Transportation, Traffic Impact Analysis and Safety: Keeping it all in Perspective
RaleighForward hosted its first event on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Trophy Brewing’s Maywood Taproom. David Meeker generously agreed to host the event. Eric Lamb, former Transportation Planner Manager with the City of Raleigh, “walked” attendees through many of the issues and considerations that the City must address when implementing a complex transportation system. If you would like to review Eric’s slide deck, click here.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the presentation:
Traffic is an indicator of Raleigh’s economic success
Counties do not build or own roads
Street networks have changed over the years
Grid pattern prior to WWII
Most efficient network for all modes of transportation
Then network evolved into variety of disconnected streets and cul-de-sacs
Results led to isolated neighborhoods:
More privacy
Less efficient for everyone, including for trash collection, mail carriers
Less safe because harder to navigate in emergencies
Now cities are trying to reconnect neighborhoods
Adding different transportation modes (bikes, e-bikes, bike sharing, scooters, walking, frequent buses & bus rapid transit)
Density enhances “trip capture”
More efficient because leads to less overall driving due to proximity
Encourages walking and biking
Creates higher return on investments in transportation infrastructure (bus, BRT, sidewalks, greenways & bike lanes)
“Greener” due to enhanced efficiency
Raleigh’s transportation planning has “over-estimated” traffic impact of new mixed-use developments like North Hills during development review process (predicted more traffic than actually generated)
New mixed-use developments generate substantially less traffic than large, homogenous, auto-dependent developments
Congestion, while less efficient, is safer for bikes & pedestrians
Congested streets also lead to less serious auto accidents due to reduced speeds
Traffic will always be a concern as Raleigh grows
Focus on creating new & more transportation options as Raleigh grows
Our next program features Ben Stevens, author of Birth of a Building. It is entitled A Seat at the Table: Basic Development Finance for Planners, Urbanists and Housing Advocates. Register here. This program is scheduled for 10am on Saturday, August 19, at the John Chavis Community Center.