To transform transportation practice, we need to work closely with state, regional and city transportation agencies whose staff is largely responsible for street design in this country. PPS has hired Gary Toth, whose long experience at New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) has contributed incredibly to PPS’s credibility in assisting agencies that are seeking to change the way they do business. We have already participated in a number of agency workshops and conferences, which we plan to build on, to develop long-term relationships.

PPS is also undertaking a campaign—Thinking Beyond the Station—to influence the planning and design of transit centers (bus, railway, subway stations) to become catalysts for increased economic vitality and environmental sustainability as well as improving health, civic engagement, and servicing people’s transit needs. In partnership with the Center for Transit Oriented Development (CTOD), we expect to achieve broad-based reform in the role of transit in communities—fundamental to reducing traffic demand and achieving great streets.

Upcoming tasks under this activity include:

• PPS continues to serve on the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Urban Design Working Group, which is using best practices to create design guidelines for the streets and communities around transit stops and stations. These guidelines will help transit agencies create well-integrated facilities that serve as community gathering places.
• Building on the "Context Sensitive Solutions" and "Streets as Places" trainings that PPS has conducted for many DOTs and transportation professionals, PPS will design and market a DOT-focused training program incorporating recent PPS products, including the Great Corridors, Great Communities publication. The goal will be develop capacity within city and state DOTs to promote culture change, creativity, and enthusiasm for community engagement. The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is one potential partner for this effort.
• PPS plans to prepare a new handbook, a Reader’s Digest Summary of Design Guides and Manuals, to summarize the hidden flexibility in transportation design manuals.