Since 1965, bikeshare systems have become popular in many cities around the world as a means of reducing congestion, reducing air pollution, increasing air quality, and offering a healthy, active mobility option for local users. In the scope of transportation projects, bikeshare systems are relatively easy to create and expand due to their low cost and simple installation. With the potential to increase foot traffic for commercial activity while reducing vehicular congestion, this sustainable transportation option is a triple-win if implemented properly.
Provide a viable, and affordable, transportation option to help de-congest Broad Street, and spur more economic development for the City of Whitehall.
Consumers and employees alike are starting to demand that the companies they support share their values. By participating in voluntary certification programs, businesses can demonstrate that they value sustainability and attract the talent and patronage of like-minded people.
Upgrading the vehicles for the city government to be more efficient and use forms of energy that generate less pollution would have a wide range of benefits for the city, both financially and socially. This can be achieved by creating a plan that phases out older vehicles and conducts cost-benefit analyses for technologies and newer vehicles.
(Image Credit: Flickr)
Central Ohio communities are fortunate to have access to a host of community organizations and initiatives whose missions are focused on sustainability. All too often, however, opportunities for improvement are missed because the community is not aware of these resources or does not know how to best utilize them. By raising awareness and building relationships with community organizations before they are needed, a community can seize opportunities as they arise.
Mixed use development is starting to make its way into Whitehall, but allowing taller, denser structures that can provide a mix of uses is environmentally friendly and economically attractive. By reducing the amount of land that is used for development, the natural environment is less disturbed, buildings can use energy more efficiently, and tax bases can increase with the addition of office and property tax for the extra floors created in a mixed use development.
(Image Source: Curbed Atlanta)
Increasing the availability of electric vehicle charging stations for public use removes a barrier to businesses and citizens switching from fossil fuel vehicles. With more zero emission vehicles on the road, air quality could be improved by reducing ground level-ozone that contribute to public health problems, and carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
Safe Routes to School is a federal and state funded program to develop infrastructure and non-infrastructure improvements to promote students to walk and bike to and from school. By creating a Safe Routes to School Committee with specified groups represented alongside a School Travel Plan created within the past 5 years, communities can become eligible for funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
(Image Source: Talawanda School District)