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Periodically, we send postcards to our friends and colleagues updating them on the progress of Eisen|Letunic. Let us know if you would like to Postcards September 2007 Three new non-motorized transportation plans: for the Bay Area, Contra Costa County and Caltrain | Our first project wins an award from APA's Northern California section | Articles in California Planner and Northern News April 2007 Smart growth development services in the North Bay | San Francisco pedestrian master plan | On-call contract with MTC | Article in California Planner October 2006 San Francisco streetscape master plan | Sonoma countywide bicycle and pedestrian master plan | San Francisco study on auto LOS reform | Fremont pedestrian master plan January 2006 Downtown San Leandro TOD strategy | Niko goes on to win a statwide APA award | We’re now a certified DBE July 2005 Our first contract! | Niko wins an award from APA's Northern California section | Eisen|Letunic in the news Awards 2007 NSCCAPA Focused-Issue Planning Award For the Alameda Countywide Strategic Pedestrian Plan The Northern California section of APA gave its 2007 award in the "focused issue" category to the Alameda Countywide Strategic Pedestrian Plan, developed by Eisen|Letunic. The jurors commented that the plan (and companion Toolkit for Improving Walkability in Alameda County) "represent one of the most comprehensive countywide pedestrian planning efforts...to date." The award is our first as a firm and is of particular significance because the Alameda plan was our first project. Read the award announcement (see first item) 2005 CCAPA Award of Merit For Protect Oakland, the safety element of the Oakland General Plan The updated safety element that Niko prepared for the city of Oakland's General Plan won a 2005 "focused issue" planning award from the California chapter of APA. The award recognized Niko’s skills in research, analysis and writing, and in creating “citizen-friendly” planning documents. The jurors praised Protect Oakland as a "beautiful, high-quality document...that clearly conveys technical information in a manner that is easily understandable by the lay person" and called it an "innovative approach to preparing a safety element" and a "great job of revitalizing an often ho-hum element." Read the award announcement (see second item) Articles and Papers An Alternative to LOS: A traffic-impact analysis standard based on auto trips generated Transportation Research Board 2008 annual meeting (January 2008; Washington, DC) The paper--co-written by Niko, Rachel Hiatt of the S.F. County Transportation Authority and Christopher E. Ferrell, PhD, of Dowling Associates--is based on a study to reform San Francisco's use of auto LOS for CEQA purposes. The paper was selected for presentation in a "Meet the Author" poster session at the 2008 annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board. Beyond Plain English: Ten best practices for creating citizen-friendly planning documents Planning, October 2007 Niko's article, published in APA's national monthly magazine, offers suggestions for creating plans that are more attractive, interesting, accessible and engaging, both visually and conceptually. Analyzing Impacts Related to Global Climate Change Under CEQA California Planner, September/October 2007 Niko co-wrote this article with Michael Hendrix, air quality scientist with the Chambers Group, to provide practical information to CEQA planners on the issue of global climate-change impacts. The article summarizes a "white paper" published by the Association of Environmental Professionals in June 2007, including eight concrete approaches for analyzing global climate-change impacts in CEQA documents. Taking a Walk in Alameda County Northern News, August 2007 Victoria and Niko wrote this article describing the Alameda Countywide Strategic Pedestrian Plan, which we developed for the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority. The plan--our firm's very first project--won a 2007 award from the Northern California section of APA, in the "focused issue" category. How Should General Plans Deal With Global Warming? California Planner, July/August 2007 Niko was prompted to write this article by the lack of official state guidance on how to address global warming in general plans. The article begins to fill that “guidance deficit” by laying out a framework through which cities and counties can address the most important considerations related to global warming in the context of their general plan. CEQA Thresholds of Significance: A do-it-yourself guide for public agencies California Planner, March/April 2007 This article--co-written by Niko and Christopher E. Ferrell, PhD, of Dowling Associates--examines the use of thresholds of significance under CEQA and provides a six-step guide for public agencies to follow in developing thresholds for use in their environmental review process. The article is based on research conducted by Niko for a study to reform San Francisco's use of automobile levels of service for CEQA purposes. Research Presentations Breaking a Planning Taboo: CEQA review without automobile LOS analysis 2007 CCAPA conference (Sept.-Oct. 2007; San Jose) Niko organized this panel discussion to explore the significant perverse consequences for sustainable transportation and land use planning that are caused by the practice of mitigating congestion impacts to motorists under CEQA. Read the presentation announcement (see second item) Measuring Up: Four key transportation reforms for improved livability 2007 CCAPA conference (Sept.-Oct. 2007; San Jose) Niko was part of a panel that discussed how outdated “policy fossils” hinder communities from promoting infill development and creating safer, more beautiful streets. Read the presentation announcement (see first item) Learning from San Francisco: Successes and lessons learned 2007 Walk/Bike California conference (Sept. 2007; Davis) In the 1990's, Niko was the founding board president of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. This presentation, given with Leah Shahum, the SFBC's current executive director, examined how bike advocates have transformed the streets of San Francisco, for the better, over the past 15 years. Why Are Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Important?: Best practices in pedestrian planning May 2007 monthly meeting of ITE, District 6 (San Francisco) Niko gave a slide presentation on best practices in pedestrian planning at the May 2007 meeting of ITE's S.F. Bay Area section. Niko's findings were based on research he conducted as part of his work on the San Francisco Pedestrian Master Plan. |
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