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Chapter 3: Sustainable Transportation & Land Use
Read entire Chapter 3: Sustainable Transportation & Land Use Strategies
Measures in this section of the plan are designed to reduce vehicle miles traveled in the community by making alternative travel modes the mainstream and to increase vehicle fuel efficiency and the utilization of low-carbon fuels:
- Increase the safety, reliability, and frequency of public transit
- Expand other mobility options, such as car share pods and shuttle buses, into areas where existing public transit is less frequent and accessible
- Accelerate implementation of the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans and continue efforts to make walking and cycling safe, healthy and enjoyable alternatives to driving
- Ensure that new development is “green” development, meaning that it is oriented toward transit and is coupled with enhancements to green and open space, urban forestry efforts, and water conservation efforts, among others.
- Manage parking effectively to minimize driving demand and encourage and support alternatives to driving
- Create incentives for low-carbon vehicles such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids
Read entire Chapter 3: Sustainable Transportation & Land Use Strategies
Comments
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2 issues with the transportation/land use section
Post #41 by John Public on October 29, 2008 11:31AM
I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of detail in this part of the city's plan. But two issues occur to me.
1. BRT is an example of favoring public transportation over "regular" multi-lane thoroughfares. If this trend continues, how are drivers supposed to manage? Suppliers of food and other items for sale in farmers markets and stores are included in that category, as are car-share drivers. It seems certain that hybrid and zero-emission vehicles will get snatched up as soon as they become cheaper and more widely available. But how will they fare on the streets of Berkeley?
I watched a travel show recently, and noticed that the European city featured had both pedestrian-friendly areas and really wide thoroughfares for vehicles.
2. Personal vehicles will be around for a long time. I'd love to buy a Smart Car, but I live in a multi-story dwelling (no place to plug in). Has the city explored the idea of making metered electric-charging stations available for apartment-type dwellers? I'm not saying the city would necessarily pay for such stations--although such stations might conceivably benefit the city, as in providing power to the grid.
Thanks for listening.
Jean Hohl
Easing Congestion/Idling
Post #56 by Damian Bickett on December 18, 2008 10:45AM
To reduce emissions (an improve drivers' moods)
1.) Please make sure all lights that are supposed to blink late at night do so, and perhaps make them blink earlier. I know for a fact that Cedar st and MLK is not blinking when it should, and I see cars waiting for the light to turn, idling, when no traffic exists. There are other intersections that could be fixed to ensure less idling.
2.) Better signals. Too often, along MLK or Telegraph, the traffic lights on these busy streets turns red, with no pedestrian or car waiting to cross, causing needless idling. Seems like an easy fix that improves our mood as well as emissions.
3.) Eliminate some of the restrictions on providing public transportation in Berkeley. The city council imposes limits on the number of cabs and the ability of providers to provide flexible fare, flexible route service. There are other options besides massive public buses--on demand jitneys could work. See http://www.taxibus.org.uk/ But they can't work when the city grants a monopoly to AC Transit and prevents other companies from providing better service to those who want it.
These 3 ideas are more in the category of doing more with less; Please heed them.
