Complete Regional Transportation Plan 2012 - Cape Cod ...

especially important are the existence of unique cultural and environmental resources(e.g., historic structures, mature trees, traditional architectural styles).Livability directly benefits people who live in, work in or visit Cape Cod, increasesproperty values and business activity, and it can improve public health and safety.Livability is largely affected by conditions in our public spaces, places where peoplenaturally interact with each other and their community, including roads, conservationlands, transportation hubs and other public facilities, and so is affected by public policyand planning decisions.Transportation decisions can have a major impact on Livability. Streetscapes that areattractive, safe and suitable for a variety of transportation modes (particularly walking)are a key factor in Livability. Traffic safety, traffic noise and local air pollution,affordability, impervious surface coverage (i.e., the portion of land devoted to roads andparking), preservation of environmental and cultural structures, and opportunities forrecreation are all Livability factors often affected by transportation policies andpractices. Transportation decisions can also affect social interactions and communitycohesion. Pedestrian-friendly streets create opportunities for people to meet andinteract, helping to create community networks.Traditional transportation planning tends to emphasize vehicle mobility improvementsover other Livability objectives. Many roads were designed primarily to maximize trafficflow, and buildings were designed to maximize parking convenience. Far greaterresources were devoted to automobile facilities (road and parking) than fornonmotorized modes. There is now increasing appreciation of the importance ofLivability objectives. Planners realize that roads often play multiple roles as both travelcorridors and places for community interaction. Many communities now favor roadwayimprovements that reduce traffic speeds and limit traffic volumes for the sake ofLivability. The principles of Livability have been implicit in all editions of the Cape CodRegional Transportation Plan (RTP). In this 2012 RTP as a guide to readers, eachsection that directly supports Livability is identified with the green circled L symbol:LThe MPO continues to support Livability through the endorsement of supportingprojects developed for the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Recent TIPprojects are shown in Section 1.5.1 later in this chapter. Livability projects are indicatedwith the green circled L symbol in Table 3.Chapter 1: Goals & Objectives Cape Cod Regional Transportation Plan | August 2011Page 12