{"72711":{"#nid":"72711","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Guidebook Helps Communities Plan for Pedestrians","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThough it\u0027s not a prescription to cure obesity or a magic wand to make traffic congestion disappear, the new \u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Guidebook for Pedestrian Planning\u003C\/em\u003E does provide detailed directions for administering a healthy dose of help.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe guidebook, developed by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Georgia Department of Transportation, helps planners assess their pedestrian environment and prioritize projects to improve it.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAdvocates of pedestrian travel say walking can help citizens and communities in numerous ways. It can decrease obesity, and therefore improve public health. Walking can reduce air and noise pollution, as well as traffic congestion and petroleum consumption. It also builds a sense of community. Also, walking requires no special training, and it\u0027s relatively cheap to implement. The guidebook explains how.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022There\u0027s something in the guidebook for everyone -- from local, regional and state planners in the beginning stages all the way to the advanced stages of developing pedestrian facilities -- and that was our intent,\u0022 said Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Adjo Amekudzi, the project\u0027s principal researcher. \u0022It was also important to us that it not be prescriptive. There is not one model that fits all.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAmekudzi and fellow researcher Karen Dixon -- a former Georgia Tech associate professor who led the study until she moved to Oregon State University in 2005 -- worked with an advisory committee of public and private group stakeholders to establish a vision, goals and objectives for pedestrian planning in Georgia. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Georgia must continue to develop pedestrian facilities (which include sidewalks, walkways, crosswalks and shelters) as a viable transportation choice,\u0022 Amekudzi said. \u0022We want to make walking for short trips safe and convenient and provide citizens the opportunity to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. That is our vision.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGiven the number of accidents in Georgia involving both pedestrians and vehicles, safety is a high priority with regard to pedestrian facilities, Amekudzi says. From 2000 to 2003 in Georgia, 8,416 pedestrians were injured, and 624 were killed in collisions with vehicles.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDetailed in the guidebook (now available online at \u003Ca href=\u0027www.dot.state.ga.us\/bikeped\/pedestrian_plan\u0027\u003Ewww.dot.state.ga.us\/bikeped\/pedestrian_plan\u003C\/a\u003E) are four primary goals:  1) enhance safety; 2) create seamless integration of pedestrian facilities into the transportation system; 3) integrate planning and design of pedestrian facilities into transportation planning; 4) encourage a pedestrian-friendly environment for everyone.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We understand that we cannot build our way out of congestion,\u0022 said Georgia DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl. \u0022This guidebook, which provides communities with concrete strategies to create bike and pedestrian alternatives, is critical to our overall transportation program.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEach goal in the guidebook correlates to several action items, and the guidebook provides basic planning tools to help achieve these ends. \u0022This allows us over time to execute our goals and objectives incrementally to get to the more pedestrian-friendly environment we need in Georgia,\u0022 Amekudzi noted.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe 132-page guidebook includes six chapters covering the vision and goals, planning and prioritizing projects, pedestrian facility funding, Georgia pedestrian laws, pedestrian safety and educational strategies, and land-use and zoning policy. It also cites some examples of successful pedestrian facility projects and provides a listing of other pedestrian planning resources.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThough the Peach State is the targeted end user, governments outside Georgia may find parts of the guidebook useful, Amekudzi noted. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHere are some highlights from the guidebook:\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* A prioritization framework provides details on how to choose pedestrian projects. Planners should consider an area\u0027s pedestrian deficiency index factors, such as safety concerns, and pedestrian potential factors, such as centers of activity. \u0022To come out on top, you need to fund projects where you have the highest pedestrian deficiency and potential index factors,\u0022 Amekudzi explained. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Funds for building pedestrian-friendly facilities are still hard to come by, but the situation is getting better, thanks in part to some recent federal legislation,\u0022 Amekudzi said. The guidebook cites the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act:  A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). These laws make pedestrian project funding available to improve air quality and enhance surface transportation. The SAFETEA-LU law funded the Fifth Street Bridge project in midtown Atlanta to make it a pedestrian-friendly environment.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* Other funding sources include the federal Safe Routes to School program, federal lands and recreational trails money, and highway safety programs. In Georgia, the Governor\u0027s Office of Highway Safety and the Georgia Division of Public Health fund pedestrian projects to create community improvement districts and reduce traffic congestion. Also in Georgia, local-option sales taxes can be used to fund pedestrian projects.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* A fundamental question for pedestrians is safety. A lack of driver and pedestrian education, as well pedestrian infrastructure, are often to blame for collisions between pedestrians and vehicles, Amekudzi said. Education supported by good pedestrian infrastructure will help to convince people that they can safely and conveniently walk, rather than ride, for short trips, she added.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* It\u0027s important for pedestrians and drivers to understand that crosswalks exist at all corners of intersections, even if the crosswalks are not marked. Also, at crosswalks without traffic signals, pedestrians always have the right-of-way.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* \u0022Land use and zoning have a huge impact on pedestrian travel,\u0022 Amekudzi said. \u0022That\u0027s the core of it. We need land use and zoning that allows mixed-use development to promote a pedestrian-friendly environment.\u0022 The guidebook outlines some pedestrian-related ordinances and policies.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* An urban example of a walkable community is Atlantic Station in Atlanta. It is a 138-acre, mixed-use development containing retail, commercial, and residential properties, along with public spaces. Atlantic Station is built on the former site of Atlantic Steel Company and was one of the nation\u0027s largest brownfields. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 100\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAtlanta, Georgia  30308  USA\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Relations Contacts\u003C\/strong\u003E: Jane Sanders, Georgia Tech (404-894-2214); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jsanders@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejsanders@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or John Toon, Georgia Tech (404-894-6986); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or Karlene Barron, GDOT (404-463-6460); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:karlene.barron@dot.state.ga.us\u0022\u003Ekarlene.barron@dot.state.ga.us\u003C\/a\u003E)\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETechnical Contacts\u003C\/strong\u003E: Adjo Amekudzi (404-894-0404); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:adjo.amekudzi@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eadjo.amekudzi@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nKaren Dixon, Oregon State University (541-737-6337); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:karen.dixon@oregonstate.edu\u0022\u003Ekaren.dixon@oregonstate.edu\u003C\/a\u003E)\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: Jane Sanders\n\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Collaboration with Georgia DOT helps communities choose projects"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"Though it\u0027s not a prescription to cure obesity or a magic wand to make traffic congestion disappear, the new Georgia Guidebook for Pedestrian Planning does provide detailed directions for administering a healthy dose of help.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Project helps communities plan for pedestrians"}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2006-09-20 00:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:03:29","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2006-09-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2006-09-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"72712":{"id":"72712","type":"image","title":"Associate Professor Adjo Amekudzi","body":null,"created":"1449177954","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:25:54","changed":"1475894663","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:44:23"},"72713":{"id":"72713","type":"image","title":"Fifth Street Bridge Project","body":null,"created":"1449177954","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:25:54","changed":"1475894663","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:44:23"},"72714":{"id":"72714","type":"image","title":"Atlantic Station","body":null,"created":"1449177954","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:25:54","changed":"1475894663","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:44:23"}},"media_ids":["72712","72713","72714"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.ce.gatech.edu\/fac_staff\/research_bio.php?active_id=aa103","title":"Adjo Amekudzi"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.ce.gatech.edu\/","title":"School of Civil and Environmental Engineering"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.dot.state.ga.us\/bikeped\/pedestrian_plan\/","title":"Georgia Guidebook for Pedestrian Planning"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003EAyesha Patel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECommunications \u0026amp; Marketing\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=apatel307\u0022\u003EContact Ayesha Patel\u003C\/a\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["mediateam3@comm.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}