In his recent mayoral address to Salt Lake City, Partners trustee Ralph Becker announced his plans to construct a new light rail system in a broad attempt to “move Salt Lake forward despite tough economic times (Becker, 01/04/11).” Throughout his speech, Mayor Becker highlighted the role in which light rail transit could enable the city to enhance civic assets ranging from small and vibrant businesses to that of the locally treasured neighborhood known as the Sugar House. With the help of a $26 million federal grant, Mayor Becker has continued forward on his ambitious plans to bring back the street cars of the city by first constructing the Sugar House line and expanding the lines beyond the limits and into downtown Salt Lake.
With the year 2011 nearly upon us—a period when the first of the Baby Boomers will officially reach the age of retirement— the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) addressed the issue of a growing older population by holding the first “Safety, Mobility and Aging Drivers” forum on November 9th and 10th. According to the Washington Post article, “The American Driver Turns to Gray,” officials from the NTSB have stated that, “the number of people aged 65 and older is expected to double in the next three decades;” a number that is expected to reach 1 in 5 by 2015 (Washington Post, November 10, 2010).
While the NTSB is well-known for the proactive measures the organization takes towards transportation safety, this forum was the first time in which the NTSB has shifted policy direction in order to explore possible preparations and limitations related to the aging driver and personal transportation.
Walk Score has launched new neighborhood “heat” maps for over 2,500 cities and 6,000 neighborhoods which show graphically just how walkable they really are. Instead of the numerical scale that rates a location’s pedestrian friendliness from “Car Dependent” to “Walker’s Paradise,” Walk Score has developed a new system that incorporates heat maps showing where cities are more or less walkable. The greener the area, the easier one will find it to get from one place to another without the aid of an automobile.
These maps have potential to become powerful research tools for policy makers looking to make their regions more livable and sustainable by allowing them to see where areas are less accessible. Walkable cities are livable cities because they offer people alternative transportation options to driving from place to place. Walking and walkable neighborhoods offer many positives for improved health and community involvement all contributing to the creation of livable communities.
Eight organizations and partnerships in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties were each awarded a "JumpStart the Conversation" grant on February 2, 2009.
The winning projects exemplify the use of innovative ideas focused on creating livable communities for all ages and theme of "transportation and mobility options". These strategies are aimed at the over 11 percent of residents age 65 and over in the two counties, and will encourage services that strengthen "aging in place" and increases accessibility to transportation and fosters independence among older adults.
The North County Citizens Association To discuss a pickup service, with the purpose of allowing older citizens unable to drive or access transportation to conduct necessary tasks such as doctor’s appointments and trips to the grocery store. The NCCA is a voluntary organization dedicated to improving the community. Many of its members are senior citizens, and this program would be an avenue for the community to give back to them.
Miami Lakes Town Foundation in partnership with The Alliance for Aging, Inc. To hold a series of community meetings to evaluate the transportation needs of older adults in the Miami Lakes area. The forums will be held once a month over a four month period and will encourage dialogue surrounding the issues of town public transportation, Miami-Dade county Public Transportation, as well as existing and planned trail systems. The goal is to develop a strategy that will best coordinate accessibility to existing and planned programs, services and facilities to the aging population.
The City of Coral Gables in partnership with The Alliance for Aging, Inc. To implement a pilot program of subsidized taxicab fares for people ages 65 and over. Seniors would be able to purchase coupons at Coral Gables City Hall and the Coral Gables Youth Center. These facilities are both accessible and well known to residents of the city. It is the hope that this program will demonstrate an efficient way for seniors to use existing transportation systems while still having the flexibility and independence associated with driving one’s own vehicle
The Miami Behavioral Health Center (MBHC) To promote a “Mobility Maps” program to seniors in the Miami-Dade area. “Mobility Maps” will alert seniors to different transportation options based on their own specific transportation needs. Each individual mobility map will provide descriptions of possible destinations as well as different methods of getting to each locale. In addition to providing group sessions to create these maps, which can also serve to create social networks and improve psychosocial functioning, the MBHC will provide training to aging agencies and health service providers to maximize the number of seniors benefitting from this program.
The William Lehman Injury Research Center To improve a multi-faceted safe crossings program in response to Miami being ranked the third highest county in regards to pedestrian injuries. The research center plans on using education, promotional and cultural materials to address the issue specifically in regards to the over 65 population. Current materials will also be translated in Spanish and Creole in order to increase the scope of the project across language barriers.
The County of Monroe in partnership with The Alliance for Aging, Inc. To investigate a solution to inefficient transportation (especially for older adults and pedestrians) between Monroe County and the Florida Keys. Three planning sessions will be held to brainstorm ideas, including ways to make transportation more “green” and cost effective.
The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind in partnership with The Alliance for Aging, Inc. To explore and implement a community based independent transportation network (ITN) in Miami-Dade County. Using a combination of both paid and volunteer drivers, the ITN will be available 24-hours a day to transport seniors to local destinations. After a series of meetings, a pilot community will be chosen to serve as an example of increase senior mobility that can be implemented citywide.
The Alliance for Aging, Inc. To engage local and national experts on issues of senior transportation access in Miami-Dade, and to incorporate these issues into the county’s master transportation plan. Three meetings will be hosted over a 6-month period and will focus on pedestrian needs and planning, and roadway improvement. The meetings will serve as a follow-up to the Aging in Place workshop in November, with the goal of engaging traffic engineers and key stakeholders in issues related to aging and the public infrastructure, highlighting best practices in community transportation, and encouraging dialogue that will lead to positive changes.
Real Estate may save us after all, say strategists Christopher Leinberger and Patrick Doherty, but only if it responds to a growing demand for walkable, dynamic neighborhoods. Real estate represents 35% of our economy’s asset base, so its recovery is essential to the country’s “economic renaissance.” However, write Leinberger and Doherty in a recent article, changing housing preferences driven by Millennials and aging baby boomers will make that recovery look quite different than previous decades:
