For anyone interested in getting involved with increasing awareness of issues of climate change, here is an exerpt of a recent email update about upcoming Step It Up events that are planned for Ithaca and across the country:
The plans for the Ithaca activities for National Day of Climate Change Action are developing rapidly, with only about three weeks left until our November 3 events. There will be two events in the Ithaca area:
--Tutelo Park, 12:00 noon
--Arts Quad at Ezra Cornell statue, Cornell Campus, 2:00 pm
If you can help us promote the event by passing this email along to others, please do so. A document is attached to this email which includes a "save the date" notice to use to cut and paste, or print and circulate. Attached also are a map to show the location of Tutelo Park, and a leaflet suitable to post, which has more information. A press release on the national effort we are coordinating with is at: http://www.stepitup2007.org/downloads/9_17%20Press%20Release.pdf
If you would like to volunteer to help, contact Carlos Rymer at CMR55@Cornell.edu (Cornell Campus event) or Krys Cail at KLC32@Cornell.edu (Tutelo Park event). We could use your help!
Even if you can't volunteer, you can help by going on the Step It Up web site and sending an invitation to our federal representatives to join us. The site is configured so that it is very fast and easy to send a message of invitation-- try it! Here is the info (same as from last week's update) on the web site:
Please check out the Step It Up web site at http://www.stepitup2007.org . There you can read about our Nov. 3, noon-3pm Tutelo Park event (http://stepitup2007.org//article.php?id=4710) and also about the other events going on around the country. Also, you can sign up to attend an event, and/or invite our federal elected officials to attend our event via a quick-and-easy web-based interface. We are trying to have as many people as possible invite our Congressmen and Senators to attend, in order to let them know how important this is to us.
--
Krys Cail
3110 DuBois Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 342-5679
email: KLC32@Cornell.edu, Krys.Cail@gmail.com
Friday, October 12, 2007
The Center for Sustainable Global Enterprises Speaker
“From the Front Line of the Climate Change Debate:
Myths, Realities and Opportunities”
Benjamin T. Ho - Assistant Professor of Economics
Johnson School at Cornell
Tuesday, October 23, 2007141 Sage Hall
3:00 – 4:00pm
Refreshments will be provided.
Sponsored by
The Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise
As part of the
CSGE Speaker Series
Benjamin Ho uses economic tools such as game theory and experimental economics to analyze social institutions that have traditionally been the purview of sociologists and psychologists. Ho was the lead economist for energy and transportation at the White House Council of Economic Advisers. He received his PhD in economics from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and holds master's degrees in education and political science from Stanford and electrical engineering/computer science from MIT, as well as bachelor's degrees from MIT. He has also worked as a research analyst for Morgan Stanley and helped found a short-lived e-commerce startup.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Transportation and Baltimore
1. Coordinating Transit and Land Use
I live in
2. Trams with traffic priority
I like using
3. High speed rail
Why is there not a high speed rail line running between Washington and Baltimore?!?! Or all of the east coast cities for that matter!!!!!! Register is right, we need to invest more into our country’s rail infrastructure rather than encouraging more highway growth.
4. Car-free developments
These could definitely work in some areas, and I have to agree with the authors- owning a car gives you incentive to use it. I do not have a car while I am up at school, and as a result, I walk or take the bus. I imagine that if I had a car, I would give up walking to places across campus and simply drive. Car-free developments in
5. Car Sharing
See above.
6. Road Pricing
This policy I am somewhat more skeptical about using in a city like
7. Shifting investments toward public transit vs. highways
There are currently millions upon millions of dollars being spent right now reworking the 695-195 connection in
8. Dedicated public transit lanes
Related to number 7, oh how I would have loved it if the #3 Express service was able to zoom past the rest of stalled traffic. At least 10 minutes could have been cut off my morning ride into downtown
9. Designated bike paths
I really wanted to avoid using my car this summer. I told myself I would get back into riding my bike to get places and I would use the bus when possible. While I did use the bus to get downtown, mobility within my suburb was another story. The truth is, I was afraid to ride my bike along the busier streets because I always thought I would get hit (and I probably would have considering my lack of coordination). If there were actually bike paths, I could have biked to pick up the item I forgot at the grocery store, or used it to run to the photo store to pick up my prints. The time it would take to bike to my nearest commercial district really isn’t long, but the journey could be a lot safer.
10. Motivating the senior lobby
My grandma depends on my mother to take her to all of her doctor appointments and to the grocery store. When my mom has to work on their usual Thursday date, my grandmother either has to forgo her errands that week or call a cab. She votes religiously and is a member of the AARP. Perhaps that lobby should start pressuring local and national legislatures to address their transportation needs as well as healthcare.
Assnmnt 10/16 & Need co-discuss leader
Hi Folks
A) Based on the surveys, we will go a step deeper now into the Transportation issue, including other possible ways forward than the Concept Plan we were working off of. (Survey results & Revised syllabus coming up, I'm still waiting for a few more survey returns!)
Read Green Urbanism: Chapter 4 Transit Cities pp. 109-136 and Green Urbanism: Chapter 5 Taming the Auto pp.137-165 and Ecocities: Chapter 6: Access & Transportation pp. 137-179
(Highly recommended, not required: Green Urbanism: Chapter 6 Bicycles: Low-Tech Ecological Mobility)
B) Reflect, roughly 1 page, DUE SUNDAY OCT 14, at 8 PM
Note 10 of the tools/strategies you like best from the reading in both books and show how they could help shape a ten-year plan for sustainably transforming the transportation and land use infrastructure in Ithaca OR another city you know & care about. Include the systems thinking and the equity/access/justice planning that is built into your plan.
***Optional, Recommended: Do this with a partner and both sign on as authors.
C) Bring in Behavior Change Journals, be prepared to talk about your Behavior Change journey and to hand in the journal. If you want to send in an electronic copy sooner (as someone has already done) that would be great, but I'm assuming most people are doing handwritten journals.
D) We will take a nice chunk of time to talk about our Projects, so if there are any things or thoughts you want to show and share, bring them in.
E) Note requested and suggested leaders/presenters for 10/16. I would like us to have a discussion co-facilitator with Greg.
Case Presentations Rachel Salima
Nature in the City Gabriella Melissa
Discussion Facilitation Greg
A) Based on the surveys, we will go a step deeper now into the Transportation issue, including other possible ways forward than the Concept Plan we were working off of. (Survey results & Revised syllabus coming up, I'm still waiting for a few more survey returns!)
Read Green Urbanism: Chapter 4 Transit Cities pp. 109-136 and Green Urbanism: Chapter 5 Taming the Auto pp.137-165 and Ecocities: Chapter 6: Access & Transportation pp. 137-179
(Highly recommended, not required: Green Urbanism: Chapter 6 Bicycles: Low-Tech Ecological Mobility)
B) Reflect, roughly 1 page, DUE SUNDAY OCT 14, at 8 PM
Note 10 of the tools/strategies you like best from the reading in both books and show how they could help shape a ten-year plan for sustainably transforming the transportation and land use infrastructure in Ithaca OR another city you know & care about. Include the systems thinking and the equity/access/justice planning that is built into your plan.
***Optional, Recommended: Do this with a partner and both sign on as authors.
C) Bring in Behavior Change Journals, be prepared to talk about your Behavior Change journey and to hand in the journal. If you want to send in an electronic copy sooner (as someone has already done) that would be great, but I'm assuming most people are doing handwritten journals.
D) We will take a nice chunk of time to talk about our Projects, so if there are any things or thoughts you want to show and share, bring them in.
E) Note requested and suggested leaders/presenters for 10/16. I would like us to have a discussion co-facilitator with Greg.
Case Presentations Rachel Salima
Nature in the City Gabriella Melissa
Discussion Facilitation Greg
Connect Ithaca Team Updates
The Connect Ithaca Team (Carlos, Elisabeth, Gregory, and Tania) has done some great work to date. Below is a summary of our work to day, followed by a summary of our plans, and preceded by our goals.
Goal 1: To engage the Cornell community in learning, discussing, and eventually approving the vision of Connect Ithaca, which includes collaborative planning for an Ithaca-wide personal rapid transity (PRT) system.
Goal 2: To outreach to the downtown Ithaca community about Connect Ithaca and work with any other parties in promoting PRT in Ithaca.
Work To Date:
- We conducted some research on what cities around the country have done to become more sustainable. Information that we found was used by the Connect Ithaca Steering Committee when it presented to the Mayor of Ithaca information about PRT and the group's goals.
- We created other materials for the group, including a mission statement and logo.
- We created a google group for communication (connect-ithaca@googlegroups.com), helped set up a temporary website (www.connectithaca.org), and set up a blog for the Ithaca community together with some groups at IC and Cornell (www.sustainithaca.org).
- We distributed 27 tent cards about Connect Ithaca during Apple Fest and talked to community members about Connect Ithaca. We made some good connections with locals.
- We have engaged several student groups at Cornell. We have created a committee within the Sustainability Hub to promote Connect Ithaca's vision.
- Through the Sustainability Hub, we met with members of the Student Assembly Environment Committee at Cornell to talk about the possibility of approving a Resolution in support of Connect Ithaca's vision.
- Through the Sustainability Hub, we have set a date (October 29 @ 4:30PM) for Connect Ithaca to present about PRT to the Cornell community.
Work To Be Done:
- We are working on a Statement to be endorsed by organizations in Ithaca, including student organizations at Cornell and IC.
- We will seek the endorsement of organizations to support Connect Ithaca's vision.
- We will update the website with more useful information about Connect Ithaca.
- We will continue doing more outreach (such as to the Greenstar Meeting today) at Cornell and elsewhere to build support for Connect Ithaca.
- We are looking into getting copyright, trademark, and non-profit standing for the organization
The Connect Ithaca Team meets on Thursdays at 10:30AM and Fridays at 4:30PM every week.
Goal 1: To engage the Cornell community in learning, discussing, and eventually approving the vision of Connect Ithaca, which includes collaborative planning for an Ithaca-wide personal rapid transity (PRT) system.
Goal 2: To outreach to the downtown Ithaca community about Connect Ithaca and work with any other parties in promoting PRT in Ithaca.
Work To Date:
- We conducted some research on what cities around the country have done to become more sustainable. Information that we found was used by the Connect Ithaca Steering Committee when it presented to the Mayor of Ithaca information about PRT and the group's goals.
- We created other materials for the group, including a mission statement and logo.
- We created a google group for communication (connect-ithaca@googlegroups.com), helped set up a temporary website (www.connectithaca.org), and set up a blog for the Ithaca community together with some groups at IC and Cornell (www.sustainithaca.org).
- We distributed 27 tent cards about Connect Ithaca during Apple Fest and talked to community members about Connect Ithaca. We made some good connections with locals.
- We have engaged several student groups at Cornell. We have created a committee within the Sustainability Hub to promote Connect Ithaca's vision.
- Through the Sustainability Hub, we met with members of the Student Assembly Environment Committee at Cornell to talk about the possibility of approving a Resolution in support of Connect Ithaca's vision.
- Through the Sustainability Hub, we have set a date (October 29 @ 4:30PM) for Connect Ithaca to present about PRT to the Cornell community.
Work To Be Done:
- We are working on a Statement to be endorsed by organizations in Ithaca, including student organizations at Cornell and IC.
- We will seek the endorsement of organizations to support Connect Ithaca's vision.
- We will update the website with more useful information about Connect Ithaca.
- We will continue doing more outreach (such as to the Greenstar Meeting today) at Cornell and elsewhere to build support for Connect Ithaca.
- We are looking into getting copyright, trademark, and non-profit standing for the organization
The Connect Ithaca Team meets on Thursdays at 10:30AM and Fridays at 4:30PM every week.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Maping as the key tool for change
Chapter 10 lays out a plan for gaining momentum in the ecocities movement. It challenges the reader to research the history of their city, not only the social history, but history of the land usages and that flows of the natural environment. This research is map #1, it maps out where all the streams are that may or may not have been buried, the historical use of that old building seemingly out in the middle of nowhere (the the wolf building) and gives you a foundation to redesign and rezone your city. You create the next map by defining with concentric circles the zones of activity. Then, you focus especially on the green belts and natural areas that exist or should exist. Map #3 is the rough draft of your argument for an ecocity. After you drew maps 1 and 2, you digested the information, toured your city and another city like it ( perhaps a place similar to the environment in which your city was located before it became a city), and used this comparison along with suggestions from others of like mind to put some final touches on map #3. Next, you go to your local representatives, planners, mayors, etc and convince them that an ecocity is appropriate and within reach. Maps #4 and 5 are variations on your plan which provide some flexibility to your scheme and allow others to adapt it to fit their vision. Zoning tools use to transform the city include Transfer of Development rights (TDRs), double TDRs, language in a general or comprehensive plan for the city and sprawl roll back campaigns ( inwhich the government buys sprawled out developments and restores these ares back to nature while discouraging sprawling development in the first place).
This mapping plan seems like a great idea. It combines research of all aspects of a city ( social, economic and natural) with visual plans for improvement. Critics might say that all cities are already planned, but this argues that planning is constantly evolving and so is a city, so we might as well evolve in the most environmentally sustainable way. I can relate to this chapter because I know that planners and municipal authorities will not accept just some pie in the sky proposal, they want research, maps and hard evidence that progress can be made. However, some of the zoning tools proposed in this chapter seem like something that people would find to be too communistic, or rather, involving too much governmental management. Honestly, in what world would we live in that the local government would buy back a McMansion, let alone an entire development of them, just to demolish them? Didn't the municipality allow this development in the first place to gain tax revenues? what is the government's incentive to tear them down? On top of that, think of all the resources going to waste from tearing down houses already constructed. I have often thought of this very idea myself, although the only context I can see this happening in would be during total anarchy, a Fight Club type of situation. To this I think Mr. Register would argue that the local government should function as a democracy and would do this because the people wanted it and because it was in the language of the re-zoning. Take a second, think about who lives in those McMansions, do they want their hard earned investment torn to the ground? Some of them probably ARE involved in the local government. The fight for regional sustainability and ecocities on the scale that Register proposes is a hard one that cannot only be approached with a really good map. People need to change their perspectives, the economy needs to market environmental responsibility.
This mapping plan seems like a great idea. It combines research of all aspects of a city ( social, economic and natural) with visual plans for improvement. Critics might say that all cities are already planned, but this argues that planning is constantly evolving and so is a city, so we might as well evolve in the most environmentally sustainable way. I can relate to this chapter because I know that planners and municipal authorities will not accept just some pie in the sky proposal, they want research, maps and hard evidence that progress can be made. However, some of the zoning tools proposed in this chapter seem like something that people would find to be too communistic, or rather, involving too much governmental management. Honestly, in what world would we live in that the local government would buy back a McMansion, let alone an entire development of them, just to demolish them? Didn't the municipality allow this development in the first place to gain tax revenues? what is the government's incentive to tear them down? On top of that, think of all the resources going to waste from tearing down houses already constructed. I have often thought of this very idea myself, although the only context I can see this happening in would be during total anarchy, a Fight Club type of situation. To this I think Mr. Register would argue that the local government should function as a democracy and would do this because the people wanted it and because it was in the language of the re-zoning. Take a second, think about who lives in those McMansions, do they want their hard earned investment torn to the ground? Some of them probably ARE involved in the local government. The fight for regional sustainability and ecocities on the scale that Register proposes is a hard one that cannot only be approached with a really good map. People need to change their perspectives, the economy needs to market environmental responsibility.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Downtown Perspectives
The following offerings were written as a result of our walk through Ithaca on Tuesday. The perspectives are that people in the community. Please excuse the lateness of this assignment. Our team memebers were scattered in various cities.
Merchant
As a merchant, I see in State St the potential to capitalize upon the successes of the Commons and to redevelop this corridor into a vibrant, mixed-use destination. The first step in this process would be to extend the sidewalk into the street so that there remains only one lane of traffic and possibly an additional lane for parking. This would encourage pedestrian activity and discourage automobile usage as well. One asset that could be redeveloped in order to draw in more crowds is the theater. The façade definitely needs a makeover, and the improved appearance would make the building a focus piece instead of an eyesore. Such an entertainment facility would be nicely complemented by an increase in nearby bars and restaurants. Both of these elements would greatly increase the amount of pedestrians passing through the area in the evening, which in turn would mean greater business for the commercial venues. All in all, this means a more sustainable local economy and inspiration for future development.
Mom and her little boy
Existing Conditions
• Assets
o commons – already pedestrian, has an existing identity
• Liabilities
o identity of commons area has developed a negative tone (derelict nature of building
o facades, poor lighting, presence of dark alleyways, safety at night, safety of children on
o their own?), traffic noise a barrier to conversation, lack of services (groceries, pharmacy, public health services, few restaurants)
Thoughts on Improvements
• State Street is a very busy street, a main throroughfare…
o Narrowing of streets -> Reduction in car flow for safety and pedestrian space, play space, socializing space, etc. (Currently little or no seating along sidewalks, and no social or play spaces)
o Less cars -> less parking, more opportunity to expand housing into current parking spaces, to create affordable housing, or to use these as mini parks or gardens.
o Public gathering spaces could also serve as venues for cultural events (meetings, markets, festivals, performances, etc) to enhance a sense of community
Perspectives on Alternative Transportation
Overhead rail
Pros:
o Out of the way, leaves a majority of underground space clear (parks, gardens, community space, pedestrian plaza/café space)
o Avoids the safety issue of exposed rails/need for barriers
Cons
o Possible issue with accessibility – requires elevator at stops
o Possibility of cars getting “stuck” or breaking down, and people being stuck in the air
o Visual impact: rails/cars outside people’s windows?
On-the-ground system
Cons
o Issue of Safety – barriers? Exposed tracks? Could be noisier, Uses more space,
o Competes with pedestrian and other vehicle space
Pros
o Easier to access for small children, strollers, wheelchairs
o More engagement with surroundings, businesses and environments (Street level) are more visible to users
Challenges:
o Compromise between quiet, residential character and the need for a connection to the main rail line (disturbance?)
o Accessibility
o Balancing new businesses and influx of wealth with the possible gentrification of existing
o Communities, a changing demographic balanced with history
Economically challenged mother of two
As a single mother of two, trying to get back on my feet, I really hope that the people planning this sustainable redevelopment of Ithaca will take people like me into consideration. I lost my car several years ago when I couldn't make the payments, and so I am used to dealing with public transportation, and so as far as I'm concerned, anything will probably be an improvement, especially if everyone has to use it. What I mean is, that if the people with a lot of money in this town have to use public transportation, they are the people who have connections in this town, and so they will make sure it's easy to use. I do worry though that they will create First-Class fast, comfortable, more reliable Personal Rapid Transit that costs more so that the rich can afford it, while I'm left with something not much better, or maybe even worse, than the bus system I use now.
I hope that the new development plans will include more services for my family that are along the main transit routes. Right now, I am working two part-time jobs, and barely making ends meet. I would really like to get some kind of vocational training that would get me out of working in retail and into a higher paying job. I am just not a people-person, but retail is the only type of work I can get since I don't have a college degree. I'd really like to learn about something like graphic design, so if there were a program I could learn to do that, but still be able to get to my part-time job easily, and then to my kids' school easily, that would be ideal.
I also am concerned about housing. I don't have stable enough income to look into buying a home at this point, so for now I have to rent. I really hope that they would include affordable apartments to rent near the transit routes. Like I have been describing, it is very difficult for me to get around to all the different places I have to go every day, and right now I can only afford to live in a run down apartment 20 miles outside of Ithaca.
Ithaca City Planner
As a planner for the city of Ithaca I share the desire for a better tomorrow with many of the visionaries who share their ideas for an ideal future. In many cases, I spend less time struggling with the vision being presented and how it can create a better Ithaca, and more time envisioning how we get there. When considering any type of raised transportation system, I truly see it as a substitute for the automobile in some portion of our downtown area. I do not see it as something that could simply be added to the downtown without taking something away (space for the automobile). The space required for rapid transit will simply not allow it. While I feel that reducing/removing automobiles from the downtown could potentially have a tremendously positive impact on the vibrancy of the downtown region, I am concerned about the unintended consequences of such a move. Will the consumer that the downtown relies on buy in to the idea that they cannot take their automobile right up to the door of their favorite store or restaurant? Certainly many will, but is many enough? Saying nothing about the cost, a system like this is a gamble, because though we all agree the reduction of cars create more walkable, social, beautiful and overall livable spaces, it comes at a cost… convenience. Perhaps the average Ithacan, or the majority, or even the large majority of Ithacans would love the idea, but what does that translate to in terms of economic results? Ultimately and maybe even sadly, the downtown is a center of economic exchange. Without economic vibrancy, businesses will shut down any plans for a better downtown will be lost.
So… any argument for a major project involving the downtown MUST include an economic impact analysis. Not only will we need a reasonable plan for funding the proposed project, but we need to understand the short and long-term impacts in terms of our downtown businesses, preferably with case studies demonstrating the effects of similar projects on similar cities.
Elderly woman
I am very concerned about the proposed raised transit system. First of all, as a woman on a fixed income I will not welcome any increased taxes, no matter how cleverly disguised, to pay for a system that I will not ride. Secondly, at 83 there is no way that I am going to travel 20 feet above ground. All I need to do is turn on the news to hear stories of bridges collapsing from natural
disasters or even just old age. I am not willing to risk an overhead transit car becoming stuck or even worse collapsing. Finally, overhead transit does not seem practical for a city the scale of Ithaca. Perhaps in the big cities of Rochester or Syracuse this makes sense, but not here in Ithaca. Just because I am old doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate technology or advances that are good for our fair city. I don’t however see the value of your proposed raised transit.
Sincerely,
Melba
Merchant
As a merchant, I see in State St the potential to capitalize upon the successes of the Commons and to redevelop this corridor into a vibrant, mixed-use destination. The first step in this process would be to extend the sidewalk into the street so that there remains only one lane of traffic and possibly an additional lane for parking. This would encourage pedestrian activity and discourage automobile usage as well. One asset that could be redeveloped in order to draw in more crowds is the theater. The façade definitely needs a makeover, and the improved appearance would make the building a focus piece instead of an eyesore. Such an entertainment facility would be nicely complemented by an increase in nearby bars and restaurants. Both of these elements would greatly increase the amount of pedestrians passing through the area in the evening, which in turn would mean greater business for the commercial venues. All in all, this means a more sustainable local economy and inspiration for future development.
Mom and her little boy
Existing Conditions
• Assets
o commons – already pedestrian, has an existing identity
• Liabilities
o identity of commons area has developed a negative tone (derelict nature of building
o facades, poor lighting, presence of dark alleyways, safety at night, safety of children on
o their own?), traffic noise a barrier to conversation, lack of services (groceries, pharmacy, public health services, few restaurants)
Thoughts on Improvements
• State Street is a very busy street, a main throroughfare…
o Narrowing of streets -> Reduction in car flow for safety and pedestrian space, play space, socializing space, etc. (Currently little or no seating along sidewalks, and no social or play spaces)
o Less cars -> less parking, more opportunity to expand housing into current parking spaces, to create affordable housing, or to use these as mini parks or gardens.
o Public gathering spaces could also serve as venues for cultural events (meetings, markets, festivals, performances, etc) to enhance a sense of community
Perspectives on Alternative Transportation
Overhead rail
Pros:
o Out of the way, leaves a majority of underground space clear (parks, gardens, community space, pedestrian plaza/café space)
o Avoids the safety issue of exposed rails/need for barriers
Cons
o Possible issue with accessibility – requires elevator at stops
o Possibility of cars getting “stuck” or breaking down, and people being stuck in the air
o Visual impact: rails/cars outside people’s windows?
On-the-ground system
Cons
o Issue of Safety – barriers? Exposed tracks? Could be noisier, Uses more space,
o Competes with pedestrian and other vehicle space
Pros
o Easier to access for small children, strollers, wheelchairs
o More engagement with surroundings, businesses and environments (Street level) are more visible to users
Challenges:
o Compromise between quiet, residential character and the need for a connection to the main rail line (disturbance?)
o Accessibility
o Balancing new businesses and influx of wealth with the possible gentrification of existing
o Communities, a changing demographic balanced with history
Economically challenged mother of two
As a single mother of two, trying to get back on my feet, I really hope that the people planning this sustainable redevelopment of Ithaca will take people like me into consideration. I lost my car several years ago when I couldn't make the payments, and so I am used to dealing with public transportation, and so as far as I'm concerned, anything will probably be an improvement, especially if everyone has to use it. What I mean is, that if the people with a lot of money in this town have to use public transportation, they are the people who have connections in this town, and so they will make sure it's easy to use. I do worry though that they will create First-Class fast, comfortable, more reliable Personal Rapid Transit that costs more so that the rich can afford it, while I'm left with something not much better, or maybe even worse, than the bus system I use now.
I hope that the new development plans will include more services for my family that are along the main transit routes. Right now, I am working two part-time jobs, and barely making ends meet. I would really like to get some kind of vocational training that would get me out of working in retail and into a higher paying job. I am just not a people-person, but retail is the only type of work I can get since I don't have a college degree. I'd really like to learn about something like graphic design, so if there were a program I could learn to do that, but still be able to get to my part-time job easily, and then to my kids' school easily, that would be ideal.
I also am concerned about housing. I don't have stable enough income to look into buying a home at this point, so for now I have to rent. I really hope that they would include affordable apartments to rent near the transit routes. Like I have been describing, it is very difficult for me to get around to all the different places I have to go every day, and right now I can only afford to live in a run down apartment 20 miles outside of Ithaca.
Ithaca City Planner
As a planner for the city of Ithaca I share the desire for a better tomorrow with many of the visionaries who share their ideas for an ideal future. In many cases, I spend less time struggling with the vision being presented and how it can create a better Ithaca, and more time envisioning how we get there. When considering any type of raised transportation system, I truly see it as a substitute for the automobile in some portion of our downtown area. I do not see it as something that could simply be added to the downtown without taking something away (space for the automobile). The space required for rapid transit will simply not allow it. While I feel that reducing/removing automobiles from the downtown could potentially have a tremendously positive impact on the vibrancy of the downtown region, I am concerned about the unintended consequences of such a move. Will the consumer that the downtown relies on buy in to the idea that they cannot take their automobile right up to the door of their favorite store or restaurant? Certainly many will, but is many enough? Saying nothing about the cost, a system like this is a gamble, because though we all agree the reduction of cars create more walkable, social, beautiful and overall livable spaces, it comes at a cost… convenience. Perhaps the average Ithacan, or the majority, or even the large majority of Ithacans would love the idea, but what does that translate to in terms of economic results? Ultimately and maybe even sadly, the downtown is a center of economic exchange. Without economic vibrancy, businesses will shut down any plans for a better downtown will be lost.
So… any argument for a major project involving the downtown MUST include an economic impact analysis. Not only will we need a reasonable plan for funding the proposed project, but we need to understand the short and long-term impacts in terms of our downtown businesses, preferably with case studies demonstrating the effects of similar projects on similar cities.Elderly woman
I am very concerned about the proposed raised transit system. First of all, as a woman on a fixed income I will not welcome any increased taxes, no matter how cleverly disguised, to pay for a system that I will not ride. Secondly, at 83 there is no way that I am going to travel 20 feet above ground. All I need to do is turn on the news to hear stories of bridges collapsing from natural
disasters or even just old age. I am not willing to risk an overhead transit car becoming stuck or even worse collapsing. Finally, overhead transit does not seem practical for a city the scale of Ithaca. Perhaps in the big cities of Rochester or Syracuse this makes sense, but not here in Ithaca. Just because I am old doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate technology or advances that are good for our fair city. I don’t however see the value of your proposed raised transit.Sincerely,
Melba
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