[sustran] VTPI News - Winter 2017

[Todd Litman]

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                 VTPI NEWS

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              Victoria Transport Policy Institute

              "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"

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              Winter 2017    Vol. 17, No. 1

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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 PROGRAMS

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

"Cities for Everyone" (http://www.citiesforeveryone.org ), a new
organization that educates and advocates for housing and transportation
affordability. It examines ways that public policies tend to favor more
expensive housing and transport over lower-cost alternatives, identifies
policy reforms that increase affordability, and encourages citizens to vote
for an affordability agenda.

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NEW REPORTS

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

"Reforming Municipal Parking Policies to Align with Strategic Community
Goals" (http://www.vtpi.org/vpr.pdf ). Victoria, Canada is currently engaged
in a parking policy review which proposes reducing some off-street parking
requirements. These changes are good, but modest. This short report
identifies much bolder reforms that would better align parking policies with
other community goals. Although written for Victoria, the analysis and
recommendations are appropriate for most municipalities.

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PUBLISHED & PRESENTED ELSEWHERE

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

"Urban Sanity: Understanding Urban Mental Health Impacts and How to Create
Saner, Happier Cities" (http://bit.ly/2gDfg3W ), The City Fix. 

"Urban Sanity. Understanding Urban Mental Health Impacts and How to Create
Saner, Happier Cities" (http://www.urbanet.info/urban-sanity ), in URBANET,
which publishes information on municipal and local governance, sustainable
urban development and decentralization issues. 

These two articles summarized our research
(http://www.vtpi.org/urban-sanity.pdf ) which examines how urban living
affects residents' mental health and happiness, and ways to create saner and
happier cities.

 

"Cities Zero in on Road Safety: Ambitious, Rapidly Expanding Vision Zero
Movement Seeks to End Vehicular Deaths" (http://bit.ly/2jlUzth ). This "In
Transition" article concerning the new traffic safety paradigm includes
discussion with Todd Litman on ways to increase traffic safety by improving
alternative modes (walking, cycling and public transport) and creating more
compact, multi-modal communities. 

 

"Better Cities, Better Growth: India's Urban Opportunity"
(http://bit.ly/2madlJ8 ). This major study by the New Climate Economy, the
World Resources Institute and the Indian Council for Research on
International Economic Relations, describes research using night-time
satellite images and other data to evaluate development patterns in 479
Indian cities. It incorporates Todd Litman's research on the costs of sprawl
and benefits of compact urban development. The analysis indicates that more
efficient development and transport systems can save India between $330
billion and $1.8 trillion annually - up to 6% of national GDP - and provide
significant savings for households.

 

"Getting Victoria's Growth Right" (http://bit.ly/2lQoXjA ). This article on
Victoria regional development policies quotes Todd Litman concerning Smart
Growth benefits and affordability strategies.

 

"Are People Driving More or Less? Increase in Vehicle Miles Travelled Not as
Steady as it was in the 20th Century" (http://bit.ly/2mHFIv5 ). This article
in the National Association of Realtors' newsletter, 'On Common Ground,'
discusses changing travel trends and their implications for housing demand.

 

"Why and How to Reduce the Amount of Land Paved for Roads and Parking
Facilities" (http://bit.ly/2lvAsdM ) in 'Environmental Practice.' 50 free
online copies at http://bit.ly/2llfIo6 . This article provides an estimate
of the amount of land that is paved for roads and parking facilities in
typical urban areas, examines the full economic, social and environmental
costs of this impervious surface, and discusses the amount of road and
parking land area that can be considered optimal. 

 

"Why an Easy Way to Reduce Traffic and Fund Transit will Never Happen in
Nashville" (http://bit.ly/2mHvIBR ). VTPI worked with the Nashville Chamber
of Commerce to evaluate potential public transit funding options
(http://bit.ly/2fmHtuR ). A local newspaper reporter investigated a rejected
funding option: congestion pricing (road tolls applied on congested roads to
reduce traffic volumes to optimal levels) as described in this article.

 

"Atlas of Urban Expansion" (http://www.atlasofurbanexpansion.org )

The "Monitoring Global Urban Expansion Program" (http://bit.ly/2l8Y6Rh ) is
a major study that gathers and analyzes data on a sample of 200 cities
around the world. The project used Landsat satellite imagery and census data
to analyze how these cities grew between 1990 and 2014. Housing development
and affordability surveys investigated how land use policies affect
development patterns, home ownership and housing affordability in these
cities. Todd Litman supplied this data for Victoria, Canada
(http://bit.ly/2l8RFxm ). This Atlas presents the program's preliminary
results. The "Animations of Urban Growth" (http://bit.ly/2madb4C ) page is
especially cool! 

 

"Unlocking the Power of Urban Transport Systems for Better Growth and a
Better Climate: Technical Note" (http://bit.ly/2lvLcZI ). This report
summarizes the work of the New Climate Economy (http://newclimateeconomy.net
) and its partners on urban transport, an overview of international
collaborative transport initiatives, and recommendations for local, national
and international policy-makers. Summarized in, "Cities Are Acting On
Climate Change. Will The New Administration Join?" (http://huff.to/2mBQnIs
).

 

"The Effects of Long Commutes and What To Do About Them - An Annotated
Bibliography" (http://bit.ly/2l8Qo9G ). This report by CloseCommute
identifies studies that have analyzed a wide range of negative effects
associated with long commutes, ways to quantify those effects, and programs
to improve the current situation.

 

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

*	"Unaffordability is a Problem but Sprawl is a Terrible Solution"
(https://www.planetizen.com/node/91299 )
*	"Shining a Light on Urban Development Policies in India"
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/90575 )
*	"Defending Multi-Modalism" (http://www.planetizen.com/node/90082 )

 

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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UPCOMING EVENTS

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

"Tenth Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia"
(http://bit.ly/2mHZs1p ), March 14 to 16 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.  The theme
is "2030 Road Map for Sustainable Transport: Aligning with Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs)". Todd Litman will present a keynote speech,
"Insight to Implementation of the Bangkok 2020 Declaration ~ Policy Trends
and Developments, Challenges and Opportunities." 

 

 A pre-event "Contribution of Rural Transport to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development" (http://www.slocat.net/event/1807 ) on March 13,
organized by the Research for Community Access Partnership and UNCRD. This
event is expected to conclude with the signing of the Vientiane Declaration
on Sustainable Rural Transport towards Achieving the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development (http://bit.ly/2mHRJkb ). In addition, as a part of
the 10th EST Forum, the Vientiane International Mayors Forum
(http://bit.ly/2lQFi7N ) will be held on 15 March 2017. All participating
Mayors and local government representatives will be cordially invited to
sign the "Kyoto Declaration ~ for the Promotion of Environmentally
Sustainable Transport ~ Towards Realizing Resilient, Smart and Liveable
Cities in Asia."

"Harmony Between Urban Growth and Transportation Accessibility" 

(http://www.konference.pmdp.cz/en/2017/programm
<http://www.konference.pmdp.cz/en/2017/programm/>  ), Smart and Healthy
Transport in Cities Conference,  4-5 April 2017 at Parkhotel Plzeň, Czech
Republic. Todd Litman will give a presentation on 'Harmony Between Urban
Growth and Transportation Accessibility.'

 

Moscow Cycling Congress (http://bit.ly/2l9bTqJ ), 14-15 April 2017. The
Congress is organized by "Let's bike it!" (http://letsbikeit.ru ) and the
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation (http://deu.fesmos.ru ), in
collaboration with the Russian Ministry of Transport, the Russian Global
Environmental Fund and the United Nations Environmental Program. Todd Litman
will speak at this event.

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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

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

"Right-sizing Commercial Parking- With Todd Litman" (http://bit.ly/2maC0gO
). 6 February 2017, City of Alexandria, Virginia. Introduction to a review
of municipal commercial parking requirements and management strategies.


"Transportation Systems & Urban Development Patterns for a One Planet
Region" (http://bit.ly/2lHKhsU ). A good discussion of ways to create more
resource-efficient and equitable communities at the 'One Planet Region'
Community Conversation Series
(http://bchealthycommunities.ca/event/5149/view) at the beautiful Batemen
Centre art gallery. 

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USEFUL RESOURCES

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

"An Actionable Vision of Transport Decarbonization: Implementing the Paris
Agreement in a Global Roadmap Aiming At Net-Zero Emissions Transport,"
(http://bit.ly/2mBWtZm ) for the Global Climate Action Agenda Transport
Team. This discussion paper proposes a process to develop a transportation
emission reductions action plan between 2020 and 2050 that will achieve
targets to limit global temperature increases well below 2°C' above
pre-industrial levels. It describes various strategies that affect all
transport sectors, including passenger and freight, urban and rural
transport, surface, marine and aviation.

 

"Biketown YYJ" (http://bit.ly/2l9efGe ). This rap video offers a positive
and humorous perspective on bicycle planning in Victoria, British Columbia.
It emphasizes the many benefits to users and communities for improved
bicycle conditions and increased cycling activity. 

 

"Guidance for Trunkline Main Streets, Michigan Department of Transportation"
(http://bit.ly/2llC60A ). Trunkline main streets are highways that pass
through urban areas and serve as commercial districts. This document is
intended to help communities develop a vision for their trunkline main
street corridors that balance various uses and improve multi-modal
transportation.

 

"Making the Case for Transportation Language Reform: Removing Bias"

(http://bit.ly/2lTIMVA ). Ian Lockwood discusses why and how to reduce
biases in transportation planning language that unintentionally favors
mobility over accessibility and automobile travel over other modes.

 

"International Green Roof Association Newsletter" (http://bit.ly/2mqABDx ).
This newsletter describes modern stormwater management strategies that
reduce costs and support the natural water cycle of evaporation,
condensation and precipitation.

 

"Unprecedented Spending Trends in America, in One Chart"
(https://howmuch.net/articles/american-spending-past-75-years ). This chart
by Yuka Kato illustrates U.S. consumer expenditure trends from 1941 to 2014.
During this period household spending on housing and transport increased
significantly, contributing to unaffordability. 

 

"Before/After Images" (http://www.urb-i.com/before-after ) shows various
urban locations from the same viewpoint at different times, both before and
after public realm improvements. 

 

"The Case for Healthy Places: Improving Health Outcomes Through Placemaking"
(http://bit.ly/2gkYvxe ). This report describes how placemaking strategies
for streets, parks and open spaces, housing projects, and other public realm
settings can help improve people's mental, physical and social health. It
translates academic research into practical strategies for community action.


 

"Trends in Walking and Cycling Safety: Recent Evidence From High-Income
Countries, With a Focus on the United States and Germany"
(http://bit.ly/2lw9UsI ). "Safer Cycling Through Improved Infrastructure"
(http://bit.ly/2gqOtv9 ). "Vienna's Path to Sustainable Transport"
(http://bit.ly/2mqgHIt ). "Reducing Car Dependence in the Heart of Europe"
(http://bit.ly/2mqiVYz ). These four new journal articles by my friends and
colleagues (Ralph Buehler, John Pucher, Alan Altshuler, Regine Gerike, and
Thomas Goetschi) describe how cities are improving walking and cycling
conditions, and the benefits that result.

 

"Openness to Immigration Drives Economic Success" (http://bit.ly/2mI8HyE ).
City Observatory columnist Joe Cortright examines the economic development
benefits of immigration. This research indicates that policies that exclude
immigrants are not only mean, they are also economically harmful.

 

"Trump Says Sanctuary Cities are Hotbeds of Crime. Data Say the Opposite"
(http://ampr.gs/2maBvmV ). 'Sanctuary cities' that U.S. President Trump
characterized as crime incubators are generally safer than other cities
according to this analysis of FBI crime data.

 

"On Resistance" (https://transportist.org/2017/01/29/on-resistance ).
Professor David ('The Transportist') Levinson, posted this column which
discusses why and how to resist policies that violate the spirit of
democracy and moral responsibility.

 

"Empty Spaces: Real parking needs at five TODs" (http://bit.ly/2l95Vq5 ).
This study measured parking supply, occupancy and turnover in five
transit-oriented developments (TODs). It found that they all generate far
fewer vehicle trips than standard guidelines estimate. It found that only
58-84% of parking spaces were occupied during peak periods.

 

"Safe and Sound: International Research on Women's Personal Safety on Public
Transport" (http://bit.ly/2lwcVcw ). This report investigates international
research and media coverage of women's personal safety when traveling by
public transportation, and identifies practical ways to increase women's
security. 

 

"Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks" (http://bit.ly/2io6A3T ). This
guidebook can help small towns and rural communities support safe,
accessible, comfortable, and active travel for people of all ages and
abilities. It describes examples of innovative and successful bicycling and
walking networks in small towns and rural areas.

 

"Moving to Access" (http://www.brookings.edu/interactives/moving-to-access )
by The Brookings Institution aims to inform and promote access-oriented
urban transportation policy, planning, investment, and services. It includes
several new reports. 

 

"Sustainable Urban Transport Financing from the Sidewalk to the Subway"
(http://bit.ly/1VZdU4h ). Many developing country cities experience an urban
transport "underfunding trap" in which they lack revenue to implement
transportation improvements that will provide long-term savings and
benefits. This study identifies 24 potential urban transport financing
options.

 

"Sustainable Transport" (http://bit.ly/2llUSEX ). The latest edition of the
Institute for Transportation and Development Policy's magazine includes
useful and inspiring information on transportation innovations around the
world.

 

"Developing Voluntary Global Performance Targets for Road Safety Risk
Factors and Service Delivery Mechanisms" (http://bit.ly/2lQI2SQ ). This
World Health Organization report identifies ways to plan and evaluate
traffic safety. Unfortunately, it considers "road safety" rather than
"transportation system safety" and so fails to consider how non-road
policies, such as transport pricing reforms, public transit service
improvements and Smart Growth development policies can reduce per capita
traffic casualty rates. According to our research (http://bit.ly/2bYqQpr and
http://www.vtpi.org/safetrav ), transportation demand management strategies
are essential for achieving traffic safety goals, and these policies provide
large co-benefits besides traffic safety. Unfortunately, they tend to be
overlooked in conventional traffic safety programs which focus on safer
driving rather than safer transportation systems. Here are the Independent
Council for Road Safety International's critical comments
(http://bit.ly/2mavneq ).

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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