Editor’s Note: This story is part of a month-long series that highlights 31 ideas included in the “Mansfield Rising” plan. The 67-page document was created by 15 local leaders after attending the South by Southwest Conference last March in Austin, Texas.
Encourage transit and pedestrian supportive amenities
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MANSFIELD — The ‘Mansfield Rising’ plan proposes public transportation and walkability are dependent on good land-planning use.
Therefore, the ‘Mansfield Rising’ team has suggested the city encourage more transit and pedestrian friendly amenities.
For instance, the plan encourages new real estate developments to have transit supportive amenities like sidewalks, proper lighting and places for future transit stops, which reviewed by and involve transit and transportation agencies.
The plan highlights State College, Pennsylvania’s Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) as a “good example.” The CATA has worked with developers through a voluntary plan review process to secure transit-supportive elements as part of new real estate developments.
They have done this over time by building a transit culture and setting expectations with developers.
Cost: There is not capital cost, but there will be indirect costs. Both the city planning commission and Richland County Transit will need to commit additional resources with additional staff support, coordination and review time.
Partners: This will require coordination and joint planning review within the development review process. This means coordination between developers, consulting engineers, city, planning commission members, transit and planning agencies.
Timeline: With buy-in from the city of Mansfield, process changes could be implemented within a year and should be a long-term strategy with collaboration between transit, developers and the city of Mansfield.
Join us for a live discussion of the “Ideas of March” series and the “Mansfield Rising” plan on Thursday, April 4.
