John Hennessy III,
P.E.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE
With construction of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick (Trail) complete, it is time to begin to assess the Trail’s impact on the properties and businesses near the Trail and on the people using it. This report focuses on estimates of usage, surveys of users and businesses along the Trail, change in property values along and near the Trail, and the estimated fiscal impact of the Trail.
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
The environmental benefits include conserving water, reducing interior noise pollution, mitigating stormwater runoff, reducing the urban heat-island effect, improving urban air quality through carbon dioxide-oxygen exchange, and creating habitats for a diversity of birds, insects, and animals. Along with extending the life of the roof by two to three times over a conventional roof, economic benefits include reducing energy costs—both heating and cooling—increasing property values, and meeting requirements for stormwater management.
Since 1987, the Oregon Department of Transportation has worked with partners to preserve, enhance and reconnect the Historic Columbia River Highway from an old road to a state trail with international significance. Much work has been accomplished – 63 of the original 73 miles are now open to travel. Only 10 miles are needed to complete the connection.
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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Over the next century, warming global temperatures will present many challenges for the National Park Service (NPS) and public land managers. Rising sea level will be one of the most obvious and most challenging impacts of this warming. Even a minor increase in sea level will have significant effects on coastal hazards, natural resources and assets within national parks. To begin addressing these issues, the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS) at Western Carolina University (WCU) has partnered with NPS to begin an assessment of the level of exposure that park owned assets will face during a period of rising sea level.
LOCUS
SMART GROWTH AMERICA
Walkable urban places are not just a phenomenon of coastal U.S. metropolitan areas. This report demonstrates that the market desires them in Michigan—and they are gaining traction. If this emerging trend in favor of walkable urbanism plays out in Michigan as it has in the other metro areas studied by George Washington University—Atlanta, Boston, and Washington, D.C.— it will mean an historic shift away from the drivable development patterns that have dominated development for the latter half of the 20th century. The state could return to the walkable urban development pattern that predominated before World War II.
With the help of EPA’s $200,000 Brownfields Area-wide planning grant, this video shows Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas explain the catalytic impact of EPA funding to jumpstart improvements and community outcomes for citizens in underserved communities, such as Lawrence, MA. By planning for, and envisioning, new walking paths to replace a blighted old railway that cuts through the City, residents will someday be able to link to adjacent recreational trails. This video shows the “before” of a key community project that will change the future face of Lawrence and make a real difference to its citizens.
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CicLAvia transforms the urban streets of Los Angeles County by temporarily removing cars and opening the streets to people who ride bikes, walk, skate, jog or use other non-motorized transport. As a result, tens of thousands of people enjoy the health benefits offered by a public space that they would not otherwise be able to access. CicLAvia is partnering with UCLA and the Rand Corporation to measure health impacts and behavioral changes that are sparked by utilizing the city in this manner.
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SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
SEPTA’s ridership is nearing quarter century highs. In Southeastern Pennsylvania and across the United States, rates of both private auto ownership and use are down. The region’s three fastest growing demographic groups – “Millennials” (20-34 years old) , “Baby Boomers” (60-75 years old), and an influx of newly-settled immigrants of all ages – are less likely to own a car (or even a driver’s license) and are more likely to use transit. These emerging local demographic groups tend to not only rely on transit for commuting to work but also for other discretionary trips and often travel with luggage, strollers and bicycles.
Scott Bricker has worked for over fifteen years to make communities healthy and sustainable through bicycling, walking and urban design. Scott is proud to serve as the Director of America Walks, the only national organization dedicated to improving all aspects of walking in America.
…providing safe and accommodating walking routes for people effectively ensures that everyone has equal access to services and employment, education, recreation, where people play and pray, et cetera. It’s a fundamental aspect of equal mobility access. There’s also a fair amount of research that shows that communities that are walkable, that have places that are close to each other, are economically vibrant.
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