I love the feeling of getting where I need to go on my own steam. When I can bike and walk, I feel healthy, independent, connected to my neighborhood and my home…I love staying in touch with the seasons, and experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of the world. Leaving my door and being able to get wherever I want to go on foot or by bike, safely and comfortably, every day – that’s how I have come to define quality of life for myself. I am passionate about creating the kinds of communities where more people can experience this same quality of life, more often, and I feel incredibly lucky to have found a profession that allows me to take on this challenge.
Jessica Roberts joined Alta in September 2006. Jessica manages Alta’s education, promotion, and marketing programs, including Personal Travel Planning (individualized marketing) programs, Safe Routes to School programs, program grantwriting, and designing education, encouragement, and outreach programs. She is a frequent speaker at conferences.
Recent Projects
- Juanita in Motion Program, Kirkland, WA
Jessica managed the Juanita In Motion program, which reached 4000 households in Kirkland, WA with a community dialogue approach to reducing drive-alone trips. Households in the target area received a direct mail piece inviting them to pledge to reduce drive-alone trips, and customized healthy travel info packets were mailed to all interested households. Participants tracked their trips and earned rewards, donated by area businesses. During the 16-week program, Juanita-area residents reduced driving alone by nearly 145,000 miles, saved more than 7,000 gallons of gas, and prevented 70 tons of carbon emissions from being released into the air. - Pedestrian Safety Education Program (Seattle, WA)
Every second grader at four elementary schools was taught how to cross the street in this innovative pilot program. Trained instructors began with an in-class session about sign recognition, the ‘pedestrian safety toolbox,’ and songs and drills about pedestrian safety and street crossing. The second session was a community walkabout where students practiced their new street crossing skills with adult supervision. - Eugene Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, Eugene, OR
Alta is completing the first stand-alone Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan for Eugene. The project creates a set of bicycle and pedestrian design guidelines, a bicycle and pedestrian facility network designed to attract an expanded user base, and public involvement that considers years of input from the community. Unique project elements included a Cycle Zone Analysis that highlighted cycling potential, a hands-on Engineering Workshop that brought together planners and engineers from the city, ODOT, and other public agencies to discuss the potential for using innovative facility types, and an interactive online map. - Bicycle-Related Industry Growth in Portland Study, OR
Alta undertook an update to the 2006 Growth in Bicycle-Related Businesses study (originally funded by the City of Portland). Results were analyzed according to the 2006 study methodology, and the results showed a 38% growth in the value of bicycle-related businesses (from $63 million to $90 million) and a 50% growth in the number of businesses (from 93 to 143). The number of events grew from 2100 to 3975 (an average of eleven events every day). - Way to Go Sausalito! (Marin County, CA) [link]
This three-year individualized marketing program is a key part of WalkBikeMarin (Marin County’s implementation of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program). This three-year program will reduce drive-alone trips in the cities of Sausalito, San Rafael, Greenbrae/Larkspur, and Novato. The program uses proven methods to increase walking, bicycling, and transit use through a three-pronged approach: a) offering customized information packets to every resident; b) leading twice-weekly group walks, bicycle rides, and classes; and c) outreach at community events. - I-205 Multi-Use Path Action Plan, OR
Alta created an action plan for improving the well-used yet aging I-205 path in Portland (OR). A major part of Alta’s work was assessing pathway crossings for every major roadway and developing recommendations for improving safety and convenience for both path users and motorists using at-grade crossings (particularly mid-block crossings). Alta also developed recommendations for wayfinding signs, transit connections, ADA access, and integration with existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Jessica was the public involvement lead on this project. She delivered technical stakeholder interviews, online surveys and paper surveys (distributed through community locations selected to reach low-income and low-technology households), and outreach at libraries, community centers, and at booths along the path. - Bicycle Interactions and Streetcars Report (Portland, OR)
Jessica researched international policies, practices, and lessons learned for this report on bicycle and streetcar facilities. A thorough survey of Portland-area bicyclists was also administered, with over 1500 respondents. Based on this research, the report introduces recommendations for accommodating bicycles with streetcars in North American cities. Jessica researched international policies, practices, and lessons learned for this report on bicycle and streetcar facilities. A thorough survey of Portland-area bicyclists was also administered, with over 1500 respondents. Based on this research, the report introduces recommendations for accommodating bicycles with streetcars in North American cities. - Employer Walking and Bicycling Training (Portland, OR)
Jessica designed and taught a three-hour Bicycling and Walking Programs training aimed at workplace transportation coordinators. The course was commissioned by the Westside Transportation Alliance and will be offered by Portland Community College annually as part of their Workforce Training Center. Over 30 attendees took the course, which covered both the “whys” and “hows” of workplace programs that promote walking and bicycling. Participants learned to set goals and evaluate programs, and real-life examples were used to illustrate national best practices in walking and bicycling programs.
Professional Organizations
- Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP)
- Women’s Transportation Seminar, Portland chapter
- Bicycle Transportation Alliance
