By Mark Hairr, PTMP:
As communities across the country work to deliver improved and integrated transportation systems, pedestrian infrastructure remains a challenge to develop at a level which allows the overall transportation network to operate optimally. For public transportation, areas with higher densities and interconnected pedestrian facilities provide a network to allow people to move around more easily without relying on a vehicle. These robust pedestrian facilities not only allow promote more use of non-vehicle modes of mobility, but make the entire transportation system safer and more efficient thereby reducing conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. For those of us who drive, walk, bicycle or use scooters, we know first-hand the different perspective you have when peering out the car windshield compared to walking or biking near and around vehicular traffic. Well-designed pedestrian facilities reinforce that walking and biking are viable options that can get you where you want to go with the hassle of dealing with driving, congestion and parking.
Unfortunately, pedestrian facilities still lag behind in many communities where lack of priority and funding hampers their development. Since there can be various governmental jurisdictions involved with streets and right-of-way, it’s imperative for localities to have a structure in place to ensure pedestrian facilities can be planned and executed in a coordinated manner. By championing best practices involving a multi-modal complete streets design approach, progress can be made to greatly enhance a community’s overall transportation system.
Mark Hairr, PTMP, is an Executive Director for Wave Transit. Mark can be reached at mhairr@wavetransit.com.
Forum Question: What metrics should be used to evaluate the success of pedestrian infrastructure investments?