[sustran] VTPI News - Summer 2016

[Todd Litman]

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                 VTPI NEWS

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              Victoria Transport Policy Institute

              "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"

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              Summer 2016    Vol. 16, No. 2

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The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research
organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation
problems. The VTPI website (http://www.vtpi.org ) has many resources
addressing a wide range of transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also
provides consulting services.

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NEW REPORTS

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"Urban Sanity: Understanding Urban Mental Health Impacts and How to Create
Saner, Happier Cities" (http://www.vtpi.org/urban-sanity.pdf )

This report examines how urban living affects residents' mental health and
happiness, and ways to use this information to create saner, happier cities.
Some often-cited studies suggest that urban living increases mental illness
and unhappiness, but a critical review indicates that much of this research
is incomplete and biased, and the issues are complex, involving trade-offs
between risk factors. This report examines specific mechanisms by which
urban living can affect mental health and happiness, and identities
practical strategies that communities and individuals can use to increase
their urban mental health and happiness. This analysis suggests that it is
possible to create sane and happy cities.

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PUBLISHED & PRESENTED ELSEWHERE

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"Is Taking a Bus Safer Than Driving A Car?" (http://bit.ly/2cjfzld ). This
newspaper article, which analyzes public transit passenger injury risks in
Vancouver, quotes Todd Litman. Unfortunately, the quotes are inaccurate and
the analysis is unclear. For more information concerning this issue see,
"Safer Than You Think: A New Transit Safety Narrative"
(http://www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf ).

 

"Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures" (http://wcr.unhabitat.org
). This comprehensive analysis of urban development provides compelling
evidence that current urbanization patterns are in many ways unsustainable,
but new forms of collaboration, planning, governance, finance and learning
can help create more efficient, equitable and healthy communities. It cites,
"Analysis of Public Policies that Unintentionally Encourage and Subsidize
Sprawl" (http://bit.ly/1EvGtIN ). 

 

"Sacramento Transit 101"
(http://www.350sacramento.org/the-climate-report.html ). This workshop by
Todd Litman discussed why and how to improve public transit services and
create more affordable housing in transit-oriented neighborhoods. 

 

Recent Planetizen Blogs (http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ):

*	Funding Multi-Modalism (http://www.planetizen.com/node/87739 )
*	Arbitrating Fairness: Potty Parity
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/87362 )
*	Smarter Taxi and Ride-Hailing Policies
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/87067 )
*	An Accurate Answer to an Interesting Question: Are Compact
Neighborhoods Really Most Affordable? (http://www.planetizen.com/node/86539
)

 

Let's be friends. Todd Litman regularly posts on his Facebook page
(http://www.facebook.com/todd.litman ). Befriend him now!

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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

=======================

"Selling Transit Oriented Development Communicating the Direct Benefits to
Households, Businesses and Governments"
(http://vtpi.org/Selling_TOD_3May2016.pdf ) presented at 2016 TOD and Real
Estate Development Conference in Los Angeles
(http://www.tod.org/events/la2016.html ). This presentation described the
direct benefits that TOD can provide to residents, businesses and local
governments, based on analysis in the recent report, "Selling Smart Growth"
(http://www.vtpi.org/ssg.pdf ). 

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USEFUL RESOURCES

=================

"World Cities Report 2016" (http://wcr.unhabitat.org ). This United Nations
HABITAT program report indicates that the current urbanization model is in
many ways unsustainable; new approaches are needed to better respond to
challenges such as inequality, climate change, insecurity, and inefficient
urban expansion.

 

"America's Walking Renaissance"
(http://americawalks.org/americas-walking-renaissance ). This report by
America Walks describes the many benefits of walking and how local
organizations and governments in diverse communities have improved walking
conditions and encouraged walking activity. 

 

"Cities Alive: Towards a Walking World" (http://www.arup.com/walking ). This
beautiful report by Arup, one of the world's largest engineering firms,
highlights the significant social, economic, environmental and political
benefits of walking; lists 40 actions that cities can apply to improve
walking conditions and encourage walking activity; and includes a catalogue
of 80 international case studies to inspire action.

 

"Pursuing Equity in Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning" (http://bit.ly/2agJcha
). This new report examines the travel demands of traditionally underserved
populations (low income, minority, older adults, people with disabilities,
etc.), and how pedestrian and bicycle planning can better serve those
groups.

 

"Portland's Drop in Car Use Frees Up $138 Million in our Local Economy Every
Year" (http://bit.ly/2cdckIH ). This Bike Portland report describes an
important but often-overlooked benefit of more affordable transportation:
more money circulating in the local economy. For more information see "The
Mobility-Productivity Paradox" (http://www.vtpi.org/ITED_paradox.pdf ) 

 

"State of the Region's Health: How the New York Metropolitan Region's Urban
Systems Influence Health" (http://bit.ly/29J1qKr ). This new report
emphasizes the safety and health benefits provided by compact,
transit-oriented development. It has regional maps showing the much lower
traffic fatality rates in central, transit-oriented areas compared with
sprawled, automobile-dependent areas. 

 

"Opportunity Score" Shows Best Places to Find a Job Without Owning a Car"
(http://bit.ly/2c8zz7P ). This column describes the latest mapping tool to
help identify the housing locations for accessing jobs by public transit and
walking. Consider the alternative: low-income households spending more than
they can afford on cheap, old and unreliable cars, as discussed in John
Oliver's "Auto Lending" (http://bit.ly/2aVV380 ).

 

"The Fourth Virtue of Public Transit" (http://bit.ly/2bXkad9 ) emphasizes
the importance of space-efficient urban transport, and therefore the
critical role that public transit plays in cities.

 

"Moving to Access Initiative" (http://brook.gs/2bNHjvv ). This Brookings
Institute program aims to inform and promote a more socially focused,
access-first approach to urban transportation policy and planning. This
initiative will support adoption of innovative tools, techniques, and
performance measures around the world. 

 

"A New Way Forward: Envisioning a Transportation System Without Carbon
Pollution" (http://frontiergroup.org/reports/fg/new-way-forward ). This new
report by the Frontier Group shows how smart strategies can reduce
light-duty vehicle energy demand by as much as 90% below anticipated levels
by 2050. 

 

"TPICS (Transportation Project Impact Case Studies) System"
(http://transit.tpics.us ) is a searchable database of past projects and
their observed impacts on economic development, and  a predictive tool that
estimates the range of likely impacts of proposed new projects, based on
results from already-built projects.

 

"Achieving Multimodal Networks: Applying Design Flexibility and Reducing
Conflicts" (http://bit.ly/2cj27h7 ). This Federal Highway Administration
report provides practical guidance for creating multimodal transportation
networks. It highlights ways that planners can apply the design flexibility
to make walking and bicycling safer and more attractive to people of all
ages and abilities.

 

"Sprawl Tax: How the US Stacks Up Internationally" (http://bit.ly/2curBcD ).
This new study by economist Joe Cortright finds that, compared with peers,
U.S. residents spend about 50% more money, and Canadians spend about 50%
more time, on commuting due to dispersed urban development.

 

"Considering Changes to Streamline Local Housing Approvals"
(http://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3470 ). This report by the California
Legislative Analysis Office identifies specific policy reforms to help
create more affordable housing development in California and other
jurisdictions. For more information see, "Affordable-Accessible Housing in a
Dynamic City" (http://www.vtpi.org/aff_acc_hou.pdf ).

 

"Transit Supportive Parking Policies and Programs"
(http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/174287.aspx ). This new Transit Cooperative
Research Program report describes parking policies and management programs
that support transit ridership and transit-oriented development.

 

"Spatial and Skills Mismatch of Unemployment and Job Vacancies"
(http://www.cts.umn.edu/Research/Featured/TransitandWorkforce ). This study
developed a new method to identify transit improvements that can
significantly improve disadvantaged residents' access to appropriate jobs.

 

"Shared Mobility: Innovation for Liveable Cities" (http://bit.ly/29i2ebD )
and "Shared Mobility: Current Practices and Guiding Principles"
(http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/174651.aspx ). These two new reports discuss
how innovative mobility services can benefit users and society, and what is
needed to implement them.

 

"Design Perth: A Joint Vision for a Connected, Liveable and Sustainable
Perth" (http://bit.ly/2bYSCSn ). This study finds that government
infrastructure costs range from $55,828 per lot for urban infill sites up to
$150,389 per lot for urban-fringe greenfield sites. The study is based on
the previous study, "Assessing the Costs of Alternative Development Paths in
Australian Cities" (http://bit.ly/2bGbSaf ).

 

"YIMBY Conference Brings Activists from Around the Nation to Boulder"
(http://bit.ly/1rvcgtR ). "Yes In My Backyard" (YIMBY) is a popular movement
to support more affordable infill urban development. 

 

"The Rise and Fall of Great World Cities: 5,700 Years Of Urbanisation -
Mapped

(http://bit.ly/28Y8dO4 ). This wonderful video shows the development of
cities over the last six millennia: wow!  

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Please let us know if you have comments or questions about any information
in this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our email list.
And please pass this newsletter on to others who may find it useful.

 

Sincerely,

Todd Litman (litman at vtpi.org)

Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)

Office: 250-360-1560 | Mobile: 250-508-5150

1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA

     Efficiency - Equity - Clarity