Walkable places? Bikeable communities? Pipe dreams? Or inspiration for great work? For health? For wealth? For the kids? For their parents and grandparents? For fitness? For clean water, air, open lands? For great cities and towns and rural and natural places? For all of those reasons and more, yes, but mostly for the joy.
With experience in local government, private and non-profit sectors, John has developed expertise in the areas of planning and design for walking and bicycling; long range land use and transportation planning; Smart Growth policy, regulatory, and urban design standards; streetscape and roadway design principles for walkability/bikeability; regulatory and policy tools for parking management and transit station area planning; project management; group facilitation.
Recent Projects
- Georgia SRTS Infrastructure
Infrastructure and engineering implementation element of the statewide Georgia Safe Routes to School project. This project focused on developing, assessing, and designing Safe Routes infrastructure projects at school sites statewide. Alta provided conceptual design assistance for 13 selected projects ranging from sidewalk infill and pedestrian crossings to trail design. John was the Alta project manager for this project, which was led by Kimley-Horn and Associates. - Stanly County NC Park, Recreation, and Trails Master Plan
Alta prepared a master plan in two parts for the County and its municipal partners. The first section evaluated, assessed, and made recommendations regarding parks and recreation needs in Stanly County for the 2010-2020 period. The second section of the plan was a stand-alone Carolina Thread Trail Greenway Master Plan. The plan put in place clear, logical, and precise guidelines that can be used for future development of parks and recreation facilities; recreation programs; and greenways and trails throughout the county. The plan effort solicited input from all municipalities within the county, as well as from citizens and organizations within rural areas and unincorporated communities. Citizen participation was fundamental in formulating the plan, utilizing public meetings, written and online surveys, interviews, advisory boards and focus groups. - Town Branch Trail, Lexington, KY
Alta conducted a trail feasibility study for a five-mile extension of the Town Branch Trail in Lexington, KY. Specific tasks included site investigation and review of preliminary alignments, design recommendations on trail cross sections and other recommendations associated with “rail with trail” and greenway components of the project, and development of materials and participation in public meetings. - Inverness FL Bicycle Master Plan
Alta prepared a Bicycle Friendly Community Audit and completed the initial draft application for the Bicycle Friendly Community application for the City of Inverness. Based on existing conditions in Inverness, Alta made recommendations for improving infrastructure, programs, and policies to enhance the bicycling environment in the City. These recommendations were incorporated into a bicycle master plan completed for the City by Kimley-Horn and Associates. - Easley, SC Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (2009)
John is serving as project manager for this joint MPO/City-funded effort. The plan will reflect the City's desire to become a more fit and active community and is one of the City's first steps towards its goal of achieving the League of American Bicyclists’ “Bicycle Friendly Community” designation. An active community engagement process – including bicycling and walking audits, surveys, and workshops – is part of the plan effort. - Albemarle, NC Pedestrian (2006) & Bicycle Plans (2009)
As a subconsultant to URS, John assisted in preparation of an NCDOT-funded pedestrian master plan and is currently assisting in preparation of a bicycle master plan. For the pedestrian plan, John was responsible for recommending pedestrian-oriented development standards for the City. For the bicycle plan, he is assisting in: development of the proposed bicycle network; facilitating public involvement, and drafting the plan document. - City Boulevard Street Design Project (2008)
As part of a team led by URS, John was responsible for implementing the public involvement plan; analyzing the project’s land use context, and applying the Urban Street Design Guidelines, Charlotte, NC’s award winning “Complete Streets” standards and methodology for accommodating all modes of transport in a context-appropriate manner. - Decker Boulevard/Woodfield Park Corridor Plan (2006)
While with The Lawrence Group, John was the project manager for this redevelopment corridor plan in suburban Columbia, SC. The plan included the detailed study of 731 primarily built-out acres along Decker Boulevard and including the Woodfield Park neighborhood area. The study, completed with Kimley-Horn & Associates, included detailed recommendations for pedestrian-oriented infill development; improvements to the transportation and open space network, including new trail locations; and improved pedestrian and bicycle networks and accommodations along roadways and in proximity to area schools other major destinations. - Spartanburg Area Active Living Assessment (2005)
John was the project manager for this Upstate Forever-funded effort to assess the impacts on active living and public health of the land use and transportation policies and regulations of Spartanburg City and County, South Carolina and to recommend policies, programs, and standards that would promote more bicycling and walking and create a more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly environment.
Other Relevant Experience
- Boone, NC Land Use Plan
- Beaufort, SC Comprehensive Plan
- Wendell Comprehensive Plan and UDO, Wendell, NC
- Mountain Landscapes Initiative: Region A Toolbox, Western North Carolina
- Audit of Pavement Standards in Spartanburg & Anderson Counties, SC
- Germantown Town Center Plan and Code, Germantown, TN
- Salisbury, NC Land Management Development Ordinance
- Spartanburg, SC Downtown Master Plan and Code
- South Corridor Light Rail Project – Assistant Land Use Planner, Charlotte, NC
- Walkable Communities Workshops for Charlotte-area MPOs
- Mecklenburg-Union MPO Staff Assistant (1999-2002)
- South Transit Corridor Infrastructure Program, Charlotte, NC
- Transit Oriented Development Zoning Regulations Development Team, Charlotte, NC
- Transportation Policy Development Team, Charlotte, NC
- Little Sugar Creek Greenway Advisory Team, Charlotte, NC
Selected Presentations & Trainings
“Charlotte’s South Corridor Infrastructure Program,” ProWalk/ProBike, Seattle, WA (2008)
“Conducting an Active Living Assessment,” NCAPA State Planning Conference, Chapel Hill, NC (2007)
“Spartanburg, SC’s Active Living Assessment,” APA National Planning Conference, San Antonio, TX (2006)
North Carolina Bicycle Planning Initiatives, NCAPA State Planning Conference, Charlotte, NC (2001)
Professional/Civic Organizations
- Association of Bicycle and Pedestrian Professionals (1999 – present)
- American Institute of Certified Planners (2005 – present)
- APBP's Walk Friendly Communities Advisory Committee (2008-2009)
- Carolina Thread Trail Steering Committee for Mecklenburg County (2009-present)
- Davidson, NC Greenways, Bikeways, and Trails Commission (2006 – 2008)
- Davidson, NC Walks & Rolls SRTS Committee (2007 – present)
- Davidson Bike Plan Steering Committee (2008)
- Lake Norman Bike Route Advisory Committee (2005)
- Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance (formerly BIKES) Steering Committee (1999-2005)
- Charlotte Bicycle Commuter Challenge, Founder/Organizer (2005, 2006, 2007)
- Bike!Charlotte, founder/organizer (2000, 2001)
- Charlotte Bicycle Commuter Support Group/Bike Mentor Program, co-founder (1999-present)
