$22.5 million dollars: Did you know that was the economic cost of crashes involving people hit while walking along or across Canyon County roads in 2017? That’s a huge economic toll for people just trying to get somewhere safely.

Looking Glass Academy – Walkability Workshop Flyer (PDF)

SIGN UP FOR THIS FREE WORKSHOP

DATE: Monday and Tuesday June 10th & 11th, 2019

TIME:

Monday 8:00am – 12:30pm
Continued Additional Training Monday 1:30pm – 4:00pm and
Tuesday 8:00am – 12:00pm

LOCATION:

Parma City Hall
305 N 3rd St, Parma, ID 83660

RSVP:

Raquel Nunez, 208-455-5304, Raquel.Nunez@phd3.idaho.gov

Did you know that the federal highway organization AASHTO found that investments in projects for people walking and bicycling create nearly 50% more jobs per dollar spent than traditional transportation investments? These projects have great potential for job creation and business stability in Idaho’s cities and towns.

Through work with Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and Southwest District Public Health, we will be leading a two-day workshop on walkability in Parma on Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11, to help communities better understand how to address these safety issues. The goal of the workshop is to help build capacity on the core elements of walking and walkability among cities, advocates, health professionals, law enforcement, planners, engineers, school officials, highway districts, and public works staff. A flyer with detailed workshop info is attached.

Through these workshops we cover walkability through the lens of the 4 C’s: Comfort, Context, Connections and Crossings.

This includes things like what human beings require in terms of space and comfort to make walking a safe, viable choice. We also cover common engineering and planning practices such as sidewalk dimensions, intersection treatments, crosswalks and crossing signal treatments, and land use policies. Other facets of the workshop delve into more technical issues such as: ADA compliance, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), common AASHTO design guidance, managing pedestrian access during construction projects, and techniques for snow plowing and snow management that make walking possible during winter.

While the focus is on the areas within Parma, we use Day 1 to address walkability in a more general sense with a focus on rural and small town contexts, as well as crossing facilities like state highways. If you’re coming from outside the area, Day 1 (June 10) is the key day to attend as this includes the classroom sessions, interactive walks, and a brief walk audit. Day 2 consists of a closer examination of specific areas of interest within Parma, which you are welcome to attend but we know two days is a big commitment.

Here is a video with more information on the Looking Glass Academy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PCgQ0oKKYI

Let us know if you have any questions. Feel free to suggest others in your area of Canyon County or with your agencies who have an interest in attending.

Raquel Nunez is the RSVP contact for the health district: Raquel.Nunez@phd3.idaho.gov. Please let her know if you will attend the first or both days.