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 Columbus Re-Wired to explore possible passenger facilities and transit modes to reduce dependence on automobiles
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The American Institute of Architects, Columbus Chapter (AIA Columbus),
hosted three community design forums March 4, 6 and 12, 2007, at three
different sites in central Ohio to focus on creating ideas for
passenger facilities that bring together multiple forms of
transportation – air, light rail, busses, street cars, taxis,
rental cars and bikeways.
The community forums, part of AIA Columbus’
Multimodal Transit Station Design (MTSD) Initiative, were held at
locations that exhibited high potential for multimodal transit
development due to their proximity to existing transit infrastructure,
population density and destination orientation.
Information generated at the forums will be used as background for an international transit design competition called Columbus Re-Wired,
an IDEAS competition that will generate community dialogue and
possibilities for the role of public transportation in Columbus, Ohio.
“Our goal is to promote dialogue about the status of and the
possibilities for the role of public transportation in Columbus,”
said Diane Deane, AIA Columbus
executive director. “Studies show that as a region, we are
becoming more automobile dependent with the number of private vehicles
used for transportation growing faster than our population.”
The focus of the competition will be on passenger facilities and
transit modes that will re-connect citizens with their community, renew
neighborhoods and spark economic development. Specifically, the
competition will look for solutions for passenger facility designs and
transportation infrastructure enhancements. The registration deadline
for the competition is Aug. 17, 2007. The deadline for submissions is
Aug. 31, 2007.
An international jury will select winners shortly after the submission
deadline. Cash prizes totaling $14,000 are available; winners will be
featured at the AIA Ohio Convention Sept. 27-29, 2007.
The Multimodal Transit Station Design Initiative is made possible from
a grant awarded by AIA National as part of a new community service
program, Blueprint for America: A Gift to the Nation, to mark the 150th
anniversary of the organization’s founding.
“The vision of our initiative is to focus public attention on the
environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits of mass transit
for the region,” Deane said. A 2004 study conducted by MORPC
showed that in the seven-county central Ohio region:
- Vehicle miles of travel (VMT) grew faster than area population between 1990 and 2000.
- Trips, miles driven and VMT are all
forecast to continue to grow faster than population. Between 2000 and
2030, population is projected to increase by 36 percent, trips by 44
percent, miles driven by 47 percent and hours driven by 66 percent.
- The region is becoming more automobile
dependent. Private vehicles used for transportation to work increased
19 percent between 1990 and 2000 compared with a 15 percent increase in
population. Meanwhile, public transportation declined in the same
period with only 2 percent of the regional population using public
transportation to travel to work.
“We hope to begin dialogue to reverse this trend,” Deane
said. “The results of the charrettes and competition will
be an invaluable resource for various transportation-related
organizations as they plan future mass transit initiatives for our
community.”
The AIA was founded in 1857; the Columbus chapter was founded in 1929.
Through education, government advocacy, community redevelopment and
public outreach activities, the AIA and its 80,000 members work to
achieve a more humane built environment and a higher standard of
professionalism for architects. AIA Columbus has 750 members, serving a
30-county area from Mansfield to Marietta. For more information, visit www.aiacolumbus.org.
Columbus Re-Wired Poster (PDF)
View
all Blueprint Initiatives |
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