Touching Third Rails: Multimodality and Residential Upzoning

This presentation examines the envisioned transformation of a car-centric, mid-20th-century suburban corridor through the University Boulevard Corridor Plan in Montgomery County, Maryland. It focuses on converting a state highway - characterized by speed, fragmented land use, and cul-de-sacs - into a vibrant, multimodal corridor. Presenters address the challenges of aligning bold planning ideals (such as increasing travel options and housing diversity) with existing suburban conditions, including zoning, land use, and public outreach. They explore how suburban nostalgia and resistance to change can hinder progress, and how storytelling and irony can communicate planning challenges and foster consensus.

Learn practical strategies for navigating suburban transformation and engaging communities more effectively. Bold planning ideals, including right-sizing transportation infrastructure to safely accommodate travel options beyond the car, and rezoning to increase housing diversity, are critical to advancing equity in suburban communities. Presenters share lessons learned from one planning effort that sought to advance these bold planning ideals - encountering significant resistance - to ensure that planners are better prepared to navigate similar challenges and drive effective change.
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