FootNotes WAL. Regional Walk Scorecard. SanDiego. Meet the Walkers: Bryan Jones A Tale of Seven Cities Walkable Main Streets: Carlsbad s State Street

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Walk Scorecard Meet the Walkers: Bryan Jones A Tale of

1 WAL SanDiego Fall 2012 FootNotes Quarterly Magazine of WalkSanDiego Promoting Walkable Communities Regional Walk Scorecard Meet the Walkers: Bryan Jones A Tale of Seven Cities Walkable Main Streets: Carlsbad s State Street

The beginning of new, different, interesting and happening is here.

entertainment, Civita promises to become a walk-everywhere hub.

For more information, visit us on Civita Blvd., 2 blocks north of Friars Rd.

ORIGEN socialgarden by Shea Homes Homes Now Selling. Dine, dream, blog, cook, grill.

From the mid $400s 619-294-9458 ORIGEN skyloft by Shea Homes Homes Now Selling.

Home designs offer two bedrooms plus optional home office.

2 The beginning of new, different, interesting and happening is here. Introducing San Diego s next great neighborhood a place that blends urban vibe and village charm in equal measure. With plans for five neighborhood districts, a central park, shopping, dining and entertainment, Civita promises to become a walk-everywhere hub. Be the first to discover this cool new address in the heart of town, minutes from everywhere you want to be. Come tour the models at Origen, our first for-sale neighborhood by Shea Homes. For more information, visit us on Civita Blvd., 2 blocks north of Friars Rd., off Mission Center Rd., in Mission Valley or visit ORIGEN socialgarden by Shea Homes Homes Now Selling. Dine, dream, blog, cook, grill. These homes deliver flexible open spaces perfect for multi-tasking and socializing. From the mid $400s ORIGEN skyloft by Shea Homes Homes Now Selling. Large loft-like windows feature blue-sky views and changing daylight. Home designs offer two bedrooms plus optional home office. From the mid $400s CIRCA 37 by Sudberry Properties Now Leasing. Contemporary apartments with stylish floorplans, the latest kitchen and bath details, and clubhouse with a gym, pool and spa civitalife.com Civita is a master plan development of Quarry Falls, LLC. All information is accurate as of date of publication, but information and pricing is subject to change at any time.

3 Announcing the Regional Walk Scorecard One of the stories you ll see in this issue of FootNotes is a report on our first Regional Walk Scorecard. For those familiar with Walk Score, a walkability index often seen in real estate ads, you might be wondering if the Regional Walk Scorecard reinvents the wheel (I know, not such a good analogy for a walk advocacy group). Walk Score is a great tool, but it only looks at the proximity of amenities like restaurants and shopping. It tells you nothing about the walking conditions to those places. Is there a sidewalk? Is the sidewalk in good repair? Do you need to cross a wide, high-speed road? Are the surroundings safe and attractive? To answer these questions, we developed BestWALK, a smartphone app that allows volunteers to rate streets and intersections. From our Executive Director The ratings have been compiled for this year, but we are already collecting data for next year. That s where you come in. As mentioned above, having the input of volunteer observers really helps us know the actual walking conditions in a given area. If you haven t done so, please download BestWALK to your smart phone and do a few walk audits. It s fun, easy, and provides data that we ll use to rate your city next October. Jim Stone, Executive Director Promoting Walkable WAL SanDiego Communities Our Mission & Vision WalkSanDiego is dedicated to enhancing the livability of communities through promotion, education, and advocacy, by making walking a safe and viable choice for all people. We envision San Diego communities that invite walking as a preferred choice for transportation and recreation for all people. Join WalkSanDiego Today! Becoming a member of WalkSanDiego helps keep you connected to the important work we are doing to ensure that walking is a safe and viable choice, regardless of wherever you live in the San Diego region. As a membershipbased nonprofit, we depend on your support to help create safe, vibrant streets and communities. Your membership support Strengthens the pedestrian voice for the San Diego area and surrounding communities. Connects you with other walktavists throughout the region and nation. Gives you a seat at the table of agencies allocating the region s transportation funds. Offers you the information, guidance, and support to make pedestrian-friendly changes in your community. Membership Levels... Supporter FREE Tread Lightly $25 Walker $50 High Stepper $100 Donor $250+ Sponsor $500+ WalkSanDiego is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Please consult your tax advisors to determine to what extent your contribution is tax deductible. Join online at or call Cover Photo Courtesy of SANDAG WalkSanDiego Spring

A Multi-Generational Approach to Increase Walking by Kaley Lyons WalkSanDiego engages older adults to provide a safer walking environment for students.

4 A Multi-Generational Approach to Increase Walking by Kaley Lyons WalkSanDiego engages older adults to provide a safer walking environment for students. When stranger danger is uppermost in the minds of parents, how do you persuade them to let their kids walk to school? One way is to team them with volunteer seniors. At WalkSanDiego, we call this strategy intergenerational programming. According to the California Department of Public Health, 30 years ago 66% of kids walked or biked to school. Now that number is about 13%. During that same time frame, childhood obesity rates have climbed by about 30%. Poor diet and lack of physical activity are mostly responsible for the skyrocketing obesity rate among our kids. Safety fears, real or perceived, are a major factor in a parent s decision to allow their child to walk to school. WalkSanDiego recently conducted a survey of parents at eight La Mesa elementary schools, and found that more than 60% of parents indicated violence or crime as one of the reasons for not allowing their child to walk or bike. Parents indicated that safety of intersections and crossings was a factor as well, but less so than their concerns about violence. While data show that children are about 1,600 times more likely to be injured by a car than to be abducted, parental fears of stranger danger need to be addressed. To that end, WalkSanDiego is working with communities throughout the region to bring multiple generations together to improve health and safety for all. As part of our La Mesa Safe Routes to School program, older adults are being recruited as volunteer street monitors. Trained by our staff and local police officers, senior volunteers patrol routes around neighborhood schools. As a result, parents are more comfortable allowing their children to walk or bike, resulting in fewer cars on the road. And older adults, many of whom have recently retired and are 4 WalkSanDiego Fall 2012 looking for ways to fill their day, have a reason to get moving in the morning. This approach forges connections between the generations and creates a sense of community, something that rarely occurs when residents are isolated in their cars and houses. The intergenerational model is being adapted for use in other parts of the region, including projects in Chula Vista and Carlsbad funded by Jump Start grants through San Diego County s Aging and Independence Services. The program is improving the lives of seniors as well as children. As a result of intergenerational safe routes Volunteer Priscilla Bramlette helps at Crossing to school programs, older and younger generations are increasing the amount of physical activity they each get every day while building a more connected community. Walk the Walk Fund Corporate Sponsorship Program Our Walk the Walk Fund is a corporate sponsorship program that helps WalkSanDiego address some of the most fundamental challenges to making our region more walkable, especially for those who most depend on their feet for transportation. We are grateful for the support of these Walk the Walk sponsors, whose contributions help fund our efforts to make walking a viable choice for everyone through our Safe Routes Initiative. Pace Setter Level ($7,500 or more) Sharp HealthPlan Kaiser Permanente Power Walker Level ($5,000 $7,499) Sudberry Properties Strider Level ($2,500 $4,999) Sharp HealthPlan Urban Housing Partners Sea Breeze Properties/North City Trekker Level ($1,000 $2,499) Parsons Brinckerhoff KTU+A Traverser Level ($500 $999) Fehr & Peers RBF Consulting Hotel Del Coronado

5 Complete Streets in San Diego: A Tale of Seven Cities by Kathleen Ferrier Citi e s i n t h e region are b e g i n n i n g to a d o p t Co m p l e te Streets p olicies. Which cities are going above and beyond to really make streets safe for all users? California s Complete Streets Act (Assembly Bill 1358) was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in September The bill requires cities to plan for a balanced, multi-modal transportation network that meets the needs of all road users when updating their General Plan. Seven cities in the region Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista had General Plan updates in process when the law took effect in January transportation decisions by replacing conventional street classifications with street typologies that reflect which modes should be given priority (See Table below). Vista, Escondido and San Marcos are taking a slightly different approach by concentrating Complete Streets improvements in corridors that connect to mixed use development opportunities, higher density neighborhoods, or community facilities. New Ways of Categorizing Streets Conventional Street Classifications Prime Arterial, Major Arterial, Collector Street, Secondary Collector, Local Street Encinitas Street Types Regional Connector Street, Community Connector Street, Community Activity Street, Gateway Street, Neighborhood Street, Residential Street, Multi-use trail Photo Courtesy of City of Encinitas A roundabout in Encinitas promotes the smooth flow of traffic. WalkSanDiego wanted to know how these cities are reacting to the law and to what extent they are embracing the wide canopy of related policies that promote walking and biking. The short answer? Whereas all these cities have included broad Complete Streets policies in their Plans as required, some have gone further to provide supporting policies and implementation tools. This article focuses on a couple of key tools being used: (1) the street classification system, which determines which modes should get priority, and (2) the metrics used to assess how well a street is performing. A Solid Policy Foundation Three of the seven cities have adopted detailed policies linking multi-modal objectives to other city-wide goals such as economic development (Vista), accessibility (La Mesa), and community character (Encinitas). These policies reflect the larger intent of the Complete Streets Act by recognizing that multi-modal street design contributes significantly to a city s health and well-being. The Street Classification System For decades, street design standards focused on the volume and performance of vehicles on each street with little regard to surrounding land uses. Encinitas, National City and San Marcos are leading the way to better inserting land use into San Marcos Street Types Freeway, Arterial and Arterial with Enhanced Bike/Ped Facilities, Collector, Industrial Collector, Main Street, Neighborhood Street, Bike/Ped Trail Measuring Performance -- Flexible Level of Service For decades, cities have relied on vehicular Level of Service (LOS) thresholds to define the performance of a roadway based only on the needs of drivers. In recent years, cities around California have been designating specific areas (like downtown or suburban mixed use areas) where these thresholds can be lower to give higher priority to walking, biking, and transit. With the newly adopted general plans in the San Diego region, this Flexible LOS trend is coming our way and promises to be a model approach for cities that want to make streets more walk and bike friendly, but may be hesitant to abandon firm LOS thresholds. The Need for Comprehensive Change The Complete Streets movement is best known for emphasizing safety and convenience for all modes of transportation and the landmark legislation has begun to influence transportation policies. However, the paradigm shift underway demands that Complete Streets peel away the many layers of auto-centric policies, from project planning to finance to implementation. Thankfully, cities in the San Diego region are among those in the state and nation that are making changes in all of these critical areas. WalkSanDiego Fall

Regional WalkScorecard Rates Local Cities by Jim Stone A new phone app and in-depth analysis provides a new walkability ranking for every city in San Diego County.

Cities throughout the county were rated based on three factors: (1) policies and infrastructure that support walking, (2) the number of collisions involving pedestrians, and (3) data from more than

6 Regional WalkScorecard Rates Local Cities by Jim Stone A new phone app and in-depth analysis provides a new walkability ranking for every city in San Diego County. WalkSanDiego achieved a major milestone this fall with the release of the Regional Walk Scorecard. Cities throughout the county were rated based on three factors: (1) policies and infrastructure that support walking, (2) the number of collisions involving pedestrians, and (3) data from more than 1,500 walk audits conducted by volunteers armed with WalkSanDiego s new BestWALK phone app. The Scorecard is sponsored by Sharp Health Plan. The Results National City edged out La Mesa and Solana Beach for the highest score for several reasons. First, National City s recently updated General Plan includes strong policies and plans favoring walking, biking, and transit use. In addition, the city is laid out in a typical pre-war grid pattern a dense network of lower volume streets and a mix of destinations and transit stops within walking distance of most residences. A high number of residents who walk or use transit to get to work also helped boost their score. La Mesa also has a walkable street pattern and detailed policies that will increase walkability in the coming years. In addition, La Mesa has aggressively implemented pedestrian improvements in key areas. Solana Beach, the third-ranked city, scored in the middle of the pack on policies and implementation and had the lowest percentage of walk/ 6 WalkSanDiego Fall 2012 transit commuters. However, Solana Beach streets received high marks by BestWALK volunteers and had the lowest number of pedestrian collisions in the region raising its overall score. Why A Regional Walk Scorecard? What compelled WalkSanDiego to create the Regional Walk Scorecard? With our climate, San Diego should be one of America s most walkable regions, but we re not. Among the country s largest 50 regions, we don t even finish in the top 10 according to Walk Score, a walkability index that assigns a numerical walkability score to every U.S. address. Of greater concern, the San Diego metropolitan area has the fifth highest pedestrian fatality rate as a percentage of traffic deaths in the country. We developed the Scorecard to bring attention and awareness to the issue of walking and walkability. Beyond that, the Scorecard can serve as a tool to guide cities to make improvements in policies and infrastructure to make their streets and neighborhoods more walkable. What s Next? WalkSanDiego has begun reaching out to our local governments to provide detailed information from the Scorecard to show what changes can be made to improve walkability WSD s BestWalk phone app was used to rate in both the short term and long more than 1,500 streets and intersections. term. With this year s top score reaching only 63 out of 100 possible points, there are many ways to improve. We hope the Scorecard will create a friendly competition among cities to improve their standing in the rankings. Another set of ratings will be issued next year, but in the meantime, WalkSanDiego is encouraging residents from around the county to download the BestWALK phone app (available for Android and iphone) and rate streets in their city for next year s competition.

Regional Walk Scorecard - The Rankings Rank City Status of Walking Index Policies and Implementation BestWALK Field Data TOTAL POSSIBLE POSSIBLE POINTS 35 55 10 100 1 National City 19.3 37.0 6.7 63.

8 8 San Marcos 16.8 29.9 4.8 51.5 9 Oceanside 17.9 25.8 7.3 51.0 10 Del Mar 14.6 28.7 7.6 50.9 11 Vista 13.0 30.7 6.2 49.9 12 Encinitas 11.9 31.7 5.8 49.4 13 Chula Vista 11.0 31.0 7.2 49.3 14 Escondido 11.

7 Regional Walk Scorecard - The Rankings Rank City Status of Walking Index Policies and Implementation BestWALK Field Data TOTAL POSSIBLE POSSIBLE POINTS National City La Mesa Solana Beach Imperial Beach Carlsbad San Diego Coronado San Marcos Oceanside Del Mar Vista Encinitas Chula Vista Escondido Poway Lemon Grove El Cajon Santee Sidewalks along Rock Springs Road, San Marcos combined with traffic calming tools slow traffic and make walking safer. Universal access features benefit all street users. WalkSanDiego Fall

The Walkable Main Street - A Community s Backbone With just a handful of minor improvements, Andy Hamilton explains how Carlsbad Village has become one of North County s most active main streets for

brought tourists, and later Hollywood notables, seeking its reportedly therapeutic groundwater and beach vacation ambience.

Inviting storefronts, angled parking, comfortable sidewalks, a mid-block crosswalk, and a few strategic shade trees communicate welcome to pedestrians.

8 The Walkable Main Street - A Community s Backbone With just a handful of minor improvements, Andy Hamilton explains how Carlsbad Village has become one of North County s most active main streets for both locals and tourists. State Street, Carlsbad Carlsbad s quaint, pedestrian-friendly State Street dates back to the 1870 s, when a new train link to L.A. brought tourists, and later Hollywood notables, seeking its reportedly therapeutic groundwater and beach vacation ambience. Boutiques, restaurants, and a theatre are housed in several historic buildings. Inviting storefronts, angled parking, comfortable sidewalks, a mid-block crosswalk, and a few strategic shade trees communicate welcome to pedestrians. Ironically, the street suffered near abandonment by the 1970 s, but fought its way back with steady improvements. In February, hoping to further enliven State Street and Carlsbad Village, the city retained Urban Place Consulting. The firm worked with city staff and the Carlsbad Village Association to install bike parking and found a charming way to provide more light by wrapping trees and posts with strings of light. Think Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation, Urban Place s Ashley Westman told me. Street musicians, more evening attractions, and a greater variety of businesses are also being added. One of my favorites is Boxt, a kitschy outdoor restaurant serving waffle creations out of a modified ship container plopped down on a corner once occupied by a gas station. From gasoline to waffles you have to see it for yourself. Carlsbad Village serves as a popular gathering spot day or night. Photo Courtesy of Sam Wells Photo Courtesy of Sam Wells State Street in Carlsbad Village attracts local families as well as tourists. 8 WalkSanDiego Fall 2012

Meet the Walkers: Bryan Jones Carlsbad s Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Jones moved to the region in 2010.

9 Meet the Walkers: Bryan Jones Carlsbad s Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Jones moved to the region in He shares his vision for bringing fresh approaches to creating safe places to walk and bike. developed a Strategic Plan that is changing the language, conversations, and culture around streets through projects that align with the community s values. WSD: As Carlsbad s Deputy Director of Transportation, what accomplishment do you feel most proud about? BJ: I d point to how quickly our Transportation team has embraced livable streets and is actively looking for ways to change an ordinary project into an extraordinary livable streets project. The leadership at all levels of the team is top notch. And because our projects align with community values and the city council s 2012 strategic focus areas, we have strong community support, which makes our job more satisfying. Carlsbad Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Jones WalkSanDiego: Before coming to Carlsbad you worked for the City of Fresno. Tell us what drew you to Southern California. Bryan Jones: Some people have suggested that I am migrating south with the birds as I started my career in Northern California, stopped over in the Central Valley, and am now in Southern California. My wife and I love spending time at the coast and we decided to look for an opportunity to live there. During a 2010 visit to the region, I really liked what I saw and wanted to be a part of this great city. WSD: What differences have you noticed between the two cities approaches to advancing walking and biking? BJ: Fresno has very few physical limits to growth. The region is actively investing in high-speed, high-volume freeways and arterials around the edges for economic growth, but recent efforts are focusing on downtown revitalization. In 2010 Fresno adopted a fairly progressive Bicycle and Trails Master Plan and has successfully implemented many miles of road diets, bike lanes, and trails. Carlsbad has physical limits from the Pacific Ocean, three lagoons, 40% dedicated open space, and four surrounding cities along with limits on residential housing. Carlsbad is master planned with a strongly supported growth management strategy. With city council direction, we WSD: As a transportation planner, how would you say the view of local governments has changed regarding the role walking and biking play in the overall transportation picture? BJ: Local governments are looking for ways to create new economic prosperity. And one way is by connecting people to where they want to be. Complete and livable streets and active public places help form a comprehensive quality community approach where people want to live, work, and play. People feel more welcome when communities are designed for humans rather than for automobiles. WSD: Tell us about Carlsbad s plans for active transportation over the next decade. Do you foresee more people walking and biking? BJ: Carlsbad s future is very bright for active transportation and livable streets. We recently won $1.25 million in Active Transportation grants from SANDAG. These four grants will help foster a synergy for walking and biking in the village area. Our General Plan is in the process of being updated to include policies to increase the opportunities for livable streets and multi-modal analysis when we change a street. WSD: What about you? Walker? Biker? BJ: I love to both walk and bike. And Carlsbad and the San Diego region are great for both. Working with advocacy organizations, such as WalkSanDiego, helps me become a better engineer, planner, and leader to help facilitate change. WalkSanDiego Fall

10 Visioning San Diego Lunch Forum Are you interested in learning about efforts to enhance San Diego s quality of life? Hear from local planners, consultants, elected officials and other professionals about plans and innovative ideas to make America s finest city even better. Join us for our Visioning San Diego Lunch Forum, held every other month throughout the year. WAL SanDiego Call for information. 10 WalkSanDiego Fall 2012

11 WalkSanDiego Fall

WAL SanDiego WalkSanDiego Promoting Walkable Communities 740 13th Street, Suite 502 San Diego, CA 92101 2010 Kaiser

And there s no better feeling than working together for a worthwhile cause. That s why we d like to thank WalkSanDiego.

12 WAL SanDiego WalkSanDiego Promoting Walkable Communities th Street, Suite 502 San Diego, CA Kaiser Permanente We believe health isn t an industry it s a cause. And there s no better feeling than working together for a worthwhile cause. That s why we d like to thank WalkSanDiego. Because they share our dedication to helping make our community a healthier place to be. For more information about Kaiser Permanente, visit kp.org/communitybenefit/sca PRINTED IN THE USA ON RECYCLED PAPER

Use this guide to learn more about walkability and how you can make your community safer to walk

Walkability Guide Do You Enjoy Walking In Your Community? Use this guide to learn more about walkability and how you can make your community safer to walk 2 About This Guide Circulate San Diego believes