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Boise Transportation Action Plan

Expanding people-first transportation options in a booming city

Sector

Transportation & Mobility

Region

North America

Timespan

2016

Credit Gehl

Boise’s rapid growth and car-oriented development is becoming financially unsustainable as the road network expands. To address this, Boise engaged Gehl to help the city prioritize active mobility, walkable streets, and quality public transit. As a trusted advisor, Gehl created the Boise Transportation Action Plan (TAP) to guide new investment and prioritize people-first mobility alternatives.

A vision for downtown Boise with high quality bike lanes, trees providing comfort and shade, open buildings that address the street, and narrowed car lanes. Credit: Gehl
Mixed use corridors including a generous pedestrian realm, small public spaces breaking up intersections, and active sidewalks. Credit: Gehl

‘Mobility Moves’ to inspire behaviour change

Boise aspires to become the most livable city in the country. However, its wide streets, designed primarily for vehicles, have negatively impacted residents’ health, quality of life, and home values. To activate a multimodal transportation system, Gehl and Sam Schwartz Engineering developed a plan to introduce safer and more efficient modes of travel to Boise.

The TAP is a road map to a modern, well-balanced transportation system that provides real mobility choices and creates great places. Gehl’s definition of ‘real mobility’ is that all citizens have the option to bike, walk, ride, or drive in safety and comfort. To realize this vision, the team at Gehl developed a set of actions or ‘Moves’ that describe strategic objectives and provide a framework for prioritizing transportation projects within the City of Boise. The ‘Moves’ articulated in the TAP are about changing the way we think about and utilize the public right-of-way. The TAP’s ‘Mobility Moves’ offer city-wide initiatives combining infrastructure investment and incentives for behavior change.

Since its launch, the TAP has become more than just a road map; it is also a tool to educate leaders, businesses, and citizens. The TAP the community’s vision, values, and goals, developed over seven years of collaborative planning with the City and its transportation partners. The guide has been awarded the Grow Smart Awards 2017.

A vision for compact neighborhoods with street geometry designed to slow traffic, ecological infrastructure in unused space, and signs and crosswalks to acknowledge pedestrian priority. Credit: Gehl
Blaine Merker, Senior Project Director, Head of Climate, Partner → Mayra Madriz, Portfolio Director →
Featured artwork: Memory Lane presented in partnership with Midsumma Festival, State Library Station 2021. Credit: Theresa Harrison

Offsetting construction impact and connecting communities in Melbourne through creative interventions

  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Transforming the Vesterbro Passage from traffic dominated space to a green, sustainable and climate adapted public space. Creating a sensory public space for a widespread range of pedestrians and city life. Credit: Gehl

Reorganising the city core into green, climate-adapted public space

  • Urban Design & Masterplanning
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Bologna Piazza Maggiore. Credit: Robin Cox

Defining the public space strategy for Bologna’s historic city center

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Due to investments in large-scale infrastructure, the density of Melbourne’s peripheral areas is increasing. This is causing significant changes in the urban fabric of suburban centers. To measure changes over time, Gehl established a benchmark study in each of the station precincts focused at impacts on the public realm and changes in public life patterns. Credit: Suburban Rail Loop Authority

Enabling future impact assessment of Melbourne’s expanding rail infrastructure

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Wilton Park, developed by IPUT Real Estate, is a landmark mixed-use development in the heart of Dublin Southside. As part of the development, new office workplaces are complemented by a transformed public realm, enhancing connectivity, accessibility, and vibrancy. Credits: IPUT Real Estate, Dublin

Measuring the impact of placemaking at Wilton Park, Dublin

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: LHM/MOR, DobnerAngermann

Modernizing Munich’s old town as a place for all

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy

‘People-first’ includes you

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