I've found a mini passion project it seems, and we'll see if anything comes from it.
It all boils down to one word: Traffic. Now that doesn't seem like a sexy subject by any means, but its something that I think we need to be more aware of, not just upset about. This isn't about alleviating traffic jams, but instead using traffic to create communities built for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users.
This may seem silly, or even boring, to some. Coming from Syracuse and having lived throughout Upstate New York, its become clear that the biggest issue in the region is the flow of wealthy individuals out of the cities and into the suburbs. That problem is well documented so there's no point in reiterating the point. The important and less focused upon topic is how traffic can become a solution to this white flight.
I won't spend this post writing all that I've learned over the past couple months, but instead I'll be researching further and hopefully, once I have a sound enough footing on the facts and figures, begin reaching out to professionals in that business. My hope is to craft a short documentary on the subject, highlighting past mistakes and bringing to light some solutions that may help revitalize Upstate cities. This has definitely become a passion of mine and I would be thrilled to create something that may be able to persuade these cities that I love to take a few risks. We'll see what comes of it, but even if the project goes nowhere, I hope to at least encourage others to begin focusing on these issues and do what they can to improve their own communities.
