Author: roby.115

Klusman,Roby & Associates Blog 8!

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Traffic Flow

-Near campus, namely on Woodruff Avenue, Neil Avenue and High Street are two-way roads. This makes sense as all of these roads are major thoroughfares that round out the northern edge of campus. Norwich Avenue is a one-way road, running from High Street to Neil Ave on the route. This also makes sense as it is a secondary road passing through the neighborhood north of campus, where traffic is not as dense. The speed limit on Woodruff Avenue is 20 miles per hour. This reduced speed makes sense considering the number of pedestrians on campus. The speed limit on Neil Avenue is 25 miles per hour. The speed limit on High Street is 25 miles per hour, despite being the largest street near campus. This does make sense however considering how busy much of High Street is. Drivers, however, do not typically seem to pay much attention to speed limits along any of these roads, especially along High Street. This may be due in part to the relative lack of speed limit signs along these roads. In fact, along Norwich Avenue, there are no speed limit signs from High until Neil.

Sidewalks

-Sidewalks on campus along Woodruff and Neil are very well maintained. They are wide and there are no gaps. In addition to this, there is very nice landscaping near sidewalks. This also applies to the sidewalks along High Street, although they are not as well maintained and are noticeably dirtier. As one goes further from campus into the neighborhoods, the sidewalks are in worse shape. I noticed many cracks in not only the sidewalks but also in crosswalks on the street. In addition to this, in multiple places along Norwich, there were large gaps in the sidewalk in which there was no sidewalk at all. In these areas, the city could improve sidewalk conditions greatly by repaving them or replacing them entirely.

Street Width

-Neil Avenue and Woodruff Avenue are two-lane roads, with one lane going in each direction. This is appropriate for a non-major road going through campus. It is not necessary to either of these roads due to Lane Avenue running East-West and High Street running North-South nearby which are larger thoroughfares and much busier roads. Expanding Neil and Woodruff road would make them less safe roads for the campus as it would likely cause people to drive on campus in a faster and less safe mode. Norwich Avenue is a one-lane, one-way road with ample room for parking on either side. As it is running through a neighborhood, this makes sense. Expanding this road would change the character of the neighborhood. Currently, it is quiet and quaint. Should the road be expanded it would again cause people to drive faster and more dangerously through the neighborhood. High Street is one of the roads near that could use expansion. It is very busy and often has traffic backups. It is, however, already an intimidating road to cross as a pedestrian and expanding the road would only enhance the danger that comes with crossing such a busy road, one on which very few drivers obey speed laws, no less.

Street Safety

-Woodruff, Neil, and Norwich are all very pedestrian safe and have many safe crosswalks. They all feature plenty of marked and lit crosswalks, speed limits are low and typically obeyed, and traffic is relatively light, all of which makes crossing safer. High Street can be more intimidating to cross, especially since some of the most convenient nearby crosswalks are unlit and have no signals, such as the crossing along High near Frambes. This is likely one of the most dangerous crossings near campus and could greatly benefit from the addition of lighting that could be activated upon wishing to cross the road.

Accessibility

-The city seems to have done well making sure that people with physical disabilities are able to get around easily. Every corner has curb ramps to cross the road, meaning that there are little to no accessibility issues. However, sidewalk conditions in the neighborhoods could possibly make getting around harder for those with disabilities. The area is very pedestrian-friendly and safe for individuals to get around.

KR & Associates! Blog 7

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Ari Roby & Casey Klusman
Blog 7

Hurricane Andrew of 1992

Overview:
Hurricane Andrew took place on August 24th, 1992 in South Florida. This was a category five hurricane which is catastrophic with winds up to 165 miles per hour. Hurricane Andrew was the most expensive natural disaster in U.S History as of 1992 until Hurricane Katrina came in 2005 according to the National Park Services. This was the most dangerous disaster to ever hit South Flordia. The hurricane also leftover 250,000 people homeless and 82,000 businesses were destroyed or damaged. A little over 25 people also died and 445 were injured or became ill due to the natural disaster. Only three category five hurricanes have happened in the US and Hurricane Andrew was one of them which cost about twenty-six billion dollars in damages.

Communication:
The human impact described by the stories coming out after Hurricane Andrew is devastating. The hurricane hit south of Miami, heavily impacting poorer families in Dade County, especially the families of migrant workers and struggling young families, according to a 1992 New York Times article published the day after Andrew struck. One story tells of a family that owned a fish market and was forced to huddle in the fish locker for hours, wondering whether they were about to die. Another tells of a group of strangers at a motel desperately trying to hold the ceiling together above them as the wind beat down. Looting was rampant as people tried to scavenge supplies so they could survive the coming days. In addition to making 250,000 people homeless, the storm also knocked out the power for 1.3 million households. Due to Andrew occurring before the widespread use of cellphones, this made communication with friends, family and rescue services very difficult. It also completely destroyed Homestead Air Force Base, causing further complications for 6,500 militaries and 1,000 civilian workers according to a Miami Herald article reflecting on Andrew’s devastating impact.

Vulnerability:
One key factor that led to the destruction that Andrew caused was its sheer size. Though it is a relatively small hurricane in terms of size, it had rainbands stretching about 100 miles out on either side of the eye, meaning the storm itself was over 200 miles wide. Compounding this, the extreme wind speed reached the peak of the hurricane was nearly 175 miles per hour. It was ranked at the time as having the third most intense landfall in United States history, only having been surpassed hurricanes Michael and Katrina and Maria since. Due to the Miami area’s coastal location, its vulnerability to Hurricanes is greatly increased, especially due to the warm waters in the area that help to increase wind speeds. Additionally, the technology of the time-limited immediate assistance that was able to be given. Nowadays when a storm hits, one is able to call the police or fire department using their cellphone should power go out. However, due to it being 1992, cell phones were not widely used, limiting people’s ability to communicate and perform immediate aid when necessary.

Future Improvements & Implementation
A strategy that can be used to protect people is to be prepared. Having a bag ready with supplies just in case something happens is a great way to ensure safety. Another strategy would be Mitigation, which is also a great way to ensure that you are protected because it minimizes the effects of hazardous events. This also helps with reducing the chances of an emergency happening. This also reduces the damages of an emergency in case it still happens. Another way to prepare for a natural disaster is to educate yourself on them. Education to explain land use and regulations is very important. You should make sure where you are moving does not flood a lot or is prone to disasters. Being aware of the environment you choose to live in is very important in ensuring that you are prepared. A potential barrier to adopting the strategies is the cost. Implementing ways to mitigate in your areas can be extremely costly. The land has to be purchased in areas that are prone to disasters which can be very expensive. Being prepared for any natural disaster is at least having the essentials you need and an evacuation plan if need be. Programs to help ensure that places that are more subject to disasters are taken care of like Florida should be funded by the city or government. There are many websites for getting insurance on your home in Florida due to the amount of flooding. Implementing the right kind of machinery to help with flooding and other things could become damaged in the disaster which is another barrier. Implementation can be difficult depending on the area and the amount of money available in that space.

Bibliography
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00020139.htm
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/special-reports/hurricane-andrew/article169038402.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article32006499.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/25/us/hurricane-andrew-amid-wreckage-survivors-tell-their-stories.html
https://www.nps.gov/articles/hurricane-andrew-1992.htm
https://www.iii.org/article/hurricane-andrew-fact-sheet

KRD & Associates Blog #4

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Issue #1 Traffic Problems in Columbus,OH
Many of the jobs in the city have moved out of the heart of downtown into the suburbs, which are underserved by bus routes. Some residents have a commute of 30 minutes or more. Underserved communities, usually composed of minorities, struggle to find reliable transportation to and from work. The city has taken steps to increase reliability and expand the location of bus stops but there is still more that can be done. As the city grows, investments must be made in more reliable public transportation. Minorities and underserved communities are suffering the most as a result of this broken system. For there to be a difference, people should be prioritized over vehicles. The city has to figure out how to do this in an efficient way of advocating for the people who don’t have cars or a way around the city.

The Advocacy approach would highlight helping those without the means to get around. Things like a shuttle or bike share and scooter share are services that are convenient while trying to get around. These services are not only more convenient, but they are also beneficial to the environment. They are sustainable transportation services that are a greater good for those who use public transit. The flip side to this approach would be people who don’t use public transit may not like it. The scooter-share could get in the way of those who want to drive the speed limit. The scooters have to be driven in the street so they could easily be in the way of others. Even though there may be cons to focusing on those who are facing the most issues, it still helps. The advocacy approach focuses on one specific issue which would be looking out for those in need of a better transportation system.

The Economic approach to this issue would maximize economic gains and prioritize making a profit from an improved transportation system. Everything would be designed to maximize revenues and make the system more efficient. This can be beneficial for many different reasons. An economic approach to the transportation issue in Columbus would look at placing stops in areas to spur economic development and to help residents get to those areas safely. These areas, which are traditionally underserved and underdeveloped now have access to public transportation. Some cons to this approach could include some areas being left out as a result of companies trying to maximize revenue. Locations with a high minority population may be left out due to their lack of funds to pay for the transportation, therefore, the stops will not be in their neighborhoods. Implementing policies to improve the efficiency of public transportation along with increasing the number of stops and routes throughout the community and underserved areas will help to alleviate the stresses felt by many members of the community who depend on public transportation.

Issue #2 Affordable Housing in Columbus,OH
As Columbus continues to grow, especially in parts of downtown, new housing developments are popping up everywhere but not as quick as they are needed. A gap of 54,000 housing units currently exists in Franklin County alone. These housing developments can change the entire look and feel of a neighborhood, displacing residents in many cases. Most of these residents include the poor and minority populations. These residents cannot afford to live in these new apartment complexes so they have to pick up their lives and move as a result of the high demand for new housing. This can be detrimental to a family as a result. Not only have they lost their homes, but they also have lost their friends, schools, and in some cases, jobs. This is a major issue facing Columbus but many groups are looking at ways to solve the housing problem.

The Advocacy approach to this issue is to continue to expand affordable housing initiatives. It is important to build low-income housing in a variety of areas, rather than specifically in the inner city or on the periphery of suburbs where they remain out of sight and out of mind. This planned approach would require that affordable housing be built in the suburbs where residents of the units are close to services and other amenities, such as busing and good-paying jobs. This will help to build mixed-income neighborhoods in which the rich and the poor can coexist. This would not only make affordable housing more convenient and valuable to the people using it, but it would also close the sizable deficit of housing present in Franklin County and the rest of Central Ohio. Unfortunately, many people currently living in these suburbs may not be on board. Many residents worry that the presence of affordable housing in wealthier suburbs could lower land values and possibly raise crime in the area. However, as shown through successful mixed-income neighborhoods in Grove City and Whitehall, these fears are largely baseless and do not occur when these affordable housing initiatives are put into effect. The advocacy approach would be focusing on addressing the needs of those who do not have access to affordable housing through new initiatives and the development of new units.

The Economic approach to this issue would again look at how to maximize profits when it comes to affordable housing. They would look at ways to improve the efficiency of the building process and to maximize the number of units included in a new development. To make housing affordable in certain areas, demographics must be taken into account. Affordable housing units will not always bring in the best profits but they only usually make up 20-30% of the units in the entire complex. Some pros to using this approach would be the ability to jumpstart economic development in certain areas through the construction of affordable housing. Depending on the location, workers could have better access to public transportation and more job opportunities. Some cons include developers only focusing on areas that can make them the most profit which usually leaves out minorities and underserved populations. To avoid leaving these populations behind, a policy of a minimum percentage of affordable housing units in each new apartment complex could help these minorities be successful.

Works Cited
Housing
https://www.columbusceo.com/business/20190826/columbus-affordable-housing-push-grows
https://www.dispatch.com/business/20190928/construction-of-new-homes-and-apartments-lags-far-behind-need-in-central-ohio
https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190204/lack-of-affordable-housing-is-suburban-problem-too
Transportation
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/oct/03/free-public-transport-downtown-workers-columbus-car
https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/01/31/columbus-must-revolutionize-our-transit.html

Stranded In Central Ohio

By:Sam DeLong,Casey Klusman,& Ari Roby