Visualize Vélib' Atlanta First Charrette - Scope of Work

Summary

This document is intended to address EDAW concerns regarding the nature and level of commitment the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (ABC) is expecting from them in hosting and assisting with a proposed charrette to explore the creation of a Vélib’ bike rental system here along the lines of the one that opened in Paris last summer.

Background

For those unfamiliar with this project the original proposal is accessible on-line as a post in the Visualize Vélib' Atlanta - The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign blog. This blog is intended to provide an easy-to-use collaborative framework for the project. Currently anyone can submit comments. As committed partners are identified, they will be invited to contribute articles as well.

Focus on First Charrette

EDAW's request for a scope of work has led us to reconsider our original proposal, or more accurately, to focus attention specifically on defining how EDAW can help with our near-term goals. To that end we now see the project as consisting of two charrettes: the first one limited to select stakeholders and intended primarily to create a framework for and mobilize interest in the second public charrette. We are only asking EDAW's commitment for the first charrette, although any assistance they may want to offer with regard to the second would be more than welcome.

Estimated Number of Participants

The first charrette would gather around two dozen or so representatives of organizations (see list below) or private individuals who, because of their personal or institutional orientation, have a serious interest in exploring the feasibility a Vélib’-like system in the Atlanta area. Their mandate would be to become informed about the Paris system and to develop a preliminary framework that could be used to orchestrate the efforts of 100 or more participants in a public charrette to follow.

Format and Scheduling

Given that ABC has no expertise in organizing a charrette, we propose, tentatively, that such an event take place on a Saturday, between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm at the EDAW offices. We defer to EDAW to let us know whether such an arrangement is reasonable, given the amount of work to be done, and whether alternatives - for example, one or more weeknights of shorter duration - would be preferable.

We feel that time is of the essence with regard to scheduling. A buzz has started to build around this concept and we have an opportunity to tap into and channel that excitement. To this end we suggest that the first charrette be scheduled as soon as practicable - perhaps Saturday, January 12th, at the earliest - although, again, we defer to EDAW for naming a date or dates that are convenient for them. Most importantly we need for first charrette to be completed in enough time to allow us to schedule and prepare for the public one in early spring 2008.

Nature of Assistance

The best way to characterize the kind of assistance we seek from EDAW is to note that some of us were participants in the public sessions that EDAW managed for Beltline-related planning a couple of years back. Although Vélib’ Atlanta hardly compares in complexity with the Beltline project, we suspect that there are similarities with regard to how to go about preparing for a public charrette. We imagine also that those Beltline sessions were hatched in some sort of preliminary design meeting. If we could replicate that design meeting, whatever it was, with our first charrette, we would consider it a success. In other words, this is a "I'll have what she's having," kind of request for assistance.

Depending on the format of the first charrette, it would seem that refreshments, or a light lunch, would be in order. We would be delighted if EDAW would make such arrangements and even more delighted if EDAW could pay for them, although having ABC pick up the tab and / or asking for contributions from participants is not at all out of the question.

Potential Invitees

Since a strategic goal of the first charrette is to mobilize interest in the public one to follow and, by implication, in the possibility of creating a Vélib’ system in Atlanta, the participants are expected to bring with them not only technical or area expertise, but also a commitment to solicit support for future work from their respective constituencies. In addition, it should be stated that the bicycling community will be well-represented, since they understand firsthand what it means to get around Atlanta by bike and, hence, their experience is essential to the success of this project.

Below is a list of organizations, businesses, and government departments who may be invited to participate in the first charrette. It is preliminary in every way, so additions and corrections are welcome. We want to have a broad-based involvement as possible while staying within the limit proposed for the number of participants.

The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign
EDAW
Veolia

The City of Atlanta (Dept of Planning, Public Works, Mayor's Office, Comprehensive Transportation Plan Team)
The City of Decatur
Fulton County

Georgia State University
Georgia Tech University
Emory University
The Atlanta University Center

MARTA
Atlanta Beltline Inc and the Beltline Partnership
The Beltline Network
Atlanta Regional Commission, Bike/Ped Coordinator
Georgia DOT, Bike/Ped Coordinator
Transit Planning Board, Director

Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA)
Midtown Alliance/Midtown Transportation Solutions
Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association (BATMA)
Atlantic Station Access + Mobility Plan (ASAP+)
The Transportation Management Association Network
Georgia Institute of Transportation Engineers
FlexCar
Center for Quality Growth
The Clean Air Campaign

The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
Central Atlanta Progress
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Georgia Bikes
Southern Bicycling League
Faster Moustache
Sopo Bicycle Co-op
Metro Atlanta Cycling Club
The North Georgia Bicycle Dealers Association

Richard Wittschiebe Hand Design
Livable Communities Coalition
Southface Energy Institute

French Consulate
Alliance Française Atlanta
Latin American Association