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ALRC NEWSROOM: In The NewsBreaking News: THE NEXT FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILL -> Representative Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has released the Committee Print of the next surface transportation authorization bill. Markup of the bill starts today (June 24th) in subcommittee. What’s in it for non-motorized transportation and, specifically, bicyclists and pedestrians? If you are asking about specific dollar amounts, don’t expect a real answer until someone figures out how to replenish the Highway Trust Fund. If you are asking about how or whether this bill shifts the DOT’s priorities away from serving the interests of the private motor vehicle… well, the answer is somewhat complicated, but (ultimately) promising. The full text of the Committee Print can be downloaded here: The most provocative development is the creation of the Office of Livability (see page 198). Housed within the Office are many of the programs that bike-ped people will find familiar: Safe Routes to School (page 122); Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (page 165); Transportation Enhancements; Recreational Trails Program (page 165); and US Bicycle Route System (page 213). The bill instructs the Director of the Office to develop mode share targets and a timeline for achieving said targets. What do NCBW’s pundits say about the bill? This is the first surface transportation bill to acknowledge that it is also a climate bill and a healthcare bill. Nonmotorized transportation, transit, and urban mobility concerns have never been better served by federal transportation policy. The promise to give Metropolitan Planning Organizations more control over surface transportation funds is, on the whole, a very positive development. Another highlight is that metropolitan areas will, for the first time, be required to link housing, climate, energy, and other national priorities to their transportation plans. Where the bill falters is in its failure to articulate clear goals for mode shift and reductions in vehicle-miles traveled (VMT); instead, great deference is given to the Secretary of Transportation in setting these targets. We will reserve judgment until Congress and Secretary LaHood begin filling in those blanks. This bill is evolutionary, rather than the revolutionary bill many of us had expected and hoped for. However, given that Congress and the White House have signaled their intention to first work through a climate bill and a national healthcare bill, the reality is that, unless there is a change in course, we are going to have to get in line, acknowledge that there are other competing national--but not unaligned--priorities right now, and do what we can to cast bicycling and walking as safe, low cost, healthy, and environmentally-friendly transportation choices. Here are reactions from other interested parties: America Bikes Coalition Transportation for America AASHTO (this links to their wish list for a transportation bill) Streetsblog Governors Highway Safety Association The transportation bill is 775 pages in length. The Senate has yet to start on its version. The Obama Administration and Department of Transportation has yet to propose its own plan. An 18-month bridge plan has been proposed while Congress and the Administration work to address the shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund. Reactions to the bill continue to pour in; this one is far from over. As the language and details in the bill evolve we hope to see a greater emphasis placed on performance measures and outcomes. What we want and what we need is a federal transportation bill that improves the health of Americans, ensures equitable mobility, and responds aggressively to the challenge of global warming. Stay tuned! CORRECTION FROM JUNE 10th ISSUE OF CL In issue 229's story about Mary Collins' new book, "American Idle," we gave the wrong promotional code number for the 35% discount for CenterLines readers and friends. Here are the correct instructions: You can pre-order a copy now and save 35% off the cover price: 1. Go to http://www.tinyurl.com/mwmo8m or www.capital-books and search for "American Idle." 2. Order the book and enter IDL909 as the promotional code. Sorry for the inconvenience! "LIVABILITY PRINCIPLES" TO GUIDE SUSTAINABILITY POLICY -> In a June 16th entry in the Fast Lane Blog, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wrote, "We have a window of opportunity to think differently about transportation and propose bold, new approaches to improve the livability of our nation's communities. That's the message I delivered to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee today. In announcing our agencies' Partnership for Sustainable Communities, I was joined by my counterparts at HUD, Sec. Shaun Donovan, and the EPA, Administrator Lisa Jackson. In March I opened a discussion about Livable Communities here and in testimony before Congress. Today, we have a new set of 6 Livability Principles to help enact that Livable Communities Initiative. "These six principles will help us coordinate federal transportation, environmental protection, and housing investments at our respective agencies. As I told the Senate Committee, 'These principles mean that we will all be working off the same playbook to formulate and implement policies and programs.' "1. Providing more transportation choices; Source: http://tinyurl.com/no8757 EPA'S JACKSON PRAISES DENVER'S 'HIGHLANDS GARDEN VILLAGE" -> According to a June 23rd news release, "As part of President Obama's Clean Energy Week, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson joined Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper for a tour of Highlands' Garden Village community in Denver. Administrator Jackson commended the residential, office and retail development as a model for urban planning and energy efficiency and highlighted a new federal partnership to advance sustainable communities across the nation. "'Today President Obama called for America to lead the world in the clean energy future -- and that leadership begins in our communities. The planning, energy innovation and efficiency at Highlands' Garden Village provide a local model for economic growth and environmental sustainability that can happen all around the world,' said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. 'Our national transition to clean energy -- including sustainable communities -- can create millions of jobs, give us global leadership in the clean energy industry, and provide the security of real energy independence.' "Highlands' Garden Village is an EPA award-winning compact, mixed-use community that includes housing, office, retail, parks and entertainment. The energy-efficient residences in the neighborhood were built in 1998 and include a mix of apartments, townhomes, single-family homes, and a co-housing community that host professionals, families and older residents. Residents can access downtown Denver easily via bus or bicycle and the accessibility of many nearby services and amenities offer significant reductions in car trips and vehicle miles traveled..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/r63mpj TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICA WANTS YOUR COMMUTE STORY! -> In a June 16th message, Ilana Preuss of Transportation for America asked, "What's your commute like? Maybe you crank up the A/C, put in a Yanni CD and zone out. Maybe you peruse the morning paper while on the express bus that stops just blocks from your home and office. Or maybe you leave frustrated tooth-marks on your steering wheel each day. "We want to hear your commuting story -- no matter how terrible your lows or how blissful your highs. We can't read minds, so you're just going to have to spell it out for us. Love it or loathe it, we want to hear your commuting stories..." Go to: http://tinyurl.com/mvxsav OBERSTAR TWEETS ABOUT HIS MPR INTERVIEW -> According to a June 23rd tweet from Rep. James Oberstar, he has been interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio, talking about transportation legislation. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/ndcsht NYC ACTIVE DESIGN GUIDELINES SHINE AT FIT CITY 4 CONFERENCE On the same morning that Mayor Michael Bloomberg cut the ribbon to open the first phase of the High Line, urban planners, architects, urban designers, landscape architects and public health professionals gathered at the New York American Institute of Architects chapter headquarters in Manhattan's Washington Square to address the very large issue of obesity. The purpose of the gathering was a conference focused on designing active living into every New Yorkers daily lives. This was the fourth installment of the Fit City conference series, which consisted of presentations throughout the morning to a packed auditorium of professionals concerned with the obesity trends for the New York Metropolitan area. Also in attendance were several commissioners from various city agencies that had worked on the Active Design Guidelines manual collectively for the City of New York, which will be released this fall. The conference presenters gave insight to designing urban spaces and buildings that encourage people to be active in their daily routines. Further encouragement was fostered by the environmental benefits associated with a more physically active New York. Topics focused on push and pull techniques to get people more active. While the most talked about strategy was the new staircase building code and the designing of more welcoming stair space, plenty of importance was placed on the role that bicycling can play in reducing obesity and our carbon footprint. A presentation by John Pucher, Professor of Bicycle Planning at Rutgers University, highlighted the improvements that NYC Department of Transportation was making. Dr. Pucher emphasized the importance of bicycle facilities improvements being made on the streets of New York that accompanied all bicycle users. The point was made that through an inclusive bicycle policy there will be an increased bicycling presence on the roads of New York thus leading to safer streets through safety in numbers. While New York has been able to double bicycle use in the last year, the DOT still has a lot of work to do. The biggest gap expressed was in the availability of bicycle racks on buses. According to data presented by Dr. Pucher, 75% of all United States buses have bike racks (about 50,000 total buses) while New York City MTA has not a single bike rack on their buses. Further complicating the bicycle usage situation in New York is due in part to the lack of safe bicycle parking facilities, especially at work places. These two massive facilities shortfalls make it apparent that New York still has much work to be done before a comprehensive bicycle system is considered established. Still much can be said about where New York has come from when the goal was simply to add 200 miles of bike lanes. Today New York has ambitious plans to turn the city into a fit and efficient multi-model transportation hub thanks in part to a cross departmental commitment being fostered by Mayor Bloomberg. With the Mayor's vision being put into effect by way of PlaNYC, many more Fit City examples of active living are sure to come into fruition throughout New York in the years to come. -- Josh Levin, Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner, NCBW
KODAK AMERICAN GREENWAYS PROGRAM AWARDS DEADLINE EXTENDED -> According to the program's website, "Kodak Eastman Kodak Company, the National Geographic Society, and The Conservation Fund are the partners in the Kodak American Greenways Program, an annual program that recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations for exemplary leadership in the enhancement of our nation's outdoor heritage. The program was established in response to the recommendation from the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors that a national network of greenways be created. "The program also provides small grants to land trusts, watershed organizations, local governments and others seeking to create or enhance greenways in communities throughout America." Go to: http://tinyurl.com/c5vmkf CAN A WALKABLE SEATTLE AREA CUT GREENHOUSE GASES? -> In a June New Urban News article, Lawrence Frank and Sarah Kavage wrote, "The world has just a short time in which to act decisively on climate change. King County, Washington, home to Seattle and a number of other population and employment centers in the Puget Sound region, offers a potentially important example of how governments can measure the relationship between land-use patterns and greenhouse gas emissions -- and thus improve development across a region. "King County is working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the Seattle area and bring future development more in line with smart-growth and new urbanist thinking. The county's most recent comprehensive plan update calls for greenhouse gases to be slashed by 80 percent from 2007 levels by 2050. Our team has worked on two studies to support these efforts: a countywide census block group map of CO2 emissions from transport that can be used in development review, and the addition of climate change outcomes within a planning model known as I-PLACE3S developed by the Sacramento Council of Governments..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/cvksvy NEW ARLINGTON (VA) TRAIL, BYPASSES A MILE OF HAZARDS -> According to a recent news release, "On Saturday, May 30, Congressman Jim Moran, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria celebrated the completion and opening of the multi-use trail linking the popular Washington & Old Dominion Trail and Four Mile Run Trail located at South 27th Road and South Four Mile Run Drive. "The new trail eliminated nearly a mile of on-street riding and difficult road crossings and offers pedestrians and bicyclists a safer, more direct path along the Four Mile Run stream. The project brings new landscaping to the stream bank and a sanitary sewer main that increases capacity and helps prevent back-ups." Source: http://tinyurl.com/mgeclh WORLDWIDE, URBANITES HEALTHIER THAN SUBURBANITES -> According to a June 16th SDSU NewsCenter article, "No matter which country you are in, new research finds those who live in an urban neighborhood are twice as likely to be physically active the those in the suburbs. According to a San Diego State University study published in this month's American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the biggest single factor influencing physical activity around the world is accessibility to sidewalks. "Researchers looked at data from 11,541 survey participants in 11 countries, which included the United States, Lithuania, Brazil, Sweden and Japan. Those individuals who reported living in a city neighborhood with easy access to sidewalks were 15-50 percent more likely to get moderate-to-vigorous activity at least five days a week for at least 30 minutes each day. SDSU professor and lead author Jim Sallis said this is likely because sidewalks can be used for recreation like jogging and in-line skating as well as for transportation, in lieu of using a car or other means of transportation..." Source: http://tinyurl.com/no5lxy
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