October 20, 2008 Lecture Presentation Do not miss out!

We had the pleasure of seeing Dick Jackson present at the International Making Cities Livable Conference in June and were thoroughly impressed with how seamlessly he wove together the obesity epidemic, the ailing economy, and global climate change.  Don't miss this great opportunity! See details below.  

Who: Dr. Richard J. Jackson Professor and Chair-Environmental Health Sciences at the UCLA School of Public Health

 Eugene J. Mackey, Jr. Memorial Lecture

What: Lecture

 As described on Washington University's Website: "America's 'Perfect Storm'-Soaring health and energy costs, crashing economy and ecosystems--demands 21st century response and soon: Approaches to the Environment that can give our children a world as healthy, diverse, and beautiful as the one we were given."

Where: Steinberg Auditorium Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts College of Architecture and Urban Development Washington University 1 Brookings r. St. Louis MO 63130

When: October 20, 2008 at 6:30pm, Short Reception at 6:00pm 

      

California is Complete!

There is no more waiting- California has officially signed into law the Complete Streets Act of 2008. Thanks to Governor Schwarzenegger, who signed the law on September 30, 2008, California cities and counties must incorporate complete streets policies into general planning. As of January 2011, "any substantive revision of the circulation element in the general plan of a California local government will include complete streets provisions." First, what is a complete street? A complete street is one that is designed to accommodate all users including but not limited to walkers, bikers, those with disabilities, and drivers.  And in California by January 2001, all streets must fit this description 

California Assemblyman Leno says that, "Getting people out of their cars and riding bicycles or the bus improves public health, air quality, eases congestion and reduces greenhouse emissions."  In addition, the complete streets will shift the focus from moving automobiles to moving people.  People will become the energy source.  This shift will also change high traffic areas as well as make roads wider.

In California, the city's hope is that with the Complete Streets Law in motion, the local government can build and plan for roadways that are safe and accessible for all transportation venues. California is currently one of six states that has complete streets legislation, and more than 70 other jurisdictions have adopted a form of complete street measures or are considering taking the steps towards creating complete streets.

Where did this all begin and where is it going? Complete streets bills were first introduced to the U.S. Senate and House in March of this year advocating for safe and convenient travel for all modes of transportation: walkers, bikers, transit users, individuals of all ages and individuals with disabilities. Ellen Ginzler, AARP Senior Vice President for Livable Communities states that, "More Americans age 50+ are trying to leave their cars behind but face obstacles as soon as they walk out the door, climb on their bikes or head for the bus." Safety is a major issue.  As complete streets are signed into law, more people will be able to use alternative modes of transportation and still feel safe.  The National Complete Streets Coalition focuses in on the lack of physical infrastructure and barriers to active living that Ellen mentions, to advocate for policy level changes to support long-standing complete streets in communities. 

 http://www.completestreets.org/CaliforniaCS.html 

California Speeds Toward Decreasing Sprawl and Harmful Emissions

On Monday, August 25, California took one step closer towards adopting a law to reduce sprawl and heat-trapping gases in the San Francisco area. This law, which will undeniably be the nation's largest comprehensive effort to reduce urban sprawl, will provide tens of billions of dollars to encourage clustered growth of the city's housing, businesses and agriculture. The goal of this law, upon approval is, "to encourage housing near current development and to reduce commutes to work." Their mission mirrors Trailnet's vision for complete streets, where all travelers have safe, supportive infrastructure to move them from place to place. In California, the number of miles driven has increased a staggering 50% faster than the increase in population over the last two decades. Among the multiple miles driven on a daily basis, passenger vehicles produce 30% of the state's heat-trapping gases, making them the largest source of harmful emissions. 

The passage of this law is more than an effort to minimize the increase in emissions of heat-trapping gases, it is a strategic plan. A plan surrounding housing, climate-change and transportation needs all together. How will land use be split among housing, agriculture, industry, etc? Where will new roads and bridges be built to maximize use? How much affordable housing needs to be provided and where?  San Francisco's tri-fold effort incorporates similar planning tactics to that of Los Angeles' DO REAL PLANNING moto, with the basis that quality planning assures that communities take the correct steps toward strengthening the universality of its streets.

When should the San Francisco law be expected to pass? According to California State Senator Darrell Steinberg, the answer is soon. Each of the seventeen regional planning groups will devise goals, directed by the Air Resources Board, and will submit their transportation, housing and land-use plans. Environmentalists hope to use the idea of "urban growth boundaries", adopted from Portland planners, to control sprawl by, "encouraging higher density development within an area and largely prohibiting it outside." Development of stronger coalitions and environmental quality assurance is necessary to offset the reservations held by many Californian developers and some local environmental groups. 

For more information, check out:

         http://www.completestreets.org/CaliforniaCS.html