Jeffrey Tumlin of San Francisco-based Nelson/Nygaard will discuss new ways of measuring the impact of traffic on communities
Silver Spring, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is hosting the last session of its Winter Speakers Series on Wednesday, March 16 at 6 p.m. in the Department’s auditorium (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910). Transportation planner Jeffrey Tumlin, principal and director of strategy for San Francisco-based Nelson/Nygaard, will discuss new ways of measuring transportation performance to reduce traffic congestion and make it easier to walk, bike or take transit.
Tumlin will present alternatives to level of service (LOS), a measurement used to determine speed, travel times and other conditions, in planning transportation systems. 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. These new tools can help to ensure the environmental effects of traffic, such as noise, air pollution and safety concerns, are addressed so the cities can reach their goals for economic development, social equity, public health and ecological balance.
New transportation metrics in California
In 2013, California passed a new law aimed at achieving a balanced, multimodal transportation network and reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The state is phasing out the use of LOS and instead is using vehicle miles traveled, a measure of miles driven within a specified region or for a specified time period.
New development in California will be required to generate 15 percent fewer car miles per resident or employee than existing development in the state. Instead of widening roads, developers will be required to invest in improvements for walking, biking and taking transit.
In his March 16 presentation, Tumlin will explain the benefits and challenges of this approach and the application of new transportation metrics within the full scope of transportation planning at the local level.
About Speaker Jeffrey Tumlin
Principal and director of strategy for San Francisco-based Nelson/Nygaard, Jeffrey Tumlin has led award-winning plans in cities from Seattle and Vancouver to Moscow and Abu Dhabi. He helps balance all modes of transportation – driving, walking, bicycling, transit — in densely developed places to achieve a community’s goals and best utilize limited resources. Jeff has developed plans throughout the world that accommodate millions of square feet of growth with no net increase in motor vehicle traffic. He is the author of Sustainable Transportation Planning: Tools for Creating Healthy, Vibrant and Resilient Communities.