Class 03 - 13 February 2006 - Where Do We
Go From Here?
Assignment: What two questions
should we answer this semester?
Philip Cook
As I understand the assignment
it is to focus on two questions we can realistically address this
semester in the seminar, and suggest "data sources."
[1] "What is the relationship between a ring road and economic
development?" This question really combines two of my questions from
last week (development along the ring road and effects on downtown
businesses). Data sources: I've already begun to collect case studies,
as part of my Transportation Commission interest. I have several
megabytes worth. Most deal with "bypasses." I think we'll have to
extrapolate to our "ring road" situation. Also, I remember during the
conference last fall, Ray Dezanni brought up Boston as an example. I
have not been able to find a case study for it. (Issues of scale will be
of particular interest.) I'm sure there's more literature to be mined.
[2] "What institutional (legal) mechanisms do we have available in Idaho
to protect a corridor for future transportation (and perhaps other)
purposes?" I think answering this question is critical for moving any
concept of a future transportation corridor forward to reality. And it's
very practical from our county planners'/commissioners' perspectives.
Data sources: Perhaps inviting a legal expert on Idaho local land use
planning to speak with us. (I have no idea if the law school has such a
person.) Also, I think ITD has protected corridors in other parts of the
state; perhaps an expert from ITD can provide us with helpful
information.
Isaak Strout
Two questions I think we should work toward answering:
1) My personal (and possibly misguided) belief is that urban and
suburban growth is both stimulated and directed by the provision public
infrastructure—roads, sewer, etc. If this build-it-and-they-will-come
relationship does indeed exist, and if a key to urban sustainability is
encouraging population density, than is it beneficial to be discussing
infrastructure development well beyond the city’s periphery? While I
understand the goal is to establish a viable right-of-way before it is
developed, the question remains, does simply proposing such far in the
future transportation routes stimulate and encourage patterns of
low-density, private auto dependent, sprawling suburban development?
What is the evidence from other areas that have wrestled with this
planning dilemma? (Sorry, many questions)
2) A second question that I think is worthy of our focus is determining
how to address the land surrounding any proposed ring-road from a
regulatory standpoint. Most seem to agree that a ring-road will be a
limited access, multi-use roadway not intended to encourage commercial
strip and sprawling residential development. What specific regulatory,
legal or ownership tactics will have to be employed to reach this end?
I’m thinking that the present city zoning structures will be inadequate
in handling this. Again, what successes and failures have other
communities experienced?
Lei Wu
Two questions to answer for Sustainable Transportation
1. What kind of ring road is context sensitive for Moscow?
2. How can it fit in a context sensitive transportation infrastructure
for Moscow?
My data source would be case studies and data from local governments.
Hua Wang
(1) How to achieve the best interaction between a ring road/MGP
and the development of Moscow? As we known, there are bad examples of
roadway development which damaged the core of city. We need to learn the
factors of Moscow and its surrounding that will assure the success of
the ring road/MGP. We will also look at the countermeasures to mitigate
negative impacts of the ring road/MGP.
(2) What processes and methods do we need to have for working on a long
term transportation project in an interdisciplinary framework? The
concepts of ring road /MGP are for the future of Moscow. Both of them
require a long term interaction between interdisciplinary
groups/persons. The processes and methods that will allow better
communication within interdisciplinary team and local agencies should be
identified. it will help maintain the sustainability of Moscow. How can
we share the information from different disciplines should also be
included in this question.
Barb Andersen
(1) Can we use the ring road concept as a way to promote ecological
restoration on the Palouse? How?
(2) What kinds of sustainable practices can we propose that will
mitigate the impacts of a ring road?
Nick Sanyal
Two things that we can, and should, get done this semester are:
1. To identify the community values/characteristics that a ring road
will help enhance. This will enable us to best market, locate, design
and use the ring road to further the quality if life in Moscow. Simply
to build a road for the sake of a road is neither a sustainable
accomplishment nor is it in the interest of the citizenry.
2. Second, we must continue to discuss the design, location and nature
of the ring road. This MUST include realistic investigation into
mechanisms that will help preserve the corridor until we can build the
road, and also protect the corridor from encroachment from “unwanted”
development. After all, the road is being developed to enhance community
values.
I feel the composition of our group
makes these discussions very realistic—we have the expertise and the
curiosity. We can also benefit from the cross pollination that
interdisciplinary work fosters.
Dante Perez-Bravo
Identified two points that we need to work for this semester,
explain? - Is the ring road a sustainable project, and how sustainable
is it? I started to think about sustainability in terms of
quantification. I believe that a project is sustainable, when it reaches
equilibrium between economic, environmental and social issues. As it was
said during the last meeting, the need of transportation infrastructure
is going to be always an important part of our society. It means that
given the necessity of having a ring road, it will be build and always
there is going to be opinions against the project. That is why, during
this semester we should focused on the most important aspects that this
project must satisfy, fulfilling the three issues aforementioned.
Bill McLaughlin
Several conceptual models (e.g., ring road) of the Moscow Area’s
Future Traffic Flow Pattern with a detailed reporting of likely impacts
and trade-offs Graphic plus written text
Several alternative processes developed
by small groups to engage the stakeholders in an open and learning
oriented discussion of this topic to discuss alternative models. These
would include the actual activities you would propose to get others to
think through this issue.
Conceptual Models of the Moscow Area’s
Future Traffic Flow Pattern based on thinking through different mixes of
modalities (e.g., bikes, cars, walking, train connection to Pullman
etc.)
Michael Kyte
I'm including a set of performance indicators that I'm preparing for
a presentation that I will be giving to Wendy McClure's class this week
on sustainable transportation. Also, here is the web link for
notes that I'm using for the class:
http://www.webs1.uidaho.edu/mkyte/education/arch504/arch504-01.htm
- Percent of auto trips that could be made by other
modes (walk, bike, transit)
- Pedestrian facilities (sidewalks) at major
destinations (residential, commercial)
- Access to developments Internal circulation at
site/within site
- Percent alternatively fueled local vehicles
(private, public)
- Modal split for all travel, and by major travel
markets/segments
- How land use changes affect existing travel
patterns (and ability to use non-auto mode) Does existing land-use
support shorter trips
- Services available to low income and disabled
travelers
- Cost to construct and maintain transport system
Life cycle costs Constraints on funding sources
- Incidence of transport injuries and
fatalities Miles of sidewalks
J.D. Wulfhorst
Questions I'd like to focus on w/in the seminar:
1) What criteria could this diverse group (even if we are not fully
representative of all groups) establish to create plans for a Moscow
ring road that would allow for ongoing evaluation and adaptation at 5
yrs, 20 yrs, and 50 yrs scales?
2) Can we determine a process to build a local coalition of support &
institutional partnerships for this project?
Notes from Mike Dixon from class
discussion
Values:
1) Socially equitable
2) Economic stability
3) Time and energy efficient
4) Environmentally sensitive
5) Small, friendly community environment or feeling
6) Active and healthy community
7) Attractive clean industry What annexation possibilities are there for
the ring road?
I think that at some time we need to
address this question (in the context of the ring road of course): What
two questions do you have that, if answered, would help you consider all
of the listed values in transportation improvements?
Top priority discussion for next week:
We need to set a roadmap for the rest of the semester.
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