[RTC List] Comments for General Plan on info-tech

Wed Jan 30 16:56:19 PST 2008

Keep in mind that Aaron is not asking for an endorsement of or signature 
on his letter by any individual or by RTC as an organization. He is 
sharing his letter from his group and asking for input on it. So, RTC is 
in no danger of becoming a political advocacy group.

Arkley, Rob wrote:
> Dear All,
>     This is my last e mail to Redwood Tech.  I am deleting myself from
> your list. 
>     The below idea is a bad one.  In fact, it is REALLY bad.  
>     One observation:  Redwood Tech is in real danger of becoming too
> political, if it has not already.  Once this occurs, your strengths will
> dissolve and you will become just another group with a political agenda
> rather than an above the fray, well focused and objective group.  
>
>
>
>
>                                    Vty,
>
>
>
>                                    Rob
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: list-bounces at redwoodtech.org [mailto:list-bounces at redwoodtech.org]
> On Behalf Of Josh Koenig
> Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 4:10 PM
> To: list at redwoodtech.org
> Subject: Re: [RTC List] Comments for General Plan on info-tech
>
>
> Hey Pat/List,
>
> With the caveat that I am not a lawyer, or certified to parse govspeak,
> I have done a fair amount of translation to/from bureaucrateeze. So
> here's my best shot.
>
> The gist of this proposal is that these two paragraphs should be
> included in the General Plan:
>
>   
>> "Information technology solutions or which make travel by non-single 
>> occupant vehicle modes more convenient, desirable, or efficient, and 
>> which would reduce peak-hour automobile travel demand, shall be 
>> considered as mobility management solutions that may, singly or with a
>>     
>
>   
>> suite of other solutions, substitute for projects which would increase
>>     
>
>   
>> roadway capacity."
>>     
>
>
> Meaning: the county's plan should tell them to look at technology which
> will alleviate traffic by making alternatives to solo-driving more
> attractive/viable, instead of simply building more roads.
>
>   
>> "Consider information technology solutions such as telework and 
>> teleconference programs and facilities that allow for the substitution
>>     
>
>   
>> of vehicle travel as mobility management solutions that may, singly or
>>     
>
>   
>> with a suite of other solutions, substitute for projects which would 
>> increase roadway capacity."
>>     
>
>
> Meaning: the county's plan should also tell them to look at telework
> technologies which will reduce overall demand for road travel as
> alternatives to building more roads.
>
> The rest of the proposal includes some rationales for this change, and a
> few examples of how such technologies are beginning to be used
> elsewhere, but that's the meat. The plan should explicitly endorse the
> consideration of these alternatives.
>
> IMHO the strongest argument here is that the General Plan has a 20- year
> lifespan. Even if you're skeptical about "telepresence centers"  
> or "electronic ridematching," over the coming two decades the variety
> and viability of technologies which can potentially increase
> productivity and quality-of-life while simultaneously reducing
> automobile traffic is going to increase. Putting this language in now
> lays a foundation for paying attention to these opportunities in the
> coming years.
>
> Transportation funds are a huge part of how our Public money is spent.  
> For instance, the proposed Indianola interchange on Hwy 101 between
> Eureka and Arcata could pay for a redundant fiber-optic link to Redding
> twice over. This seems like a decent opportunity to try and herd our
> transit planners towards more innovative solutions in the future.
>
> It's not just about driving technology either; it's also about
> effectively managing traffic. Nobody likes rush hour in Eureka, but
> expanding road capacity historically has *at best* a temporary impact on
> congestion -- at least this is what study after study has told us since
> Robert Moses first noticed the effect in New York City in 1942.  
> It makes a lot of sense to me to encourage the county to think outside
> the box, and I'm happy to add my name to the document.
>
> Cheers
> -josh
>
> ------------------------------------------
> Josh Koenig, Partner
> http://www.chapterthreellc.com
> AOL IM: chap3josh
> 1-888-822-4273
>
>
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-- 
Bob Morse
Morse Media
http://morsemedia.net
707-444-9566
707-496-9191 (cell)
Blog: http://talkingtech.net

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