Recent Platform Newsletter Articles

Fall 2012

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Reconnecting America recently completed Are We There Yet?, a project that established benchmarks against which regions across America can be measured. Allison Brooks offers an overview of the report and all that went into it.

Part of getting there – complete communities – involves our unique tools to help communities sort the implementation needs of transit communities. Abby Thorne-Lyman and Chris Yake explain this in “People + Places = Possiblity.”

Much of this work would benefit from support in Congress. The transportation bill passed in June had positive points, but, by omission, some negatives. Sarah Kline explains the outcome of the wrangling in “What MAP-21 Means for Complete Communities.”

Spring 2012

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:26:55 -0500

Nothing better illustrates the breadth and reach of the issues Reconnecting America is involved in than the topics discussed in this issue of our newsletter. It is all there, from families in urban transit-oriented communities, to folks in rural neighborhoods who need to get to the doctor and communities reaching out to learn about livability, smart growth, and sustainability. It is because these issues affect people from Vermont to Gulfport and coast to coast, that Reconnecting America has been working with key congressional offices and partner organizations to promote transit-oriented development in the context of the surface transportation reauthorization bill currently being crafted on Capitol Hill.

Fall 2011

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Summer 2011 Platform Newsletter

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:00:00 -0400

Beyond our regular updates on what the Center for Transit-Oriented Development has been up to and the latest from our Policy team's efforts in Washington, DC, the Summer 2011 Platform newsletter looks at our involvement in collaborative efforts to support creation and preservation of equitable transit-oriented developments. In addition to an overview of our work across the nation, we take a detailed look at Denver's TOD collaboration and the Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund. The newletter also recaps our 2011 Transit Space Race report and introduces the new FTA-sponsored webinar series.

Winter 2011 Platform Newsletter

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

In our Winter 2011 Platform newsletter, Program Director Catherine Cox Blair explores our work in the Twin Cities and the Central Corridor TOD framework process. And CTOD Director Sam Zimbabwe offers an update on our continuing research and technical assistance efforts. Policy Associate G. Sasha Forbes explains our inventory of TOD projects, and rounding out the newsletter is a discussion of the latest in our TOD series and a summary of our work supporting livable, sustainable communities.

Fall 2010 Platform Newsletter

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

In our Fall 2010 newsletter, Policy Director Sarah Kline discusses work the led to development of 10 recommendations for federal program changes to more effectively leverage federal funding in support of equitable TOD, and other policy work. Project Director Abigail Thorne-Lyman explains our work in Portland on the integretion of transportation and land use. CTOD Director Sam Zimbabwe offers a glimpse at our work researching and providing technical assistance on equitable TOD, reducing GHG emissions and identifying the links between TOD and employment. Chief of Staff Allison Brooks says goodbye to some old friends and welcomes new members to the staff. And Policy Associate Sasha Forbes explains the Mixed-Income TOD Action Guide tool.

Platform: Building The New Transit Town

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Among the articles in this newsletter: Building The New Transit Town -- Reconnecting America’s New CEO Shares His Experiences; AARP, National Housing Trust and RA Report Finds Thousands Could Lose Affordable Apartments Near Transit; TOD Help For MPOs; CTOD Takes Its Transit and TOD Database Online; A TOD Strategy For Central Maryland; What Is The Definition Of “Successful TOD” In Los Angeles? and Can A Streetcar Capture Value In Washington D.C.?

Platform Online June 2009

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In this issue of Reconnecting America's e-newsletter is the announcement of a new book that should push public transit to the top of the conservative (and liberal) agenda; Mariia Zimmerman's testimony to Senate Banking; a briefing book on bringing equitable, sustainable TOD to scale; a new paper on how connecting destinations will help ensure high ridership; and a big welcome to Catherine Cox Blair, who has joined Reconnecting America and the Center for TOD team.

Platform Online April 2009

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In this issue of Reconnecting America's monthly email newsletter are short case studies on essential TOD tools, prepared for US EPA and Phoenix LISC; a video of Michael Powell from Powell's Books talking about the economic development benefits of the Portland streetcar; a link to Senate Banking Committee testimony from CTOD's Shelley Poticha and Scott Bernstein, plus a link to the housing and transportation affordability index for 54 metro regions; and pie charts showing how three cities assembled funding for their streetcars.

Platform Online March 2009

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

This is Reconnecting America's second monthly email newsletter, with an update on the status of the streetcar movement in the U.S.; a link to a new mixed-income housing "action guide" that helps users select the suite of strategies best-suited for a particular neighborhood; news of the formal launch of the Transportation for America campaign and coalition that will be working on the next federal transportation bill; and a few more best practices from around the world.

Platform Online February 2009

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

This is the first monthly email newsletter from Reconnecting America, alerting you to two new reports with good news about property values near rail, an op-ed by former RA Board Member and noted urbanist Peter Calthorpe, and a U.S. map of transit cuts. Our newsletter will alert you to new tools, reports and best practices from the Center for Transit-Oriented Development, news about our colleagues, and occasional reports on the progress of Transportation for America's federal reauthorization campaign.

Platform: Building the New Transit Town (November 2008)

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Hey ho, let's go, says Reconnecting America CEO Shelley Poticha, in the cover story about the growing national consensus that we need to rethink America's transportation investments. A separate article inside discusses the work of the Transportation for America coalition, which launched its Build for America initiative Oct. 15. In addition to a summary of recent news items, the newsletter also offers a look at recent and pending publications from Reconnecting America and Center for Transit-Oriented Development.

Reconnecting America's Winter 2008 newsletter

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Inside Reconnecting America's Winter 2008 newsletter: read how property near transit is holding its value in the downturn; review a TCRP study that finds TOD Reduces Car Trips By 50 Percent; ULI Says TOD A Best Bet in '08; learn how using typologies can simplify complex planning decisions, explore TOD and Climate Change

Platform: Building the New Transit Town (Autumn 2006)

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Shelley Poticha warns that it’s not enough just to build transit and expect that development will come; and, conversely, that developers should realize the extent to which they can leverage the public investment in transit: the lesson is that public-private ventures can realize benefits for all. Shelley and Gloria Ohland explain “Why streetcars and why now?” Gloria discusses how Denver’s TOD Strategic Plan is being used to prioritize TOD projects that can catalyze the market. And Mariia Zimmerman writes about the importance of creating and preserving diverse and equitable TOD.

Platform: Building the New Transit Town (Autumn 2005)

Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Shelley Poticha discusses lessons learned around the country about how the public sector can best “set the table” for TOD. Scott Bernstein and Carrie Makarewicz from the Center for Neighborhood Technology (a partner in the Center for TOD) discuss our Affordability Index, which calculates the sum of housing and transportation costs as a percent of income to show the savings that can result from living in transit-rich mixed-use communities. Gloria Ohland writes about how and where the private sector is helping finance new rail lines and stations. And more …