Location & Transportation Flashcards
Does the LT categories have any pre reqs?
No
What is smart growth?
the approach that protects undeveloped lands & contributes to developments in projects near jobs, schools, shops & other destination points w/ diverse uses
What is undeveloped land referred to as?
A greenfield
To promote smart growth, some municipalities offer increased ____ in urban areas.
Floor to area ratios (FAR)
How is FAR (floor to area ratios) calculated?
Total sq ft of building
- Divided by -
Total sq ft of the lot
What are types of buildings built on the entire lot called?
Zero lot line projects
To protect the habitat, buildings should not be developed inside ____, instead ____ sites should be preferred
Sensitive lands;
Infill sites
What is an infill lot/site?
Sites that were either previously developed on or were already being used for other purposes in urban areas
What types of sensitive lands should not be developed on?
- farmland
- sites close to wetlands & water bodies
- public parkland
- areas below floodplain
- areas part of habitats or endangered species
What are brownfield sites? What is an example?
Sites previously developed that were contaminated w/ waste or pollution
Ex: site w/ an abandoned building that has unknown contamination
What are the benefits of building on a brownfield site?
More LEED credit points, tax incentives to support development
What percentage of a project’s total greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to transportation?
50%
What percentage of the total US greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to transportation?
33%
How can a project reduce the consequences of transportation?
- access to alternative modes of transportation
- encourage walking & biking
- promote alternative fuel vehicles
What kinds of cars are eligible to be green vehicles & classified under the zero emissions vehicles by the california air resources board (CARB)?
Earned green score of 45 or more from the American council for an energy efficient economy (ACEEE)
What 4 strategies can be used to reduce fossil fuel usage for employees?
- compressed workweek (work more hours during week for a day off)
- telecommuting (work from home)
- incentives for carpooling
- parking rates made more expensive
What 2 strategies can be utilized to reduce vehicle usage in a location close to a bicycle network?
- provide bike racks
- provide showers
A healthy neighborhood should contain what?
- Wide sidewalks, benches, bicycle networks
- business centers, retail services, schools, etc within walking distance
- public transportation options accessible
- street layouts allow for easy connectivity
- support access to sustainable food (if community gardens, farmers markets & agriculture programs are established )
What does a compact development strategy promote?
Efficient neighborhoods and reduce green house gases
How many points can be rewarded for the LEED for neighborhood development location credit?
8-16
What is the intent of the LEED for neighborhood development location credit?
Avoid development on inappropriate sites, to reduce vehicle miles traveled & contribute to human health by encouraging physical activity & enhancing livability
LEED ND sites need to be ____ in order to gain points under the LEED for neighborhood development location credit. Conditional approvals or pre reviewed LEED ND sites do not count.
Certified
Why are projects pursuing the LEED for neighborhood development location not eligible to receive any other location & transportation credits?
Projects located inside a LEED ND certified land will mostly cover the goals of the other LT credits
How many points can be earned for the sensitive land protection credit? What are the parameters?
1 point - locate development on previously developed land
OR
1 point - if not previously developed, the land or a portion of the land should not fall under: prime farmland, floodplains, wetlands or water body, habitat
What is the intent of the sensitive land protection credit?
Avoid development of environmentally sensitive lands & reduce ecological impact from the location of a building on site
Floodplains are defined by what?
Floor hazard maps of FEMA
If no floodplain map exists for a potential building site, project teams will need to make sure that the area is not subject to ____% or greater change to flooding in a year.
1%
No development can be made within ___ ft of water bodies
100 ft
No development can be made within ____ ft of a wetland
50 ft
Who & what defines what is considered a prime farmland?
US department of agriculture - US code of federal regulations Title 7 Volume 6 Parts 400-699 Section 657.5
What 3 acts define endangered/threatened species?
US endangered species act,
NatureServe,
International Union for conservation of nature red list global
How many points can be earned for the high priority site credit?
1-2
What is the intent of the high priority site credit?
Encourage the project location to be inside areas w/ development constraints & promote the health of the surrounding areas
What are the 3 options for credit requirements pertaining to the high priority site credit?
Historic district OR priority designation OR brownfield remediation
How can a land be qualified as an infill site? (%)
At least 75% of land already developed w/ in 1/2 mile of the project boundary
What are considered priority designations under the high priority site credit?
- federal empowerment/enterprise/renewal community site
- a site listed by EPA’s national priorities list
- qualified low income community
- qualified difficult development area
What defines National priority sites?
US environmental protection agency (EPA)‘s national priorities list
What defines federal empowerment zones, federal enterprise communities & federal renewal communities?
US housing & urban development
Who provides funds for low income communities?
US department of treasury, community development financial institutions
How many points can be earned under the surrounding density and diverse uses credit?
1-5
What is the intent of the surrounding density & diverse uses credit?
Conserve land & protect farmland & wildlife habitats by promoting development in areas with existing density
i.e.
promoting daily walks, improving transportation efficiency, & reducing vehicle distance traveled
What are the 2 options for credits under the surrounding density & diverse use credit?
- 2-3 points - locate project on site where the 1/4 mile radius of a project boundary meets density requirements
AND/OR - 1-2 points - locate project so the building’s main entrance is w/in 1/2 mile walking distance of main entrance of 4-7 (1 point) or 8+ (2 points) existing diverse uses
Under the surrounding density & diverse uses credit, what are the categories of diverse uses?
- food retail (ex: grocery store)
- community serving retail (ex: pharmacy, hardware store)
- services (ex: bank, gym, salon, restaurant)
- civic & community facilities (ex: school, post office, church)
- community anchor uses (ex: commercial office)
Facilities from at least ___ of the 5 diverse uses categories should be present to earn points toward the surrounding density & diverse uses credit. However, the same type of diverse use cannot be counted as more than ___ diverse uses.
- 3/5
- 2
In LEED, ____ is walking distance to diverse uses that is measured from the entrance of the building to the main entrance of the diverse use
1/2 mile
How many points can be earned under the access to quality transit credit?
1-5
To whom is quality transit considerably helpful?
People who don’t own cars, elderly people who can’t drive
What is the intent of the access to quality transit credit?
Promote development in locations that have multiple transportation choices which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by cars & other negative environmental factors attributed to cars
As a credit requirement for access to quality transit, any functional building entry must be located w/in ___ walking distance of a bus, streetcar or ride share stop. Or locate entry w/in___ walking distance from bus rapid transit stops, rail stations, commuter rail stations or commuter ferry terminals
1/4 mile;
1/2 mile
For LEED credits that require walking distance calculations, walkability should be confirmed by what?
Use of paths that provide safe & comfortable environments for pedestrians & part of continuous network of sidewalks
How many points can be earned under the bicycle facilities credit?
1
Under the bicycle facilities credit, what types of storage should be provided?
Long & short term
What is the intent of the bicycle facilities credit?
Promote use of bikes, transportation efficiency, reduction of vehicle distance traveled, & improvement of human health by physical activity
For the bicycle facilities credit, the project should be located so that the building’s functional entry or bike storage is w/in ____ of a bike network
200 yards
All diverse uses should be w/in a ___ biking distance of the project boundary
3 mile
How is short term bicycle storage defined?
Used by visitors for less than 2 hours & is not an enclosed parking
How is long term bicycle storage defined?
Protected storage from rain & snow for residents or employees
Commercial or institutional projects must provide short term bike storage for __% of peak visitors, & long term bike storage for at least __% of all regular building occupants
2.5%;
5%
Short term & long term bike storage cannot be fewer than how many spaces?
4
Residential projects must provide short term bike storage for __% of peak visitors, & long term bike storage for __% all regular building occupants
2.5%;
30% (can’t be less than 1 space per residential unit)
All short term bike storage should be w/in ___ of any main entrance, & all long term bike storage should be w/in __ of any functional entrance
100 ft;
100 ft
In addition to bike storage for a commercial & institutional project, what else must be provided?
On site showers with a changing facility
How many points can be earned under the reduced parking footprint credit?
1
How do the surfaces of parking lots attribute to increase of air temperatures in urban areas?
Trapping heat & resulting in heat island effects
How do parking lots attribute to water pollution?
They are impervious surfaces that cause runoff & carry contaminants into waterways
What are ways in which we can implement transportation demand strategies under the reduced parking footprint credit?
- working from home (telecommuting)
- compressed workweek schedule
- provide shuttle for employees
- residential units sold separately from parking
- shared parking between uses
- nearby public transit
What is the intent of the reduced parking footprint credit?
Minimize environmental harm related to cars, land consumption, rainwater runoff & parking facilities
Projects should not exceed what requirements for parking capacities?
Minimum local code requirements
Projects that have not earned points under “surrounding density & diverse uses” or “access to quality transit” credits should achieve a __% reduction from the base parking capacity ratios.
20%
Projects that have earned 1+ points under either the “surrounding density & diverse uses” credit or “access to quality transportation” credit should achieve a __% reduction from the base parking capacity ratio
40%
Calculations for the reduced parking footprint credit must also include all of the project boundary parking spaces that are leased or owned by the project, except for ___
Public on street parking
Projects trying to earn credits from the reduced parking footprint category need to provide preferred parking for carpools for __% of the total parking after the reductions have been made from the base ratios.
5%
Base parking capacity ratios are referenced from the what? As shown where?
Parking consultants council;
Institute of transportation engineers’ transportation planning handbook
3rd edition
Tables 18-2 to 8-4
How many points can be earned for the green vehicles credit?
1
In the US, what percentage of total greenhouse emissions come from combustion of petroleum based fuels?
27%
What is the intent of the green vehicles credit?
Reduce pollution by encouraging alternatives to conveniently fueled cars
Under the green vehicle credit, what percentage of all parking spaces should be designated as preferred parking for green vehicles?
5%
As an alternative to providing preferred parking to green vehicles, a discounted parking rate of at least __% for green vehicles can be provided. It must be publicly posted at the entrance & available permanently.
20%
What are the 2 options for points under the green vehicles credit?
- 1 point - Electric vehicle charging
OR - 1 point - liquid, gas or battery facilities
If installing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), what percentage of parking spaces must be designated as such?
2%
What are alternative fuel types?
Non gasoline, low polluting fuels:
- hydrogen
- electricity
- propane
- compressed natural gas
- liquid natural gas
- menthol
- ethanol
Walking distances (shortest path analysis) & cycling distances must be measured against what?
Walking- safe & comfortable areas for pedestrians (sidewalks & crosswalks)
Biking - safe & comfortable areas for bikers (bike lanes, off street bike paths)
When calculating distances for both walking & cycling, what gives you the total distance from the origin to the destination?
Sum of the continuous segments of the route
What is pooled parking?
Shared parking spaces among two or more buildings
If no parking spaces are assigned to the project, what credit is awarded?
Reduced parking footprint
How many total points can be earned max for the Location & Transportation category?
16
How many prerequisites does the Location & Transporation category have?
0
What are the credit categorizes for Location & Transportation?
- LEED for neighborhood development location
- Sensitive land protection
- High priority site
- Surrounding density & diverse uses
- Access to Quality Transit
- Bicycle facilities
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Green vehicles
Who provides base parking capacity ratios for buildings?
Parking consultants council, transportation planning handbook 3rd edition
Who defines green vehicles?
American council of energy efficient economy (ACEEE)
What is the minimum score a green vehicle can score to qualify with ACEEE?
45
What type(s) of building(s) are considered a diverse use under the food retail category?
Grocery stores
What type(s) of building(s) are considered a diverse use under the community serving retail category?
Pharmacy
Hardware store
What type(s) of building(s) are considered a diverse use under the services category?
Bank
Gym
Salon
Restaurant
What type(s) of building(s) are considered a diverse use under the civic & community facilities category?
School
Post office
Church
What type(s) of building(s) are considered a diverse use under the community anchor category?
Commercial office
What are the 3 bicycle network types/sizes?
- Off street @ least 8 ft wide or 2 way path @ least 5 ft wide
- On street bike lanes @ least 5ft wide
- Streets designated for a target speed of > 25 mph
When constructing bicycle networks, what is the minimum distance or width allowed for a two-way bicycle path or trail?
8 ft
