Excerpts from "Creating & Sustaining People Oriented Places" - A Transit Alliance Best Practices Study
Colorado
Must Ride the Coming Wave of Western Change
Metro
Denver voters in the fall of 2004 took a giant step forward. They
elected to invest about $4.7 billion in FasTracks, which, when
completed in about 11 years, will greatly alter the transportation
future of the state and the West. With that election, the majority
of Coloradoans now turn to face the wave of change that is bearing
down on the world and the West -- the coming of a growing numbers
of seniors, singles, couples and minorities who want more transportation
choices.
Transit Alliance believes that a statewide balanced multi-modal transportation system will be essential to sustaining Colorado as a people-oriented place.
Successful people-oriented places start with clear vision, the ability to see well into the future and consider the rapidly changing patterns and desires of people, while incorporating the essential elements that make a place attractive to a broader population. The three stages of people-oriented place development, planning, implementation and management, then work in concert, in a uniquely orchestrated combination. While successful POP development requires clear vision, it also implies continual flexibility, which must be incorporated into place design.
Visit www.transitalliance.org to download a copy of the study.
April 6, 2006 - Metro Denver's New POP Culture will help local leaders focus on the profound cultural and demographic shifts associated with metro Denver's $4.7 billion FasTracks investment. Urban planners, developers, builders and local communities are considering this profound cultural shift now. Community leaders will join world-renowned "placemaking" expert Prof. Jan Gehl of Copenhagen, DENMARK, at the Colorado Convention Center on 4/6. Gehl's ideas incorporate the cutting edge of technology without losing sight of what enhances everyday public life. This joint project with RTD, DRCOG, Metro Denver EDC and the Home Builders Association will allow participants to network and begin or build relationships with key staff and elected officials from our 52 metro Denver communities.
Visit www.transitalliance.org/POPCulture to register.
At its February meeting, the Colorado Transportation Commission established a Task Force, to be chaired by Transportation Commissioner Steve Parker, with the objective of recommending to the Commission by August, 2006, with public input: (1) a definition of a strategic investment program for transit; (2) eligibility criteria for projects; (3) a process for project selection and prioritization; and (4) a strategic investment program of projects, with STAC concurrence.
The Commission’s Intermodal Committee conducted a public forum on the issue on March 15 where Transit Alliance offered comments.
In addition, Transit Alliance submitted a nomination for Dave Gilman to serve on the Statewide Transit Task Force. Dave is currently on the Transit Alliance Management Team and has been a part of our organization for years. The Commission will make a decision on Task Force membership on April 3.
The Transit Unit of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) administers and awards Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310, 5311 and 5304 (formerly 5313(b)) grant funds. Each year the Transit Unit conducts “Policy Options Workshops” to discuss the grant programs’ policies, performance, and work program initiatives. This is your opportunity to discuss the way the Transit Unit manages grants.
Denver Meeting: Monday, April 10th – 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the CDOT Auditorium, 4201 E. Arkansas, Denver. If you have questions, call the CDOT Transit Unit at 303-757-9766.
