Transportation Plan
Research shows that bikability and walkability are not only good for commercial vitality and growth but are also what the next generation of homeowners desire. Rural communities tend to focus on cars and trucks and plan only for those transportation choices. But the future is in planning for transportation choices that work for all residents.
Multi-modal transportation plans – those that take biking and walking into account in addition to driving - allow independence for all residents, both those who can and cannot drive, such as children and the elderly. Furthermore, these transportation plans promote community engagement because locals interact more easily while walking and biking than while driving. Even more beneficial to our small towns, locals and visitors spend more money in businesses when walking or biking than when driving.
Our transportation plan should be updated in conjunction with our comprehensive plan to ensure consistency with land use. We need to connect pathways and streets, research how children get to school and to different services and identify areas of density that can support public transit. By including multi-modal transportation options, we can cut down on vehicle trips and the wear and tear on our roads – saving us all money. In the end, taking this wider perspective enables us to respond to all our residents’ needs and our long-term costs.
