rv 2015: advocacy and coalition building: fighting transit opposition by megan channell, aicp

RAIL~VOLUTION ADVOCACY AND COALITION BUILDING:

FIGHTING TRANSIT OPPOSITION

GRAND BOULEVARD INITIATIVE

October 28, 2015

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OVERVIEW

Why  the  Grand  Boulevard  Ini3a3ve?  

History  of  Stakeholder  Engagement  

Con3nued  Coali3on  Building  and  Outreach  

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Why  the  Grand  Boulevard  Ini3a3ve?  

History  of  Stakeholder  Engagement  

Con3nued  Coali3on  Building  and  Outreach  

EL CAMINO REAL CORRIDOR

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•  State Route 82

•  Heart of Silicon Valley

•  San Francisco to San Jose - 43 miles

•  Downtown connection

•  55+ participatory stakeholders

El  Camino  Real  

Corridor  

COMMUNITY VALUES & STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS

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CHALLENGE: EXISTING CONDITIONS

We can do better.

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CHALLENGE: POPULATION AND JOBS

Illustration of Corridor commute distances

•  Corridor Population: 714k

•  40% population growth by 2040

•  Not enough homes for number of jobs

•  28% of Corridor workers travel 25+ miles from home

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WHY THE GRAND BOULEVARD INITIATIVE?

People friendly places. 8

OPPORTUNITY: TRANSPORTATION

•  Leverage transportation infrastructure and service to create sustainable communities

•  Buses and train stations within walking distance

Caltrain  –  10  sta-ons  within  ¼  mile  

BART  –  5  sta-ons  within  ¼  mile  

Backbone  of  VTA  and  SamTrans  bus  service  

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OPPORTUNITY: PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT AREAS

•  18 Priority Development Areas •  Housing and jobs •  Transit and pedestrian-friendly environments

San Mateo County Santa Clara County 10

GRAND BOULEVARD VISION

Walkable    Mixed-­‐use  

Enhanced  Transit  Service  

Complete  Streets  

Land  Use  Intensifica3on  

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Why  the  Grand  Boulevard  Ini3a3ve?  

History  of  Stakeholder  Engagement  2006  -­‐  Ongoing  

Con3nued  Coali3on  Building  and  Outreach  

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

•  Unique approach to inter-jurisdictional collaboration •  Regional opportunity for TOD along bi-county, multi-

city State highway •  Cooperation, not compulsion

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•  “Big Tent” Approach •  Task Force •  Vision Statement •  10 Guiding Principles •  Working Committee •  Community Leaders Roundtable •  Determine where collaboration

makes sense

HOW GBI WORKS

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ACTIVE STAKEHOLDERS

ADVOCATES  &  COMMUNITY  MEMBERS  

ELECTED  &  APPOINTED  OFFICIALS  

RESPONSIBLE  AGENCIES  

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55 active stakeholders groups…

… and growing!

VARIED PERSPECTIVES ON TOD

ADVOCATES  &  COMMUNITY  MEMBERS  

ELECTED  &  APPOINTED  OFFICIALS  

RESPONSIBLE  AGENCIES  

•  City Councils •  Boards of

Supervisors •  Boards of

Directors

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VARIED PERSPECTIVES ON TOD

ADVOCATES  &  COMMUNITY  MEMBERS  

ELECTED  &  APPOINTED  OFFICIALS  

RESPONSIBLE  AGENCIES  

•  19 Cities •  2 Counties •  2 Transit

Agencies •  2 CMAs •  Association of

Governments •  MPO •  California DOT

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VARIED PERSPECTIVES ON TOD

ADVOCATES  &  COMMUNITY  MEMBERS  

ELECTED  &  APPOINTED    OFFICIALS  

RESPONSIBLE  AGENCIES  

•  Economic Development

•  Transportation •  Public Health •  Housing •  Environmental •  Business &

Employers •  Developers •  Residents •  Property Owners

•  Policy •  Labor

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CONSENSUS BUILDING CHALLENGES

•  Consistent messaging across competing missions

•  No such thing as “general public”

•  Incremental approach vs. immediate gratification

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BIG TENT: KEY TO SUCCESS

•  Regional collaboration with local autonomy •  Guiding Principles founded by and adopted in

local plans •  Action by consensus •  Civic engagement with agency expertise

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Why  the  Grand  Boulevard  Ini3a3ve?  

History  of  Stakeholder  Engagement  

Con3nued  Coali3on  Building  and  Outreach  

FOCUS ON GRASS ROOTS SUPPORT

People

Community

Region

Success! Region Issues

People

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MESSAGE PLATFORM

What  do  we  care  about?  

What  stands  in  the  way?  

What  should  we  do?  

How  will  the  world  be  different?  

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Goal: Empower civic discourse with residents and business community on GBI Vision and how communities can grow sustainably.

CUSTOMIZED COLLATERAL

Customizable to fit outreach needs

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STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: EVENTS

•  GBI Meetings •  Farmer’s Markets •  Breakfast Forums •  Bus Tours

•  Walking Tours •  Historic Reenactments •  Local Group Meetings •  Door-to-door

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Yes, and evening meetings too...

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: MEDIA

•  Program Website •  Introductory Video •  Become a Friend

§  E-newsletters

•  Social Media

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WHAT’S NEXT?

•  Celebrate successes and the people behind them •  Build Task Force/Working Committee member

teams to engage local communities •  Leverage partnerships to secure local funding to

realize the GBI Vision: people friendly places

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THANK YOU

Megan Channell, LEED-AP, AICP Principal Planner | GBI Project Manager

San Mateo County Transit District channellm@samtrans.com

(650) 622-7815

www.grandboulevard.net

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