The TDM Professional

Build Places Where People Don't Neet to Drive and Save the Planet

That's the conclusion of a major research project co-sponsored by the Urban Land Institute, the National Center for Smart Growth, Smart Growth America and the Center for Clean Air Policy. The just released report and book, checking in at a massive 172 pages and entitled Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change is a comprehensive review of dozens of studies that conclude that urban development is both a key contributor to climate change and an essential factor in combating it.

Curbing emission from cars depends on improved vehicle efficiency, cleaner fuels, and a reduction in driving according to the report. It goes on to say that one of the best way to reduce vehicle miles traveled is to build places where people can accomplish more with less driving. The report documents that persons who live in compact urban neighborhoods, where cars are not the only transportation option, drive a third fewer miles than those in the auto-oriented suburbs.

The book shares market research that shows a majority of future housing demand lies in smaller homes and lots, townhouses, and condos where jobs and activities are close by. With real estate projections showing that two thirds of development expected to be here in 2050 isn't built yet, there's still potential to get this right. And the book acts a primer on how to make green neighborhoods more available and more affordable. It also makes recommendations for shifting government regulations, spending and policies away from favoring sprawling, auto-dependant growth towards green, transit-oriented smart-growth.

"Clearly, the development industry has a key role in the search for solutions to offset the impact of climate change," said ULI Senior Resident Fellow William H. Hudnut, III, former mayor of Indianapolis. "Whether close-in or in suburbs, well-planned communities give residents the option to walk, bike or take transit to nearby shopping, retail and entertainment. Being able to spend less time behind the wheel will benefit our health, our pocketbooks and the environment."

The findings show that people who move into compact, “green neighborhoods” are making as big a contribution to fighting global warming as those who buy the most efficient hybrid vehicles, but remain in car-dependent areas.

Let's hope that developers, planners and policy makers everywhere check out this important report.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and The TDM Professional blog and a biking/Metrorail commuter from Alexandria, Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C.

Google Transit Now Available in 19 U.S. Cities

Google Transit is now alive and working in 19 cities across the U.S. and in all regions of Japan. It is a transit trip planning service using those wonderful Google maps. Put in your starting and ending address and you'll get a map and directions for which bus to take just like you do when you use the Google Maps service for driving directions.

It tells/shows you how to get to your bus stop and then which bus to hop on to your destination while indicating the next few buses that will go by. You can plug in alternate dates and times if you are planning a trip in advance too. I used Google Transit to plan some trips in Seattle since I'd just visited and it worked wonderfully. And who doesn't love those nice Google maps?

There are so many cool things that you can do with Google Maps. For example, we love the WalkScore web site (How Walkable is Your Neighborhood?, July 18, 2007) that was built on the Google Maps platform. Google Transit is actually brought to us from the Google Labs.

Right now none of those 19 cities include anything in my area of Washington, D.C. WMATA's Trip Planner is very good. But it doesn't include a map. And somehow it is more fun and useful with the map of the bus route on Google. Especially when you use the hybrid version that includes the satellite map. Let's hope WMATA and the local agencies are working on this and maybe someday we people can use Google Maps to get driving directions AND plan a transit trip.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and The TDM Professional blog and a biking/Metrorail commuter from Alexandria, Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C.

Want to Fight Global Climate Change? Take the Bus

According to a just released report by APTA (American Public Transit Association), the most powerful weapon you can use to combat global climate change may be a daily transit pass. The Study, Public Transportation's Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction, which was prepared by Science Applications International Corporation for APTA, points out that commuting by public transit is one of the most significant actions a household member can take to reduce their carbon footprint. According to the report:

"New research shows that a person who rides public transportation instead of driving reduces his or her carbon dioxide output, a harmful greenhouse gas, by more than 20 lbs a day and 4,800 lbs annually. That saves more than weatherizing a home, adjusting a thermostat, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and replacing older appliances with higher efficiency models, combined. A national climate change strategy that doesn't embrace public transportation has simply missed the bus."

Regarding land use impacts the report says:

"Investments in public transportation have the benefit of supporting higher density land uses that allow for fewer vehicle miles of travel...The results range from a reduction in VMT of between 1.4 miles and 9 miles for every transit passenger mile traveled. The outcome would be more efficient use of roadways, reduced road maintenance, shorter highway commute times and reduced need for street and off- street parking."

APTA is using the report to call on Congress to provide additional funding, to provide additional tax credits to employers who spend resources to support transit ridership programs and to provide tax credits to developers of mixed used transit oriented development projects.

Public Transportation's Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fact Sheet

Public Transportation's Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Full Report

Related Article: Taking Transit: The Most Effective Route to Cutting Carbon, September 27, 2007; Erica Barnett, WorldChanging.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and The TDM Professional blog and a biking/Metrorail commuter from Alexandria, Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C.

The Paradox of Parking

In Tippecanoe County, Indiana a local professor documented that there were 250,000 more parking spaces than registered vehicles. When the community of 155,000 people were confronted with this news their collective reaction was "Are you crazy? I can never find parking where I'm going!" Thus begins an excellent in-depth article by Katherine Miezkowski on Salon.com (We Paved Paradise, October 1, 2007) about the evils of parking. The paradox according to Miezkowski? No matter how much land we pave for our idle cars, it always seems as if there isn't enough.

She goes on to provide a fascinating history of how we got here. Starting with the story of parking minimums and the hidden costs for providing parking. It isn't a pretty story. We also learn about the environmental costs and degradation to our quality of urban life in the quest to provide "free" parking everywhere we go.

Before our tale ends we find hope in some places like Redwood City, California and Brooklyn, New York where innovative people are fighting back.  Enjoy the read and let's hope everyone gets the message.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and The TDM Professional blog and a biking/Metrorail commuter from Alexandria, Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C.