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Human Transit: Facing the Real Choices

Human Transit: Facing the Real Choices. Remarks to the BC Transit Workshop, 27 May 2013. jarrett@jarrettwalker.com HumanTransit.org For AzTA, ADOT conference 24 Apr '12, Flagstaff. A citizen's lament.

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Human Transit: Facing the Real Choices

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  1. Human Transit: Facing the Real Choices Remarks to the BC Transit Workshop, 27 May 2013 jarrett@jarrettwalker.com HumanTransit.org For AzTA, ADOT conference 24 Apr '12, Flagstaff.

  2. A citizen's lament I try to get involved in transit debates, but when I read or go to meetings, what I hear is ... So citizens who just want to improve transit feel pushed away from the conversation ... Confusing Technical Obscure Bureaucratic Angry

  3. An elected official's lament I spent a year of my life campaigning for my seat on the city council … … and I really want to do things with transit …

  4. An elected official's lament But I’m rarely asked to make choices that would express my values, or those of my constituents ...

  5. Another elected official's lament Voters are yelling at me !! I need to do something !! but I can't find the controls !!

  6. "As a consultant, my job is not to make you share my values, but to give you the tools to help you implement yours ..."

  7. What if we try to separate ... VALUES What we're trying to do ... • Decisions about a community’s goals and priorities. • No technical expertise required. • Proper domain of elected officials .. EXPERTISE How to do it ... • Professional knowledge and experience When a values decision is required, the expertise gets to frame the question!

  8. The South of Fraser Exercise • 2006 Network Redesign for outer-suburban area. • Seen as "neglected" by Translink • High level of anger at Translink for perceived underinvestment.

  9. So we told stakeholders ... • Design a network yourself! • Here's a budget, and simple costed tools. • Figure it out with your neighbors.

  10. Stakeholders discovered... • This is hard! Network design requires skill, technique ... • But the rules are simple! • There are facts of transit geometry. • There are many "local" views. • Reality presents choices between things that we value.

  11. The key ... They had to answer the real questions that arise from the real task of network design! When they did, their ideas became usable!

  12. It's like plumbing

  13. Listen to your tools. They ask the real questions ….

  14. The hardest question of all:Ridership or coverage?

  15. Causes of high ridership are not a mystery ... Frequent all-day service in high-density areas Peak express service across a barrier to motorists. Local service in lower-density areas with obstructive street patterns.

  16. A simple question How far (or long) do we have to drive to serve 1000 people or jobs?

  17. The "Be on the Way" Principle Ideal for transit: Toxic to transit:

  18. So: Ridership or Coverage? Ridership Goal Coverage Goal Complex, infrequent routes covering low-density and cul-de-sac areas. Lifeline needs of isolated people. Senior/disabled needs. Self-interest of low-density areas. "Equity" (?) Coverage standards. • Few, frequent, simpleroutes focused on high demand located “on the way”. • Competes with car. • Encourages walking. • Sustainability outcomes. • Fare revenue (low subsidy) • Positive feedback effects over long term, esp via influence on city form.

  19. It's a spectrum ... • What balance do we want for our community? • For example, "70% ridership, 30% coverage" • Everyone can see this is a choice between things we like. • Province pushes toward ridership, but there must be room for local priorities, local initiative. Highest ridership, lowest coverage Highest coverage, lowest ridership

  20. Harmony or clarity? • Harmony is a top priority for management. • But it leads us to … • Choose words based on their strategic vagueness (“equity”) • Mix expertise with values. • Apologize for the facts of math and geometry.

  21. Avoid goal statements that evade the real question … “Determine where and how transit investments can deliver the greatest degree of mobility and access possible for all populations.” --- A US City’s transit goals statement

  22. Coda: Abundant Access

  23. What if could see our own access? Portland, 9:00 AM This is a map of your freedom AND a tool for personal responsibility

  24. Useful for location decisions What if people could evaluate projects this way, selfishly?

  25. Useful for location decisions What if people could evaluate projects this way, selfishly?

  26. What if transit's task were to grow these blobsfor the greatest number of people? What % of the city's jobs, nightclubs, shops, parks, potential friends, etc can I get to in 15 or 30 minutes? How much of the city, in all its richness, is available to me?

  27. Thank you. JarrettWalker.com HumanTransit.org .

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