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| In August, 2011 MoDOT in Kansas City hosted the Livable Streets Design Workshop led by nationally known expert Bruce Landis. |
On
Aug. 25, architects, engineers and planners from MoDOT and communities across
the Kansas City District sat down as one transportation group to talk about
what it means to build Livable Streets at the Best Practices in Bicycle
Pedestrian Design workshop.
Across
the country, more communities recognize that drivers are not the only type of
transportation, and in fact, more citizens request the safe sidewalks, bike
routes and transit options that fit their lifestyle.
In
May, the Missouri House of Representatives passed the Complete Streets
Resolution, urging cities, communities and state transportation to consider
bikers, pedestrians and transit users whenever they planned transportation
projects. The Best Practices in Bicycle Pedestrian Design workshop, hosted in
partnership with MU Extension, focused on just that -- making streets that
accommodate any mode of transportation.
The
all-day workshop featured internationally known Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner
and Engineer Bruce Landis. His presentation included strategies to make
neighborhoods, retail districts and other community settings more walkable,
bikable and accessible to all.
“This
program was designed to let planners look at a street objectively and see,
based on what is going on in the roadway environment, exactly how to design a
livable street,” said Landis.
One
of the things discussed was what makes a street more livable? It could be as
simple as sidewalks and crosswalks. But planners also consider wheelchair
ramps, bicycle paths, mixed-use paths that may host joggers and dog walkers
alike, bus stops, or even paved shoulders in a rural area.
Several
locations joined the workshop via webinar, including Jefferson City, St. Louis
District Office, Northeast District, Southeast District Office, Northwest
District Office, Southwest District Office and Macon.
