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Honoring the Unsung Hero

Big, splashy projects often get all the glory, with the preparatory and day-to-day work going unnoticed.

Yet, that behind-the-scenes work is key to the successful operation and expansion of our transportation system.

Our Leadership in Motion recipients for 2019 epitomize the hard work and hardworking people that keep our system moving forward…often with little fanfare. 

Maintenance, repair, fundraising, planning, and leading behind the scenes often go unnoticed, but not today.

With the 2019 COMPASS Leadership in Motion awards, we are honoring some of those unsung heroes and projects.

Congratulations!

• Leadership in Government, Canyon County
• City of Nampa – Public Works Department, Streets Division
• Excellence in customer service and innovation in street maintenance
• Don Barr, Superintendent

• Leadership in Government, Ada County
• Ada County Highway District (ACHD) and HDR
• Kootenai Street Traffic Calming Concept Study
• Brooke Green, ACHD and Cameron Waite, HDR

• Leadership by Example, Nonprofit

o   Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands

§  Replacement of the Plantation Island Bridge

§  Jan Johns, Executive Director

• Leadership in Practice, Professional

o   Caleb Lakey, District 3 Engineering Manager

§  Idaho Transportation Department

• Leadership in Practice, Professional

o    Bruce Wong, Director

§  ACHD

• Leadership in Practice, Volunteer

o    Ray Hoobing, Vice Chair

§  ACHD Bicycle Advisory Committee

• Leadership by Example, Elected Official
• Tammy de Weerd, Mayor
• City of Meridian

While COMPASS’ Leadership in Motion awards honor projects and businesses/nonprofits, as well as individuals, it’s important to remember that these are powered by people as well – without the dedication of talented and hard-working individuals, those successes would not be realized. Congratulations to all of those unsung heroes who make our valley what it is today…and what it will be tomorrow.

To learn more about the recipients and see full description of their accomplishments, click here.

October Quarterly Update

To say that the past three months have been busy here at COMPASS would be an understatement. The summer months seem to have flown by and nothing is more of an indication that it’s autumn than the end of our fiscal year. Last year’s projects are being wrapped up and this year’s projects are being prepped for action – read below to find out about some exciting updates.

Last Three Months

As I mentioned in our last quarterly update, much of the focus during the past three months has been on planning for the next regional long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion 2050 (CIM 2050). In September, we kicked off the planning process with a public survey asking Treasure Valley residents how they see their lives changing in the next 30 years. If you haven’t yet, I strongly encourage you to take the survey, here. Your answers help us plan for the transportation needs of the Treasure Valley and the people and communities that call it home. The link will remain open through Sunday, November 3, 2019 – so you still have time to provide your input.

After months of patiently waiting, our electric cargo bike, or the COMPASS Data Bike, has finally arrived! This data bike will be used to collect pavement roughness and surface condition data. Recently, our staff has been testing out different pavement-roughness software programs to determine the best fit for our planning needs. By the end of 2019, a software program will be chosen and the COMPASS Data Bike will be fully operational.

A project mentioned in our last update was the Rails with Trails Feasibility and Probable Cost Study. The study was completed in September; it provides a cost estimate of trail development along the Boise Cutoff rail corridor and identifies barriers associated with trail development. Conversations with Union Pacific will continue with a goal of securing an agreement for a trail within their corridor. In the meantime, the completed study allows planning to continue, including selecting a preferred right-of-way alignment, finalizing the design, and seeking funding.

Another sign that fall has arrived in the Treasure Valley is the close of the 2019 COMPASS Leadership in Motion awards nomination period. The awards recognize people, businesses, and projects that demonstrate leadership in implementing Communities in Motion. Keep an eye on our social media and blog throughout the month of December for the announcement of our 2019 winners.

Finally, COMPASS hosted not one, but two, education series events in August and September. In August, Lisa Nisenson, Vice President of New Mobility and Connected Communities with The Wantman Group, gave a presentation on pilot programs and sustainable community design. In September, Joel Feldman, founder of EndDD.org, “End Distracted Driving,” shared his personal story of loss, along with simple steps for everyone to end distracted driving. You can find the presentation slides and videos of both speakers here. These education series events provide training to help implement Communities in Motion.

Next Three Months

For the next three months, we already have plenty of projects planned.

COMPASS will close the public survey for CIM 2050 on November 3, compile and share the results, and use them to develop potential “scenarios” of what the future of the Treasure Valley could look like by 2050. These will be provided to the public in spring 2020 for feedback.

Along with this, COMPASS will begin work on a complete network policy and a fiscal impact analysis, both of which will feed into CIM 2050.

While we’re sure to celebrate our accomplishments from the past few months, COMPASS is already looking ahead to prepare for what the next three months have in store. I strongly encourage everyone to also look ahead, about 30 years into the future, and take our survey by November 3, 2019.

Have a wonderful fall, Treasure Valley!

We Can’t Plan by Looking through the Rear View Mirror

COMPASS’ demographics expert, Carl Miller, often says that planning for the future by looking through the rear view mirror only works as long as the road is straight. And…we all know the road is anything but straight.

Many, many things will change in the next 10, 20, or 30 years that will significantly impact life in the Treasure Valley – rapid growth, changing household dynamics, new technologies, and changes in how we travel among home, work, shopping, and recreation…or if we even need to leave home at all.

Despite these uncertainties…or, because of them…COMPASS is updating its long-range transportation plan so that the region is prepared for a future that is markedly different from today.

To do that, we need your help. Our staff can analyze data and national trends until they are blue in the face, but those trends don’t tell us what Treasure Valley residents – you – want for your future.

• What type of house or neighborhood will you choose to live in?
• Will your commute and work schedule stay the same as today, or will you be working from home or using an alternate work schedule, such as 4-10s?
• Do you see yourself relying on home delivery of groceries in the years to come, or do you prefer to thump your own cantaloupe or pick that perfect steak?
• Are you ready to jump into a car that drives itself, or do you prefer to be in control behind the wheel?

We’re asking you to help us plan for your future by helping us understand what you see your future looking like.

Take five minutes to visit www.compassidaho.org and answer a few fun, interactive questions to make sure your voice is part of the conversation, then share the link with your friends and family. The more people that weigh in, the better we can plan.

There are no right or wrong answers and you don’t need to be an expert or do any homework to participate. Everyone’s input helps paint a picture of what the Treasure Valley could look like by the year 2050.

Please participate by November 3, 2019, to ensure your voice is heard.

It’s quick, easy, and anonymous…and it makes a difference. Thank you.

Be Part of the Solution – End Distracted Driving

Labor Day weekend wrapped up Idaho’s “100 deadliest days” – the period from Memorial Day through Labor Day when Idaho experiences the most deaths on the road. While I don’t have the final statistics yet as I write this, I know, just from watching the news, that this has been a heartbreaking summer for many Idaho families who lost loved ones.

Joel Feldman experienced that heartbreak in 2009, when his daughter Casey was killed by a distracted driver. Since that time, Mr. Feldman’s has dedicated himself to raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. He is the creator of EndDD.org, “End Distracted Driving,” and has developed science-based distracted driving presentations as well as other resources used by businesses, schools, and community groups in educational initiatives.

You can be part of the solution:

• Set your phone to “do not disturb” so you are not tempted to answer it
• Select your music before you leave home – don’t try to find a new radio channel or change a CD while you are driving
• Put down that sandwich – you can eat when you arrive
• Get up five minutes earlier, so you are ready when you leave the house – no putting on mascara or last-minute shaving in the driver’s seat
• Attend a presentation by Joel Feldman on September 9 to hear his message and learn more actions you can take a to save a life
• Take your commitment one step further — become a speaker to help share the message of how to end distracted driving by participating in a speaker training workshop on September 10

The presentation and workshop are being presented as part of COMPASS’ 2019 education series, with assistance from the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety. 

Find the details and RSVP here: www.compassidaho.org/comm/publicevents_2019_ed_series.html

You have the power to save a life. Be part of the solution to end distracted driving.

Budgeting – What comes to mind?

Budgeting – a word that evokes excitement for some and dread for others.

To be the most effective with the money we have, everyone must budget in some capacity. From the national level, to the state, right down to each of us individually. Here at COMPASS, we develop a budget of transportation projects— the Regional Transportation Improvement Program, or “TIP.”

What is this budget for, you ask? The TIP is a multi-year budget of transportation projects in Ada and Canyon Counties that expect federal or state funds and/or are “regionally significant.” Essentially, it’s a list of transportation projects with information on each project’s budget.

Each year, similar to those of you who budget, we update the TIP. New projects are added and old projects are completed or removed. In most cases, though, projects simply move from one year to the next as they work their way to completion.

So, why does it matter? Well, we can ask the same of personal budgeting.

Because it helps us all plan for the future.

Transportation projects are expensive, time consuming, and often take years to plan and execute. By preparing in advance, we help to ensure that a project has adequate funding and is on schedule when it’s time to build. Plus…it is federally required. Federal funds cannot be spent on transportation projects without first being budgeted in an approved TIP.

Until September 5, 2019, we will be collecting your feedback on the budget for fiscal years 2020 - 2026. The projects in the budget are paid for using your tax dollars and they have the potential to affect you, your commute, and your quality of life. Are these the transportation projects you think are highest priority? Are there specific changes you would like to see made? Your comments are important to us.

Let us know by learning more about the TIP, reviewing the proposed projects and changes, and submitting your comments no later than September 5, 2019. The COMPASS Board will be provided with all public comments before making any decisions in October.

I encourage you to provide your feedback and share the opportunity to comment with your neighbors, friends, and family. Enjoy the rest of your summer, Treasure Valley!

Leadership in Motion

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. - Warren Bennis

How do we translate vision into reality? How do we, as a region, take a long-range transportation plan and translate it into tangible projects, programs, and policies that benefit Treasure Valley residents?

While that question may sound rhetorical, it isn’t. There are people taking the lead every day on projects that implement the long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion 2040 2.0, and improve the lives of everyone who lives or visits here.

Every year, COMPASS honors those people, businesses/nonprofits, and projects that have demonstrated leadership in implementing Communities in Motion 2040 2.0 through our Leadership in Motion awards.

Review the nomination criteria, consider who is leading the charge in your community, then take a moment to nominate him or her, or a project, business, or nonprofit for a Leadership in Motion award. It’s quick and easy – we never want the awards process to deter someone from submitting a nomination or prevent a worthy leader from being recognized.

Unsure who or what might be award-worthy? Check out last year’s winners for inspiration and ideas. At the same time, I encourage you to think outside the box and not limit yourself to traditional “transportation” projects. Implementing a transportation plan can take many forms.

This year’s awards will recognize efforts and projects that occurred between July 2018 and June 2019. Nominations will be accepted through 12:00 noon, Monday, September 23, 2019. Leadership in Motion awards will be presented on Monday, December 16, 2019, at the COMPASS/Valley Regional Transit Board Holiday Luncheon.

Learning by Doing

The best way of learning about anything is by doing.  - Richard Branson

We live in an age of rapid change. The one thing we know is that the future will be very different from the past.

At COMPASS, much of our energy is devoted to trying to decipher what those changes may be and what they will mean to the future of the Treasure Valley and the transportation system that supports it. Our next transportation plan – Communities in Motion 2050 – will delve deep into those changes. We’ll kick off that planning process this fall by asking you about changes you foresee in your life. Stay tuned for your chance to tell us how you see your world changing…or not.

While at COMPASS our focus is on planning for future change, our members are looking at ways to adapt to change today. They are looking at issues such as…

What would happen if we removed some parking spots to make room for pick up/drop off zones?

How about if we provide new ways to get to and from your bus stop?

What changes do we need to make today to be ready for autonomous vehicles tomorrow?

While we can see how new ideas work in other areas, that’s not the same as testing them here. Each place is unique. What worked – or didn’t work – somewhere else is not guaranteed to have the same result here.

That’s where pilot programs come in. Pilots give us the chance to try something on for size and to learn from the process. When done well, a pilot program can provide real, measureable results to help us know if or how a new program should continue. Was it well received? Where were the conflicts? Were there unintended consequences? Did the program work as anticipated? Did the program take more or less time and resources than anticipated? If we’re going to keep the program going, what should change?

While we certainly hope that any pilot program “works,” the true measure of success of a pilot program is not whether the program itself “worked” or not, but rather if it provided us with knowledge and tools to best implement new programs – or choose to not implement them – when we are ready to move beyond the “pilot” stage.

To help ensure pilot programs in the region are successful, COMPASS will be hosting Lisa Nisenson, Vice President of The Wantman Group, on August 5 and 6 as part of the 2019 COMPASS education series to share her insights into developing and implementing pilot programs that provide measureable results.

I hope you’ll join us in helping the Treasure Valley be prepared for the future. Follow the link above for more details and registration information. See you there.

July Quarterly Update

This time of year, it’s common in the COMPASS office to hear, “It’s already July! Where has the time gone?” And truly, I’m shocked that it’s already time for another quarterly update. Since April, COMPASS has been abuzz with activity – our staff doing the leg work to prepare for projects coming down the pipeline. And while, sometimes, that prep work may seem to go unnoticed in the day-to-day, we’ve certainly seen the pay-off over the past few months.

Last Three Months

One particular project that COMPASS staff have eagerly awaited is the newly-purchased data bike. This electric cargo bike will be used to collect pavement roughness and surface condition data. The bike will be equipped with technology such as a phone-based accelerometer, 360-degree video camera, and GPS system to tie the information together with location for pathway maintenance and planning.

In addition to the data bike, we’ve started a few more exciting projects since April. A contract for the Rails with Trails Development Cost Study was finalized and work on this study has begun. To start, COMPASS hosted a Rails with Trails Study kickoff meeting with Rails with Trails Workgroup in May.

Finally, in my last update, I mentioned that COMPASS was in the process of preparing for the next regional long-range transportation plan. The COMPASS Board of Directors approved the scope of work for the next regional long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion 2050, in June. Work on Communities in Motion 2050 will begin immediately, with a target date for plan completion in December 2022.

So what does this all mean moving forward?

Next Three Months

In the upcoming months, COMPASS will begin work on Communities in Motion 2050, including soliciting public input into trends and preferences that may affect how people live, work, play, and travel in the Treasure Valley by the year 2050. This input will help shape many of the assumptions that provide the foundation for Communities in Motion 2050.

At the same time, the FY2020 Resource Development Plan will be finalized and submitted to the COMPASS Board of Directors for approval in August. This annual plan guides COMPASS staff in seeking funding for projects that implement the current long-range plan, Communities in Motion 2040 2.0.

Additional areas of focus will include finalizing the Rails with Trails study, creating a work plan for the 2050 Treasure Valley Bikeway and Pathway Plan, and starting work on the 2050 growth forecast.

Lastly, COMPASS will host Education Series speakers on distracted driving and pilot programs. This will help lay the foundation for discussions on safety and incorporating new and changing technologies and ideas into Communities in Motion 2050.

As you can see, much of our efforts this year are focused on creating a strong foundation for our next long-range plan. The ensuing months will be nothing short of exciting here at COMPASS and I look forward to sharing the next update with all of you.

Redefining Completeness

If you spend any time with transportation planners, you will hear the term “complete street” bantered about, but what does it really mean?

Broadly, it means that a street is designed for all users – it is safe, comfortable, and convenient for people who are driving, walking, biking, using public transportation, or operating a freight truck.

Taking this to the extreme, does that mean to be “complete,” we want sidewalks on the interstate or 18-wheelers rumbling past your house? Perhaps not. I’d venture to say that walking along the interstate or trying to maneuver a semi in a residential neighborhood would likely not be safe, comfortable, or convenient for anyone involved.

Over the next year, COMPASS will be updating its Complete Streets policy – originally developed in 2009. As part of that update, we’ll be redefining what we mean by “complete streets” by shifting from looking at individual complete “streets” to focusing on a complete transportation “network.”

A network approach takes a larger perspective than a single road and considers the land uses and the parallel roads in the network. Can a parallel road provide a better experience for a bicyclist or pedestrian? What kinds of traffic will the surrounding uses attract?

For example, in a highly industrial area, the focus may be on designing streets with freight vehicles in mind – is there room for large trucks to back up, turn corners, and park? A block or two away, a parallel route may be designed as a bike boulevard. In a downtown area, we might design the streets to encourage walking, with wide sidewalks, benches, shade trees, and more. A different street may give buses a priority. That way, all users in an area have a road that meets their needs.

Similarly, do we need a sidewalk on every rural highway to be “complete”? Probably not. But, if there is a school along a highway, that changes the picture. Similarly, do rural roads need extra wide shoulders for cyclists? Some probably do; some probably don’t. Some may need to go a step further and include separated bike paths.

The bottom line is that “complete” can look different in different places with different users and needs. We can provide safer, more comfortable, and more convenient streets for all users by taking a “network” approach and redefining what it means to be “complete.”