Topic #4: Transportation
How we get around… or not
Background: Car, bus, bicycle, feet, we all use
different modes of transportation to get around. Modes of transportation have changed
dramatically in the last century and have left a clear imprint on the City’s
development. From the streetcars that created suburbs within the City itself to
the interstate that allowed and even promoted “White flight”, transportation
has profoundly affected
Resolution: …
Prompting Questions: What transportation modes do you
use? Is bus service adequate? How compatible are bikes and cars on the same
road? How do your perceptions of safety affect your choice of travel route and
means?
How did the
City’s transportation system develop over time and how did that affect the
physical form of the City (what was built where, when)?
Transportation
advances and investments affect different groups in different ways- what
changes to existing transportation sources and infrastructure would be most
beneficial to the residents of your neighborhood?
GIS Data Sources: RIPTA, traffic counts, FHS safety
perceptions (Grid Map), parcels with year property built, census data on car
ownership and commuting.
Other Sources: Personal experience, internet
Definitions of key terms/concepts:
Transportation
Modes are means of
transport such as bus, train, bike, car, or walking
Walking
radius refers to
how far someone is willing to walk to get goods or services
Accessibility refers to general availability of
transportation, but particularly around issues of handicapped access
Streets Hierarchy refers to how streets have
different widths based on the amount of traffic they are intended to carry.
Intermodal means that more than one form of
transportation is used to get from one place to another. An example might be
getting from
Research & Links:
RIPTA: www.ripta.gov
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_planning
APA
Transportation Planning Site: http://www.apa-tpd.org/