Walkable Communities Workshops 5-3-04 to 5-7-04

Thu Jan 29 23:05:00 CST 2004

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Farrell <mfarrell at mwcog.org>
Subject: Schedule for Walkable Communities Workshops May 3rd - May 7th
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 16:19:39 -0500

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the National Center
for Bicycling and Walking are sponsoring a series of eight half-day
workshops in the Washington region.  These workshops are intended to
promote active living through community and street design.

The schedule of the May 2004 workshops is as follows:

1.      Monday Afternoon,  5/3, Landmark Area of Alexandria    
2.      Tuesday Morning,  5/4, Richmond Highway (Route 1), Fairfax
County     
3.      Tuesday Afternoon,  5/4, Oxon Hill, Prince George's County
4.      Wednesday Morning , 5/5, Olney Town Center, Montgomery County
5.      Wednesday Afternoon,  5/5, Long Branch area of East Silver Spring,
Montgomery County      
6.      Thursday Morning,  5/6, Minnesota Avenue/Benning Road, D.C.    
7.      Thursday Afternoon , 5/6, Capitol Heights, Prince George's County
8.      Friday Morning,  5/7, Fort Totten, D.C.      

The Walkable Community Workshop program concentrates on identifying
real-world problems and hands-on solutions for each community. During a
four-hour workshop, trainers deliver a presentation on the elements of a
walkable community and solutions to common issues. They then lead
participants on an interpretive walking tour (called a "walkabout" or "ped
audit") of a pre-determined study area. The trainers emphasize seeing the
community from the perspective of a pedestrian.

Participants then gather in small breakout groups to identify specific
measures to improve conditions for pedestrians. The workshop closes with
presentations from the breakout groups and discussions to reach consensus
on priority action items to create more walkable environments.

A key to the success of the workshops is the trainers who lead
participants in developing a vision for a walkable community. The trainers
highlight ways in which land use and transportation decisions affect
walking, health, physical activity, and livability.  The instructors will
be Peter Lagerwey of the City of Seattle and Gary McFadden of the National
Center for Bicycling and Walking.

Michael J. Farrell
Transportation Planner II
Department of Transportation Planning
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
777 North Capitol Street N.E., Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20002-4239
http://www.mwcog.org
(202) 962-3760
(202) 962-3202 fax
mfarrell at mwcog.org