Transportation Networks

CNU has long recognized transportation as a key determinant of quality of urban form and community life. Transportation networks not only accommodate a region's access and mobility needs but also helps determine the location, type and form of land development. CNU seeks to create sustainable transportation networks that are planned in coordination with community planning and work to reduce household costs, traffic injuries and greenhouse gas emissions.

This CNU initiative aims to define and detail the characteristics of urban transportation networks across all scales to advance the creation of sustainable neighborhoods, cities, towns and regions. Participants in the 2008 Transportation Summit in Charlotte worked to advance this effort by discussing the principles of sustainable transportation networks. The subject of networks is, of course, highly interconnected, but the group broke down the discussion into four interrelated topics.

Principles of Transportation Networks

Additional Materials

Summary of Network Discussions at CNU XVI

Discussions at Previous Transportation Summits

Presentations

Upcoming Transportation Summit

The 2009 Transportation Summit will be in Portland Oregon, November 4-6, 2009.

Contact information

Heather Smith, CNU Planning Director, 312/551-7300, hsmith {at} cnu org

Connected Networks Proposal

This CNU proposal calls for connected transportation networks to be eligible for federal and state funding. The proposal makes areas meeting straightforward connectivity criteria eligible for a “network” designation. Once a state recognizes a qualifying local area with a network designation, all streets in the network (including the portion of streets devoted to pedestrian use, ie. sidewalks) would be eligible for investment for projects that maintain or improve the function of the network, even accelerated maintenance and pothole repair. Typical federal funding practices fund individual roads in isolation, often resulting in more traffic on larger roads, a prospect many communities now view warily.

First presented during the discussion over the economic stimulus package, the proposal gained attention from key legislators, including those involved with the bi-partisan legislation known as CLEAN TEA. At the urging of CNU and its members, CLEAN TEA's co-sponsors added language to the bill promoting investments in new infrastructure that enhances network connectivity and performance. CLEAN TEA is meant to plug into the future federal climate bill. If passed, it would require regions and states to plan to reduce the carbon impact of transportation investments and direct 10 percent of cap-and-trade proceeds to transportation investments such as public transportation, bicycle infrastructure and now increased street network connectivity. CLEAN TEA would significantly expand federal approaches for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Its vision for making transportation investments more green and efficient is worthy of consideration for the upcoming Transportation Bill.

Coverage and Correspondence

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