Rochester Street Films: The Sprawl Effect

First, we’ll share a collection of film clips diving into the development styles of the past 70 years to understand how we arrived where we are, and the opportunity costs and fiscal consequences of the American development style of today. Next, we’ll present local data and statistics to help frame the conversation. Finally, Abigail McHugh-Grifa, Executive Director at Climate Solutions Accelerator, will moderate a panel discussion with community planners and leaders (including Aqua Porter, Executive Director of RMAPI, and Miguel Velázquez, CEO of RTS) to help us unpack the films and presentation and apply them to the challenges and opportunities here in Monroe County. Arbitrary parking minimums, excessive zoning mandates, and federal subsidies favoring new suburban construction, have generated horizontal sprawl that is hostile to public transit and walkable, bikeable communities. In addition to causing higher climate emissions and higher taxes to maintain infrastructure, this limitation on alternative transit restricts access to jobs, groceries, and healthcare for the 12% of Monroe County and 26% of Rochester households without access to a car. For this edition of Rochester Street Films, we’ll explore how to regain transit rich environments in Monroe County following the early 20th century model of developing jobs, homes, and commercial destinations along trolley and interurban lines. By shifting our current auto-centric policies back toward public transit, walking, and biking we can adopt a 21st century approach to better connect people to resources.

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2641206-0

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2641206-2

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