Mastering the Art of the Campaign: Setting the …...Mastering the Art of the Campaign: Setting the...

Mastering the Art of the Campaign:Setting the context for reform

Mastering the Art of the Campaign:Mastering the Art of the Campaign:Setting the context for reformSetting the context for reform

RailRail--VolutionVolutionBoston, Mass.Boston, Mass.Oct. 31, 2009Oct. 31, 2009

Historic Context: The era of suburbanization

Historic Context: Historic Context: The era of suburbanizationThe era of suburbanization

One era ends, One era ends, another beginsanother begins

The Halcyon Days Before Suburbanization

The Halcyon Days Before The Halcyon Days Before SuburbanizationSuburbanization

World War II: Austerity MeasuresWorld War II: Austerity MeasuresWorld War II: Austerity Measures

Post War Prosperity: Marketing the American Dream

Post War Prosperity: Post War Prosperity: Marketing the American DreamMarketing the American Dream

Post War Prosperity: Post War Prosperity: Marketing the American DreamMarketing the American Dream

“We are pushing ahead with a great road program, a road program that will take this Nation out of its antiquated shackles of secondary roads… It will be a nation of great prosperity, but will be more than that: it will be a nation that is going ahead every day… The expanding horizon is one that staggers the imagination.”

— October 29, 1954

“We are pushing ahead with a great road program, a road program that will take this Nation out of its antiquated shackles of secondary roads… It will be a nation of great prosperity, but will be more than that: it will be a nation that is going ahead every day… The expanding horizon is one that staggers the imagination.”

— October 29, 1954

Source: FHWA

Intent: 40,000 miles in 20 years. Today: 47,000 miles-plus

Unstated motto: Death to pedestrians …

Unstated motto: Unstated motto: Death to pedestrians Death to pedestrians ……

The context for future growth and development

The context for future The context for future growth and developmentgrowth and development

Economic, Economic, environmental, demographic and environmental, demographic and

cultural trendscultural trends

High priorities:

69% - Dependency on oil68% - Health care costs64% - Education62% - Jobs and the economy56% - The war in Iraq56% - Public safety45% - Global warming and climate change

High priorities:High priorities:

69% 69% -- Dependency on oilDependency on oil68% 68% -- Health care costsHealth care costs64% 64% -- EducationEducation62% 62% -- Jobs and the economyJobs and the economy56% 56% -- The war in IraqThe war in Iraq56% 56% -- Public safetyPublic safety45% 45% -- Global warming and climate changeGlobal warming and climate change

National Priorities: National Priorities: Concern over oil dependency sky highConcern over oil dependency sky high

Which of the following national issues do you consider a priority? After each one, please indicate if it is a low, medium, or high priority for the country? Are there any other national issues that were not mentioned that are high priority to you? If so, what is the issue?

Source: Dec. 2007 Nat’l Survey, Harris Interactive

Surging transit ridership, despite cheaper gas

Surging transit ridership, Surging transit ridership, despite cheaper gasdespite cheaper gas

VMT still high, after years of growth exceeding that of population

VMT still high, after years of growth VMT still high, after years of growth exceeding that of populationexceeding that of population

Growth of VMT, vehicle registrations, and population in the United States relative to 1980 values

Growth of VMT, vehicle registrations, and population in the United States relative to 1980 values

1980 2004

U.S. share of car emissions of GHGU.S. share of car emissions of GHGU.S. share of car emissions of GHG

Why do we drive so much?Why Why dodo we drive so much?we drive so much?

Do we have

another choice?

Do we have

another choice?

National ~ October 5, 7, 9-10, 2007 SLIDE 21

Three-fourths of Americans believe public transportation and smarter development will do more to

cure traffic than building new roads.“Which of the following proposals is the best long-term solution to reducing traffic in your area?”

49%

26%

21%

Improve public transportation

Develop communities where people do not have to drive as much

Build new roads

Decline in Households with Kids Decline in Households with Kids Decline in Households with Kids

HouseholdHousehold 19601960 20002000 20252025

With With ChildrenChildren 48%48% 33%33% 28%28%

Without Without ChildrenChildren 52%52% 67%67% 72%72%

Single Single PersonPerson 13%13% 26%26% 29%29%

Census for 1960 and 2000, 2025 adapted from Martha Farnsworth Riche, How Changes in the Nation’s Age and Household Structure Will Reshape Housing Demand in the 21st Century, HUD, 2003.

The Senior TsunamiThe Senior Tsunami

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Y e a r

0

50 0

1 ,00 0

1 ,50 0

2 ,00 0

Thou

sand

sPe

ople

Tur

ning

65

in Y

ear

National Real Estate Analysis,Robert Charles Lesser Co.

National Real Estate Analysis,National Real Estate Analysis,Robert Charles Lesser Co.Robert Charles Lesser Co.

••

Adding “fuel” to an existing trendAdding Adding ““fuelfuel”” to an existing trendto an existing trend

• “The housing boom encouraged the development of far-flung suburbs, contributing to longer commutes. Now developers are building more walkableneighborhoods close to city centers and public transit, and Americans are beginning to migrate back toward their workplaces, city planners and other experts say.”

Automobile-dependent suburbs in declineAutomobileAutomobile--dependent suburbs in declinedependent suburbs in decline

The end of driving to qualify?The end of driving to qualify?The end of driving to qualify?

Washington ExaminerWashington ExaminerOct. 22, 2009Oct. 22, 2009

Impacts on Health:Impacts on Health:Impacts on Health:

Physical inactivity and obesity, diabetes and heart disease

Air quality

Safety

Reauthorization of federal transportation law - SAFETEA-LU

Reauthorization of federal Reauthorization of federal transportation law transportation law -- SAFETEASAFETEA--LULU

Creating a 21st Century Vision for Transportation

•• Reconnecting America Reconnecting America (co(co--chair)chair)

•• Smart Growth America Smart Growth America (co(co--chair)chair)

•• AARPAARP•• Action! For Regional EquityAction! For Regional Equity•• America BikesAmerica Bikes•• American Public Health American Public Health

Association (APHA)Association (APHA)•• Apollo AllianceApollo Alliance•• LOCUS: Responsible Real LOCUS: Responsible Real

Estate Developers and Estate Developers and InvestorsInvestors

•• National Association of REALTORSNational Association of REALTORS•• National Association of City National Association of City

Transportation Officials (NACTO)Transportation Officials (NACTO)•• National Housing ConferenceNational Housing Conference•• Natural Resources Defense CouncilNatural Resources Defense Council•• PolicyLinkPolicyLink•• Surface Transportation Policy Surface Transportation Policy

Partnership (STPP)Partnership (STPP)•• Transit for Livable Communities Transit for Livable Communities

(TLC)(TLC)•• US PIRGUS PIRG

Executive CommitteeExecutive Committee

Bridges to Nowhere?Bridges to Nowhere? Or Bridges that Stand?Or Bridges that Stand?

Key platform planksKey platform planksKey platform planks

•• FixFix--itit--First for Highways and TransitFirst for Highways and Transit•• A Level Playing Field for TransitA Level Playing Field for Transit•• Complete StreetsComplete Streets•• Empower Local SolutionsEmpower Local Solutions

Key platform planksKey platform planksKey platform planks

Hold agencies accountable for Hold agencies accountable for National Transportation Objectives:National Transportation Objectives:••Reduced oil consumptionReduced oil consumption

••Climate stability, environmental protectionClimate stability, environmental protection

••Economic competitiveness and system efficiencyEconomic competitiveness and system efficiency

••Safety and improved public healthSafety and improved public health

••State of good repairState of good repair

••Equitable access to transportation and jobsEquitable access to transportation and jobs

Work with Us!Work with Us!Work with Us!

T4America.orgContact me:

Dgoldberg@T4America.org

T4America.orgContact me:

Dgoldberg@T4America.org

Flickr user: tallkev