On the panel: Thom Deller and Garry Bliss

RL: Of these at least 10 elements in transit, which are most important?

TD: Let's not talk about what to include, let's just put it all in. RI is narrow in view, not good about interrelationships. How did Portland, OR do such a good job? Started with city planning - the idea of an intermodal city. In RI, we take a suburban/rural approach that denies what's required for urban centers. Can we "big brother" a no-car mandate as Portland did?

To ban parking in Portland, they had sweeping control over building across the entire region. We'd need to control every building permit from New London to New Bedford.

GB: Re - 2007 snowstorm - irony of the day was that Gov Patrick committed money for rail in New Bedford and Fall River. We'll lose development to those cities because we're not investing like MA is. Need to recognize the economic benefit of urban areas and urban lifestyles. Story of VA city trying to make least-walkable stripmall town into walkable urban space. 

TD: Must have land use that lets these things work naturally. Must have integrated land use, not separated. "The Bodega Exception" - every few blocks, add a couple of storefronts. 

GB: Some changes need outside force. Oil prices created huge behavior change, RIPTA lines overcrowded. (As far as art busses, we already have some performance art experience in some cases.) Technology to reduce rider anxiety - bus alerts stops when it will arrive. On bike share - 1, we wear helmets, not like Europe and 2, we like to sue each other. We need to solve those problems.

RL: In say, Olneyville, what can we do first.

TD: Have a bike path, but doesn't go past No. Prov./Johnston. Need to clean up storefronts. Need to get RI Housing mill convertion complete. 

GB: System shock when striped lanes are installed. RI people had a big reaction.

RL: Other external forces?

GB: Street cars in Prov. If we can get some stimulus money, we could get that moving. One street car line could transform the way people think about public transit in RI. Must show a pleasant, secure experience.

RL: Buses in Brazil

GB: Try to simulate street car. Stations where people pay and board as a group. Stations farther apart. Can have dedicated lane to protect it from traffic problems. Can have preference or override at traffic light. Stations can have services, amenities. Challenge: bus transit does not spur development the way a street car does. Rail shows commitment.

RL: Comments on other sites.

TD: Basic problem is how do we develop the complete space. Urban sites have best chances for impact from transit. Cranston least.

RL: What are the elements to watch? Must think about interrelationships? How about connections?

XX: RI is a worst offender about transit - state RFP for large site requires lots of parking, no mention of transit.

BF: Stimulus could let us "go bold." What are we going to do? People will change only for good reasons. What are the demo projections for Prov/RI? 

TD: It's not money, it's 'think' that we need. How do you change the mentality? 

[Can't keep up with this question and answer. Main theme - we need more signage with bike paths, bus stops, etc.]

JR: 2 things in play. 1 - government is broke and its gonna get worse over time. 2 - because government is broke so they're about talk. Instead, coalitions of groups that are economically linked: large employers and institutions need to come together and do something. almost doesn't matter what we do. jut do something. 

TD: 2 things in mayor's stimulus - 1 fix cars, 2 - street cars.

GB: Rides a Vespa. Surprised by how bad RI drivers are, and how bad roads are. 

RL: Key point - move people, not cars.

TD: True that we make to many plans and don't do enough 'doing' - only way to fulfil my job is to make things happen.

JR: Transit is people; transport is stuff. Transit + Transport = Transportation

GB: Non-gov leaders - universities and hospitals w/ their own transit systems. But they're closed.

BF: What are the demographics for PVD - projections.

TD: We don't do projections because they are too unreliable, particularly with minority populations. 

[Irony - because I got here so early, my 2-hours on the parking meter ran out before we took a break, so I ran out to feed the meter. Joke's on me - there's already a $25 ticket on the windshield. Why didn't I take the bus?]

Picking up the thread again.

TD: Not going to solve the funding issues until we reduce government at state and local levels. Already, cities and state have cut and cut. Now another 20% across the board.

GB: It's now an issue of developers and investors seeing the value of transit-oriented development. Company policy: no parking space, pay half the monthly bus pass, remainder auto deducted from paycheck, bus pass delivered to desk every month.

XX: Hidden costs cloud the discussion and action from both gov and private sector.

CH: Citizen responsibility is good. Transit choice is freedom to make a choice. How can you expect people to make that choice if there really isn't any choice?  Our system isn't strong enough to justify the choice. We need an economy and policies that create a real choice.

PM: What about Detroit? Is it like investing in the typewriter just as computers are coming on the scene? 

Email (will not be published)

Name

Title

Comment
 remaining characters

Post