Kelowna city council has endorsed the goals of a new transportation master plan being prepared by city staff.
On Monday, council approved the 12 goals, which will now allow staff to move on to the second phase of the plan, identifying the challenges that lay ahead as it tries is to provide more transportation options for city residents.
The plan is de-emphasizing the original desire cut the number of vehicles on local roads, with a change of wording.
The new master plan includes a reworded the vision statement that says the city is using diverse transportation options to help it 乌鸦传媒渟hift away乌鸦传媒� from its car-centric culture, rather than 乌鸦传媒渕ove away乌鸦传媒� from it, as stated in an earlier version.
乌鸦传媒淯ltimately, this vision is intended to articulate the community乌鸦传媒檚 aspirations for the future of transportation in Kelowna, and was written to align with Imagine Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 (vision),乌鸦传媒� says city transportation engineer Gordon Foy.
He told council shifting away from Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 car-centric culture does not mean banning private vehicles altogether.
乌鸦传媒淢any trips will always be more convenient in a personal vehicle,乌鸦传媒� said Foy, adding not everyone has to make the switch from private vehicles to other forms of transportation, such as buses, cycling and walking, to benefit from less congestion.
Related story: Alternative transportation driving Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 new plan
A staff report on the master plan says 59 per cent of the trips Kelowna residents make are short enough to walk of ride a bike.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 about giving more choices to as many people as possible,乌鸦传媒� says the report.
The 12 goals乌鸦传媒攗p from the original 10 in the preliminary plan乌鸦传媒攔emain largely the same, but were revised slightly to reflect public and stakeholder feedback and provide more clarity, said Foy.
One goal, however, was totally renamed. Ensure Value For Public Investment replaces To Reduce Capital And Operating Costs.
The 12 goals include:
乌鸦传媒� Improve safety乌鸦传媒擱educe the frequency and severity of collisions involving people who are walking, biking and driving.
乌鸦传媒� Foster a growing community乌鸦传媒擲upport the city乌鸦传媒檚 growing economy by ensuring the transportation system connects people to jobs and promotes the efficient movement of goods.
乌鸦传媒� Optimize travel times乌鸦传媒擶ork to ensure optimized and predictable travel times for all modes of transportation (ex: driving, walking, biking, transit).
乌鸦传媒� Improve travel sources乌鸦传媒擡nsure residents and visitors have access to multiple means of getting around so they can choose what best meets their needs for a given trip.
乌鸦传媒� Promote inclusive transportation乌鸦传媒擡nsure the transportation network serves everyone, including all ages, incomes and abilities.
乌鸦传媒� Enhance urban centres乌鸦传媒擡nsure the transportation system supports and encourages sustainable, efficient growth within urban areas.
乌鸦传媒� Support livable communities乌鸦传媒擡nsure the transportation system helps support overall neighbourhood livability, quality of life and builds a strong sense of community.
乌鸦传媒� Be innovative and flexible乌鸦传媒擜dapt to emerging technologies and a changing climate by creating a transportation system that is resilient and responsive to future change.
乌鸦传媒� Enhance travel affordability乌鸦传媒擱educe the cost of travel for individuals by ensuring a wide range of affordable transportation options are available in Kelowna.
乌鸦传媒� Improve health乌鸦传媒擨mprove resident health by making it easier for people to be physically active (e.g. biking and walking) and reducing exposure to air pollutants caused by vehicles.
乌鸦传媒� Protect the environment乌鸦传媒擱educe the impact of transportation on our agricultural land, sensitive ecosystems, water, and air.
乌鸦传媒� Ensure value for public investment乌鸦传媒擬ake efficient use of public funding by maximizing benefits and reducing the costs of transportation infrastructure.
