functional Team to oversee projects."

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Nicknamed the "The Bicycling Capitol of Europe," the Netherlands has many similar trends in alternative transportation that we are seeing in the U.S. In the same spirit as our Safe Routes to School program, the City Region of Haaglanden is initiating a "Biking2Skool=Cool" campaign that promotes bicycling among secondary school students. Directed by Dutch consulting firm Balancia, students can "save" kilometers by travelling to school by bicycle. Each kilometer represents a small amount of money to donate to a project like providing computers for a needy school in a foreign country. This innovative program encourages children to bike to school and think about transportation choices in a new way.

Known for his work creating solutions for sustainable mobility like the Biking2Skool=Cool program, Balancia Senior Consultant Arjen Jaarsma's mission is "to find solutions for your region, city or corporation that makes the traffic and transport system economically, socially and ecologically sustainable." Supporting a similar mission and vision, Balancia and Alta are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership that will expand our international reach and bringing Dutch expertise and lessons learned to our projects in the U.S.

For more information, contact info@altaplanning.com

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Here's a selection of recent and upcoming publications and presentations. For a full list of available documents produced by Alta, check out the Presentations & Studies section of our website.

Bicycle Boulevard Planning & Design Guidebook Released!
Working in tandem with the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI) at Portland State University and a number of other collaborators, Alta is proud to celebrate the release of the "Fundamentals of Bicycle Boulevard Planning & Design Guidebook". Bicycle boulevards take the shared roadway bike facility to a new level, creating an attractive, convenient, and comfortable cycling environment that is welcoming to cyclists of all ages and skill levels. They are low-volume and low-speed streets that have been optimized for bicycle travel through treatments such as signage and pavement markings, traffic calming, and intersection crossing treatments.This new guidebook was designed to serve as a planning and conceptual design guide for planners, engineers, citizens, advocates and decision makers who are considering bicycle boulevards in their community. Visit the IPBI website for more information on its release and to download! http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/guidebook.php

Learn to Conduct Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts and Surveys
As part of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Project, communities can now learn how to conduct bicycle and pedestrian counts and surveys. The National Bicycle and Pedestrian effort provides a consistent model of data collection and ongoing data for use by planners, governments, and bicycle and pedestrian professionals. The first course will be held in early August in Kansas City, Missouri. Attendees will be eligible for AICP Certification Maintenance credits. The course is being sponsored by the Mid-America Regional Council, Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization, and St. Joseph Area Transportation Study Organization. Course materials will be available on http://bikepeddocumentation.org in late August 2009. For more information, or to schedule a training course in your community, contact Lauren Ledbetter.

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Growth Creates Need for Transportation Options
in Southeastern US

Easley, South Carolina Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan

Bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalk treatments will provide safety, accessibility, and connection for the City of Easley.

Situated in the foothills of South Carolina's Upstate region and the vibrant greater Greenville metro area, the City of Easley continues to see growth and new development. With concern over increased fuel costs, safety walking and biking around town, and a growing retirement population, Easley residents are seeking new options for transportation. Our Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan is one of the City's first steps towards its goal of achieving Bicycle Friendly Community Status, in an effort to become a more fit and active community. The plan is being developed using an active community engagement process, with surveys, community cycling events, and an interactive project website, bikeeasley.com.

Georgia's Statewide Safe Routes to School
"In the early 60's, over 70% of school aged children walked or biked to school," says Kelechi Nwosu, the Georgia Department of Transportation Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator. Recent studies show that number dropping to only 13%. In an effort to encourage physical activity, provide safe options for bicycling and walking to school, and promote cleaner air, Georgia's Statewide Safe Routes to School project is underway! The project team is now selecting the most promising infrastructure projects at schools statewide and will then begin helping selected communities design their projects.

Triangle Transit Travel Encouragement

Commuters in the Research Triangle Park area scheduled commuter consultations and ordered individualized resource materials through mysmartcommute.org

The Research Triangle Park of North Carolina is an important employment destination, named one of the "Best Places for Business & Careers" by Forbes. As one of the largest research park in the U.S., access and commuter choices have become an important issue for the regional transit authority. Triangle Transit (TTA) is looking to improve conditions by decreasing drive-alone trips and increasing trips by transit, telecommuting, carpooling, biking, and walking. Alta managed two individualized social marketing programs to help TTA in this effort--one aimed at 1,000 households in the Town of Wake Forest, and the second aimed at 3,000 employees of businesses in the region, serving five different commuter hotspots and 15 different employers.

For more information about the projects, contact John Cock in Alta's Southeast office.
Davidson, North Carolina
(704) 968-5053
johncock@altaplanning.com


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Alta welcomes Senior Associate Steve Duh, Senior Designer Mary Stewart and Senior Designer Scott Mizée to the Portland office!

Steve specializes in Park System and Open Space planning and design. He brings three years of experience running his own firm, Conservation Technix, which was founded on the principle that "the active conservation of open spaces promotes the environmental, social and economic vitality of communities." At Conservation Technix, Steve focused on developing strategic plans, consulting on public involvement and negotiating sale agreements on property acquisitions. Prior to Conservation Technix, Steve worked for six years as the Senior Parks Planner at Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation Dept in Vancouver, Washington where he gained a wealth of experience managing a team of Landscape Architects and Planners.

Mary recently moved back to Portland from the San Francisco Bay Area where she worked for Callander Associates in their San Mateo office since 2002. Mary specializes in urban design, trail, park and waterfront planning and design and especially loves the challenge of "filling in the gaps and completing the puzzle!". She has worked on projects that linked segments of the Bay Trail, connected trails to BART and CalTrain stations and resurrected abandoned railway corridors as regional trails. Currently Mary is working on the Mojave Riverwalk and the Santa Clara River Trail, both in Southern California.

Scott comes to Alta with over 10 years of design and project management experience.  He is a LEED Accredited Professional and is currently an Architecture Registration Exam candidate. Recently Scott co-founded npGREENWAY, an advocacy group working to extend Portland's Eastbank Esplanade to the Columbia River. Scott is very excited about the future at Alta and the opportunity it presents to combine his proffessional and volunteer pursuits in a meaningful way.

More recent additions to the Alta team:

• Natalie Wessel, Marketing Manager
• Annie Decker, Finance Assistant
• Becky Leonard, Document Production Specialist

To receive Alta news and announcements as they happen, subscribe to the Alta News Feed.

• Alta received an attention grant from WorldChanging.com along with the Portland Department of Transportation and BikePortland.org for our involvement in Portland, Oregon's shift to sustainable transportation. The article discusses Portland's continued adoption of the bicycle as a primary means to getting around- recently achieving a 3.5% mode split, far and above United States' national average. The article also touches on Portland's bicycle industry and bike related business growth, a figure Alta reported in our 2008 Oregon Bicycle Related Business Study. Read the full article here, part of WordChanging's Attention to Philanthropy 2009 series.
  
• The Vancouver Voice ran this story about bicycling in Clark County, Washington. The county is working with Alta to develop its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The project goals include making Clark County a bicycle tourism destination. "Biking in Clark County is: healthy, active, enviro-friendly, communal and cost-effective. Perhaps most important, however, is what a well-known biking infrastructure can bring in: money." Read the full article here.
• Mia Birk's lively presentation to the Portland City Club- part of their "All About the Bike" program on May 1st- is available for download. Click here to download the speech in print form or listen to the presentation- also featuring Bike Gallery owners Jay Graves, and Cycle Oregon founder and Vice President of ODS - by downloading the MP3 here.
• Grand Rapids, Michigan held their first annual Bike Summit this year expressing a commitment to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Detailed coverage is available on mediamouse.org including Senior Associate Ann Freiwald's discussion of best practices, the influence of bike culture, and the importance of safety in encouraging new riders.
• Efforts to promote mountain biking in Portland continue to find traction. Learn more in bikeportland.org's article. Alta is pleased to be part of this effort to create more opportunities for mountain biking in and around the city. Learn more about our experience with Mountain Bike Parks and Tourism on our Parks, Green Spaces, and Great Places page.
• Streetsblog LA features Culver City, CA's Bicycle & Pedestrian Initiative in their Bike Friendly Friday section. According to SBLA, "Culver City is working and planning to become the kind of bike-town that could rival Santa Monica for top spot on the Westside." The community is encouraged to get involved at www.ccwalkbike.org
• The Greenville News reports on Easley, South Carolina's "push to become more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly" in this article. The plan reflects the City's desire to become a more fit and active community and is one of the City's first steps towards its goal of achieving Bicycle Friendly Community Status. John Cock, Alta's new regional manager in the Southeastern United States is leading this effort.
• Alta Principal Mia Birk was a panelist for Portland, Oregon's recent Green City Confidential symposium. The topics included livable metropolitan spaces, green transportation, development, and commerce. Mia's view is that while Portland has come a long way to becoming one of the country's most bicycle friendly cities, it has a long way to go in comparison to European cities like Copenhagen. See the Portland Daily Journal of Commerce's coverage here and learn more about Mia's recent experience with European bicycle infrastructure in our Cycle Tracks: Lessons Learned publication.
• Portland's Gateway Green project- a vision to build a 35 acre park in East Portland including world class mountain biking and cyclocross facilities- received major backing recently. The Oregonian reports on the momentum building on the project and mentions the concept plan for the park developed by Alta's Chris Bernhardt.