2. The Grand Boulevard Initiative
Menlo Park Walk the Talk Forum
6:00 pm Open House
6:30 pm Welcome by Menlo Park Mayor Kirsten Keith
6:40 pm Introduction to Healthy Communities and the Grand Boulevard
Initiative Guiding Principles by Jean Fraser, Chief of the San Mateo
County Health System
7:00 pm A Presentation on Green Transportation and Connectivity by Jessica
Ter Schure, Principal of NelsonNygaard
7:30 pm Q & A Panel Discussion
7:50 pm Group Discussions
8:15 pm Closing Comments
8:30 pm Meeting Ends
3. Grand Boulevard Initiative
Healthy By Design
Jean Fraser
Chief, San Mateo County Health System
January 26, 2012
4. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults
1985
No Data <10% 10%–14%
*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person, BRFSS
5. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults
1991
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
5
*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person, BRFSS
6. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults
1997
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person, BRFSS
7. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults
2003
<10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29%
*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person, BRFSS
8. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults
2009
<10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person, BRFSS
9. If we do nothing …
Our children will be the
first generation who will
not live as long as their
parents
19. Your advocacy for a walkable,
bikable, livable San Mateo
County will help determine the
health of your children and
the planet
20. Grand Boulevard Initiative
Menlo Park Walk the Talk
by
Jessica ter Schure, Principal at Nelson/Nygaard
January 26, 2012
21. Overview
• Why care about smarter growth and walkable
communities?
• What can we do to help our community
realize the benefits of smarter growth?
22. Obesity Trends
1985 2010
<10% 20-24%
>30%
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: Center for Disease Control
23. Mode Split & Obesity
Excerpted from Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits, by Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, for The American Public Transportation
Association, June 2010.
24. US County Traffic Fatality Rates
Excerpted from Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits, by Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, for The American Public Transportation
Association, June 2010. (Source: Ewing, Schieber and Zegeer, 2003)
25. Speeds and Degree of Pedestrian
Injury
Source: US and UK Departments of Transportation, 1999
27. Leading Causes of Potential Years of
Life Lost
Excerpted from Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits, by Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, for The American Public
Transportation Association, June 2010. (Source: NCIPC, 2009)
28. Green Exercise
• Short periods of
outdoor exercise =
– More self esteem
– Better mood
– Particular self esteem
improvement in
young and mentally ill
Barton J and Pretty J. 2010. What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis. Environmental
Science and Technology DOI: 10.1021/es903183r
29. Reduced Stress, Increased Trust
• Oxytocin: the “cuddle
chemical”
• Lowers blood pressure and
other stress-related
responses General Plan Update
• Increases positive social
behavior such as
friendliness
• Creates trust, generosity
and empathy.
30. More Walking = Safer Walking
20
15
Relative Risk Index
Walking
10 Bicycling
5
0
0% 5% 10% 15%
Journey to Work Share
Image source: Peter Jacobsen
31. Consumer Choice?
• Most communities’ zoning
and street design codes have
made it illegal to create
walkable neighborhoods
General Plan
• Walkable neighborhoods are Update
undersupplied
• Housing consumers will pay
a premium for walkable
neighborhoods
Image source: RFF Press
32. 12 Code Obstacles
1. Parking and Traffic Code
2. Building Code
3. Uniform Fire Code
4. Clean Water Act
5. Fair Housing Act
6. State Schools Codes
7. Congestion Management Program
8. Zoning & Subdivision Codes: Design and Parking
9. Road Design Code
10. Street Typologies and Transportation Performance
Measures
11. Impact Fees
12. Environmental Compliance
33. Conventional Transportation
Mitigation
• Reduce density
• Widen roadways
• Add parking lots
• Find a more isolated
location with less
existing traffic
congestion
34. Suite of Policies / Programs
• Locate right development in the right locations
• Mix uses
• Improve streetscape (Complete Streets)
• Manage parking
• Use transportation demand management strategies
• Unbundled parking
• Subsidize transit passes
• Parking cash-out
• Carsharing/Bikesharing
• Carpooling
• Telecommuting/Alternative schedules
• Preserve neighborhoods
38. Consumer Choice
• Walk Score
(www.walkscore.com)
• Scale
• 0 = no walkability
• 100 = high walkability
• (Santa Cruz/El Camino = 97)
• Impact on housing
value
• “One point of Walk
Score is worth as
much as $3,000”
Image source: Walk Score
40. Paying for a Walkable Place
• Demographic evidence
• Consumer research
evidence
• Premium price evidence
• 40%-200% premium
Christopher B. Leinberger, Visiting Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program 2009
43. Commute Mode Share by County
Drive Alone Rate Carpool Public Transportation Walking
90%
80% 77% 76% 76% 74%
70% 70%
70% 66% 67%
60%
50%
39%
40%
32%
30%
20% 15%
12% 12%
11% 11% 11% 11%
10% 9% 9% 10%
10% 8% 7% 8%
3% 5%
2% 3% 2% 3% 3% 2% 3% 2% 2% 3%
0%
Alameda Contra Costa Maring County Napa County San Francisco San Mateo Santa Clara Solano Sonoma
County County County County County County
Source: American Community Survey, 2009, C08301
44. Menlo Park Residents’
Commute to Work
Taxi, Work
Other from
Walk Palo Alto
Menlo Park
1%
Bicycle 5% Home
7% 9%
Bus
Taxi, Other Work from 2%
Caltrain/
Walk 1% Home BART
3% 8% 4%
Carpool
Bicycle 6%
Drive
Alone
8% 67%
Bus
1%
Caltrain/ Bicycle WalkTaxi, Other Work from
2% Bus 3% 2% Home
BART 5%
Caltrain/ 2%
4% BART
4%
Carpool Drive Alone Carpool
10%
9% 66%
Drive
Alone
75%
Redwood
City
Source: American Community Survey 2010 (Estimates)
46. A Range of Affordability and Choice
for All Ages
AARP: “71% of older households want to be
within walking distance of transit.”
47. Generation Y – 80 Million Strong and
Seeking a Car-Free Style Lifestyle
Young professionals
between the ages of 20-
35 are the most mobile
people in America, and
they are flocking to
urban centers.
48. California GHG Emissions by Sector
(2008)
Agriculture Forestry
6% 0%
High GWP
Recycling and Waste 3%
2%
Industrial Transportation
19% 37%
Commercial and
Residentia
9%
Electric Power
24% Source: California Air Resources Board Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 2008
49. California GHG Emissions by Sector
(2008)
High GWP
3%
Agriculture
Recycling and Waste
6%
1%
Forestry
0%
Industrial
19%
Passenger
Transportation Vehicles Heavy Duty
Commercial and 38% 27% Trucks
Residentia 7%
9%
Ships &
Electric Power Commercial
24% Boats
Rail
1%
1%
Aviation
(Intrastate)
Unspecified 1%
1%
Source: California Air Resources Board Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 2008
50. Complete Streets =
Streets for Everyone
• Unique; respond to
community context
• Independent of age, ability,
mode of transportation
• Improve safety
• Encourage walking and
bicycling for health
• Can lower transportation
costs for families
• Foster strong communities
53. Poor Bike/Ped Facilities
Image sources: Crap Bicycle Lanes by eye books
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Michael Ronkin
Flicker User amndw2
54. Walk and Bike Opportunities
Source: Dave Colby
Source: Perkins + Will
55. Typical San Mateo County Street
San Mateo County
Sustainable Green Streets and Parking Lots
Design Guidebook (2009)
Recommended
Existing
58. Parking Management
• Utilize existing parking more
efficiently
• Share parking facilities
• Use transportation demand
management strategies
• Price it right
• Reinvest part of the revenue
in the district
59. Menlo Park El Camino Real/
Downtown Specific Plan
• Visioning process 2007-08
• Community outreach 2009
• Draft Specific Plan April 2010
– Downtown parking
– Phasing of Downtown
public space elements
– Building height
– Bicycle improvements
60. Specific Plan Guiding Principles
1. Maintain a village character unique to Menlo Park.
2. Provide greater east-west, town-wide connectivity.
3. Improve circulation and streetscape conditions on El Camino Real.
4. Ensure that El Camino Real development is sensitive to and compatible
with adjacent neighborhoods.
5. Revitalize underutilized parcels and buildings.
6. Activate the train station area.
7. Protect and enhance pedestrian amenities on Santa Cruz Avenue.
8. Expand shopping, dining and neighborhood services to ensure a vibrant
downtown.
9. Provide residential opportunities in the Vision Plan Area.
10. Provide plaza and park spaces.
11. Provide an integrated, safe and well-designed pedestrian and bicycle
network.
12. Develop parking strategies and facilities that meet the commercial and
residential needs of the community.
64. Q & A Panel Session with:
Jean Fraser, Chief of the San Mateo County Health System
Jessica ter Schure, Principal of NelsonNygaard
Corinne Goodrich, San Mateo County Transit District
Katie Ferrick, Vice Chair of Menlo Park Planning Commission
65. Group Agreements
1. Speak Respectfully- Listen to understand, ask questions, be open to
discussion, try to be open to different perspectives even if you don’t
agree
2. Speak One at a Time- We want to be able to get to everyone and
answer questions. Please help us do so by completing a card and
submitting to the facilitator and speaking one at a time
3. Share the Stage- Notice when some are talking more than
others. Make room for those quieter to ask questions and participate
4. Speak from your Own Experience- We may each have different
perspectives on topic. Speak from this place, speak from your
experience, check assumptions, and ask for clarification whenever
needed.
5. Allow facilitator to guide the process
6. Technology Off/Silent
66. Group Discussion Questions
1. Where do you see yourself in 10 years and why? Where do you see your children in
10 years and why? Where do you see Menlo Park in 10 years and why? What needs
to happen today in order to provide for future generations?
2. How would YOU improve El Camino Real and the adjacent downtowns and
neighborhoods? Do you have examples of what works well in other places that
could be applied to the Grand Boulevard?
3. How do you get around your neighborhood, city, county, and region? Are there
different types of transportation modes that you would like to use but cannot? Why?
What needs to happen in order to make your trips safer and more efficient?
4. What age demographic do you fall within? Do you agree with the need to plan for
changing demographics? For your age demographic, what do you want or need more
of in your community? (in terms of land uses and transportation)
5. What are the key elements of a ‘healthy’ community? Which of these could be
pursued more along El Camino or in your downtown?