Sam Adams: 20-Minute Neighborhoods | The Atlantic
Portland (Ore.) Mayor Sam Adams is interviewed in The Atlantic on the idea of 20-Minute Neighborhoods, which are part of the Portland Plan:
[F]or the individual, the benefit is that you live in a neighborhood where what you need and what you want is within a mile, within 20 minutes, walkable, bikable. You get your needs met and also have a sense of community and camaraderie with the folks that you share the neighborhood with. It will improve Portlanders' sense of belonging. ...
We're doing market surveys to figure out what the economic profile is of a potential 20-minute neighborhood. We want to not only meet people's basic needs but also find out where they'll go for play and recreation and entertainment. This kind of research is a relatively new area for government. We're used to being "sticks and bricks." ...
I think the other big challenge, on the federal level especially, has been the lack of valuation of the trip not taken. The 20-minute complete neighborhood concept puts a very high value on the trip not taken, the mile not driven. It's changing now, because this administration gets it. But the biggest challenge has been getting federal funding for investments that prevent trips.
