Gannett Fleming’s Post

Why did the US stop building Metro systems and go all in on light rail? Was that a good choice? Are we serving people with the best possible transit we can? Is saying they cost too much just an excuse to not do hard things? Reece Martin explores this topic. https://lnkd.in/e6QJQxXR

Fullerton Prioritizes Pedestrian Mobility with Transit Priority Solutions 🚶♂️🚦 The City of Fullerton is taking significant steps to improve urban mobility by implementing transit priority solutions that not only enhance public transportation but also prioritize pedestrian movement 🌍🚏. As cities grow, ensuring the safety and efficiency of pedestrian mobility becomes a key factor in sustainable urban development. Fullerton’s approach showcases how technology and thoughtful planning can create safer, more accessible streets for all 🚶♀️🌿. -- Real-time traffic light management to prioritize buses and pedestrians at key intersections 🚦🚌 -- Enhanced pedestrian crossings and signals to ensure safe and quick mobility for foot traffic 🚶♂️🚥 -- Reduction of traffic congestion, creating safer and more walkable streets for pedestrians 🌆🚶♀️ -- Integration of smart technology to adapt traffic flows to real-time conditions, benefiting both transit and pedestrians 📡🚦 -- Encouraging the use of public transport and walking, reducing the environmental impact and enhancing city health 🌍💚 -- Collaboration with local businesses and residents to ensure the mobility solution addresses the community’s needs 🤝🏙️ Fullerton’s transit priority solution is a prime example of how cities can strike a balance between vehicle traffic, public transport, and pedestrian mobility 🌍🚏. By giving priority to both transit and pedestrians, Fullerton is fostering a more inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban environment 🌱🚶♂️. This initiative not only helps reduce congestion but also promotes walking as a viable and safe mode of transportation, making Fullerton a model for cities seeking to enhance mobility and quality of life 🌿🌆. #PedestrianMobility #SmartCities #SustainableUrbanDevelopment #TrafficManagement #PublicTransport #WalkableCities https://lnkd.in/evNm5zHi

Interesting article although I don’t quite agree with its premise that US/Canadian cities should have built more “subways” versus “light rail.” He considers US/Canadian cities as more like Chinese cities in both being modern and spread out. I don’t think that is a comparison. Chinese cities are far more dense and I bet auto ownership per capita is far lower in China than in the US. The legitimate case that Martin makes is that the most successful post 1970 new starts—subway, light rail or otherwise have these two elements: 1. Extensive grade separation whether elevated, subway or hard street closures against rail rights of way. 2. Rail lines directly penetrate major commercial and residential centers. Dallas and LA may have the largest new light rail networks in terms of route miles but they rely too much on cheap available rights of way and not necessarily where major population centers exist. The alignments are too far away. It’s a little known fact that Calgary, which only opened in 1981 has the highest daily ridership and ridership per mile of ANY US / Canadian light rail system (yes, more than Boston or San Francisco or Philadelphia). Calgary routings directly penetrate population centers, feature significant grade separation although not exclusively and the city directs new development along the rail routes.

Blount St and Person St Improvement Project Improving mobility and connectivity for pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic We are proposing to make improvements to Blount Street, Person Street, and a section of Wake Forest Road. Things we are considering include: Enhancing the bike lanes along the corridor Adding traffic calming measure in some areas Installing a roundabout at Wake Forest Road and Automotive Way Our goal is to make the Blount Street and Person Street corridor safe and comfortable for all users. #NCDOT #blountst #personst #mobilityimprovement

A wonderfully succinct explanation of the "Spiral of Sprawl": car infrastructure moves destinations further apart, which necessitates more car usage to get there, which means more car infrastructure, which moves everything even further apart, which means....you get the idea. 😨 Transportation Dictates Urban Form. Better urban density is nearly impossible to achieve until we reverse the Spiral of Sprawl: better non-car mobility options=less need for car infrastructure(i.e., roadways, parking)=more developable land=Better Cities=more housing, retail, restaurants=more jobs, economic activity, tax revenue. More green public spaces+more density=more vibrant, dynamic, walkable, livable cities.

🚦 ABTA Submission Completed! 🚦 I’m pleased to say that I’ve finally submitted my feedback on the Newbridge Area-Based Transport Assessment (ABTA), focusing on making our town more sustainable, safe, and accessible. If you’d like to have your say, you still have time to submit feedback to NewbridgeABTA@Kildarecoco.ie before 23:59 tonight! 📝 Key recommendations from my submission: 1. Demand-Let Signalised Roundabouts: In areas of low pedestrian traffic, these roundabouts would improve traffic flow while still giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists when needed. 2. Raised Table Crossings: I’ve recommended that all pedestrian crossings be raised to improve safety for vulnerable road users and calm traffic in key areas, especially near schools and public transport stops. 3. Two-Waying Cutlery Road (Watertower End): To help reduce congestion on Main Street, I proposed allowing two-way traffic up to Moore’s Builders Providers, with necessary safety measures like raised crossings and improved footpaths. 4. Increasing Capacity & Locations of Bus Stops: I advocated for extending bus stops in the town centre to cope with increasing demand, installing shelters at every bus stop, and adding presumptive stops along new roads like the second bridge. 5. Multi-Modal Transport Hubs: To support the transition between different forms of travel, I proposed multi-modal hubs at key points like Newbridge Train Station and Whitewater Centre, featuring bike parking, EV charging, and more. And of course it wouldn't be a submission of mine without 6. CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design): I’ve suggested that any new permeability measures, like walkways and cycle routes, undergo a CPTED assessment to ensure safer designs, with proper lighting and clear sightlines. These recommendations aim to enhance public transport, improve cycling and walking infrastructure, and reduce traffic congestion, ensuring a greener and safer future for Newbridge. 🌍🚶♀️🚴♂️🚍 Let’s keep pushing for a more sustainable and liveable town. Submit your feedback before the deadline! #NewbridgeABTA #SustainableTransport #ActiveTravel #BusStops #MultiModalTransport #CPTED

The focus of the study is to look at transit, bicycle and pedestrian improvements. That could include transit amenities, such as bus pull-offs and/or shelters, or recommendations for closing gaps in the bicycle and pedestrian network.

Much needed investment by the NSW government! But, $220M for an 100 metre or less bridge? Someone need to review the QS... oh wait, that will increase the overall project cost by another few millions. PS: A $220M build = 300-500 apartments or 150-300 houses.

"Even as suburban sprawl, supercommuting rates and housing unaffordability expand the footprint of places like Houston and Phoenix, the focus generally remains firmly on highways and private vehicle travel, with a few light rail lines here and there. Advocacy groups or government agencies have put forward plans to create rapid regional rail-style systems in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, DC, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area. But none have been fully constructed and implemented. For supporters of rapid regional rail, one of the biggest challenges has been explaining these projects to an American public with a siloed view of urban mass transit." #transit #transporation #sustainability

I've long been curious about how we can deliver a less expensive transit solution using 21st century technology. Light rail is too expensive, #BRT has had lukewarm #TOD investment in the US, streetcars are too slow to be useful, and commuter rail uses technology that is grounded in 150 year old tech. We need to do better. #urbanism #transit https://lnkd.in/g5G_ewwi