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The Menlo Park Walk the Talk Forum

Co-Sponsors

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 Nelson\Nygaard

7:30 pm Q & A Panel Discussion

7:50 pm Group Discussions

8:15 pm Closing Comments

8:30 pm Meeting Ends

Grand Boulevard Initiative

Healthy By Design Jean Fraser

Chief, San Mateo County Health System

January 26, 2012

Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults

1985

No Data <10% 10%–14%

*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person, BRFSS

5


1991

No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%



1997

No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%



2003


<10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29%


2009

<10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%


If we do nothing …

Our children will be the

first generation who will

not live as long as their

parents

If you build it right, they

will come

Target new homes & jobs along the corridor Mix homes, jobs, shops and parks in an attractive manner

Ensure walking is safe & convenient

Make room for people to ride their bikes

Provide parks, plazas and other places that attract people

Preserve and accentuate unique characteristics of communities

Promote other modes of travel, like transit, to reduce traffic

Encourage development that is environmentally sensitive Manage parking needs thoughtfully

Focus on the health &

safety of all who use

the corridor

With change comes concerns about

TRAFFIC

• Households living near transit own half as

many cars as the average household

With change comes concerns about

HIGH RISES

Your advocacy for a walkable,

bikable, livable San Mateo

County will help determine the

health of your children and

the planet


Menlo Park Walk the Talk by

Jessica ter Schure, Principal at Nelson/Nygaard

January 26, 2012

Overview

• Why care about smarter growth and walkable

communities?

• What can we do to help our community

realize the benefits of smarter growth?

Obesity Trends

No Data <10% 10%–14%

1985 2010

<10% 20-24%

>30%

Source: Center for Disease Control

Excerpted from Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits, by Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, for The American Public Transportation

Association, June 2010.

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. (Source: Ewing, Schieber and Zegeer, 2003)

US County Traffic Fatality Rates

Source: US and UK Departments of Transportation, 1999

Speeds and Degree of Pedestrian

Injury

Street Width and Injury

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)

Leading Causes of Potential Years of

Life Lost

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

General Plan Update

Reduced Stress, Increased Trust

• Oxytocin: the “cuddle

chemical”

• Lowers blood pressure and

other stress-related

responses

• Increases positive social

behavior such as

friendliness

• Creates trust, generosity

and empathy.

More Walking = Safer Walking

Image source: Peter Jacobsen

0

5

10

15

20

0% 5% 10% 15%

Journey to Work Share

Re

lati

ve

Ris

k In

de

x

Walking

Bicycling

General Plan Update

Consumer Choice?

• Most communities’ zoning

and street design codes have

made it illegal to create

walkable neighborhoods

• Walkable neighborhoods are

undersupplied

• Housing consumers will pay

a premium for walkable

neighborhoods

Image source: RFF Press

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

• Reduce density

• Widen roadways

• Add parking lots

• Find a more isolated

location with less

existing traffic

congestion

Conventional Transportation

Mitigation

• 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

Suite of Policies / Programs


School

Shop

Play Work

P P

P

P P P

T T T T T T T T T T T

T

Conventional Development

Grand Boulevard Initiative Mixed Use, Park Once District

School

Work

Play

Shop

P

T T

Results:

• <½ the parking

• <½ the land

area

• ¼ the arterial

trips

• 1/6th the arterial

turning

movements

• <¼ the vehicle

miles traveled

Grand Boulevard Initiative Transit Oriented Development

School

Work

Play

Shop Live

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

http://www.walkscore.com/

Image source: WalkScore

• Demographic evidence

• Consumer research

evidence

• Premium price evidence

• 40%-200% premium

Paying for a Walkable Place

Christopher B. Leinberger, Visiting Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program 2009

Image source: John Holtzclaw

Sprawling & Driving

$20,000 $20,000

$20,000

$20,000

$20,000 $20,000 $20,000

$20,000 $20,000 $20,000

$20,000

$20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000

$20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000

$20,000

Image source: N\N

Commute Mode Share by County

66%

70% 67%

77%

39%

70%

76% 76% 74%

10%

12%

8%

11%

7%

11% 11%

15%

11%

12%

9% 9%

2%

32%

8%

3% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 5%

10%

3% 2% 2% 3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

AlamedaCounty

Contra CostaCounty

Maring County Napa County San FranciscoCounty

San Mateo Santa ClaraCounty

SolanoCounty

SonomaCounty

Drive Alone Rate Carpool Public Transportation Walking

Source: American Community Survey, 2009, C08301

Source: American Community Survey 2010 (Estimates)

Menlo Park Residents’

Commute to Work

Drive Alone

66%

Carpool

9%

Caltrain/

BART

4%

Bus

1%

Bicycle

8%

Walk

3%

Taxi, Other

1%

Work from

Home

8%

Drive

Alone

67%

Carpool

6%

Caltrain/

BART

4%

Bus

2%

Bicycle

7%

Walk

5%

Taxi,

Other

1%

Work

from

Home

9%

Drive

Alone

75%

Carpool

10%

Caltrain/

BART

4%

Bus

2%

Bicycle

2%

Walk

3%

Taxi, Other

2% Work from

Home

5%

Menlo Park

Palo Alto

Redwood

City

The “Silver Tsunami”

Image

source:

National

Institutes

of Health

A Range of Affordability and Choice

for All Ages

AARP: “71% of older households want to be

within walking distance of transit.”

Young professionals

between the ages of 20-

35 are the most mobile

people in America, and

they are flocking to

urban centers.

Generation Y – 80 Million Strong and

Seeking a Car-Free Style Lifestyle

Transportation 37%

Electric Power 24%

Commercial and Residentia

9%

Industrial 19%

Recycling and Waste 2%

High GWP 3%

Agriculture 6%

Forestry 0%

Source: California Air Resources Board Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 2008

California GHG Emissions by Sector

(2008)

Source: California Air Resources Board Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 2008

Electric Power 24%

Commercial and Residentia

9%

Industrial 19%

Recycling and Waste 1%

High GWP 3%

Agriculture 6%

Forestry 0%

Passenger Vehicles

27% Heavy Duty

Trucks 7%

Ships & Commercial

Boats 1%

Aviation (Intrastate)

1%

Rail 1%

Unspecified 1%

Transportation 38%

California GHG Emissions by Sector

(2008)

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

Poor Pedestrian Facilities

Image sources: Crap Bicycle Lanes by eye books

Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Michael Ronkin

Flicker User amndw2

Poor Bike/Ped Facilities

Walk and Bike Opportunities

Source: Perkins + Will

Source: Dave Colby

Typical San Mateo County Street

Existing

Recommended

San Mateo County

Sustainable Green Streets and Parking Lots

Design Guidebook (2009)

Streetscape Improvements

Infill Development

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

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

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.

The Importance of Guiding

Principles

Q & A Panel Session with:

Jean Fraser, Chief of the San Mateo County Health System

Jessica ter Schure, Principal of Nelson\Nygaard

Corinne Goodrich, San Mateo County Transit District

Katie Ferrick, Vice Chair of Menlo Park Planning Commission

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

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?

Health & Medicine

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