What is Sustainable Transportation?CEE 8207Project Presentation9 July 2015

Mark Guida, Drew Britten,Marcus Snyder, and Nick Monsu

Overview

Introduction Livable Communities Economics Environment Conclusions

Livable Communities

Keys to a livable community Mixed land use

design practices Context sensitive

roadway design solutions

Providing a place to live and work

Mixed Land Use – Places to Meet Your Neighbors

Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ

Break away from the suburban office park

Mixed-use “arenas” can satisfy economic and social needs – residences, commercial office and retail

Increases in social capital, economic and commercial growth

Helps to break down psychological barriers

Roadways for the Community

165th Street – The Bronx: proposal to “organize” the cross section of the roadway so to help eliminate pedestrian and bicycle accidents. Accident occurrences here outnumber almost all other roadways in The Bronx.

Allowance for all modes of transportation that helps support a safe atmosphere

Should promote a pedestrian friendly environment

Sense of a communal shared space and not a thruway

Reverting back to traditionalist ideals over modernist ones

Alternative Transportation

Light rail/subway Commuter rail Bicycle Walking Car/Vanpool Bus Streetcar Water taxi

Seattle Link, Light Rail System

Safe Place to Live and Work U.S. - 32,000 traffic

related deaths (2013) Re-prioritize the street

by including spaces for all users

Shorten crosswalks and include medians

Slow down traffic – half as likely to die if hit by 25 mph car than by 30 mph

New York City — pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers have designated roadway spaces reducing traffic accidents. (sustainablecitiescollective.com)

Economics: the case for sustainable transportation Current funding mechanism is

unsustainable Consider the real costs of our current

transportation system - time in traffic, environmental impact, and public health

Sustainable approach looks to diversify transportation options, increase efficiencies, and reduce maintenance costs

We can’t pave our way outof congestion… More lanes = more

congestion, emissions DC and Baltimore (urban

sprawl) Funding cannot keep up

with demand ...or maintenance costs

Historically, expanding highways changes people’s travel behaviors, creating more trips and more congestion. (Photo: FHWA)

Reduce Roadway Maintenance Regular roadway maintenance is

required Harsh winters can pose a problem Salt alternatives can be examined Wisconsin is starting to use cheese brine

Adding Value to Main St. Convert 4 lanes to 2 and add

street parking Add raised or colored

crosswalks Wide sidewalks with zero

setback buildings Curb plantings and rain

gardens to catch run-off Bus and bicycle friendly Additional parking behind

storefronts Upper floor residential space

Bringing Customers to Businesses

Penn Station—New York City

Downtown trips are often cumbersome and unappealing by car

MTA – Nearly 400 million people road NYC mass transit during the weekends in 2014

Effective mass transit to a commercial center can break America’s car obsession

Market East Station - Philadelphia

Environment: Enhance, Preserve, and Protect

Leave a better place for future generations

Reduce air pollution for healthier cities

Improved fitness from biking and walking

More urban green space

Vibrant, livable cities Bike to Work Day

Reduce Emissions Responsible for >25% of

Carbon Emissions

One bus can remove 40 cars from city streets

Commuter rail emits 25% less CO2 than a typical car per passenger mile

Chicago CTA removes the equivalent of 400,000 cars from regional roads each week

4,800 pounds of emissions per person per year by switching to transit

Green Space and You Playgrounds, gardens, playing fields,

green courtyards Sense of place for community Squares in Savannah, GA GreenPlanPhiladelphiais working topromote greenspace in theCity

Runoff and Water Quality Pavements prevent rainfall

from infiltration and evapotranspiration

Higher speeds causes erosion Stormwater carries pollutants

from roadway Traditional mitigation method:

Retention ponds Sustainable Solutions –

maximize infiltration. Ex. Rain Gardens A rain garden reduces stormwater runoff and

pollutants along a roadway. (statecollegepa.us)

Conclusions Implement sustainable transportation

practices through: Creating livable communities Making economically sustainable

decisions Being environmentally conscious

Reward the short and transit trips Properly designed transportation

systems and appropriate land-use design are complimentary

Thank you!