Keith Laughlin keynote

Keith Laughlin Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

February 3, 2012

Active Transportation and the Charisma of Place

RTC 101

•  Founded in 1986 •  150,000 Members

and supporters •  HQ in DC with 4

Regional Offices •  35 Staff

Our Mission

To create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors…

…to build healthier places for healthier people.

Looking Back

Past success: •  1986: 250 miles •  2012: 20,000 miles

Two Keys to Our Success

1) Federal Investment: - $9.87 Billion in Transportation

Enhancements funding since 1992; - 2/3 of $$ for trails, walking and biking

2) Local Partnerships

Looking Ahead: Our Audacious Goal

By 2020, 90 percent of Americans will live within three miles of a local trail system.

An Even More Audacious Goal for the Future

To create active transportation systems:

…seamless networks of trails, on road cycling facilities, and sidewalks – all connected to public transportation – that will give people the choice of mobility without an automobile.

Utopian?

NO.

But to imagine what’s possible in the future it’s useful to understand what has happened in the past.

1919: Transcontinental Motor Convoy

1919: Transcontinental Motor Convoy

•  Traveled from Washington DC to San Francisco

•  3,251 miles in 62 days •  Averaged 52 miles per day

1939: NY World’s Fair

General Motor’s “Futurama” Exhibit

Caption: “Two 14-lane express highways cross in 1960”

1956: The National Interstate and Defense Highways Act

1982: Transit Investment

•  Transit capital investments become eligible for highway trust fund monies.

1991: A Major Shift Begins

•  Eisenhower Interstate System is completed; 46,000 miles at a cost of $425 billion (2006 dollars)

•  ISTEA passed and Transportation Enhancements created; has provided over $6 billion for trails/bike/ped since 1992

1994: The “Information Superhighway”

“The Greatest Social Revolution

Since the Automobile”

- January 1994

2003: Attack on Transportation Enhancements

•  Petri Amendment (R-WI) to restore funding was approved by a bipartisan vote of 320-90.

•  Inoculated us from additional attacks

2005: Passage of SAFETEALU

Three major accomplishments: •  Transportation Enhancements

preserved •  Safe Routes to Schools created •  Non-Motorized Pilot Project created

2005: Beyond TE; The NMPP

$25 Million each to: •  Columbia, MO •  Marin Co, CA •  Minneapolis, MN •  Sheboygan Co, WI

2009: A New Day at USDOT

“We have a window of opportunity to think differently about transportation and propose bold, new approaches to improve the livability of our nation’s communities.”

Secretary LaHood June 2009

2010: The Bike Lash Begins

“…"Strategic Plan 2010-2015" reaches new depths of incoherence and sloganeering on behalf of an extreme green agenda…”

Tollroad News May 2010

2010: Earth Day

“You must be a bicyclist.”

Pres. Barack Obama April 22, 2010

2011: It works!

% Increase 2007 – 2010: Columbia, MO……… Marin Co, CA………. Minneapolis, MN…… Sheboygan Co, WI…

Cyclists Walkers

+26% +14% +68% +24% +32% +17% +23% +12%

It Pays

Active Transportation For America The Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking www.railstotrails.org/atfa

It’s Popular

79%

37%

20%

41%

1%

22%

HowTransportation

Funding isAllocated in

Reality

HowRespondents

WouldAllocated

TransportationFunding

RoadsPublic TransportationBicycling & Walking

79%

37%

20%

41%

1%

22%

HowTransportation

Funding isAllocated in

Reality

HowRespondents

WouldAllocated

TransportationFunding

RoadsPublic TransportationBicycling & Walking

2011: Something is happening among the young…

2012: … A Cultural Shift

•  It works! •  It pays! •  It’s popular! •  It’s in the streets! •  It’s in advertising… •  People want it! •  And it’s COOL!

2012: Yesterday

The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act:

•  Eliminates guaranteed funding for Transportation Enhancements

•  Makes rail-trail conversions ineligible for federal funding

•  Eliminates Safe Routes to School •  Eliminates trust fund revenues for transit

2012: Yesterday

•  The Petri-Johnson-Lipinski Amendment was defeated 27-29.

•  Thanks: Rep. Bernice-Johnson

•  Spanks: Rep. Farenthold

2012: Next Week

On to the Senate….

2012: The Great Paradox

•  Trails and active transportation have never been more popular or in greater demand

•  But powerful forces want to turn back the clock to 1956: no transit, no trails, no bike/ped

•  Highways only: “Drive, Baby, Drive!”

2012: Dueling Visions

We are witnessing a clash of two very different visions of transportation in America.

Dueling Visions of the Future: This?

Or This?

This?

Or This?

Where Do We Go From Here?

•  Four part strategy: -  Making Our Case -  Organize, Organize, Organize -  Raising Our Voices -  Expanding Our Movement

Expanding Our Movement Primary Targets: •  Local elected officials, particularly

Republicans •  Health care advocates & industry •  Economic and community development

specialists •  Large employers looking for talented

young workers

A Large Employer

•  Lexis-Nexis •  Information/Technolgy Firm •  Dayton, OH •  Has the ear of its governor

“We need to make Ohio COOL.”

The Charisma of Place

“The new sort of competition is all about charisma. It’s about gathering talent in one spot...”

David Brooks “The Talent Magnet” New York Times January 24, 2011

A Dictionary Definition

Charisma - a special magnetic charm or appeal

What Makes a Place Charismatic?

•  “Community quality of life…”

•  “Nearby active outdoor recreation…”

•  “Hot companies in cool places…”

Does this have special magnetic appeal?

Is This An Extreme Green Agenda?

Conclusion

•  We are in for a major fight. •  There will be setbacks. •  But we will ultimately prevail. •  The tired 1939 vision of GM’s Futurama

exhibit has passed its shelf life. •  We are redefining what it means to be a

healthy community in the 21st century. •  Trails and bikes will be at the center.