Sustainable, Transit-Oriented Development
for Washtenaw County, Michigan

Wake Up, Washtenaw!

Links and References

Areas

  1. Vision
  2. Research
  3. Sustainable, transit-oriented development
  4. Passenger rail
  5. Transit
  6. Detroit area transit
  7. Washtenaw area rail
  8. Private railways in Japan

A. Vision

Notable / Quotable

Salt Lake City Mayor Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson

Our Vision And Purpose
"Building light rail was not easy. The road toward construction of the first light rail line - a fourteen mile north-south line - was extremely contentious. The forces opposed to light rail were very vocal. They were adamant that Utahns, unused to using transit, would not ride light-rail. They have been proved wrong. Ridership is far greater than even the most optimistic projections. And, in a rather karmic moment, one of the most vocal opponents of light rail - who said she would only ride light-rail when her cold, dead fingers were pried from her car's steering wheel - was cited a year after light rail was in operation for riding without a ticket. Because of the light rail successes, the very conservative voters in our region have voted for sales tax increases for transit and are now clamoring for light-rail spurs to be built in their communities." http://www.slcgov.com/mayor/documents/vision&purpose.pdf

Sarah Catz, Center for Urban Infrastructure in Irvine, Calif.

"Unfortunately, 20 years ago, our land planners didn't talk to our transportation planners, so now we're in a mess."
http://www.c-u-i.org/

Debbie Singer, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations

'Obviously, there are drawbacks to suburban growth, among them congestion and sprawl. "Certainly it's putting a tremendous strain on our infrastructure," says Debbie Singer, general counsel of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the transportation advocate for metro regions. She notes that more and more money is needed to build new roads, tying up funds that could be used to make repairs on existing highways.' Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/03/21/fastest-growing-counties-biz-cx_bw_0322counties.html [2007-04-01]

Techknow Alternate Fuel Cars

Notes from presentation (Ann Arbor, 2007-06-12)

NARP/Midwest High Speed Rail Association

Between 1980 and 2007, US track miles decreased by 30%, while traffic rose by 81%.

Organizations

Visionary People

B. Research

Reports and Talks

Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)

Consultants and Scholars

Vendors (alphabetical)

Links checked[2007-12-31]

Commentary

C. Sustainable, transit-oriented development

In the Media

MetroMode article "Density Vs. Transit" by Jon Zemke, 6/14/2007
http://www.metromodemedia.com/features/Transitdensity0020.aspx 2007-06-14
Discusses cities with relatively low density and their success with light rail. Interesting figures:
Population average per square mile:

San Francisco 1704
Chicago 1634
Detroit 1139
Salt Lake City 824
Denver 560
Phoenix 223
Livonia 223

Dongtan, new "green" city near Shanghai: long, fascinating article with lots of details! http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.05/feat_popup.html

"Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change demonstrates that urban growth patterns are both a key contributor to climate change and an essential factor in combating it." September 21, 2007
Detroit Free Press reviews this book under the title, "Continued sprawl will negate emissions improvements ": "The report cites real estate projections showing that two-thirds of development expected to be on the ground in 2050 is not yet built, meaning that the potential for change is profound. The authors calculate that shifting 60 percent of new growth to compact patterns would save 85 million tons of CO2 annually by 2030. The savings over that period equate to a 28 percent increase in federal vehicle efficiency standards by 2020 (to 32 mpg), comparable to proposals now being debated in Congress."
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/NEWS06/70920040/1118/RSS

Michigan cities still a long way from being 'cool'
The point: biggest factor in revitalizing urban areas is attracting "millenials" and "boomers" who want walkable entertaining downtown living, regardless of jobs.
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-11/117992977967860.xml&coll=82007-05-24

"Urban village ideas stall; Northville's rebuff of concept echoes outcomes elsewhere in Metro" - Detroit News, 2007-02-17
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070217/METRO/702170360/1003

"Washington, D.C., leads nation's metro areas in walkability"
By Sarah Karush, Associated Press Writer http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_walkable_communities.html [2007-12-05]

Transportation By The Numbers
Transportation facts underscore the need for reform
Environmental Defense
Posted: 18-Sep-2007; Updated: 19-Sep-2007
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/content.cfm?contentID=7007

Transportation is one of the biggest causes of global warming pollution in the U.S. Our inefficient use of roadways and public transportation are only part of the problem.

Check out our list of startling facts and figures.

239 million
Number of cars and light trucks on U.S. roads.
2.7 trillion
Total vehicle miles traveled in the U.S. in 2006.
160%
Increase in the amount of miles driven since 1970 in the U.S.
$66.3 billion
Amount spent by local, federal and state governments on U.S. highways in 2005.
5%
U.S. share of the world's population.
45%
U.S. share of world's total global warming pollution from vehicles.
28%
Percent of U.S. global warming pollution coming from transportation.
15
Number of states that have adopted California's global warming pollution limits on cars.
3
The Big Three car companies (GM, Ford and Chrysler) that have joined USCAP, a partnership calling for a US national cap on global warming emissions.
0
Number of federal bills passed to cap and reduce America's global warming pollution from all sources.

Ideas

Innovative transportation solutions: Bogotá, Colombia

Form-based codes: "A method of regulating development to achieve a specific urban form. Form-Based Codes create a predictable public realm by controlling physical form primarily, and land uses secondarily, through city or county regulations. "
http://www.formbasedcodes.org/ 2007-12-12Guideline for transit-oriented development: "You don't have to walk more than five minutes"

Michigan Solar "MiSo" house:
http://blog.mlive.com/ann_arbor_business_review/2007/06/um_collaboration_could_bring_e.html
Harry Giles, professor at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. 2007-06-28

SMART GROWTH INPLEMENTATION TOOLKIT 2007-12-12

Sprawl = Pain
"The large cities of the South and Midwest landed in the top ten due to their sprawling development," according to Bert Sperling, president of Sperling's BestPlaces, a Portland, Oregon research firm which specializes in studies about city livability. "That sprawl requires the typical commuter in those cities traveled over 60 miles each day (round trip)."

In the California cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, the average daily commute was only about 45 miles, but some of the nation's highest gas prices pushed them into the top ten. Visit Sperling's BestPlaces web site (http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/gasstudy.aspx) for the complete rankings and additional information about the study.

FROM THE GROUND UP - Urban Model for the Nation
By Alejandro Lazo, Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 17, 2007; Page D03
'Increasingly there is a demand for "walkable urbanism" over "drivable suburbanism," said Leinberger, a developer and professor in the University of Michigan's real estate program. And the recent development of once-neglected corridors could help solve issues as diverse as poverty and climate change but institutional mindsets in government and private enterprise still favor strip malls and office complexes along major freeways, he said.'
'Al Hedin, senior vice president of development for PN Hoffman, and Patty Rose, executive director of GreenHome, a nonprofit organization that promotes green construction design. The three were discussing how full neighborhoods could now be certified "green" communities by the U.S. Green Building Council, which sets standards for this kind of development.'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/16/AR2007091601309.html

People and Organizations

supporting sustainable development

The American Institute of Architects, the Sustainable Design Assessment Team
see article at http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/187140
'Working with the local and national chapters of the American Institute of Architects, the Sustainable Design Assessment Team will present recommendations Wednesday evening for improving the area's energy efficiency, its in-city "infill" development style, its water, Downtown and transportation planning, and the affordability of its housing.'
'University of Michigan lecturer Kit McCullough said she was surprised at the proliferation of far-flung subdivisions and shopping areas that she felt were being "enabled" by public investments in roads, schools, and other infrastructure.' 2007-06-13

Cities21
"Cities21 is a group of professionals working together for better transit, greater urban livability, and reduced pollution. Some elements we favor: transit villages, real-estate in-fill, workforce housing, automated transit, and wireless connection-making software." http://www.cities21.org/

Community foundations are helpful

Congress for the New Urbanism ($185/yr membership)
http://www.cnu.org/
Resources: http://www.cnu.org/search/links

Environment Michigan (formerly PIRGIM)
www.EnvironmentMichigan.org

Jaime Lerner, former mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, sustainable development champion.
http://www.jaimelerner.com/principal/index.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaime_Lerner
http://www.globalideasbank.org/site/bank/idea.php?ideaId=2236 [2008-01-02]
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/fellows/brazil1203/lerner.html [2008-01-02]

Local Government Center Center for Livable Communities
http://www.lgc.org/center/

National Town Builders Association
http://www.ntba.net/

New Urban News (Newspaper):
http://www.newurbannews.com/
and their great list of resources at http://www.newurbannews.com/resources1.html

New Urban Research:
Community advocates; information activists
http://www.urban-research.info/

B. de la Peña
bdelapena@sgli.org
600,000 seniors stop driving every year (Peña)

Public Transportation Partnership for Tomorrow (PT)2
http://www.publictransportation.org/
See especially: "Transit Spurs Development And Economic Growth" http://www.publictransportation.org/reports/10_conservatives.asp#3

Realtors Association http://www.realtor.org/

The Seaside Institute (SI) provides the information and the tools to drive and inspire the successful communities of the future. SI helps to give practitioners in the design and development fields the skills they require to help transform their neighborhoods.
http://www.theseasideinstitute.org/

Smart Growth Network
http://www.smartgrowth.org/Default.asp?res=1440 2007-05-27

Sustainable Development Center, US Dept of Energy
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/

Smart Growth Around America
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/gcindex.html

Smart Growth LI http://www.sgli.org/

Tiny Houses

Transportation Action Center / Surface Transportation Policy Partnership:
http://www.transact.org/

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smart Growth: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/

Urban Planet
http://www.urbanplanet.org/UP.Dynamic/index.php

Walkable Communities, Inc.
http://www.walkable.org/

D. Passenger rail

National Association of Rail Passengers (NARP)
http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php 2008-01-25

Michigan Association of Rail Passengers (MARP)
http://www.marp.org/ 2008-01-25

Midwest High Speed Rail Association
http://www.midwesthsr.org/ 2008-01-25

Music City Start: commuter rail for Nashville TN
(started Sept 2006)
http://www.musiccitystar.com/


Clay Chastain in Kansas City:
"When voters in Kansas City, Mo., approved a citizen-sponsored
light-rail initiative last November, official mass-transit plans were
thrown into disarray. The initiative was the brainchild of activist
Clay Chastain, who had previously placed six measures on the local
ballot without success. November's result was a surprise to everyone,
including Chastain." - Trains magazine, May 2007, p. 30

Citizens for Global Solutions Minnesota


Advanced Transit for Metropolitan Seattle (GetThereFast SoundPRT Research &
Inquiry Committee). The page contains rebuttal of LRV advocates' anti-PRT article. At the end of the page is a very extensive reference section. http://gettherefast.org/

New Town, a "new urbanism" development in Missouri, is planning to
get streetcars:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/841 A7B290D6A0A1E862572E7000E77CD?OpenDocument
See also: http://www.newurbannews.com/NewTownInsideJul05.html 2007-05-27

Article on Morgantown WV PRT system:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07149/789706-147.stm

Texas Eagle Marketing and Performance Organization: Excellent ideas
for advocacy groups!
http://www.tempo-rail.org/NGS.htm 2007-06-07

Light Rail Central
The North American Light Rail Information Site
http://www.lightrail.com/ 2007-08-26

Momentum for Indianapolis-to-Muncie commuter rail
By Seth Slabaugh
Muncie Star Press
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070903/LOCAL/709 03003

E. Transit

American Public Transit Association (APTA)
To strengthen and improve public transportation, APTA serves and leads its diverse membership through advocacy, innovation and information sharing. APTA and its members and staff work to ensure that public transportation is available and accessible for all Americans in communities across the country.
http://www.apta.com/

Community Transit Association of America (CTAA)
http://www.ctaa.org/

Metro Magazine
Founded in 1904, METRO Magazine has served the bus and passenger rail industries for more than a century. METRO's coverage includes both public transit systems and private bus operators, addressing topics such as funding mechanisms, procurement, rolling stock maintenance, privatization, risk management and sustainability.
http://www.metro-magazine.com/

2007-03-19

MassTransit magazine
http://masstransitmag.epubxpress.com/

FTA Issues New Circulars for Human Service Programs
The Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) includes three human service transportation programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) - Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities; Job Access and Reverse Commute; and New Freedom. These three federal programs provide formula funding for States and communities and are targeted to enhance transportation services for specific populations that depend on alternative transportation options for their day-to-day mobility.
These programs also include a NEW requirement for developing a coordinated public transit-human service transportation plan for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with lower incomes. This plan, developed by local stakeholders is intended to address the comprehensive transportation needs of the community.
FTA has also published a Federal Register Notice outlining the responses to comments submitted regarding an earlier proposed notice.
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"Drivers cut back — a 1st in 26 years"
USA Today article 2007-05-18
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-17-gas-prices_N.htm

 

F. Detroit area transit

...coming soon

G. Washtenaw area rail

...coming soon

H. Private railways in Japan

...coming soon

 

What's here:

This site developed and maintained by
Laurence J. Krieg, PhD