Why we need Why we need Sustainable Sustainable

Transportation Transportation Networks…Networks……and how to

implement them

CNU 17 DenverCNU 17 Denver

June 13, 2009June 13, 2009

Why do we need Sustainable Why do we need Sustainable Transportation Networks?Transportation Networks?

Why do we need Sustainable Why do we need Sustainable Transportation Networks?Transportation Networks?

Because…Because…

they create the basis for and support they create the basis for and support livable urban environments and livable urban environments and

sustainable forms of transportation. sustainable forms of transportation.

Compact Urban FormCompact Urban Form

Pedestrian-oriented Public RealmPedestrian-oriented Public Realm

Balanced Transportation for all ModesBalanced Transportation for all Modes

Diverse and Balanced Land Use PatternsDiverse and Balanced Land Use Patterns

Walkable Centers and Neighborhoods Walkable Centers and Neighborhoods

Focused and Resource Conscious GrowthFocused and Resource Conscious Growth

Respectful Integration into Natural Systems Respectful Integration into Natural Systems

What we want – Key New Urbanist GoalsWhat we want – Key New Urbanist Goals

What we got – A Network in CrisisWhat we got – A Network in Crisis

Since 1980 VMT outpaced population growth by 3:1

Congestion• 4.2 billion lost hours• 2.9 billion gallons of wasted fuel• Amounting to a $78 billion annual drain

Transportation accounts for 33% of green house gases

With strained budgets it is becoming cost prohibitive to mitigate through adding capacity

Ignores the network function of local streets

Poorly accommodates trips by non-vehicular modes

Transit accommodation is often just an afterthought

Is not supportive of New Urbanist goals

What we wantWhat we want

US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia Alternative Future with Potential “Full” NetworkAlternative Future with Potential “Full” Network

Urban AdvantageUrban Advantage

US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia Hydraulic Road - Existing ConditionsHydraulic Road - Existing Conditions

What we gotWhat we got

Urban AdvantageUrban Advantage

US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia Alternative Future with Potential “Full” NetworkAlternative Future with Potential “Full” Network

What we wantWhat we want

Urban AdvantageUrban Advantage

US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia US 29 - Existing Conditions US 29 - Existing Conditions

What we gotWhat we got

Urban AdvantageUrban Advantage

Lack of a complete network concentrates all traffic on US29

– Regional through

– Regional commute– Local commute– Local shopping

and– Local within the area

Existing Street “Network”US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia

What we go – A Poor NetworkWhat we go – A Poor Network

A Network of A Network of multimodal, low speed multimodal, low speed streets for local streets for local serviceservice

Allows US 29 to serve Allows US 29 to serve longer regional tripslonger regional trips

Initial Street NetworkUS29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia

What we need – A better NetworkWhat we need – A better Network

Potential for a finer Potential for a finer grain network of grain network of streetsstreets

Support transition Support transition fromfrom

T-3: Suburban toT-3: Suburban to

T-5: Urban CenterT-5: Urban Center

Potential Future Street NetworkUS29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia

What we need – A better NetworkWhat we need – A better Network

US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia

Only with Robust Networks will get from here:Only with Robust Networks will get from here:

Urban AdvantageUrban Advantage

US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia

To here:To here:

Urban AdvantageUrban Advantage

Only with Robust Networks will get from here:Only with Robust Networks will get from here:

US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia

Urban AdvantageUrban Advantage

To here:To here:

US29H250 Project – Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia

Urban AdvantageUrban Advantage

System-based (vs. facility-based) application System-based (vs. facility-based) application of CSS:of CSS:

What we needWhat we need

Smart Growth Conventional Planning

Why we need Sustainable Transportation Why we need Sustainable Transportation NetworksNetworks

To supports a drastic To supports a drastic reduction of VMT through reduction of VMT through increased mode choiceincreased mode choice

To Bring to the regional To Bring to the regional scale successful New scale successful New Urbanist conceptsUrbanist concepts

Today’s SessionToday’s Session

• Network and Transit Network and Transit (William Lieberman)(William Lieberman)

• Network and Safety Network and Safety (Wes Marshall)(Wes Marshall)

• Network Performance Measures Network Performance Measures (Jeffrey Tumlin)(Jeffrey Tumlin)

• Network and Emergency Response Network and Emergency Response (Danny Pleasant)(Danny Pleasant)

• Virginia’s Secondary Street Legislation Virginia’s Secondary Street Legislation (Nick Donohue)(Nick Donohue)

Each Presentation followed by brief Q & AEach Presentation followed by brief Q & A

• Panel Discussion with Audience ParticipationPanel Discussion with Audience Participation

• Recent CNU Efforts with Policy MakersRecent CNU Efforts with Policy Makers

• Continue Discussion at Saturday Network SalonContinue Discussion at Saturday Network Salon