No one likes congested streets. They frustrate drivers, cost time and money to all who travel, and increase air pollution. While many factors relating to congested streets come from the built environment, many are also related to how we, as Americans, choose to travel. This has impacts well beyond our personal mobility, particularly in terms of traffic safety and the independence of those who cannot drive, due to age, ability, and access.
What Makes Streets Congested? Below are some of the contributing factors:
- We drive more. Between 1980 and 2015, the total number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the U.S. went up by 103% compared to a 41% change in our population. Between 1981 and 2011, VMT increased by 92% while the number of lane miles of roads increased by only 10%.
- We like to drive alone. According to the US Census, 76.3% of Americans drive alone to work. Only 9.7% of the population car pools, and 5% take public transit.
- We like to drive at the same time. Most of us drive between the hours of 6:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-6:00 p.m. Peak hours vary by community.
- We are spread out and drive farther distances. Between 1982 and 1987, US population was up about 4.5% vs developed land, which increased by about 7.5%. From 1992-1997, population grew by just over 6% vs over 11% for developed land. Only during the Recession did this trend change.
- Most of our children no longer walk to school. In 1969, 89% of K-8th graders living within 1 mile of school, walked or biked. By 2009, that percentage dropped to 35%. In addition, about half the states have minimum site sizes for schools, funding sources favor new construction over rehabilitation, land is cheaper outside of population density, and Euclidian zoning (which separates land uses into single-purpose districts) increases sprawl and travel distances.
- Many of us don’t drive very well… and we know better. According to a AAA 2014 Traffic Safety Culture Index, even though 45.4% of Americans think cell phones are a “very serious threat,” and 42.2% think hand-held phones are “completely unacceptable,” 69.2% of us used them in the past 30 days while driving. Similarly, while 84.4% of Americans think it is “completely unacceptable to type texts or emails while driving,” 27.1% have done so in the past 30 days.
Giffels Webster Using Technology for Planning
There is no one perfect way to engage a community in the planning and zoning process. Just as commerce is changing with web-based technology, so can this technology be used to give citizens, officials, and developers an easier way to share opinions and access information pertinent to community planning.
Three Examples of New Web Tools:
- Picture This™. We have developed a new public engagement tool called Picture This™. It enables users to take a photo, upload it to our online platform, and comment on the photo. It can be accessed right from a cell phone or on a computer. It is a great way for the public to share ideas about what’s working and what needs work in the community. We are currently using this tool for the City of Brighton Comprehensive Plan, the DeWitt Township Comprehensive Plan, and the City of Ann Arbor Sign Ordinance update. We will be rolling it out in the City of Rochester Hills later this year as we kickoff the community’s Master Plan.
- Interactive Zoning Maps. We recently refreshed our interactive zoning map for Lathrup Village. We created on online GIS-based zoning map for Lathrup Village a few years ago, and we recently had an opportunity to refresh its design. It can be accessed at http://bit.do/ClearzoningLathrup. It works best with Chrome and Firefox browsers. When a parcel is selected, basic parcel and zoning data pops up. Additionally, by choosing the “Clearzone It” button, the user is linked directly to the two-page spread for that zoning district in the city’s Clearzoning® ordinance.
- Online Property Marketing. We recently assisted Grand Blanc Township with planning and zoning assistance related to its exciting Tech Village concept. Recently, we created a video and an online tool to assist with marketing the site to potential developers. The video can be found here: https://spark.adobe.com/video/B2AWpBx0H6ryi and the online marketing tool can be found here: http://bit.ly/TechVillage
Giffels Webster, working for your community!
Giffels Webster will help you identify and leverage your unique resources to improve the assets and attractiveness of your community. Whether it’s increased walkability and connectivity, better streetscape design and parking, more natural settings and gathering places or other changes to enrich your city, we will work in partnership with you how to attract and retain businesses and residents.
As your municipal partner, we also review submitted site plans, conduct inspections, maintain records, prepare master plans, and lead the planning, bidding, and construction administration process for capital improvement projects. For more information, call us at 866.271.9663.