From: Peterson, Nils
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 11:55 AM
To: Scarfo, Bob
Subject: Rail connection between Spokane and Moscow
Bob,
I've been following some of your work to get the communities to imagine
a
rail link to Spokane.
I have begun exploring doing a development in Moscow's Legacy Crossing
in a
parcel that might be the terminus or just beyond the terminus of the
line
you are proposing. I have been posting various thoughts, including some
site analysis here
http://greenmoscow.blogspot.com/2009/09/developing-in-legacy-crossing.ht
ml
This is a note to explore if there is a conversation that you and your
students might want to have regarding your project and the site I'm
exploring
---
Scarfo replies
Nils, you're working on some very exciting stuff. I have forwarded your
email to the students working on the Moscow, ID rail station design.
Part of what they are doing is trying to determine a good location for a
potential station.
I told them to contact you and see about meeting and talking with you.
There has been so much interest in the idea of reintroducing passenger
rail that I have been poking around trying to find some funding for a
one-day working session with a broad a group of people as possible. I'd
like to see us walk away for such a meeting with a strong strategy of
how to incrementally move for where we are today to a point in time when
passenger rail is an integral part of the Palouse, eastern WA and
western ID regions.
When I get this meeting established I will definitely let you know so
you can participate.
Thanks so much for reaching out to me.
Bob
Showing posts with label public transit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public transit. Show all posts
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Monday, November 10, 2008
Green Chain Stores -- and a need to do more
I recall seeing that Pullman WalMart was saying they were delayed while re-designing for a more green building. This item from NYTimes gives more perspective on the green chain store trend.
" Wal-Mart, meanwhile, has taken the most successful techniques from prototype stores and incorporated them into all new stores, and it continues to experiment with “high-efficiency” stores that save 20 to 45 percent in energy costs when compared with more traditional stores."
While I'd like to see P&Z grab onto this trend and institutionalize it. I note that we need to do more structurally to green Moscow, see for example, my comments on a broader vision of how we classify thoroughfares in the new Comp Plan to capture bike and pedestrian ways.
' “There’s no such thing as a green building with a full parking lot,” said Seth Kaplan, vice president for climate advocacy at the Conservation Law Foundation. “That’s just an unavoidable truth.” ' Hear, hear!
(Added Nov 18.) President-elect Obama speaks to delegates at Global Climate Summit, a 2-day event arranged by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to break gridlock on the issue ahead of next month's United Nations Climate Change Conference:
(end addition)
I'd like to see the Mayor latch onto the Obama win and our pressing need to address energy security and the environment in a new way. Less (foreign and non-renewable) energy dependence would help our foreign policy. Less carbon-based energy dependence would help our climate. I'd like to see her require all City departments and Commissions to develop short- and long-term changes to reduce the City's (and its residents') energy consumption.
We have a little bit of this thinking in the Legacy Crossing overlay zone where we require that if there is covered car parking there is also covered bike parking. (And Legacy is also part of the strategy in that it stipulates 3-story buildings, inherently boosting density and thereby reducing trip distances.)
A direction that the Mayor and the Transportation Commission could consider is that the Palouse region needs a region-wide mass transportation system with a common vision and shared goals. Presently the region has some services, offered by three companies and funded by a combination of grants, university contributions, governmental contributions and fare-box collections. This funding mix, combined with the multiple operators isn't very stable or
coordinated, and it fails to serve a number of populations.
A new solution could be built on ideas from the current offerings, but needs a regional vision.
A new vision for the system could be to create a sustainable transportation network that provides practical alternatives to use of the personal automobile for residents of the Palouse Region.
It might be implemented with a series of goal, such as:
* within in Pullman and Moscow, all residents would be within walking distance of a bus stop
* the system would serve communities that have significance commerce/work relations within Pullman and Moscow
* The system would offer to-work transportation for employees/ customers/ students of the 10 biggest destinations in the Palouse region
* the system would offer services to people with disabilities who may otherwise be place-bound
* the system would increase the economic welfare of lower income residents
* the system would connect to other transportation networks, including regional airports
" Wal-Mart, meanwhile, has taken the most successful techniques from prototype stores and incorporated them into all new stores, and it continues to experiment with “high-efficiency” stores that save 20 to 45 percent in energy costs when compared with more traditional stores."
While I'd like to see P&Z grab onto this trend and institutionalize it. I note that we need to do more structurally to green Moscow, see for example, my comments on a broader vision of how we classify thoroughfares in the new Comp Plan to capture bike and pedestrian ways.
' “There’s no such thing as a green building with a full parking lot,” said Seth Kaplan, vice president for climate advocacy at the Conservation Law Foundation. “That’s just an unavoidable truth.” ' Hear, hear!
(Added Nov 18.) President-elect Obama speaks to delegates at Global Climate Summit, a 2-day event arranged by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to break gridlock on the issue ahead of next month's United Nations Climate Change Conference:
(end addition)
I'd like to see the Mayor latch onto the Obama win and our pressing need to address energy security and the environment in a new way. Less (foreign and non-renewable) energy dependence would help our foreign policy. Less carbon-based energy dependence would help our climate. I'd like to see her require all City departments and Commissions to develop short- and long-term changes to reduce the City's (and its residents') energy consumption.
We have a little bit of this thinking in the Legacy Crossing overlay zone where we require that if there is covered car parking there is also covered bike parking. (And Legacy is also part of the strategy in that it stipulates 3-story buildings, inherently boosting density and thereby reducing trip distances.)
A direction that the Mayor and the Transportation Commission could consider is that the Palouse region needs a region-wide mass transportation system with a common vision and shared goals. Presently the region has some services, offered by three companies and funded by a combination of grants, university contributions, governmental contributions and fare-box collections. This funding mix, combined with the multiple operators isn't very stable or
coordinated, and it fails to serve a number of populations.
A new solution could be built on ideas from the current offerings, but needs a regional vision.
A new vision for the system could be to create a sustainable transportation network that provides practical alternatives to use of the personal automobile for residents of the Palouse Region.
It might be implemented with a series of goal, such as:
* within in Pullman and Moscow, all residents would be within walking distance of a bus stop
* the system would serve communities that have significance commerce/work relations within Pullman and Moscow
* The system would offer to-work transportation for employees/ customers/ students of the 10 biggest destinations in the Palouse region
* the system would offer services to people with disabilities who may otherwise be place-bound
* the system would increase the economic welfare of lower income residents
* the system would connect to other transportation networks, including regional airports
Monday, September 8, 2008
Farigrounds in Moscow a Bonus
Letter to editor of Daily News, submitted 9/8/08
Its Fair time again. Reading about the Palouse Empire Fair last weekend got me thinking about the differences between our two area events. Whitman County's fairgrounds is five miles west of Colfax, and twenty-plus miles from the major population center. No child walked to that fair after school. No parent dropped their teenager at that fair with $20 and instructions to walk home before dark. And most likely, no families wandered over for dinner and an hour of music.
I grew up in St Paul, Minnesota, walking distance from the State fairgrounds. The major bus routes ran along the edge of the site. Salem, Oregon has the state fairgrounds in the city, served by transit, and used for a variety of community functions.
From time to time the idea surfaces to move the Latah fair a few miles out of town. Most recently a site near Mill Road was suggested. At that location, Latah could join Whitman county in having little walk-in traffic, few kids dropped off to make their way home. And no public transit to the Fair.
If Latah County’s Fair moves out of town, will the many groups that use the facility throughout the year move out too- Elections, Parent-Toddlers, auctions, and a variety of meetings? Most likely they will need to find new venues within the city.
The Fair is an intense use, with traffic and noise. Thanks to Eastside Marketplace and NRS (old Tidymans) for helping with parking. I live close enough to experience it.
Three days is a small price to pay for having such a resource in town. In an era of high gas prices, a walkable fairgrounds, with no entrance fees, is a wonderful recreation option. I hope everyone got a to the fair and enjoyed the enjoyed the richness of having it in town.
Its Fair time again. Reading about the Palouse Empire Fair last weekend got me thinking about the differences between our two area events. Whitman County's fairgrounds is five miles west of Colfax, and twenty-plus miles from the major population center. No child walked to that fair after school. No parent dropped their teenager at that fair with $20 and instructions to walk home before dark. And most likely, no families wandered over for dinner and an hour of music.
I grew up in St Paul, Minnesota, walking distance from the State fairgrounds. The major bus routes ran along the edge of the site. Salem, Oregon has the state fairgrounds in the city, served by transit, and used for a variety of community functions.
From time to time the idea surfaces to move the Latah fair a few miles out of town. Most recently a site near Mill Road was suggested. At that location, Latah could join Whitman county in having little walk-in traffic, few kids dropped off to make their way home. And no public transit to the Fair.
If Latah County’s Fair moves out of town, will the many groups that use the facility throughout the year move out too- Elections, Parent-Toddlers, auctions, and a variety of meetings? Most likely they will need to find new venues within the city.
The Fair is an intense use, with traffic and noise. Thanks to Eastside Marketplace and NRS (old Tidymans) for helping with parking. I live close enough to experience it.
Three days is a small price to pay for having such a resource in town. In an era of high gas prices, a walkable fairgrounds, with no entrance fees, is a wonderful recreation option. I hope everyone got a to the fair and enjoyed the enjoyed the richness of having it in town.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
You make your own judgement
Here is an email dialog -- I put it in chronological order so you can read down the page. While the Commute Trip Reduction policy seems like a useful tool, the implementation leaves something to be desired in my judgement:
From: "Dain"
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:44:44 -0700
To: "Peterson, Nils"
Subject: here's an odd one...
Hi Nils,
I just noticed a policy in the BPPM (http://www.wsu.edu/~forms/HTML/BPPM/80_Services/80.86_Commute_Trip_Reduction.htm) that states:
“Prepaid, subsidized transit for employees and students. Under this program element, all employees and students are allowed to use local transit systems by simply showing their CougarCard. This element is considered a de minimus nontaxable benefit under IRS, Section a32(f)(2)(A).” (emphasis added)
From: Peterson, Nils
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 14:50
To: Shaheen, John Anthony
Subject: BPPM 80.86 Commute trip reduction
John,
This policy is an interesting one. The rider points at one question — is Wheatland one of the “local transit systems?” If not, what distinguishes a local transit system for purposes of this policy, given the stated aims of the policy?
And, how are bus riding employees represented on the University Parking and Transportation Task Force (UPTTF) which serves as the WSU Pullman CTR Committee?
Thanks
On 9/2/08 10:48 AM, "Shaheen, John Anthony" wrote:
Nils,
Good question. We did not have Wheatland Express in mind when we refer to local. The distinction is the purpose of that service and the joint partnership with UI which prevents any commitments we could make in a WSU policy. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We should clarify this in our BPPM.
John
John A. Shaheen, CAPP
Director of WSU Parking, Transportation & Visitor Center
Washington State University
Email: shaheen@wsu.edu
Phone: 509.335.4911
FAX: 509.335.1316
WSU is a proud member of the following organizations:
Northwest Parking Association
http://www.nwparking.org/
International Parking Institute
http://www.parking.org/
Collegiate Information and Visitor Services Association: http://civsa.org/
From: "Dain"
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:44:44 -0700
To: "Peterson, Nils"
Subject: here's an odd one...
Hi Nils,
I just noticed a policy in the BPPM (http://www.wsu.edu/~forms/HTML/BPPM/80_Services/80.86_Commute_Trip_Reduction.htm) that states:
“Prepaid, subsidized transit for employees and students. Under this program element, all employees and students are allowed to use local transit systems by simply showing their CougarCard. This element is considered a de minimus nontaxable benefit under IRS, Section a32(f)(2)(A).” (emphasis added)
From: Peterson, Nils
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 14:50
To: Shaheen, John Anthony
Subject: BPPM 80.86 Commute trip reduction
John,
This policy is an interesting one. The rider points at one question — is Wheatland one of the “local transit systems?” If not, what distinguishes a local transit system for purposes of this policy, given the stated aims of the policy?
And, how are bus riding employees represented on the University Parking and Transportation Task Force (UPTTF) which serves as the WSU Pullman CTR Committee?
Thanks
On 9/2/08 10:48 AM, "Shaheen, John Anthony"
Nils,
Good question. We did not have Wheatland Express in mind when we refer to local. The distinction is the purpose of that service and the joint partnership with UI which prevents any commitments we could make in a WSU policy. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We should clarify this in our BPPM.
John
John A. Shaheen, CAPP
Director of WSU Parking, Transportation & Visitor Center
Washington State University
Email: shaheen@wsu.edu
Phone: 509.335.4911
FAX: 509.335.1316
WSU is a proud member of the following organizations:
Northwest Parking Association
http://www.nwparking.org/
International Parking Institute
http://www.parking.org/
Collegiate Information and Visitor Services Association: http://civsa.org/
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