Platform: Building The New Transit Town
Winter 2009
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.?
(November 3, 2009)
Platform Online
June 2, 2009
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.
(June 2, 2009)
Platform Online
April 15, 2009
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.
(April 15, 2009)
Platform Online
March 11, 2009
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.
(March 11, 2009)
Platform Online
February 3, 2009
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.
(February 3, 2009)
Platform: Building the New Transit Town (November 2008)
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.
Download (PDF)
(October 22, 2008)
Platform: Building the New Transit Town (Autumn 2006)
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.
(October 1, 2006)
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Platform: Building the New Transit Town (Summer 2006)
Shelley Poticha editorializes about the importance of accommodating households with a range of incomes in TOD, and the difficulty of doing so when there isn’t nearly enough land planned or zoned to meet market demand. Gloria Ohland documents TOD and value capture in Evanston, Illinois and along the Hudson Bergen light rail line in New Jersey. Diana Williams discusses the results of Reconnecting America’s working session in Dallas on best practices and a research agenda related to transit and urban form. Jane Jacobs is eulogized. And more …
(July 1, 2006)
Platform: Building the New Transit Town (Autumn 2005)
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 …
(October 1, 2005)
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Platform: Building the New Transit Town (Spring 2004)
Shelley Poticha asks why public funding used for transit and TOD is considered a “subsidy” rather than an “investment” when both create so much value. She recommends that public agencies start thinking more like the private sector and demand a return on their investment at the back end of projects. Gloria Ohland discusses the range of value-capture strategies that can be used by the public sector to get a return on their public investment. She also writes about the enormous significance of Denver’s Fastracks initiative that will result in the largest transit system expansion since Washington D.C.’s Metro system was build in the 1960s. And more …
(May 1, 2004)
