An introduction to the beneits of CSS to US cities in general and to the Atlanta region specifically.

1.4 What Are Some Expected Outcomes of Context Sensitive Street Design ?

A. Creation of safe places and communities to walk and bike in the Atlanta region.

The Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) identified Atlanta as the 2nd most dangerous large metro area for pedestrians. STPP findings are based on amount of walking in an area and the number of pedestrian deaths for period 1997- 1998.

B. More people walking / biking / taking transit to work.

"According to the National Personal Transportation Survey, the number of trips (within large US metro politan regions) taken on foot dropped 42% in the last 20 years." -Surface Transportation Policy Project

How Atlanta Residents Get to Work: Took transit: 6.5% Worked at home 2.2% Walked: 1.6% Drove alone/carpooled 89.5% Bicycled: .1% -Surface Transportation Policy Project

C. Less Traffic Noise

Street noise from traffic is a major environmental concern in urban areas. Context Sensitive Street Design can help reduce street noise.

D. Sustainable Community

• Less urban land devoted to streets and off-street parking.

• Protected natural features and resources.

• Shade from street trees lower air temperature and help reduce energy costs.

• Less pavement and landscaping reduces and slows storm water run-off, and reduces soil erosion and flooding.

E. Enhanced Community Image and Local Identity

Streets are one of the features of the built environment that serve multiple functions in our communities. They provide mechanisms for travel, opportunities for social interaction and physical activity, and serve as organizing elements of our built environment.

Streets that are not intrusive to neighborhoods and fit into the context of the community help create positive feelings about the community, potentially increase visitation and social interaction, expand opportunities for recreation, and assist with surveillance- keep "eyes on the street." Great streets, in addition to fostering community pride and sense of place, are incubators for small local business, promote diverse economic activity, and jump-start community revitalization efforts.

"We shape our communities, and then they shape us" -Winston Churchill