transportation: inspiring a sustainability action agenda

Dr. Barry Wellar, MCIPDistinguished Research Fellow, Transport Action Canada,

Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa,Policy and Research Advisor Federation of Urban NeighbourhoodsPolicy and Research Advisor, Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods,

Principal, Wellar Consulting Inc., [email protected]

Presentation materials for

2nd Annual Sustainable Community Summit:Identifying Barriers and Providing Solutions

Summit organized by:

Yasir Naqvi, MPPOttawa Centre

[email protected]

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yasirnaqvimpp.ca

Ottawa, OntarioMay 14, 2011

P t ti A i tPresentation Assignment

To promote and guide discussion into the

barriers and solutions associated with achieving

the transportation element of a sustainable community.

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Wh “I i i ”?Why “Inspiring”?

Because based on the record of the past 35 years informing Canadian citizensBecause, based on the record of the past 35 years, informing Canadian citizens,corporations, and governments about the ABCs of sustainable transport through factsand logic has proven to be at best a ‘baby step’ way of effecting change.

As a result, and by ways yet unknown to me, it seems that a stimulus is needed toINSPIRE citizens, corporations, and governments to move

Practice Sustainable Transport

h f h d h d lto the very top of their Must Do Lists, and to then act accordingly.

Today, Summit attendees will be asked for words of wisdom, guidance, andmotivation to INSPIRE a sustainable transportation transformation across Ottawa,Ontario and beyond My task is to help frame the discussion

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Ontario, and beyond. My task is to help frame the discussion.

S t i bl T t C t i C t tSustainable Transport Concepts in Context

More than 150 years ago, John Stuart Mill expressed elements of the concept of

sustainability. My initial comments on sustainable transportation were published in

the mid‐1970s, and built on Mill’s thoughts. PowerPoint slides from several previous g p

presentations provide a brief overview of parts of that work, and a context for

today’s Summit presentation. Information is included about e‐access to the

materialsmaterials.

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Selected Wellar Presentations onSelected Wellar Presentations on Sustainable Transportation(available at wellarconsulting.com)

Taking steps towards the end of the automobile eraTaking steps towards the end of the automobile era

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Sustainable Transport:Is There Anybody HereIs There Anybody Here

Who Can Win This Game?

Sustainable Transport by Design or by Default?Either Way, the Wasteful Ride is Over

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Sustainable Transport Best Practices andGeography: Making Connectionsg p y g

Sustainable Transport Practices in Canada:Exhortation Overwhelms DemonstrationExhortation Overwhelms Demonstration

Geographic Factors as a Core Element of Best Practices in Sustainable Transport in Metropolitan Regions in Canada

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Sustainable Transport in Metropolitan Regions in Canada


Cutting to the Chase inDesigning New Measures ofDesigning New Measures of

Transportation System Performance

D i i N Pl i M fDesigning New Planning Measures ofTransportation System Performance

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Best Practices for Walkabilityy

How Citizens Can Make a Difference in D fi i d A hi i W lk bilitDefining and Achieving Walkability

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Selected Wellar Presentations onSelected Wellar Presentations on Sustainable Transportation ‐‐ Ottawa

(available at wellarconsulting.com)

Sustainable Transport: Does Anybody HereKnow How To Win This Game

An Advisory to Council About SolvingAn Advisory to Council About Solving Ottawa’s Transportation Mess

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Selected Wellar Presentations onSelected Wellar Presentations on Sustainable Transportation ‐‐ Ottawa


The Bottom Line in Tran$it Financing101:

They’re All Taxpayer Dollar$They’re All Taxpayer Dollar$

Questions, Questions, and More QuestionsAbout Ottawa’s LRT Plan, 2009 Edition,

Analysis of Responses to‘Questions, Questions, and More Questions

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About Ottawa’s LRT Plan, 2009 Edition’

Recent Wellar Research Into theRecent Wellar Research Into the Sustainable Transport Decision Process


Transport Canada Project,

Methodologies for Identifying and Ranking Sustainable Transport Practices in Urban Regions

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I i i S t i bilit A ti A dInspiring a Sustainability Action Agenda Will Not Be a Walk in the Park!

"… Besides, increased traffic is t l t fa natural outcome of

the city's intensification goals."

Ottawa Sun Editorial, March 11, 2011."Walkley driving ban unwarranted"

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L tt t Edit b B W llLetter to Editor by B. WellarSubmitted March 11, 2011 but Not Published

I expect that your statement "Besides, increased traffic is a natural outcome

of the city's intensification goals." will come as one hell of a surprise to all the y g p

urban planners, urban designers, etc., in Ottawa and around the world who are

under the impression that a primary reason for urban intensification is to

reduce the number of trips made by private motor vehicles, and increase the

number of trips made by walking, cycling, and transit.

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E f S t i bl T t tiEssence of a Sustainable Transportation Action Agenda (1)

SIMULTANEOUSLY

a) Reduce the number of trips made by

private motor vehicles, and

b) Increase the number of trips made

by walking, cycling, and transit.

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E f S t i bl T t tiEssence of a Sustainable Transportation Action Agenda (2)

Actions are explicitly designed and

methodologically implemented to

increase transportation system flexibility

(Source: William L. Garrison, contact B. Wellar for references.)

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F d t l f S t i bl T t ti 101Fundamentals of Sustainable Transportation 101:Basic Output‐Input Relationships

Increased ABC with Increased Use of XYZ Mode of Transportation

Increased ABC with Decreased Use of XYZ Mode of Transportation

Decreased ABC with Increased Use of XYZ Mode of TransportationDecreased ABC with Increased Use of XYZ Mode of Transportation

Decreased ABC with Decreased Use of XYZ Mode of Transportation

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F d t l f S t i bl T t ti 101Fundamentals of Sustainable Transportation 101:Name Your ABCs (1)

AccessibilityAccidents

Cardiovascular illnessComfort

CongestiongConvenience

DensityDiversity

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y


Economic developmentEnergy consumptiongy pEnvironmental impact

FitnessGreenhouse gasesg

Green space“Gridlock”Growth

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Health problemsInfrastructure capital costsp

Infrastructure maintenance costsInfrastructure operating costs

IntensificationLand consumption

MobilityObesity

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y


Open spaceParking lotsg

Parking spacesPollution

Resource consumptionpRespiratory illnesses

SafetySprawl

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p


TaxesTraffic deathsTraffic injuries

Trip costTrip distancep

Trip interruptionsTrip risksTrip time

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p

F d t l f S t i bl T t ti 101Fundamentals of Sustainable Transportation 101:Name Your ABCs (6, 7, 8, 9 …)

40 ABCs are sufficient for the Summit.

There are dozens of other ABCs,

Fill in the blanks

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F d t l f S t i bl T t ti 101Fundamentals of Sustainable Transportation 101:Name Your XYZ Mode(s) For Moving People

CyclingMotorized scooter

Motorized wheelchairPrivate motor vehicle

RollerbladinggSkateboarding

TransitWalking

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g

F d t l f S t i bl T t ti 101Fundamentals of Sustainable Transportation 101:Name Your Alternative Means for Not Moving People

Telecommute TeleconferenceT l h lthTelehealthTelemarketTelemedicine TeleserviceTeleserviceTeleshopTelework

..

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.

Q ti b t B i t A hi iQuestions about Barriers to Achieving a Sustainable Transportation Action Agenda

What are the reasons that citizens may not

Barrier Question 1.

actively engage in practicing sustainable transportation by

SIMULTANEOUSLY a) Reducing the number of trips made bya) Reducing the number of trips made by

private motor vehicles, and b) Increasing the number of trips made

by walking, cycling, and transit?

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What are the reasons that corporations may not

Barrier Question 2.

participate in efforts to achieve sustainable transportation by

SIMULTANEOUSLY a) Reducing the number of trips made bya) Reducing the number of trips made by



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What are the reasons that the City of Ottawa may not implement

Barrier Question 3.

policies, plans, and programs that give top priority topracticing sustainable transportation by

SIMULTANEOUSLYSIMULTANEOUSLY a) Reducing the number of trips made by


b lki li d i ?

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What are the reasons that the Province of Ontario

Barrier Question 4.

may not implement policies, plans, and programs thatgive top priority to practicing sustainable transportation by

SIMULTANEOUSLYSIMULTANEOUSLY a) Reducing the number of trips made by


b lki li d i ?

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What are the reasons that the Government of Canada

Barrier Question 5.

may not implement policies, plans, and programs that give top priority to practicing sustainable transportation by

SIMULTANEOUSLYSIMULTANEOUSLYa) Reducing the number of trips made by


b lki li d i ?

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What are the ways to inspire citizens to

Solution Question 1.

SIMULTANEOUSLY a) Reduce the number of trips made by

private motor vehicles andprivate motor vehicles, and b) Increase the number of trips made


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What are the ways to inspire corporations to


SIMULTANEOUSLY a) Reduce the number of trips made by

private motor vehicles andprivate motor vehicles, and b) Increase the number of trips made


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What are the ways to inspire the City of Ottawa to implement li i l d th t i t i it t



SIMULTANEOUSLY a) Reducing the number of trips made by


by walking cycling and transit?

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What are the ways to inspire the Province of Ontario to implement li i l d th t i t i it t






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What are the ways to inspire the Government of Canada to implement li i l d th t i t i it t






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A i Wh “I i i ”?Again, Why “Inspiring”?

Because, based on the record of the past 35 years, informing Canadian citizens, corporations, and governments about the ABCs of sustainable transport through facts and logic has proven to be at best a ‘baby step’ way of effecting change.

As a result, and by ways yet unknown to me, it seems that we need to INSPIREour citizens, corporations, and governments to move Practice Sustainable Transport from the To Do List to the top of the Doing List. NOW!

Today, Summit attendees are asked for words of wisdom, guidance, and motivation to inspire a sustainable transportation transformation across Ottawa, Ontario, and beyond.

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Cl i C tClosing Comment

Congratulations to MPP Yasir Naqvi for creating the Sustainable Community

Summit, and to the Summit participants who care enough about their

community to put achieving greater sustainability at the very top of their To

Do Lists. May numerous others join us in common cause.

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L t th I i i B iLet the Inspiring Begin

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N t b t B W ll

Barry Wellar has been engaged in community affairs since the early 1970s.

Note about Barry Wellar

Barry Wellar has been engaged in community affairs since the early 1970s.

Information about his academic, research, public service, and consulting activities can

be found at various websites, including: wellarconsulting.com; transport2000.ca;

l d h b hb h d h // / dslideshare.net; urbanneighbourhoods.ca; http://www.geomatics.uottawa.ca/; and

urisa.org. In addition, a Google search for B. Wellar and Barry Wellar will yield a

number of results.

AcknowledgementThanks to Sam Herold, Technical Advisor, Information Research Board (IRB) for his assistance in preparing this presentation.

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transportation: inspiring a sustainability action agenda

Education

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2009editionslide11 of39

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inspiring s t i

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