"Livability means being able to take your kids to school, go to work, see a doctor, drop by the grocery or post office, go out to dinner and a movie, and play with your kids at the park, all without having to get into your car. Livability means building the communities that help Americans live the lives they want to live - whether those communities are urban centers, small towns, or rural areas."

-Secretary Ray LaHood: United States Department of Transportation

Livability in transportation is about using the quality, location, and type of transportation facilities and services available to help achieve broader community goals such as access to good jobs, affordable housing, quality schools, and safe streets. This includes addressing road safety and mode choice through better planning and design, maximizing and expanding new technologies, and using travel demand management (TDM) approaches.

In 2009 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to work together to ensure that the goals of gaining better access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs are met while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and helping to address the challenges of climate change. DOT, HUD and EPA have created a high-level interagency partnership to better coordinate Federal transportation, environmental protection, housing investments, and to identify strategies that promote and put into action the following Livability Principles from FHWA: 

1. Provide more transportation choices.
2. Promote equitable, affordable housing.
3. Enhance economic competitiveness.
4. Support existing communities.
5. Coordinate and leverage Federal policies and investment.
6. Value communities and neighborhoods.
   

Safe Routes to School

The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program promotes healthy alternatives for children and parents in their travel to and from school. It educates students, parents and community members on the value of walking and bicycling for travel. Learn more about the program through MassRIDES - Schools.
 

Complete Streets

A Complete Street accomodates all users and is safe, comfortable and convenient for travel via automobile, foot, bicycle and  transit. Examples may include sidewalks, bike lanes, median islands, accessible pedestrian signs; curb extensions,  roundabout and frequent and safe crossing opportunities. Benefits fromComplete Streets include reducing congestion and  costs, safety improvements, connectivity with transit while promoting healthy transportation options. Learn more about  Complete Streets through MassDOT's Project Development and Design Guide.

Bikeshare Exploration in the CMRPC Region

CMRPC staff have been exploring bikeshare opportunities throughout the CMRPC region as an active, alternative mode of transportation. Through these efforts, the Exploring Bikeshare Opportunities in the CMRPC Region report was developed.

 

Aside from introductory topics, like bikeshare systems and their business and system models, the reports focuses on the unique characteristics of the CMRPC region to narrow the focus of the exploration. This includes deep dives into understanding how bikeshare models can be successful at rural and suburban levels with supporting case studies, and the defining geographic, demographic, and economic characteristics that will ultimately have an effect on a regional bikeshare system.

 

Because these characteristics vary across the region, the exploration takes into consideration the different approaches needed to implement bikeshare at the community level. This includes exploring opportunities for bikeshare within tourism, recreation, and commuting. The report is not intended to be a direct recommendation for the region or specific communities, but rather an exploration of the opportunities within the region that are supportive of bikeshare systems.

 

Please click here for a link to the report.