Planning Commissioners Journal

Water Matters

First came across the Water Matters blog a few weeks ago after hearing about it from Sacramento Bee reporter Matt Weiser who regularly covers water-related issues. The first post I read -- about our "Water Footprint" -- was fascinating. In it Jennifer Vetttel, an engineering student at Columiba, takes a closer look at just how much water she uses during a typical day -- it made me realize that I simply didn't realize how much water I also used during the day. Here's Vettel's description of how she starts her day:

"I wake up in the morning, and like most Americans, I eat breakfast. That cup of coffee I drink takes 140 liters of water to produce, and the cup of milk and cup of cereal take approximately 250 liters and 450 liters of water respectively. I then take my shower. I consider myself fairly good about showering, but my 5 minute shower (in my college dorm shower, which seems to have a fairly old shower head) uses about 75 liters of water. Take brushing my teeth and washing my face into account and that’s about another 15 liters of water. Already I’ve used 930 liters of water!"

... and obviously that's just the start of her day. As she sums up:

"My water footprint for the day is 2,786 liters of water per day, not counting water that could be included in my electricity use, transportation use, or water used to produce my clothing. That is 2,786 kg of water, or about 48 times my body weight." 

You'll find many other posts on issues involving water -- both in North America and worldwide. Watter Matters is prepared by The Columbia Water Center, located at New York's Columbia University. Blog postings are written by both students and professionals. As noted on the blog, it's aim is to be "an informative and conversational forum for everyone -- academics, students, and interested amateurs -- to discuss the current water-related issues around the world."

One last note, Columbia also offers a related blog on climate issues, called (not surprisingly) Climate Matters. It's also easily accessible from the Watter Matters blog.

Moving Towards Sustainability

Trends in human activity, both at global and local levels, are still headed in directions that are largely unsustainable. Yet a growing number of cities and towns are incorporating sustainable development principles in their planning and zoning efforts. Sarah James, co-author of the American Planning Association's Policy Guide on Planning for Sustainability, takes a look at ways in which some communities are starting to implement sustainable development principles. by Sarah James; from PCJ #47 (Summer 2002); 8 pages

Read excerpts from start of article: Planning and zoning officials have powerful influence over the future shape and land use of our communities. Making sure we leave our children and grandchildren livable communities and a livable environment is reason to consider planning and zoning a approaches that move toward sustainability. A sustainable society is one where human needs -– ours and those of future generations -– can be met within the capacity of the earth to support those needs. At present, trends of human activity -– including development, consumption, population growth, and degradation of natural resources –- both at global and local levels, are heading increasingly in directions that are unsustainable. At the same time, more and more communities are redirecting planning and zoning to help shape development and land in more sustainable directions. We can learn from their examples. A Look at the Big Picture To better understand what sustainability means, it helps to step back and take a look at the big picture. Two broad trends can be seen. First, the natural systems around us are being depleted at a rate faster than they can be renewed. Second, population growth and consumption are continuing to rise. It should come as little surprise that Americans lead the world in resource consumption and waste generation. ... These two trends are like the sides of a funnel, converging upon one another. The time we have to stabilize these trends is diminishing. And we don't know at what point irreparable damage will occur. What we see happening around us in our communities are local manifestations of these global trends: diminishing open land and forests; threatened wildlife habitat; increased traffic congestion; poor air quality; contaminated water and earth; and many people without an affordable place to live. However, a growing number of communities have taken actions that hold promise for slowing, if not reversing, these trends -– actions often grounded on one of the following perspectives: Dealing with Upstream Causes Taking a Systems Approach Thinking in Terms of Cycles 1. Dealing With Upstream Causes Two paired phrases often used in discussing sustainable development are: "upstream causes" and "downstream effects." Planning and zoning strategies that address the root causes of land use and environmental issues are said to deal with "upstream causes." In contrast, strategies that focus on remedying (or managing) existing problems deal with "downstream effects." The connection is that by taking preventive measures -– that is, by dealing with what creates environmental and land use problems in the first place (i.e., "upstream causes"), one can often avoid the more costly and intractable steps needed to remedy land use problems after they occur (i.e., "downstream effects"). Traditionally, most land use and environmental regulations have focused on managing downstream effects. For example, regulating hazardous, toxic substances usually takes the form of controlling their on-site storage and disposal. In contrast, an upstream approach might encourage alternatives to the use of toxic chemicals, thereby avoiding the need to deal with storage and disposal concerns. Likewise, efforts to deal with traffic congestion usually take the form of widening streets, adding lanes, lights, or other mitigation measures. An upstream approach might instead focus on developing strategies that work to reduce the volume of traffic, eliminating the need for dealing with congestion. ...

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Federal Agencies to Coordinate Smart Growth Planning

 Excellent post by Bill Fulton on his blog (via the California Planning & Development Report web site) about some very promising news coming out of this month's New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Seattle. 

To read his full post: Are Federal Agencies Finally on the Same Page 
Here are some excerpts:

"There's an old joke that what the locals fear more than a federal government in disarray is a federal government that has its act together. Well, now the joke's being put to the test. At the plenary session of the New Partners for Smart Growth conference in Seattle the other night, President's Obama's so-called Green Cabinet -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, and EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus, filling in for his boss Lisa Jackson -- presented the most cohesive vision of federal involvement in planning and development since the Johnson Administration 40 years ago.

'When it comes to housing, transportation, and environmental policy, it's time the federal government spoke with one voice,' HUD Secretary Donovan said at the plenary.

 The coordinated federal effort would have vast reach and billions of dollars in resources if it is successful. It takes at least three forms -- the creation of special offices on sustainable communities inside each of the three agencies; the addition or continuation of funding programs inside each agency; and an unusual level of coordination among the agencies on the sustainable communities effort. ...

The major brainpower for the coordinated effort would appear to be located in HUD -- an unlikely place for policy innovation in recent administrations. Donovan, the former New York City housing commissioner, is viewed as one of the Obama Administration's brightest starts. ... In addition, Donovan selected Rafael Bostic from the University of Southern California's School of Planning Policy & Development as his Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research."

Fulton goes on to highlight three of the key components of this coordinated approach to planning:

• HUD's creation of an Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities
• U.S. DOT's establishment of an Office of Livable Communities (which has proposed a $527 million budget for livable communities programs in the next federal budget)
• The expansion of EPA's current Office of Smart Growth into the Office of Sustainable Communities

---

See joint Press Release from HUD, DOT, and EPA (June 16, 2009)

Twitter users: you can follow some of the key agencies:

• DOT Secretary Ray LaHood
• EPA Office of Smart Growth
• HUD News

Administration Announces High-Speed Rail Projects

It was really quite remarkable. After nearly half a century of ignoring rail's potential, the nation is finally making a major investment in developing high-speed rail corridors. The confluence of: the need for major infrastructure projects to create jobs; the track record of success of high-speed rail in Europe and Asia; the prospect of a continued long-term rise in gas prices; the energy/environmental benefits of rail; and the increased congestion on urban interstates (linked to the enormous cost of expanding highway capacity) helped result in an initial commitment of $8 billion for high-speed rail.

Of course, high-speed rail in America will generally still be considered low- or medium-speed rail in the many countries far in advance of the U.S. in developing their passenger rail networks. Nevertheless, it's an important start. See our May 9, 2009 post for more on how U.S. rail stacks up to high-speed rail in Europe.

Why $1.25 Billion for Florida

Of the projects awarded funds, perhaps the most interesting choice was the $1.25 billion to be invested in Florida. In fact, the very day after his State of the Union Address, President Obama along with Vice President Biden were in Tampa to highlight the significance of this project. As the President told the town hall crowd, "there is no reason why other countries can build high-speed rail lines and we can't. And that's what's about to happen right here in Tampa -- we are going to start ... building for the future, putting people to work." 

A press release issued by the White House described the project: "This investment will initiate the development of the Tampa to Orlando segment, with speeds reaching 168 mph and 16 round trips per day on brand new track dedicated solely to high-speed rail. Trip time between the two cities on the new line will be less than one hour, compared to around 90 minutes by car. This project will create jobs and generate economic activity as 84 miles of track are constructed, stations are built or enhanced, and equipment is purchased. Completion of this phase is anticipated in 2014." This is to be followed by completion of a link from Orland to Miami three years later. 

As Bryan Walsh explains in an interesting report just posted on Time's web site: 

"Demographically, Florida is an ideal state in which to launch the rail projects. Together, the metro areas of Tampa and Orlando are a major economic unit, home to more than 3.4 million people and close enough on the map to make high-speed rail competitive with air and auto travel. The region is also a tourist hub, which makes it likely that a Tampa-Orlando rail line will be well-used by Americans from around the country. That makes it a smart advertisement for other high-speed-rail projects back in their home regions.

Florida's project is also an optimal test case, having already been approved by the state and relatively free of red tape. The line is set to open by 2015, the environmental-impact assessment has already been done, and the state owns more than 90% of the route's right of way."

Moreover, in October it was reported that Disney will provide up to 50 acres of free land for a station serving Disney World and the huge Orange County Convention Center (the nation's second largest convention center, with 2.1 million square feet of exhibition space).

The very ambitious time frame for the Tampa-Orlando work also seems aimed at having a high-speed rail service in operation in the near future. As Walsh noted, this will help visibly demonstrate rail's benefits and keep momentum rolling. Moreover, it's a much shorter time frame than California will need for its much more complex & costly high-speed rail plans, having a target date of 2020. 

As many recognize, the $8 billion going to high-speed rail is really just a down-payment on what will be needed to develop the high-speed rail corridors designated so far. 

click on U.S. map to view larger image -- for list & information about the selected projects

The best initial analysis we've found of the Administration's selection of projects was posted by Yonah Freemark on theTransportPolitic web blog. As he notes:

"After months of speculation about which states will get funding from the Federal Railroad Administration to begin construction on new high-speed corridors, the news is in. As has been expected, California, Florida, and Illinois are the big winners, with more than one billion in spending proposed for each. But other states with less visible projects, including Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Washington will also get huge grants and begin offering relatively fast trains on their respective corridors within five years. The distribution of dollars is well thought-out and reasonable: it provides money to regions across the nation and prioritizes states that have made a commitment of their own to a fast train program. ... Despite the excitement, though, there is plenty of work that still needs to be done -- and huge amounts of money that still needs to be spent -- to get most of these projects up and running. Eight billion dollars of spending won’t be enough for even one true high-speed line."

Also of interest, remarks by John Robert Smith, President of Reconnecting America and former Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi:

"Hearing President Obama call high-speed rail 'the infrastructure of tomorrow' gave me great hope. Very rarely has transportation investment made the final cut in a presidential State of the Union address. The fact that it did make the cut this time really speaks to the president’s commitment to making high-speed rail a reality.

I’ve heard critics say over the years that the U.S. is too big for high-speed rail. China is the biggest country in the world and they built over the Himalayas and are now committing an additional $500 billion over the next 20 years. Saudi Arabia too is investing in high-speed rail in preparation for that certain day when oil reserves will no longer sustain the country. If they can do it, we can do it."

As Smith went on to note: "High-speed rail investment is about jobs, and not just temporary jobs, but long-term American jobs that cannot be outsourced. These jobs will employ Americans to build both rail networks and passenger rail equipment. I have seen first-hand what investment in rail infrastructure and transit-oriented development can do to lift a mid-sized city like Meridian, Mississippi. Now there are people living in downtown, there’s entertainment downtown and a conference center has been built. It all started with a public sector investment done right." 

Fact sheets on all the projects selected for funding are available to download (go to links near the end of the Press Release). Applicants submitted over $55 billion in project proposals for the initial $8 billion in funds awarded on Thursday.

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Incentives

There's an excellent online reference source for information on federal and state incentive programs related to renewables and energy efficiency. DSIRE is a project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, funded by the U.S. Dept. of Energy.

The entry page shows a map of the U.S. (we've highlighted Missouri with our mouse).

 

You can click on any state to find links to all sorts of renewable energy & energy efficiency incentive programs. 

Dsire is a web site well worth bookmarking. We'll be adding it to our Key Sites for Citizen Planners online guide.

Energy Reduction Key Goal of Rural New York County Transportation Plan

 Received this from the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations last week: "The Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council, the MPO in the Ithaca, NY region, recently completed a long range plan update that includes 'higher-density nodal housing and commercial developments using self-sufficiency and public transportation' to reduce emissions. But to make a dent in energy consumption and emissions, the county will have to aggressively reduce drive-alone trips and increase its mix of alternative vehicles, according to director Fernando de Aragon."

I spent some time yesterday reading through the the draft Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC) 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan (Dec. 8, 2009). 

 "Planning departments around the country are becoming increasingly aware of the need for fundamental changes in the way we travel," says the Plan. 

The Transportation Plan for this County of just over 100,000 is remarkable for its unremitting focus on the need for transportation policies to achieve environment goals -- in particular the reduction in fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. 

The Plan is grounded, in part, on a Climate Change & Energy Position Statement (pdf), that says right upfront: "Energy-rich and easily adaptable fossil fuels form the foundation of our fast paced contemporary society. For decades, the supply seemed endless. More recently, the threats of climate change, energy descent, political instability in oil rich regions, and environmental degradation suggest we are reaching the limit to our fossil fuel intensive lifestyle and economy. ... We cannot take the chance that these limits to energy supplies are imaginary, lest we find ourselves unprepared for the future."

The Plan itself sets out the following "overarching goals" --

• To improve the safety of the transportation system.
• To enhance coordination between transportation providers to the benefit and convenience of users.
• To minimize negative environmental impacts of transportation
• To reduce vehicle miles of travel and vehicular emissions
• To reduce fossil fuel energy dependency

Note how heavily oriented they are to environmental and energy reduction goals.

The Plan states that "its end goal [is] sustainable accessibility." This is to be achieved by "focusing on utilizing transportation resources in a manner that optimizes the choice of modes, minimizes environmental impact and enhances the quality of life of all users." 

The Plan goes on to note that: "Transit in all its forms will need to play a much-expanded role in transportation. Transit needs to evolve into a ‘first option’ for all different trips – recreational, work commute, social, services, shopping, etc. Non-motorized modes, bicycling and walking ... need to be accommodated and enhanced to encourage additional use. ... Reducing vehicle miles traveled in general, and particularly by drive-alone or single occupancy vehicles (SOV), will be a key component of any successful strategy."

At the same time, the Plan recognizes that: "Shifting the prominent transportation role currently played by private automobiles will be a significant challenge. The goal is to make the car one of many options for most people to get around, instead of the only option."

So how is this to be accomplished: "Reaching established goals for energy and emissions reductions in transportation will not be likely without a reduction in countywide vehicle miles traveled." And that requires acting on the crucial link between land use development patterns and transportation: "In order to achieve a modal shift away from car dependency land use development patterns must take a more efficient form, as described in the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan. This will facilitate the use of transit, walking, bicycling, car pools, vanpools, car sharing and ride sharing. All of these currently available alternatives work best when land uses are integrated and in close proximity."

The Ithaca-Tompkins Plan is strikikng in its emphais on energy reduction goals, especially for a primarily rural county. Yes, the fact that Ithaca is a university town makes a difference, but the Plan's goals are still highly ambitious.

Note: the American Planning Association's Policy Guide on Planning & Climate Change (pdf), adopted in April 2008, includes several policies designed to "reduce greenhouse gas emissions including reducing vehicle miles traveled and other means." They include closer integration of transportation and land use planning; providing higher priority to transportation investments that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support for programs and policies that "substantially increase investment in transit." 

Mass Market Electric Vehicles Get Closer to Market

 The World Wildlife Fund is providing extensive coverage from the U.N. Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. One quite interesting video they've posted is one of their reporters taking a spin in the Renault Fluence 4-door, 5 passenger electric car, now in final development. It's billed as the first mass market fully electric car -- and will be available in 2011 in Denmark and Israel. The hybrid/electric Chevy Volt should be on the market in 2010..

For a related blog posting on Renault's electric vehicles.

We also posted two reports in 2008 about some of the interesting impacts electric vehicles may have. See Plug In Your Car & Save Dollars (and the Environment), and the follow-up posting, Will the Electric Grid Fuel our Vehicles? Interestingly, Warren Buffett recently predicted that 20 years from now, all car being sold will be electric. 

Denmark to Offer Electric Car Buyers $40,000 Tax Credit & Free Downtown Parking

 A fascinating news story in the New York Times this week about Denmark's ambitious plan to offer a minimum $40,000 tax credit and free downtown parking in Copenhagen to buyers of electric cars. And that's not all. Another key element is using wind energy to fuel the new fleet of vehicles. For two other news reports earlier in the year on this, see: Better Place Denmark to plug electric cars by 2011 and Project Better Place Plans Massive Electric Car Rollout in 2011. 

Related to electric vehicles & the impacts they might have on the power grid, take a look back at two posts on the PlannersWeb last year on what might happen if Vermont had a surge in electric vehicles. See Plug In Your Car & Save Dollars (and the Environment), and the follow-up posting, Will the Electric Grid Fuel our Vehicles?

In Denmark, Ambitious Plan for Electric Cars (use link for full New York Times article)

Is saving $40,000 at the showroom enough to get drivers behind the wheel of an electric car? With a program in the works to add easy access to charging stations, Denmark is about to find out.

The government offers a minimum $40,000 tax break on each new electric car -- and free parking in downtown Copenhagen. But even in Denmark, one of the most environmentally conscious nations in the world, skepticism abounds. It is not clear that car buyers can be persuaded to make the switch.

... Denmark is trying to do more than simply move away from the internal combustion engine. By revamping the power grid ... the biggest utility in Denmark, wants to power the anticipated fleet of electric cars with wind energy, which already supplies nearly 20 percent of the country’s power.

When Developers Engage in "Greenwashing"

 [good reflections on an important topic by columnist Neil Peirce; take a look also at our blog posting on DestiNY, "What's Syracuse's Destiny," from almost exactly two years ago]

Energy-Frugal Recovery: Why Settle for Less? [click link for full article]

 ... the impulses of some developers to go hog-wild with new, outsized, distantly located, energy-chomping, greenhouse-gas generating development, have scarcely abated.

Consider the plans of developer Robert Congel, super-wealthy CEO/owner of the Pyramid Management Group that’s created 19 shopping malls. Congel is pushing hard to bless his home town of Syracuse, N.Y., with “DestiNY USA,” the mega-mall of all mega-malls–a multi-billion-dollar combination shop-store-restaurant-theater-tourist-hotel center, complete with such features as a 65-acre enclosed park, a 15,000 seat amphitheater, an aquarium, a six-story “climbing wall,” and a re-creation of the Erie Canal.

Seven years ago I found myself writing with partial sympathy about Congel’s plans. ... Today I’d be far more skeptical ... The fact is, we have a new global reality. Our post-recession future almost surely holds gasoline at $4 a gallon, maybe a lot more. The prospective car travel of DestiNY visitors would total billions of miles, generating formidable greenhouse gas emissions. ... Buildings contribute some 40 percent of America’s yearly carbon emissions. ... Renovating structures in Syracuse’s downtown would be a dramatically “greener” choice than DestiNY ...

Indeed, "greenwashing” has become a tactic de jour for controversial projects.

The Remarkable Johnson Wax Building

I'm a bit of a Frank Lloyd Wright junkie, and have visited at least a dozen of the homes he built. But I was especially struck by a visit two years ago to the Johnson Wax Building in Racine, Wisconsin, designed by Wright. It's a remarkable office space, still in active use. It includes many innovative features, and conveys a dramatic but surprisingly tranquil feel.  

So much of the focus in our thinking about architecture is about residential design -- and Wright was, of course, a master of that as well. But I think you'll enjoy and learn from this three part video series providing a tour of the Johnson Wax building. If you're ever in Racine, it's well worth a stop -- though I believe tours are only given on Fridays.

These three videos -- to be viewed in sequence -- provide a good overview of this special building in American architectural history.

For information on visiting the Johnson Wax Building.

Ride the Bus

The just published Fall issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal features an article by Hannah Twaddell on how to better plan for rural public transit. But it's also important to promote bus service. Take a look at these two short public service announcements, the first from Red Rose Transit in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the second from the Town of Ocean City, Maryland. Let us know of any bus-related PSA's you've enjoyed.

The Right to Dry

"No deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources from being installed on buildings erected on the lots or parcels covered by the deed restrictions, covenants, or binding agreements." 27 Vermont Statutes Sec. 544(a) (the quoted language is on p. 48 of the pdf of the law).

Last Summer, the Vermont legislature enacted a "Right to Dry" law, prohibiting municipal and private restrictions barring, among other things, the use of clotheslines. Lyman Orton, owner of the Vermont Country Store, spearheaded this effort. For more detailed information on the right to dry movement, visit the Project Laundry List web site.

The following is a five minute video by reporter Bill Geist from the CBS Sunday Morning show -- definitely worth a look. Below that is a short video of the celebration of enactment of the Vermont right to dry law.

Watch CBS Videos Online

A few years ago, we published in the Planning Commissioners Journal an article on the growing impact that homeowners association rules and bylaws are having on our communities; the article reported on prohibitions against the use of clotheslines, American flags, and other common restrictions -- and local and state responses to this.

"The Epicenter of the Green Movement" ... is in Kansas

Just a little over two years ago I visited Greensburg, Kansas, not long after a devastating tornado destroyed much of this small city -- population about 1,500. Take a look at my report, Rebuilding Greensburg. While there -- besides being overwhelmed by the scope of the devastation -- I also got the clear sense that Greensburg would be coming back. I was also impressed by how people from across the state of Kansas were rallying to support Greensburg.

Having said that, I'm still amazed by the direction Greensburg has taken. As one young resident says in this video, Greensburg is "the epicenter of the green movement." It's a view shared by local leaders, business owners, and residents.

Here's one part of a series of short videos from the Sundance Channel. To view the full series on Greensburg.

Some photos I took while in Greensburg two years ago. The bottom left photo is of the City Council meeting under the tent; bottom right, planners discussing rebuilding priorities (more on this on my 2007 report from Greensburg).

  click on photos to pop up at larger size

Reports from Leg 2 of "Circle The USA"

From PCJ Editor Wayne Senville:

I'm back from the second segment of my planned "Circle the USA" travels, covering Detroit; Troy and Flint, Michigan; and Elkhart County and northwestern Indiana.

 

I've filed the following reports. Take a look, and sign up for our Circle the USA blog feed and/or email updates.

 

-- When Rouge Turned Green

-- Preservation or Demolition?

-- Campus Martius Park in Downtown Detroit

-- A Suburb Plans for Change

-- Not Giving Up on Flint, I

-- Not Giving Up on Flint, II

-- Good or Bad Signs in Indiana?

-- A Main Street Succeeds in Tough Times

-- Planning for 46 Miles of Lakeshore

My next segment will include several days in the Chicago area, followed by stops in Kankakee County, Illinois; Dubuque, Iowa; and southern Wisconsin.

 

Again, check out our Circle the USA web site where announcements and reports will be posted.

Zero Waste

The goal is ambitious: zero waste generated in an entire village. It takes "team spirit" and a commitment to environmental values. A 3-minute overview of how the village of Kamikatsu, Japan, is trying to reach its ambitious goal. Reported by Christian Science Monitor staff writer Amelia Newcomb and photographer Andy Nelson.

Train-ing for 2009

National Train Day: Saturday, May 9th. For more information about this year's event.

Note from Planning Commissioners Journal Editor Wayne Senville:

In recognition of this annual event (actually, the second time it has been held), we're reposting a portion of my remarks from last year -- still pertinent. But there has been one huge +plus since last year: President Obama's dramatic recognition of the long-term value of investing in high-speed rail -- in the form of $8 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As President Obama recently observed, "A major new high-speed rail line will generate many thousands of construction jobs over several years, as well as permanent jobs for rail employees and increased economic activity in the destinations these trains serve. High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways." As Vice President Biden added, "railways are the best way to connect communities to each other."

Many American planners -- and citizens who have traveled to Europe or Japan and enjoyed high-speed rail service -- realize that our national system is far behind where it should be. With gas prices projected to keep on climbing, and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, it's time we turned our attention to catching up with countries like France, Germany, Spain, and Japan. In fact, Obama explicity recognized this, noting at his April 16 news conference, that "high speed rail ... is happening right now. The problem is it's been happening, elsewhere, not here."

While there has been progress in many U.S. cities on light rail and trolley systems -- the same can't be said of our inter-city rail system. Even in our dense Northeast Corridor, our high-speed rail is nearly a generation behind that in use in Europe.

For just a quick look at high-speed rail in Europe, see "Touring Europe at 200 Miles an Hour: Travel by High-Speed Rail Catches On as an Alternative to the Hassles of Flying," in the Mar. 12, 2008 Wall Street Journal:

"Consumers are flocking to the comfortable, speedy trains -- while growth is slowing in parts of the airline industry. Eurostar reported a 15% rise in ticket sales for 2007, with much of the increase occurring after the London enhancements. Meanwhile, airport passenger-traffic growth has fallen to 2% in Britain for the past two years ..."

photo above is of the new TGV-Est line, connecting Paris and Strasbourg at operating speeds in excess of 200 mph. Interestingly, France views its high-speed rail system as key to strengthening regional economic development by facilitating access to medium size cities throughout the country. See, e.g., Strasbourg: a "Magistrale" city. The video below shows tests of the new TGV breaking the world speed record of 574 kph (344 mph).

It didn't used to be this way. America for nearly a century was the world-wide leader in passenger rail, with trains like the 20th Century Limited connecting cities between New York and Chicago.

But countries like Spain now far surpass us -- witness their expanding high-speed AVE network, which connects Barcelona and Madrid -- 314 "air miles" apart -- in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

By comparison Chicago and St. Louis are just 260 miles apart. Amtrak connects the two cities, but it takes 5 hours and 20 minutes.

At high speeds now common in much of Western Europe, rail often replaces air as the fastest city-to-city travel option. Only in a very few places in the U.S. can the same be said.

PCJ Winter 2009 Issue Now Available

Subscribe to the Planning Comm'rs Journal ($67/year), and start with our Winter issue. For more information about the Journal. note: use the above button except for local government orders from cities under 25,000 pop., counties under 75,000, and non-profit organizations eligible for our small community rate ($55/year) -- please use this link instead. Government orders can request to be invoiced; call us at: 802-864-9083.
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Contents of the Winter 2009 Planning Commissioners Journal:
Managing Stormwater Runoff: A Green Infrastructure Approach by Lynn Richards -- and -- Taking Low Impact Development from Research to Regulations by John S. Rozum, AICP, and David W. Dickson The practice of stormwater management is evolving beyond engineered approaches applied at the site level to an approach that looks at managing stormwater in more natural ways. But before "green infrastructure" and "low impact development" techniques can be implemented, changes to local land development policies and regulations may be needed.
	The ABC's of TOD: Transit-Oriented Development by Hannah Twaddell Transit is making a remarkable comeback. But one of the most intriguing aspects is that it is being helped along by -- and helping to stimulate -- new development close by transit stops. A look at how TOD works & its benefits to communities.
Community Self-Assessment by Jim Segedy, FAICP, and Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy, AICP How can you ensure that your comprehensive plan makes sense as a whole, and guides decision-making to choices that create a healthy, balanced community? One important way is by engaging in a community self-assessment, a process that helps identify issues and build consensus.
	Meaningful Dialogue With the Public by Elaine Cogan By engaging in a true dialogue with the public, you may learn some useful information and actually enjoy the give-and-take.
Different Perspectives by Ric Stephens Do you ever try to assess how you and your fellow planning board members look through the eyes of those attending your meetings? Getting feedback can yield valuable insights, and lead to changes in how your commission conducts its business.
	Planetizen Update Highlights from the top planning news stories reported in 2008 on Planetizen's pages.

In Future issues: How Phone Trees Can Increase Public Participation | Key Public Safety Issues in Transportation Planning | Strategies for Avoiding Contentious Public Hearings | Good vs. Bad Density | Using Zoning Incentives | Planning Strategies to Promote Energy Conservation | and much more
Recent Back Issues:	Special Focus Issues:
Fall 2008: Pattern Books: A Planning Tool | GIS & Planning | Where Do We Want to Go? | and more	Winter 2006: Bright Ideas: 21 creative planning-related ideas & programs you should know about
Summer 2008: Greenways | Developing at the Edge | An Introduction to Charrettes | and more	Fall 2005: This Land Is Your Land: on "takings" and property rights, and how planners can respond
Spring 2008: Car Sharing | Revisiting Ex Parte Contacts | Chairing the Commission | and more	Fall 2004: Back to School for Planners: on the impacts of school location, and the relationship between planning and school boards
Winter 2008: Downtown Futures: continuing a series of reports from planners across the U.S., focusing on downtown issues	Spring 2004: Sphere of Influence: water and its impacts
Fall 2007: Crossing America: a series of reports from planners across the U.S. | Bypass Highways | and more	Fall 2003: Planning for Historic Preservation: an introduction to historic preservation planning
Summer 2007: Planning for Better Roadscapes | Fitting Roadways to Community Needs | and more	Winter 2002: Opening the Door: planning for affordable housing
Spring 2007: "Visitability" & Inclusive Housing | Downtown Economic Development | Engaging the Public | Geometry of Zoning | and more	Spring 2000: The Promise of America: noted planning historian Laurence Gerckens, FAICP, looks back at 10 successes & 10 failures that have most affected America's cities

Ready for Car Sharing?

For some good online resources on car sharing, take a look at: Dave Brook's CarSharing.us blog. Brook was founder of Carsharing Portland, the first commercial car sharing company in the U.S. in 1998. He later worked with Flexcar, which recently merged into Zipcar. Dave also recently posted a google map showing North American cities with car sharing programs. Bringing Car Sharing to Your Community. An excellent guide to car sharing prepared by San Francisco's City CarShare (pdf format; download shorter version of guide or download longer version of guide). TCRP Report 108: Car-Sharing: Where and How It Succeeds. Probably the most comprehensive publication currently available examining the development of car sharing programs and their benefits. Published by the highly respected Transportation Research Board, the publication is available to download (pdf format) For links to a variety of newspaper articles on car sharing, go to CarSharing.net. Finally, here are some of the car sharing programs discussed in Hannah's article in the Planning Comm'rs Journal: -- PhillyCarShare -- Chicago I-GO -- Zipcar -- Enterprise Rent-A-Car -- Arlington, Virginia, Car Sharing -- San Francisco City CarShare

From PCJ Editor Wayne Senville:

Curious about one of the hottest trends in transportation. We've got an excellent article, "Ready for Car Sharing?" in our Spring issue. Written by our transportation columnist Hannah Twaddell, it will help you understand how car sharing works, and factors in successful programs. You can take a look at excerpts from Hannah's article and, if you're interested, order & download the full four-page article. Take a look also at the video clips at the end of this posting.

Right now, car sharing is more common in larger cities. But it's expanding to smaller places, especially where partnerships can work together to promote it -- and where neighborhoods have high enough densities to support it.

Private businesses such as Zipcar, U-Haul, and Enterprise Rent-a-Car are also expanding their neighborhood-based operations to more communities. For a recent article on this newly competitive environment, see "Warning to Zipcar: Traffic Ahead" (Boston Globe, Mar. 30, 2008).

But in smaller cities, it still usually takes a nonprofit to get a car sharing program underway.

PCJ General Manager Betsey Krumholz recently spoke with Annie Bourdon, Executive Director of a nonprofit car sharing program under development in Burlington, Vermont. Take note, in particular, of the supportive role being played by the county metropolitan planning organization (MPO), which sees the value car sharing can play in reducing overall vehicle use and benefitting the region's transportation infrastructure.

Car Sharing Comes to Vermont
by PCJ General Manager Betsey Krumholz

"Car sharing programs can be successful in a lot of communities," asserts Annie Bourdon of Green Mountain CarShare in Burlington, Vermont. "The key is in understanding the needs and habits of the community in which it operates."

Bourdon is heading up this new organization, on a mission "to provide an affordable, convenient, and reliable alternative to private car ownership that enhances the environmental, social and economic well-being of our region and planet." It is gearing up for operation in Burlington, a city of 39,000 residents,

The Changing Climate of Smart Growth

From PCJ Editor Wayne Senville:

It wasn't all that long ago that when you heard talk of smart growth, it focused on reducing sprawl in order to preserve farmland and open space, reduce infrastructure investment costs, and develop more walkable, livable neighborhoods with a mix of uses. Certainly, that's still integral to smart growth. But one new element seems to have come to the fore of the smart growth agenda: climate change.

Yes, minimizing energy consumption has always been part of smart growth's aims, but if this February's national Smart Growth Conference in Washington, D.C., is any indicator, climate change and global warming are now an important way of "framing" the benefits of smart growth.

The Conference's opening plenary session, titled "Let's Change the Climate," was specifically oriented to how smart growth can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This was immediately followed by a session headed up by Conference honoree Dr. Richard Jackson on "Climate Change, Public Health and Smart Growth." And many other conference sessions also paid attention to the link between climate change and smart growth.

During the Let's Change the Climate panel discussion, Steve Winkelman, the Transportation Program Director for the Center for Clean Air Policy (and co-author of Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change) directly made the point that framing climate change as the major issue we're facing as a nation can help promote smart growth principles. Or as panelist Jemae Hoffman (head of Sustainable Transportation and Climate Change in the Seattle Dept. of Transportation) put it, "climate change is another good [reason] to do what we all want to do," adding that it is also "putting pressure on us to move faster on transportation issues."

Indeed, putting climate change on the front burner elevates the focus on transportation policy, especially efforts to reduce vehicle miles traveled. After all, it is the transportation sector (through motor vehicle fuel use) that is in most places the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, during the Conference sesssion Winkelman noted we'll soon "need to get to vehicle miles traveled taxes."

Green Roofs are Cool

... and can make a major dent in the "urban heat island" effect in our cities -- that is, the increased temperature due to lots of paved surfaces that absorb the sun's heat.

As part of this February's Smart Growth Conference, a group of us had the chance to visit the green roof atop the headquarters of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in their historic downtown Washington, D.C. offices.

But before Nancy Somerville, ASLA's Executive Vice President, shepherded us up to the roof, she told us about some of the benefits -- and challenges -- of installing the green roof.

Retrofitting a green roof on an older, historic building was not easy -- or cheap. One of the major expenses was the need to construct a new stairway to the roof, so visitors wouldn't have to clamber up a ladder. The roof also includes a grate walkway so people can circumnavigate the roof and view the varied plantings. And given that this roof is under the stewardship of landscape architects, it's not surprising that the roof's design is quite attractive and the plantings diverse.

The ASLA green roof has a unique feature: it is shaped into two "waves" or mounds. They're formed with thin layers of styrofoam insulation, and serve to hide the HVAC systems. As Somerville explained, they also allow the plantings to be at eye level, helping create a more attractive amenity for visitors. [Click on the drawing to view it at larger size].

But you have to bear in mind that ASLA's green roof is a model / demonstration project, a living

laboratory to help landscape architects learn about the functioning of an urban green roof. So it wouldn't be fair to hold it to a strict cost-benefit accounting.

In fact, as Somerville (above left) noted, one of their goals is to carefully monitor and measure the impacts the roof has on temperatures and rainfall retention, and to also see which plants thrive best.

Which brings us to potential benefits. Somerville ticked off several, from lowering urban temperatures, to reducing stormwater runoff, to improving air quality, to reducing energy use inside the building, to creating new biohabitats.

Perhaps the key reason for the growing popularity of green roofs lies in the fact that between 15 and 25 percent of the surface area of our cities is comprised of roof tops. Since most rooftops today consist of impervious, often dark-color surfaces, they do nothing to reduce either temperatures or stormwater runoff. But add a few inches of soil and plantings, and you get some dramatic differences.

The first year results for ASLA's green roof, for example, showed that it retained 74 percent of all rainfall (some 29 inches) -- including 100 percent of all rainfalls of less than 1 inch. Reducing urban stormwater runoff can yield environmental benefits, as well as save cities costly infrastructure investments.

How much of a soil layer do you need on a green roof? There's no single answer. As Somerville pointed out, what are termed "extensive" green roof areas typically consist of just 2 to 6 inches of soil or growing medium, and are quite light in weight. "Intensive" roof areas can have depths of 6 inches or more, and will support a broader range of plants. Part of what is possible, depends on the roof's structural capacity. On the ASLA building this varies in different parts of the roof. For example, more intensive planting are possible above the elevator shaft which offers greater structural support.

Before we left Somerville reminded us of the "amenity value" of having a green roof. With wonderful views and cooler temperatures, it can offer a great place for employees to take a break. Not surprisingly, green roofs can increase a building's real estate value.

Can't visit the ASLA's green roof? Take a look with their rooftop webcam! And visit their green roof project web site for more details and performance data on the roof.