Posted July 27, 2023 in Weblog

2021 Strolling School Fellow Scott White is off to a Quick Begin

Because the launch of the Strolling School program eight years in the past, about 300 native advocates have accomplished their Fellowships and written Strolling Motion Plans for his or her communities.  Virtually all of them scored vital “walkability wins” inside a yr or two of graduating, however only a few have achieved such substantial early successes as Scott White (2021 Fellow from El Paso, Texas).

Key objectives in Scott’s Strolling Motion Plan had been for the Metropolis of El Paso to undertake Full Streets and Imaginative and prescient Zero Insurance policies.  In 2022, following sustained advocacy from Scott and others, the Metropolis adopted its Full Streets Coverage, which has been ranked the third strongest within the nation by the Nationwide Full Streets Coalition, a program of Sensible Development America. And, inside the previous few weeks, the Metropolis Council additionally permitted the El Paso Imaginative and prescient Zero Plan – simply in time to use for a federal Secure Streets for All grant to pay for implementation.

Why Advocacy Issues

Scott could be the primary to acknowledge that coverage wins corresponding to these happen due to sustained advocacy stress involving many people and teams over an prolonged time, however his efforts since finishing the Strolling School have been crucial.  “The Strolling School, together with all my mentors and fellows, gave me a complete new set of instruments, views and sources to work with,” stated Scott. Alongside the best way, Scott’s work has additionally contributed to  the creation  of the Metropolis of El Paso’s first Bicycle and Pedestrian Program,  a Mobility Supervisor place, and the approaching creation of a Regional Imaginative and prescient Zero Security Motion Plan by the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Group (with funding by the Secure Streets and Roads grant program, and the native match coming from the County of El Paso and different native municipalities). 

On the State degree, Scott leads campaigns for Farm&Metropolis, a number one Texas primarily based 501(c)3  statewide advocacy group that focuses on plenty of high quality of life points, together with land use, lively transportation, and reforming the Texas transportation system.  Listed below are a number of the Transportation Payments handed by the Texas State Legislature this session, which Farm&Metropolis launched and/or lobbied for:

• “Crash not Accident” – to revise language in transportation-related codes and laws
• “Variable pace limits” – permits the Texas Dept. of Transportation District Engineers to set decreased pace limits applicable to situations (eg. work zones, crashes, climate corresponding to  ice, fog, , and so on.) with out going by a 30-day approval course of
• “ADA Parking Areas” – Farm&Metropolis efficiently fought off an effort to permit these areas for use by non-disabled drivers for brief stops

And their “Secure Neighborhood Streets” invoice, which might have allowed cities to undertake decrease residential pace limits, got here very near passing and shall be re-introduced within the subsequent session.

All in all, it’s been a really spectacular run of coverage successes since Scott White graduated from the Strolling School 21 months in the past.

As a last notice, Scott would even have us keep in mind to continue to learn, to remain engaged, to maintain working for a extra walkable neighborhood, but additionally to rejoice your personal wins (even the little ones) alongside the best way. Thanks for all you might be doing, and we at America Walks, and the Strolling School are proud to be part of your persevering with work.

If you want to study extra concerning the Strolling School program, click on right here to study extra.