Cool Neighbors
Parking and Traffic Policies that Support Walkable Communities
Currently, most zoning requires excessive parking and penalizes innovative traffic reduction strategies. TransForm is bringing together several stakeholders to develop a "Cool Neighbors" traffic reduction certification program. We want to do for low-traffic developments what LEED has done for green building: create a clear and effective tool that promotes and rewards good behavior by developers through clear guidelines and positive recognition.
What is Cool Neighbors?
Cool Neighbors will be a certification system that will score a new residential or mixed-use development, based on how well it would reduce driving compared to building the same project located far from transit and with no traffic reducing measures. We will work with program applicants to improve the traffic reduction performance of the project. The program will use a common analytical tool for evaluating innovative parking and transportation demand management programs that reduce driving and vehicle ownership. Once established, Cool Neighbors could serve as the basis for city policy (as LEED currently is) and potentially as an implementation mechanism for AB 32 or other regional and state climate strategies.
When the program is underway, new residents of "Cool Neighbors" developments will move into a much different situation than they do today. They will have lower rent, free transit, convenient access to carshare vehicles, bicycling amenities and more. They will also be able to reduce monthly parking costs by owning fewer vehicles. Together, these changes will ensure that these transit-oriented developments (TODs) truly live up to their potential as an alternative to endless sprawl development.
Developing Cool Neighbors
To develop Cool Neighbors, TransForm has secured seed funding from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Climate Protection Grant Program. TransForm has assembled an advisory committee representing a variety of stakeholder groups to guide the design and pilot testing of the program. The committee includes city planners, developers, transportation/development consultants, academics, and transportation agency staff.
April 2008 - March 2009
Develop the Application/Certification Process
- Review existing certification and endorsement systems around the country.
- Market Assessment: Scope and structure of TOD market in the Bay Area; Where intervention would help.
Develop the Scoring System
- Review Traffic Reduction strategies.
- Develop scoring system based on the above analysis.
March 2009- December 2009
- Pilot Test Program: Identify 2-5 pilot projects with interested city officials and developers.
- Evaluation: Refine the program with results of pilot test.
- Business Plan: Develop a strategy for launching Cool Neighbors throughout the Bay Area and eventually beyond.
For more information contact Ann Cheng.
