The Jackson Heights Neighborhood Transportation Study: A New Approach Towards Community-based Planning

摘要

The Jackson Heights Neighborhood Transportation Study is a comprehensive transportation studyto address the safety and mobility of pedestrians, transit and vehicles, as well as quality of life issues inJackson Heights, New York, NY. The Study is also the first implementation of the “NeighborhoodTransportation Study” approach, based on a community-driven process and short-term treatments that aremeant to be implemented within one year of the completion of the Study, such as simplifying intersectionlayouts, reversing travel directions, and improving pedestrian crossings. In addition, the Study constantlyreinforced a commitment to the neighborhood to monitor these treatments and adjust as necessary.This paper describes how that approach invigorated the traditional elements of a transportationstudy by lending gravity and immediacy to data collection, development of improvements and publicoutreach. New strategies were employed to keep all stakeholders informed and involved, including theNew York City Department of Transportation, other transportation agencies, elected officials and thecommunity at large. The study is also proof that typically controversial changes, such as street closuresand performance based parking pricing for vehicles and trucks, are feasible if the community trulyunderstands the issues to be addressed and are involved in the development of solutions.