Transition Action Team Update

In the past few weeks we’ve gained several new members and participated in the Oct. 24 Northern AZ Sustainable Living Workshops. Our latest project is writing comments on the draft Flagstaff Pathways 2030 Regional Transportation Plan. We think most of the underlying assumptions will turn out to be wrong; the draft plan is designed for a future that will not materialize. Likewise, the plan will not be adequate to meet the actual needs of residents in the greater Flagstaff area in 2030. It assumes our economy in 2030 will be the same as now – based on tourism, government/education, retail, and emerging high-tech industry exports. It also assumes that pedestrian, bicycle and mass transit trips will increase only a couple of percentage points by 2030.

We know that peak oil and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will lead our economy and lifestyles away from reliance on fossil fuels (See figures 1, 2 and 3 below). By 2030, long-distance trade will diminish, especially for necessities like food, water, energy and building materials. Relocalization of basic needs will form our economic foundation. The greater Flagstaff area will once again need to produce much of its own food and live within an annual sustainable water and renewable energy budget. Remaining long distance transport will happen by train, not trucks. Regional development is likely to cluster into dense, mixed-use communities. Driving will not be a daily activity for most people. The new highways that the FMPO believes will be needed in 2030 to reduce traffic congestion, like the proposed Hwy 180 bypass across Observatory Mesa and 89A bypass through Picture Canyon are unnecessary, not to mention ecologically and archeologically destructive.

We think that transportation needs in 2030 include:

• The need for people to walk to work, school, farmer’s markets, and other everyday activities within their own neighborhood.
• Comprehensive and interlinked bicycle paths, trails and mass transit services to facilitate travel between neighborhoods and regional communities.
• The need to transport local and regionally-grown food from the city and surrounding county areas to population centers.
• As in the past, some products may be delivered directly to people’s homes (like the milkman). Other deliveries may take place at centralized locations that people can walk or bike to for pick up (like today’s natural foods buying clubs).
• Large parking lots can be redeveloped for more useful purposes like city farms or affordable housing.
• Most vehicles, whether larger vehicles for delivery or small vehicles for personal use, will be electric and will require electric charging stations.

Figure 1. Association for the Study of Peak Oil

Figure 2. World oil production has plateaued in the last few years
EIA = US Energy Information Administration, official energy tracking agency for the U.S. Government
IEA = International Energy Agency, adviser to 28 countries including Russia, China, and the U.S.

Figure 3. New Scientist magazine shows the rise in global temperatures

Transition Action Team contacts:

• Lisa Rayner, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Ward David, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Bill Sheppard, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Chris Watson, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Join Our Team

Fill out our Action Team Form and sign up to be part of the Friends of Flagstaff Transition Initiative Team