By Rob Sadowsky, Contributing Columnist
The following is the second in a two-part
article. This first part outlined a set of guiding principles for Healthy
Streets and was published here. This piece offers specific implementation
solutions.
Now that the swearing in ceremonies are over and budgets are
being written, I offer specific implementation solutions to build a balanced
and healthy transportation system. First let me quickly recap the guiding
principles offered in the first letter:
1. Our streets have the potential to transform our
communities.
2. Transportation is regional.
3. Collective action is stronger than individual action.
4. Good transportation policy transcends demographics.
5. A truly multimodal network is a balanced system that
meets many shared goals.
6. Deliver results
7. Change behavior through encouragement and education
8. Confront reality and let data drive decisions.
9. Tell it straight.
10. Be bold and unique
11. Hire and recruit the best people who can implement this
vision.
With these strong guidelines rooted in our work, let’s go
out and build a great network while maintaining our current transportation
system.
1. In keeping with campaign promises and with the needs of
our communities, let us maintain the current system. Let’s set standards for
turnaround from when a pothole is reported and when it is repaired and keep our
citizens informed about the status. Maintenance is more than just filling
potholes, however; we need to keep our markings visible, our signs up and
signals working.
2. Our network is not complete. We need to raise money to
fix what needs fixing and build what is lacking. We should not be satisfied
until every resident of Portland can travel on a safe sidewalk with adequate
access for wheelchairs and strollers to their bus stop that is properly
sheltered and lit. We need streets that are “unimproved” to be upgraded so that
all travelers can safely move around their neighborhoods.
3. Let’s make bold plans to dramatically increase the share
of biking, walking and transit by building great networks. The city should
announce a schedule for completing the next five years of key transportation
projects, including the creation of 100 miles of new protected bike lanes that
separate bicyclists from motorized travel and builds a buffer between nervous
bicyclists and nervous drivers, while simultaneously giving pedestrians key
space and right of way. At a minimum, we should begin to plan right now for
major protected bike lanes running east/west, north/south and diagonally
throughout Portland that carry through downtown. Certainly if Washington, D.C.
can build a protected bike lane right down Pennsylvania Avenue, we can find the
leadership to make this happen. Just like other cities have found, we will also
find that it is good for business, good for safety and good for freight.
4. Let’s slow traffic speed down, particularly in business
districts and residential areas. We have the opportunity to install 20 MPH
signs on neighborhood greenways and the city should join the Bicycle
Transportation Alliance’s legislative drive to lower residential speed limits
from 25 to 20 mph throughout the state.
5. We have an opportunity in areas with unimproved streets
to pilot new and exciting designs that prioritize play space, pedestrian and
bicycle travel with low impact construction techniques modeled after Europe’s
Home Zones. The city should pilot two of these designs in the next two years.
6. We should take what works well and make it work better.
Some of what the city built ten years ago now needs updating. Three-foot bike
lanes no longer provide adequate safety and should be expanded to five feet
with buffer zones. Some key intersections need signalization to help us cross
safely. Finally, there are gaps that need filling for a variety of reasons.
7. Sunday Parkways is one of the best things going for
Portland and it can be even better. New York City closes Park Avenue, an iconic
street that runs down the middle of Manhattan from Central Park all the way to
the Brooklyn Bridge. Portland has wonderful opportunity to look at piloting a
large scale Sunday Parkways event on an iconic street like Burnside from the
West Hills all the way to 82nd Street. Let’s borrow from San Francisco’s event
and have a major concert at one of our iconic parks and truly celebrate!
8. Launch a collaborative task force to build a new model
for funding a balanced transportation system. Call upon leaders from freight,
downtown businesses, suburban employment campuses, labor leaders,
transportation advocates and real estate developers to join together. This work
will be hard but we can expect less, not more funding from the federal government.
I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and help you see this
prescription to reality. Thanks for listening.
Healthy Streetbeat is a monthly column for Street Roots
written by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). Our contributors are Rob
Sadowsky, executive director, and Margaux Mennesson, communications director.
This article appears in 2013-02-01.