Talks on transit planning, separated bike lanes and traffic metrics focused on concepts considered for new Subdivision Staging Policy and Bicycle Master Plan
Silver Spring, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, concluded its three-part Winter Speaker Series in March 2016. Titled Smart Moves: New Ideas about Bikes, Cars and Transit, the series was free to the public and addressed new approaches to cycling, transit, trails and other alternatives to cars. The ideas generated from the series are helping to inform the Department’s current plans and policies, including the Bicycle Master Plan and Subdivision Staging Policy update.
Session on January 20 Focused on Big Data for Transit Planning
The first session of the Winter Speaker Series featured a presentation by transportation planner Nat Bottigheimer, DC Region Market Lead of Fehr & Peers. The session drew about 40 people, including Montgomery County Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Roger Berliner.
Bottigheimer titled his talk “Putting the Transition back in Transit” to emphasize the importance of the upfront planning required of surface transit projects – light rail, streetcars, bus rapid transit –so they can succeed. He revealed how data from cell phones, GPS systems and bus travel can be used to determine the potential ridership and viability of these transit projects.
Watch the January 20 recap.
Session on February 16 Focused Separated Bike Lanes
At the second event, Jennifer Toole, president of the Silver Spring-based Toole Design Group, discussed bike lanes in the Netherlands where separated bike lanes are commonplace in both suburban and rural areas, not just in cities. “Some designers throw up their hands when it comes to making suburban roads more bike-friendly, but it can be done successfully as shown in other countries,” she said.
Toole showed how suburban bicycling can be improved with lanes separated from vehicular traffic so residents feel safe and comfortable riding for transportation and recreation. Currently, the Montgomery County Planning Department is developing the Bicycle Master Plan to achieve that goal.
Watch the February 16 recap.
Session on March 16 Focused on New Transportation Metrics to Reduce Traffic
The final session featured transportation planner Jeffrey Tumlin, principal and director of strategy for San Francisco-based Nelson/Nygaard. Tumlin discussed new ways of measuring transportation performance to reduce traffic congestion and make it easier to walk, bike or take transit. He is currently working in Oakland, San Jose and Mountain View, California, to adopt new metrics for evaluating the impact of transportation on these communities.
Tumlin showed how tools such as vehicle miles traveled, a measure of miles driven within a specified region or for a specified time period, can help to ensure the environmental effects of traffic are fully addressed so cities and counties can reach their goals for economic development, public health and ecological balance.
Watch the March 16 recap.
For more information about the Winter Speakers Series, go to Montgomeryplanning.org/smartmoves
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Speaker Bios
Nat Bottingheimer of DC-based Fehr & Peers is a transportation planner with a background in public policy and real estate economics. Until 2012, Nat was an assistant general manager at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), where he promoted bike and pedestrian access, sustainability and bus priority investment. He has expertise in planning for rail station access, transit and land use, and is a recognized expert in transit-oriented development.
Jennifer Toole, president of Toole Design Group in Silver Spring, has a keen understanding of how to design streets that work for all users. She has been involved in numerous projects of national significance for the Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008, Jennifer was honored with the Professional of the Year award from the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.
Jeffery Tumlin of San Francisco-based Nelson/Nygaard has led award-winning plans in cities from Seattle and Vancouver to Moscow and Abu Dhabi. He helps balance all modes of transportation in densely developed places to achieve a community’s goals and best utilize limited resources. He has developed plans throughout the world that accommodate millions of square feet of growth with no net increase in motor vehicle traffic. Jeff is the author of the book Sustainable Transportation Planning: Tools for Creating Healthy, Vibrant and Resilient Communities.