Alta Update - Spring 2007

Alta is proud to announce the launching of the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), an exciting new program at at Portland State University's new Center for Transportation Studies. The IBPI has just received funding from the Oregon Transportation and Research Education Consortium (OTREC) to kick-start its activities. The IBPI’s purpose is to enhance policies, programs, and projects that promote pedestrian and bicycle travel through research, education, and outreach.

Alta Principal and PSU Adjunct Professor Mia Birk, along with a number of other Portland leaders, has been working behind the scenes to develop this concept for the past few years. Upcoming activities will include:

• Expanded pedestrian and bicycle planning and design coursework, building off Alta Principal Mia Birk’s course, "Pedestrian and Bicycle Issues in Urban Planning"
  
• Continuing education classes for professionals, advocates, and others
  
• Research projects on bicycle and pedestrian behavior, facilities, safety, health, economics, industry issues, etc...
  
• Integration with other departments and classes, such as engineering, health, community development

Alta has been one of the first partners to provide funding to seed a fellowship program, and is helping develop coursework and research ideas. For more information, contact Dr. Hollie Lund at Portland State University.

Safe Routes to School programs are helping kids bike and walk to school around the nation. Alta Planning + Design is a proud partner in the Portland Safer Routes to School effort.

Now wrapping up its second year, this program has reached children in 19 schools. The program's eventual goal is to reach every child in Portland schools. Alta has led the evaluation effort since the beginning, and this year will take a major step forward. Starting this spring, Portland's program will be one of the first in the nation to use the brand-new national survey (www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources/evaluation_parent-survey.cfm) and follow federal survey analysis procedures. The national survey will help programs like Portland's understand the impact Safer Routes to School is making on children and parents throughout the city. Alta will bring our experience with this survey effort to other Safe Routes to School teams around the nation.

For more information about this effort, contact Alta Planner Jessica Roberts in our Portland office.

• Alta is in the process of devloping a Non-Motorized Master Plan for Ulster County, New York. The Plan was recently highlighted in the Poughkeepsie Journal.The 18-month study to identify gaps in Ulster's non-motorized transportation system is being led by the Ulster County Transportation Council. Alta's team also includes Parks and Trails New York and Hudson Valley Engineering Associates. "We're looking for a regional look at how all the non-motorized trails come together," said Dennis Doyle, Director of Ulster County Planning and the Transportation Council.
  
• The Idaho Statesman recently reported on the Meridian, Idaho Pathways Master Plan. Working with the City of Meridian, Alta has nearly completed the Master Plan, which proposes over 70 miles of pathways over the urban impact area."The whole focus of the project is to connect the community, to add to the livability of the community so you have choices of how to get around," said Parks and Recreation Director Doug Strong, who has been in charge of the pathways plan.
  
• In 2005, PBS&J led a team to update the Tennessee 25-Year Long Range Transportation Plan. Alta was selected to develop the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan component of this Plan. In March, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee (ACEC of Tennessee) recognized PBS&J with honors for the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT’s) 25-Year Long Range Transportation Plan as well as the I-124 (US 27) Interstate Reconstruction project. The 25-Year Long Range Plan brought home an honor award in the category of Studies, Research, and Consulting Services. Several years ago, TDOT recognized the need to take a more comprehensive, long-range look at the state’s vast transportation system to ensure it would continue to support growth. The decision was made to define a transportation vision, and to give that vision a sound basis for success. The result is Tennessee’s first truly multimodal transportation plan. The plan systematically examines the needs and opportunities of all transportation modes, identifies funding strategies, provides short- and intermediate-range tools, and defines strategies for achieving the long-term vision. Return to top

Alta is on the move. In the past few months, we've been thrilled to kick off several exciting new projects, including:

• Ada County, Idaho Bicycle Master Plan
• Bozeman, Montana Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
  
• Bremerton, Washington Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
  
• Clark County, Washington Chelatchie Rail-with-Trail
  
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates Bicycle Master Plan
  
• Los Altos, California Stevens Creek Trail
  
• North Clackamas Community Park, Clackamas, Oregon
• Pasadena, California Bicycle Boulevards
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