Communication

I advocate for alternative transportation and dense, walkable development through various mediums. Below are a few samples:

Advocacy

I serve on the State College Borough Transportation Commission, advising on infrastructure and policy projects which impact public transit, parking, and development. As a member on the commission, I’ve advocated for converting an underused interchange adjacent to downtown into an at-grade intersection. My plan would increase walkability and housing supply by expanding downtown and Penn State University campus. Learn more about this plan.

I often make written and verbal comments at other local government meetings about new development proposals and transportation projects. I prepared this handout in support of rezoning for dense, mixed-use future development called Patton Crossing, rather than Euclidian commercial and apartment tracts. The rezoning process had attracted opposition because of fears of congestion and concern over tall buildings.

Comments for improvements to a development in Patton Township, PA

I spoke many times relating to Patton Crossing. A selection are below:

1:10:00-1:12:45 + 1:30:00-1:30:30: Patton Township Board of Supervisors Meeting April 25, 2018 presenting the handout above and advocating for the priorities it articulates.

52:35-54:00: Patton Township Board of Supervisors Meeting February 13, 2019 discussing potential urban connections and transit corridors which should be created and expanded in the Patton Crossing Sketch Plan.

1:55:30-1:59:00: Patton Township Board of Supervisors Meeting June 12, 2019 discussing the success of Patton Crossing and advocating for the rezoning of an adjacent lot which is slated to receive suburban-style development.

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I speak about many zoning and transportation topics at municipal government meetings. A selection are below:

1:56:55-1:59:30: State College Borough Council Meeting July 6, 2020 arguing that the downtown parking supply and demand study’s conclusion of an overall parking oversupply is reason to implement parking maximums to make downtown State College more affordable and attractive to residents and visitors.

2:15:15-2:18:00: State College Borough Council Meeting January 13, 2020 dispelling myths about a summertime closure of Allen Street in downtown State College. These myths include the failings of pedestrian malls which do not apply to thriving downtowns near college campuses, congested streets which in truth would still be under capacity, and fire safety concerns which should not outweigh the much more likely concern of car crashes.

59:25-1:03:55: State College Borough Council Meeting January 13, 2020 alerting the council of a problem in the zoning code where ground floor retail is not necessarily at the level of the sidewalk, creating tall, blank, ground-floor facade walls which make walking downtown less interesting.

30:20-32:20: State College Borough Transportation Commission May 14, 2019 advocating for two entrances to a new Penn State West Campus parking structure, to increase urban connections rather than separating the area into suburban culs-de-sac.

2:43:30-2:48:30: Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors Meeting May 6, 2019 discussing the North Atherton Mobility Study: advocating for a protected bike lane rather than a shared-use path to future-proof for urban development; for removal of plans for bus stop pull-offs which would delay eight times more people than buses stopped in traffic lanes; and for reconsideration of the removal of bus stops to increase Level-of-Service metrics slightly.

1:24:30-1:27:00: State College Borough Council Meeting November 19, 2018 advocating against the cost and negative externalities of underground parking in new developments downtown and for parking maximums rather than minimums.