Initiatives

Past and Present Projects

Traffic 21 Study

$200,000 Grant to inform a Shaler Comprehensive Plan

Chris Watts and I worked together through Walk Bike Shaler to write a grant application for a competitive CMU Traffic 21 “Smart Mobility Challenge” Grant.

We had written for several grants before this, but the $200,000 Traffic 21 Remaking Cities Study of Shaler Township’s Mount Royal corridor aimed to understand and improve Shaler’s mobility between businesses, schools, parks, and other culturally important destinations.

Feel free to check out the full report, though, at over 50 pages you might want to skim it. The takeaway could be summarized like this: The report indicated that Shaler Township’s first step to improve both equity and safety, as well as connect businesses and schools, is to install sidewalks on Mount Royal Boulevard. While this is only the first step toward connecting other parts of the Township, I would be honored to help lead the effort in engaging with the community.

BetterBoulevard

A new plan for Mount Royal Boulevard and a vision for a more connected community

I’ve been the driving force advocating for the #BetterBoulevard Initiative, championing safer and more accessible streets for all, especially around our busy community hub encompassing Kiwanis Park, the Shaler Area Middle School and Titan Field, and the Shaler North Hills Library.

Check the presentation, here.

It’s probably important to note that, though I had come up with the BetterBoulevard name, the concept was something we discussed frequently in Walk Bike Shaler meetings. I credit all participants in those meetings with helping to inform the idea that Chris Watts and I would later pitch to CMU to independently certify as the best option.

So will anything ever happen with the BetterBloulevard? That depends on leadership. There are still parts not complete, but those interested in the preliminary ideas can see some of it on this slide deck. Again, these are just ideas, but they are some of the best we could identify that had no impact on homeowners and still improved mobility greatly.