Reducing car dependency can improve air quality, increase access to jobs and opportunities, and help cities meet emissions reduction goals.
Like other cities around the country, Eugene, Oregon is "pushing several initiatives to promote '20-minute living,' the ability to reach important destinations like grocery stores and workplaces within that time frame." As reported by Haisten Willis in the Washington Post, city leaders want to make 90% of Eugene "20-minute friendly" by 2030, a goal that supporters say will improve air quality and resident health, raise property values, and reduce transportation costs.
Terri Harding, Eugene's principal planner for long-range planning, calls compact development and 20-minute neighborhoods the "pillars of growth management" for the city. The city's downtown, as a cultural and civic hub, is already a "gold-star 20-minute neighborhood," but "enhancing walkability farther out will be challenging."
Improving access isn't just about promoting biking and walking and enhancing transit. "Making cities more walkable involves creating a more compact footprint, where more businesses are built near existing homes. But it also means building housing near existing businesses, such as stores and restaurants." As deeply intertwined issues, transportation and land use must be approached simultaneously. "While the term '20-minute neighborhood' seems to refer primarily to transportation, it also speaks to land use. Planning and zoning are major factors as well, with more mixed-use and infill development needed to realize the vision."
FULL STORY: See you in 20 (or less): Living where access is within a short walk or bike ride
Partisan Splits for Transportation Politics
Researchers found that while left-leaning respondents were more likely to favor transportation reform and sustainable modes, conservatives are not as far behind as we think.
From Paris to Portland: The 15-Minute City Goes Mainstream
Raising the bar on the 20-minute neighborhood model, cities around the world are embracing the appeal of the 15-minute city during the coronavirus pandemic.
Seeking '20-Minute Neighborhood' Status in Texas
The neighborhood of Montrose in Houston has undertaken a self-funded study to assess the facts on the ground about walkability in the neighborhood.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Bend Eliminates Parking Minimums
The city is complying with an Oregon state mandate that some cities have challenged in court.
Scottsdale Cuts Water Supply to Nearby Suburb
The city claims it has no responsibility to provide water to the unincorporated Maricopa County community.
Utah Could Eliminate Parking Requirements Near Transit
A proposed state bill would bar cities from requiring parking in areas adjacent to transit stations in an effort to make housing production more affordable and encourage walking and transit use.
Where Pandemic Bike Improvements Won Out
While some cities are reverting back to pre-pandemic street configurations, others are taking advantage of the momentum for bike and pedestrian infrastructure to make pandemic-era projects permanent.
Atlanta Transit Plans Stall Due to Budget Concerns
With MARTA facing a potential billion dollar shortfall, the agency says it can’t fulfill its system expansion plan.
Town of Reading
Meridian Consultants
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Piedmont, CA
City of Morganton
St. Louis County, MO
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
