Sidewalks in Helena

Helena is set to begin evaluating the need for new sidewalks and repairs as the city moves to come into compliance with the national Complete Streets and Americans with Disabilities Act programs.

FACTS:
- There are approximately 260 miles of streets in Helena, of which less than half have sidewalks.
- Each mile of sidewalk that complies with ADA and Complete Streets costs approximately $1 million. - Primary costs come from construction and design. Maintenance is low cost.
- Trip hazards in sidewalks, which would warrant repair, are considered to be a 1/4 inch deviation from       the surface.

 These considerations are an important part of the planning and budgeting process, and will doubtless be key considerations in targeting areas most in need of improvement. These types of renovations have already occurred in other cities, from Missoula to Corvallis and further abroad.

Here is a list of case studies, master plans, and programs that address Helena's coming challenges:
 - Missoula Sidewalks Master Plan
- Corvallis Sidewalk Safety Program
- Greencaslte, PA Sidewalk Repair and Replacement

The New Generation Views Transit Differently

Learn how expectations for technology and observations from a nine-year-old reflect on the transportation changes that are bound to come. Also interesting are the differences in opinion between the public's perspective and experts in the field on how America will implement these needed improvements.

Let's Talk About Bike Lanes

Here is another story concerning the development and use of bike lanes, and the opposition they are receiving. Read here.

Do Bike Paths Promote Cycling?

This question seems to depend on where you are and who you ask. There have recently been contradictory findings in several studies across the nation. The issue as examined in the journal Transportation, however, appears to favor the causation even when factors such as location, socioeconomic status, safety, and public transit availability are considered. Learn more here!

SAVE Radio Episode 7 - Interview with Sarah Sadowski

Sarah Sadowski is the chair of the Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council, one of Helena's citizen directed advisory initiatives. She stopped by the studio this week to talk to us about what NMTAC is, who it is, and how it can serve you!
The Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council came to be through a city ordinance several years ago, which sought to increase the level of cooperation accessibility between the citizenry and local government. The council primarily serves the purpose of providing input and recommendations for further transit development. It consists of seven citizen representatives and a government representative as well as non-member contributors and guests.
As with all civic pursuits, it works best when there is cooperation and understanding. Sarah repeatedly stressed that patience, goodwill and genuine concern for the community's interests as a whole are necessary to facilitate meaningful development in the council. Furthermore, the best results have come from those whose participation has been solution oriented. There have been multiple groups to come forward with a stated problem and propose their ideas for how a certain intersection or stretch of road could be improved. Remember, transit development is an inherently slow problem; there are many considerations to be made from the perspectives of engineering, urban planning, efficiency and viability, to name a few.
NMTAC meets every second Tuesday of the month in the City-County Building from 5:15-6:30. Check it out!

Music for you:
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science - Universal Dub
Thievery Corporation - Until the Morning (Rewound)
Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
Jurassic 5 feat. Dave Matthews Band - Work It Out
Fugees - No Woman, No Cry
Bluebeat - Train Line Dub
Herb'n Legends - John's Song
Santana - Soul Sacrifice/Don't Try This at Home
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The Wind Cries Mary
Queen - Bicycle Race

SAVE Radio Episode 6 - Interview with Ryan Leland

City engineer Ryan Leland joined me on the show this week to discuss the processes and challenges of guiding Helena's transit growth, both in the immediate and long term future. We discussed how the city's' main modes of transportation had changed throughout the years, and is starting to come full circle with a growing emphasis on non-motorized and public transit options. For example, in the early 20th century, Helena actually had a trolly system! Given that most people didn't have personal transit, this made sense. Over the years though, with the advent of the automobile and the growth of the highways, people turned to personal vehicles. It has taken us almost a century to realize that this option is in the long term far more expensive and unsustainable than public or non-motorized transit, and our transit trends are beginning to again accommodate more to the cyclist, pedestrian, and bus rider.
We also discussed what it takes to maintain roads and sidewalks in this type of climate. It turns out that the thawing and freezing of water does a great deal more damage to roads than cars do. As water seeps into the cracks and pores of the pavement surface and then freezes, it tears apart the binding of the pavement, exacerbating potholes, ruts, cracks and other weaknesses in the street. The materials sciences behind street construction have come a long way even since 2000, but the city is still challenged to maintain the roads, which have been budgeted to be replaced every 100 years. That's tough.
Finally, we touched on the concept of connectivity and how to engineer a street that is inclusive of all its users. This means installing ADA friendly ramps and crosswalks, bike lanes, roundabouts, and a host of other features that subtly direct the flow of traffic and make the street a safer place for all users. For a few examples, take a look at the bulb-outs by Carroll College while driving down Benton or take a look at the walking mall's crosswalk on Broadway!


Playlist:
Peter Wolf Crier - Hard as Nails
Bowerbirds - In Our Talons
Foals - Miami
Delta Spirit - Trashcan
Dawes - When My Time Comes
Future Islands - Swept Inside
Built to Spill - Happiness
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains
Modest Mouse - Gravity Rides Everything