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Archive for the ‘Policy’ Category

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Review of Maritime Transport

Tuesday, December 17th, 2013
Figure 1.1. The OECD industrial production index and indices for world gross domestic product, merchandise trade and seaborne shipments (1975–2013), (1990 = 100)

UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
For the foreseeable future, the United States is projected to remain the largest economy in the world (in monetary terms) and developments there and in Europe will continue to have knock-on effects on developing regions (United Nations Development Programme, 2013). In addition to the overspill effects of the problems facing advanced economies, other indicators, such as export flows of the United States, are also pointing to a continued global interconnectedness.

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Posted in Global, Infra Views, Policy, Seaports

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Who Pays for Parking?

Monday, December 16th, 2013
Table 1. Parking Vacancy Rates: At recently-constructed apartment developments in King County, an average of 37 percent of parking spots remained vacant during the nighttime hours of peak demand.

SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE
An analysis of 23 recently completed Seattle-area multifamily housing developments reveals that the practice of providing abundant “cheap” parking actually makes rental housing more expensive—particularly for tenants with modest incomes and who don’t own cars.

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Framing Surface Transportation Research for the Nation’s Future

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013
FIGURE ES-1 Steps leading to a new national research framework.

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
Over the years, surface transportation in the United States has seen numerous major improvements and policy innovations informed by research: safer and more fuel-efficient automobiles; more durable and economical pavement designs; real-time tracking of cargo shipments; and a resurgence of freight rail following deregulation of the railroad industry, to cite but a few examples. Leaders within the transportation community have questioned, however, whether the current U.S. approach to surface transportation research will lead to the innovations in transportation services and policies needed to support national goals for economic development, safety, mobility, competitiveness, and sustainability in the 21st century.

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A Major Setback for California’s High Speed Train

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

Innovation Newsbriefs
Vol. 24, No. 16
The future of the California High Speed Rail project hangs in a precarious balance as a result of two rulings handed down by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny on November 25. “The Judge’s ruling will prevent the [California High-Speed Rail] Authority from spending bond measure funds for construction until the funding plan is brought into compliance,” said Michael Brady co- lead attorney on the case…The Authority’s Chairman, Dan Richard, tried to cast the Court decision in a more positive light. “The judge did not invalidate the bonds as approved by the voters,” he said. “Like all transformative projects, we understand that there will be many challenges that will be addressed as we go forward in building the nation’s first high-speed rail system.”

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Posted in Funding, Guest Post, High Speed Rail, Innovation Newsbriefs, Local, Policy, Rail, The Infra Blog

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Infra Week: 11-25-2013

Friday, November 29th, 2013
Unity3D Visualization – Marmoset Street

Neighborhood got you down? Design your own
Pennsylvania’s $2.3 Billion Transportation Bill
Recovery Act Rail Project Completed Early and Under Budget
U.S. Immigrants Drive Less Than Natives
Has the U.S. Passed Peak Gasoline?

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Posted in Biking, Bridges, High Speed Rail, Infra Week, Land Use, Local, National, Policy, Public Transportation, Rail, Roads, Technology, Telecommunications, The Infra Blog, Transit, Urban Planning

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Pennsylvania Governor Signs $2.3 Billion Transportation Bill

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

On November 25th, 2013, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed the $2.3 billion transportation bill.
-UrbanEngineersInc on YouTube

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Posted in Funding, Local, Policy, Show Us Your Infra

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Financing Transportation Infrastructure the Traditional Way

Thursday, November 21st, 2013

Innovation Newsbriefs
Vol. 24, No. 15
…a transition from federal funding to public and private financing of new transportation infrastructure is already well underway —and it is likely to continue and grow given persistent deficits and pressures to reduce federal discretionary spending. Automatic sequester cuts which are to rise from $84 billion in 2013 to $109 billion in 2014, could place ever tighter constraints on government’s ability to increase spending for infrastructure in the years ahead.

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Posted in Aging Infrastructure, Bipartisan, Funding, Guest Post, Highway, Innovation Newsbriefs, National, Policy, The Infra Blog

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Los Angeles County: Clean Energy Investment Potential

Thursday, November 14th, 2013
Arroyo Verdugo: MAP Statistics

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
Changes in energy conservation and generation began decades ago in California, but transformation will involve a sustained effort with benefits for action realized now. For one, there are state and local funding vehicles to support investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects such as rooftop solar installations.

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Posted in Clean Air, Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Funding, Infra Views, Local, Policy, Sustainability

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Strategic Action Plan for the Chicago Loop

Wednesday, November 13th, 2013
Loop Area Strategy Diagram

CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE
The vision for the Loop and the Strategic Action Plan are not static. The Loop is ever changing as priorities shift, objectives change and new developments impact the social and economic dynamic of the Loop. Therefore, this Strategic Action Plan is a working document; it is a flexible tool that will evolve with the Loop as it changes and grows over the coming years.

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Veterans Advancing Clean Energy and Climate Security

Monday, November 11th, 2013

The Champions of Change series highlights ordinary Americans who are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world. On November 5, 2013, the White House honored 12 veterans and leaders who are using the skills they learned in the armed services to advance the clean energy economy.
-U.S. Department of Energy on YouTube

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