Community Planning Observations and Strategies Wednesday, March 17, 2010

1. SEMCOG University: Safe Routes to School Community Planning Observations and StrategiesWednesday, March 17, 2010 Presented by: Wayne R. Beyea, J.D., AICP Associate Director of Citizen Education Statewide Coordinator of Michigan Citizen Planner MSU Land Policy Institute

3. More Than Just a School Issue Community Officials Safe Routes School Staff Transportation Officials

4. Stakeholder Involvement • Importance of working with everyone to coordinate efforts • School officials working with safety officers working with traffic engineers working with local officials. • Get local media involved • Get people to talk to students

5. Role of Community • Two Ways to get safe routes to school • Fix existing problems • Build communities right the first time • Community officials play a key role in both • Old saying ” ounce of prevention..”

6. Integrating Safe Routes to School and Community Walkability

7. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS Program Overview

8. Funding Partners in Safe Routes to School

9. Goals of Safe Routes to School Encourage and enable school children, including children with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to and from school when distance is reasonable and routes are safe Make walking and bicycling routes to school safer Develop lifelong habits of physical activity Reduce traffic and pollution around schools

10. Action Plan Steps • Register Your School • Build a SR2S Planning Team • Conduct Student and Parent Surveys • Conduct Walking Audits • Build an Action Plan using surveys and audits

11. WALKING AUDIT Evaluation On Routes To School

12. Walkability Assessment AKA Walking Audit on School Routes Looks at Routes Condition Linkages Traffic patterns Used for redesign and visioning routes to school Involves community

14. Crosswalks Design Basics

15. PUTTING SR2S CONCEPTS INTO YOUR PLAN Planning For Walkable Communities That Provide Safe Routes To School

16. Planning Implications Walkability improvements need to be in Plan Plan needs to call for mixed uses & neighborhoods Design communities and subdivisions as a collection of multiple smaller neighborhoods, interconnected by a pedestrian and bicycle network. Planning for SR2S

17. What Does A Walkable Community Look Like • Easy access no car required • People walk • Parents feel comfortable with children walking places • Children spend more time outdoors • Roads are designed with pedestrians in mind, easy to cross • Pedestrians are given priority in neighborhoods • Vehicle speeds are controlled and compatible with land use • Drivers are aware • Clean air & water

18. Characteristics of Walkable Communities Coherent pedestrian system Continuity Balance between transportation modes Safety Comfort-ease of getting around Social spaces Accessibility Efficiency Attractiveness

19. 5-10 Minute walk People will walk about 10 minutes or about ¼ mile Will walk farther if needed and route is good

20. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Working Together As A Community

21. Working Together as A Community Planning is not done in a vacuum Use planning tools to involve stakeholder groups Audits Charettes Focus on neighborhoods or school areas

22. Involve Public in Planning Raise Awareness and Build Coalitions Create Walkability Partnerships Build Relations with Development Community Educate the Public Lead by Example

23. Questions?

24. Thank You Wayne R. Beyea, J.D., AICP MSU Land Policy Institute Associate Director of Citizen Education Statewide Coordinator of Citizen Planner 517.432.7600 beyea@msu.edu