Reclaiming, Reshaping, and Rebuilding Your Built Environment

Transcription

1 Reclaiming, Reshaping, and Rebuilding Your Built Environment Amy Johnson Ely Executive Director Palmetto Cycling Coalition (your state bike and walk advocacy organization)

2 Livable Streets: What Are They?

3 Livable Streets Before

4 Livable Streets After

5 Livable Streets

6 Livable Streets

7 Livable Streets

8 Livable Streets

9 Livable Streets

10 Livable Streets

11 Livable Streets

12 Livable Streets

13 Livable Streets

14

15 The 5 keys to local success: 1. Partnerships, Strategy & Programming. 2. Representation (all levels). 3. Planning/Design/Policy. 4. Adoption (all levels). 5. Funding and Implementation.

16 1. Partnerships, Strategy & Programming Partnerships: the Necessary Three. Elected Officials. Municipal staff. Engaging Advocates.

17 1. Partnerships, Strategy & Programming Strategy: Identify gaps in this Partnership Trifecta and political dynamic, and meet the needs of those gaps. Possible gaps: historically under-engaged people, grassroots or in positions of power opponents in positions of power, who can be influenced

18 1. Partnerships, Strategy & Programming: Programming IF strategy is to engage more, THEN what? Bring issue to neighborhood meetings, on their agenda Bring issue to conferences of new potential partners Other ideas? IF strategy is to meet opposition with influence, THEN what? Power map: who can influence them, and where should you focus energies? What are best places for issue education?

19 Health Document Health Benefits 43 percent of people with safe places to walk within 10 minutes of home met recommended activity levels; among those without safe places to walk just 27 percent met the recommendation. Residents are 65 percent more likely to walk in a neighborhood with sidewalks.

20 Document Econ. Benefits Economics 1. The average American household spends an entire 3 months pay on transportation % of the US population living in poverty do not own a vehicle. 7% of SC s households do not own a vehicle. 13% of SC s households of color do not own a vehicle. 3. For the price of 1 mile of a 4-lane urban highway (~$50 million), hundreds of miles of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure can be built to complete an entire network of active transportation facilities for a mid-sized city. 4. Construction jobs increase by 20% when retrofitting vs. creating new roads. Per $1 million spent, bike lanes 14.4 jobs, bike boulevards 11.7 jobs, pedestrian projects 11.3 jobs, road repairs and upgrades 7.4 jobs, road resurfacing 6.8 jobs. 5. The entire 2,250-mile East Cost Greenway bike route network could be upgraded for one-fifth the cost of a highway bridge. 6. In Traveler s Rest, the Swamp Rabbit Trail and Main Street revitalization resulted in more than thirty (30) new businesses with a total investment in excess of $8 million 7. Property Values rise in most every instance of more walking, bicycling, and shared sidepath installation.

21 Document Community Partners Other State Orgs National Safety Council Southeastern Chapter Mission Readiness AAA Carolinas Women s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) SC Recreation & Parks Association East Coast Greenway Association Regional Coordinator, SC Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition Local Orgs Partners for Active Living, Spartanburg Charleston Moves, Charleston Bike Walk Greenville, Greenville Midlands Transit Riders Association, Columbia Upstate Forever, Greenville & Spartanburg Midlands Transit Riders Association, Columbia Sustainable Midlands, Columbia Hilton Head Island Bicycle Advisory Committee Mayors Mayor Knox White, Greenville, SC Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin, Columbia, SC John J. Tecklenburg, Mayor, City of Charleston, SC Mayor Stephen J. Wukela, City of Florence, SC Mayor D. Welborn Adams, City of Greenwood, SC Blake Sanders, PLA - Mayor Town of West Pelzer, SC Mayor Brandy Amidon, Travelers Rest, SC Mayor Rick N. Osbon, City of Aiken, SC Mayor Tim Goodwin, City of Folly Beach, SC Mayor John Gettys, City of Rock Hill, SC Mayor Foster Senn, City of Newberry, SC Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy, Conway, SC State and Local Businesses Bicycle Corporation of America, Manning Grand Strand Health, Myrtle Beach Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston McBurney Integrative Neurology, LLC, Greenville Spartanburg Regional Hospital - Spartanburg Bon Secours St. Francis Health System - Greenville

22 2. Representation (all levels) People 1. City Council 2. County Council 3. Planning Commission 4. MPO Technical and Policy Committees 5. COG Technical and Policy Committees 6. County Sales Tax Advisory Board 7. County Transportation Committee (CTC) Plans & Projects 1. Comprehensive Plans* 2. Corridor Master Plans* 3. Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans* 4. Inclusion in TIP and state TIP (STIP)* 5. Inclusion in Long Range Transportation Plan* 6. Inclusion in local General Fund expenditures* 7. County Sales Tax Project List* 8. CTC project list

23 3. Planning/Design/Policy. Planning: Pass a Pedestrian Master Plan, a Bicycle Master Plan, or a Pedestrian/Bicycle Master Plan Ensure good representation of engagement with all neighborhoods and demographics

24 3. Planning/Design/Policy. Policies: CS resolutions: 12 CS policies: 1 CS ordinances: 3 (Greenwood next) Bike Friendly Communities: 6 Walk Friendly Communities: 1 ~# SC communities with a Ped Master Plan: 33% Bike Friendly Universities: 3 Bike Friendly Businesses: 15

25 3. Planning/Design/Policy. Adopt good design guides, at any level 1. 1st: 2012 AASHTO Guide to the Development of Bike Facilities , ITE s Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares, a Context Sensitive Approach 3. 2nd: NACTO Bikeway Design Guide 4. 3rd: NACTO Urban Street Design Guide SCDOT municipal committee may be working on one now.stay tuned!

26 4. Adoption (all levels). Elected Bodies 1. City Council 2. County Council 3. MPO Technical and Policy Committees 4. COG Technical and Policy Committees 5. SCDOT (SC Livable Communities Alliance effort)

27 5. Funding & Implementation. If it is valued >>> then it will be Planned >>> then it will be Designed >>> then it will / can be Funded. Values = Funding = Values

28 5. Funding & Implementation. Top sources for funding Implementation of SC Pedestrian Master Plans (SCDHEC): Jurisdiction s general funds (27) Grants (27) State funds (17) Local option sales tax (14) Actual eligible pots for funding Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan IMPLEMENTATION: A LOT more

29

30 SC Hospitality Tax Food and beverage tax, not to exceed 2%, by state law. Local ordinance provides tax. Funds tourism related projects, including facilities, beach access, street facilities, promotional material, water and sewer infrastructure, and operations and maintenance, police, etc. AND Greenville s Falls Park and the Swamp Rabbit Trail Doodle Trail in the Cities of Easley and Pickens

31 SC State and Local Accommodations Tax Tax on hotel and motel charges. 7 % state tax on hotel and motels. First 5 percent goes to the state, while 2 % goes local. Tourism facilities, maintenance, and promotion.

32 Property Taxes => Local General Fund Funds street facilities, water and sewer infrastructure, and operations and maintenance; and promotional material.

33 Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Funds streetscape revitalization, including bike lanes, sidewalks, and landscaping, near downtown, residential, and must be in coordination with bringing water and sewer utilities up to new standards. Combined with Property Taxes => Local General Fund

34 Local Option Sales Taxes (LOST) => Funds what referendum states General Fund

35 SCDOT Maintenance / Repaving Program If low enough congestion, can reduce/reallocate lanes with a Road Diet. If highly congested, might have to expand Right of Way, but typically do not have to do this in SC.

36 County Transportation Committee ( C Funds) Intent is for repaving and reconstruction, and can fund bikeway and sidewalk improvements as part of that. Locally controlled, local apportionment of state gas tax. Law states: may be used within the public right of way for paving, resurfacing, bridge construction or replacement, street and traffic signs, traffic signals, street lighting, and other road and bridge infrastructure projects. C funds also may be used for labor, mowing, ditching, and other general maintenance..

37 SCDOT Infrastructure Bank Must be major transportation projects in excess of $100 million. This is a statewide revolving loan fund designed in 1997 that has approved more than $4.5 billion in financial assistance, and projects must be ranked through Act 114 prioritization criteria.

38 Guideshare Surface Transportation Program (STP) 50% goes directly to large MPO s, 50% to SCDOT $138 Million annually

39 Transportation Alternatives (STP Set Aside Program) Dedicated, competitive grant program only for bike and walk facilities, and streetscaping ~50% goes directly to large MPO s, 50% to SCDOT

40 National Park Service (Dept. of Interior) Funds Planning & Coordination Funded Master Plan to help them interpret this revolutionary war trail. Match came from City of Chesnee and local Convention and Visitor s Bureau

41 Local Obligation Bond These are usually general obligation bonds for specific projects. Bond measures are typically limited by time based on the debt load of the local government or the project under focus.

42 TIGER grant Projects that have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region.

43 FTA (Federal Transit Administration Capital Funds) Funds Bike/Ped Plans and Infrastructure, including bike paths within 3 miles to and from transit stops, sidewalks within ½ mile to and from transit stops. Directly sub-allocated to MPO s.

44 HSIP (Highway Safety Improvement Program) Where supported by crash data, programs and infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians, including separated paths at corridors and intersections. Programs: law enforcement education, awareness campaigns, and school audits, targeted enforcement campaigns, driver education, and school audits.

45 EPA s Greening America s Communities Grants A team of designers visits a community to create a plan to catalyze or complement a larger planning process for the pilot neighborhood. Also create implementation strategies.

46 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Administered by the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourisms, this is a match program Funds planning and acquisition or development of land for public outdoor recreational use purposes that will be perpetually managed.

47 NHTSA 402 (State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program) Funds: educational programs aimed at reducing bicycle or pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Administered by SCDPS.

48 Whew! Done. What Can You Plan For Today? Develop SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time Bound Goals 1. Partnerships, Strategy & Programming. 2. Representation (all levels). 3. Planning/Design/Policy. 4. Adoption (all levels). 5. Funding and Implementation.

49 Economic Growth & Sustainability Economic Growth & Sustainability

50 Resources & Tipsheets: Local Advocacy: PCC s Tips for Local Advocates PCC/ESMM s Complete Streets Toolbook and Advocacy Manual Campaigns Winning Campaigns training (AfBW) Primer for winning Local Referendums Messaging PCC s Guide for Local Advocacy Messaging in the South Funding 1 st Edition, Funding Bike/Walk Facilities & Programs in SC Other Resources

51 Amy Johnson Ely (o) (c)