20/20 Visions of Alternative Transportation

Richmond Connects, a City of Richmond project, staged its kick-off event Tuesday night at the Byrd Theater. Participants were asked to present alternative visions of transportation in an alternative format: 20 slides, 20 seconds a slide.

This trendy and effective method known as "Pecha Kucha" is loved by the Japanese and seems to abate long-winded, awkward presentations.

The format itself was a breath of fresh air, as were many of the ideas presented.

Richmond Connects is the abbreviated moniker for The Richmond Strategic Multimodal Transportation Plan, a yearlong planning study to "update, revise and re-invent the transportation plan," for Richmond.

The evening moved along like a well-oiled machine, hopefully one with a small carbon footprint, but whether or not the talks are just a bunch of hot-air remains to be seen.

The City of Richmond, with its recent creation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Commission, as well as proposed funding in the 2012 budget for a Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, appears committed to reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Money has been pledged to develop the plan, but more than that half a million will be needed to complete any infrastructure (Portland, Oregon spent an estimated 52 million).

At the very least, Tuesday nights’ presenters made it clear that the city ought to take transportation reform very seriously.

SPOKEN QUICKLY, DRIVEN HOME

Some clambered on stage to speak their 6:40 (20x20) as concerned residents, bringing out-of-state experiences to the envisioning process.

"I felt pretty isolated out there, as a student without a car I couldn’t get around very well. It was an auto-centric environment that I wasn’t used to," University of Richmond graduate Michael Todd said, as he shared his story of moving back to Richmond for college after living in New Jersey.

Others brought the facts, analysis and energy of their respective organizations to address why it is clearly time for Richmond to take a new route in its transportation offerings.

"We’ve lagged a bit, but we really need to get going," Trip Pollard, a director at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said.

Pollard produced the stats: Per capita, the Richmond area ranks near the top for the highest carbon footprint; local residents collectively drive 30.4 million miles daily; transportation is the second largest household expense, and there are 24 ozone health violations per year (2000-2008).

Then he drove the findings home with a kicker. "The first law of holes: When you’re in one, stop digging," he said.

Overlapping themes emerged from individual presentations: relatively cheap cost, density, design, education, incentives, Bus Rapid Transit, parking, linkage between different forms of transit.

Each presentation had its merit and left the very small audience with some nuggets of transit information.

HIGHLIGHTS

Michael Gilbert of the non-profit Ride Richmond emphasized the importance of getting "future riders of Richmond to buy into laws," specifically talking about salmoning (biking in the wrong direction) and "Critical Mass vs. Critical Sass."

Andy Boenau of the Urban Land Institute said that "across all generations, planners are seeing an increase in bicycles."

David Sharrar, of City Parking, Inc. reminded the audience that "91 percent of metro Richmond [residents] use vehicles to get to work, and all are in search of parking."

Sharrar’s company utilizes smartphone technology for parking payments and he presented several innovative apps to streamline the parking process. Sharrar also brought up "dynamic pricing," a concept in effect throughout the nation and Europe, where rates fluctuate based on time of day and events.

Champe Burnley, president of Virginia Bicycling Federation, had plenty to say concerning health and economic benefits. He also made it clear there are many spokes on the wheel, and that implementation is "not just for the city," and we need a regional transportation plan.

By the way, there were no other county representatives in the room, though "regional cooperation," was frequently cited.

Clinton Edwards, an analyst with GRTC, was charismatic, even when discussing the speed bumps that slow GRTC route development. City Council must approve any changes, down to bus turns, Edwards said.

He brought several standout visions to the stage: Bus Rapid Transit on Broad Street., buses fueled with compressed natural gas and real-time bus information and updates accessible through phones and at bus stops.

Michael Todd also talked about Richmond matching its culture with its infrastructure. "We have one of the largest footraces (10k), yet we don’t have bike lanes or urban trails," he said.

Sheila Sheppard Lovelady sent two wake-up calls: "We don’t have to pretend we are a suburb," and "Implement the Downtown Master Plan."

Ciclovia. Say it three times and it will come true? We hope so. Amy George called on the city to create this temporary event, where streets are closed to automobiles for the use of others. Ciclovia has been hosted around the globe and it holds potential as a money-generating event. Imagine shutting down Cary St. between the Slip and Bottom and even the Manchester Bridge for an afternoon of fun and education on bikes.

Tim Davey, also from the Urban Land Institute, and a former CSX employee talked about rail solutions. Davey emphasized transit-oriented development projects and remarked about Ballston, D.C., "They are doing it 90 miles north, why not here?"

Sarah Driggs, a self-proclaimed architecture historian, talked about the discussion to widen Forest Hill Avenue for traffic. Don’t widen it for traffic, she urged, add sidewalks and bike lanes.

Scudder Wagg, of the hosting consultant firm Michael Baker, Inc. closed out the evening with yet more innovative ideas a la Cordon pricing for congestion. He illustrated how drivers pay with either time or money and that tollbooths can offer fluctuating prices, based on time of day and commute distance, to capture the market price of convenience.

Ken Mobley, also with Baker, had opened the Vision20 event by asking the audience to think about what Richmond transportation needs—something you, the reader, can do and take to the next work-shopping event on May 17, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Carillon.

What strategies can the city implement, as a regional cooperative with the surrounding counties, to help RVA create transit?

So, Richmond, start your engines. Or pedal your bikes. However you get "there" just make sure you’re on the bus known as Richmond Connects.