US DOT releases Climate Strategies that Work

-- US DOT releases Climate Strategies that Work

There are four sections:

• Active Transportation
• Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
• Freight Operational Strategies
• Transit-Oriented Development

Active Transportation

Pedestrian infrastructure

• Curb extensions (also known as Bulb-outs) 
• Landscaping, Street Furniture, and Shade Quality
• continuous, wide sidewalks
• Tactile wayfinding systems to assist visually impaired travelers 
• Signalized, high visibility pedestrian crossings with Audible and Visual Countdowns 
• Mid-block/refugee islands 
• Bicycle/pedestrian bridges 
• Pedestrian Zones/Pedestrian Streets 
• Woonerf or “Living Street” (Characterized by shared spaces where vehicles are allowed but must yield to non-motorized users, woonerfs encourage slower speeds and foster community interaction)

I think the US is too car centric for woonerfs to work.  And with Pedestrian Zones we think too hard.  Focus on a section of a street, a place that can be very successful, and build from the there.  I think Shade Quality should be a separate item.  In the bike section they mention "bike ambassadors, capacity building, and community riders." This goes for the pedestrian section too.  

Bicycle/scooter/micromobility infrastructure

• Protected or shared bike lanes 
• Separation/buffers Intersection treatments for bicycles (bicycle boxes, stop bars, lead signal indicators) 
• Wayfinding and Signage 
• Secure parking and storage facilities 
• Bike Share Programs 
• Bike Repair/Tool Stations 
• Bike Rebates and Tax Credits 
• Bike Schools, Bike Ambassadors and Capacity Building 
• Community Rides 
• Ramps Bike Racks

They mention secure parking and storage facilities.  This can't be emphasized enough  What's needed is a much deeper network of secure bicycle parking, especially with the rise of e-biking, where e-bikes are much more expensive.  They fail to mention more specific assistance programs to assist people in transitioning from car dependence to bicycling.

Shared infrastructure

• Lighting 
• Workplace or destination-based facilities / supportive infrastructure (lockers, changing facilities, secure parking) 
• Traffic calming
• Integration with Transit

Lighting is really important.  So are end of trip facilities for work trips. WRT traffic calming, in the citizen initiative capital projects program a resident of Sugar House developed a proposal for a multi block traffic calming program.  Salt Lake has since made the district concept part of the Liveable Streets program.  I also have the concept of treating streets in particular intersections as networks too.

And Safe Routes to School programs.  I am especially impressed by the approaches of the State of Washington, City of Tacoma, the Feet First advocacy group in Seattle, etc.