In the Fall 2011 issue, Reconnecting America's Sam Zimbabwe, the director of the Center for Transit-Oriented Development, discusses our work with regional stakeholders to articulate the benefits and challenges of transit and transitoriented development (TOD) in regions around the country. Policy Director Sarah Kline summarizes Congress' big challenges and Chief of Staff Allison Brooks and Deputy Policy Director Darnell Chadwick Grisby explore the implications for the nation of the America Fast Forward proposal that Los Angeles is pushing. Finally, Project Director Abigail Thorne-Lyman presents the second part of her series on collaborative partnerships, detailing what's needed to make this collaborations work.
President's Corner
September 19, 2011
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Welcome to the Fall Platform newsletter. As I write this, Congress has just returned after its recess with a mountain of issues awaiting action. Policy Director Sarah Kline takes a look at what’s at stake while Chief of Staff Allison Brooks and Deputy Policy Director Darnell Chadwick Grisby explore the America Fast Forward proposal.
‘Making the Case’ for Transit and TOD
September 19, 2011
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Reconnecting America, often in collaboration with our partners at the Center for Transit-Oriented Development (CTOD), has been working with regional stakeholders to articulate the benefits and challenges of transit and transit-oriented development (TOD) in regions around the country. This year, we have completed regional reports in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and the Baton Rouge/New Orleans area. Each region has its own specific opportunities and challenges.
Congress’ Big Challenges
September 19, 2011|Sarah A. Kline, Policy Director
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After narrowly avoiding a global economic meltdown by raising the U.S. debt limit at the beginning of August, Congress returned to a packed agenda in September. Since most legislation – particularly that involving the expenditure of federal dollars – was on hold until the debt limit deal was reached, Congress must spend the fall dealing with appropriations as well as several major expiring authorizations, including surface transportation. But will Congress complete action on these important measures, or simply push off dealing with them until a later date? The latter is more likely.
LA Vision; US Promise: Implications of the America Fast Forward Proposal
September 19, 2011
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Long known as a land of sprawl and disconnected communities, Los Angeles has emerged as a leader in transit investments, providing forward-thinking leadership for how infrastructure finance can and should continue, even in difficult financial times.
CTOD Update
September 19, 2011
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The Center for Transit-Oriented Development (CTOD) continues to be engaged on multiple topics, from research to technical assistance to sharing of best practices in policy and implementation. Over the past few months we’ve continued our applied work in regions across the country, a new national publication, and several research projects that will bear fruit over the fall and winter.
Making Collaborative Partnerships Work
September 19, 2011
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The last edition of Platform discussed the growing emergence of formal partnerships between multiple jurisdictions, non-profit groups and philanthropy to promote equitable, sustainable development. Longstanding collaborative partnerships focused on growth management - such as Envision Utah and the Treasure Valley Partnership in Boise, ID - have been more recently joined by efforts focused specifically on maximizing the community and economic benefits of transit investments without displacing vulnerable communities. Growth management, community development, economic development, housing, transportation, energy and infrastructure are all fields that require unique expertise, and that have thus been necessarily divided. But it is increasingly evident that no jurisdiction, discipline, organization, or funding source will singlehandedly achieve regional sustainability.
