Moving Towards a Transformational Transportation Bill

At the American Planning Association (APA) Federal Policy Briefing, which began on Sunday, John Robert Smith, CEO and President of Reconnecting America and a leader of the Transportation for America (T4America) network, and Devon Barnhart, legislative counsel for transportation, urban and natural resource issues for Congressman Albio Sires of New Jersey, called for a transformation in federal transportation policy so that federal investment better supports the development of multi-modal urban transportation networks, increased inter-connections in rural areas, and improved walkability and bikeability across communities. With the upcoming reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU, the USD 286 billion transportation legislation, there is an opportunity to put U.S. transportation on a new path away from highways and towards sustainable, accessible forms of transportation, including rail, and public transit.

In introducing the panel, Roxanne Blackwell, Federal Affairs Manager, ASLA, said: “all of us in this room know and understand that how a community is designed, including the layout of its roads, buildings and parks, has a huge impact on the life and health of its residents and on the overall economic health and viability of our nation as a whole.”

Devon Barnhart, Legislative Counsel, Congressman Albio Sires: Congressman Sires is looking towards the upcoming authorization of surface transportation legislation as an opportunity to “keep people and goods moving in a sustainable manner.” Sires’ district contains almost all forms of transportation, including airports, ports, mass transit, Amtrak, and ferries. The port alone serves 1/3 of the nearby population, and generates enormous economic activity for the area. However, existing transportation networks, particularly for freight, also create “quality of life” issues, including pollution.

Barnhart said the new Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system, which runs through the district, has helped ameliorate some of these issues. Along the rail line, “there was lots of blight, old industrial sites. Now, there’s lots of tie-in, and commercial growth.” There have also been new condos and brownstones. However, Barnhart noted a big downside: it’s made it impossible for low-income people who need access to public transportation to live along the new light rail line.

Barnhart argued that complete streets are particularly crucial to dense communities like those in Sires’ district. Barnhart added that ”people are still trying to strip complete streets out of bills,” and urged planners and landscape architects to meet with their representatives and highlight the importance of complete streets projects in their districts (even if they are rural).

John Robert Smith, Reconnecting America / T4America: Robert Smith was the long-time mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, where he oversaw the development of an innovative transit-oriented development project. Smith led the development of a multi-modal transportation network and leveraged USD one million in government money to bring in USD 135 million in private sector investment around the new transportation hub. In a city of 350,000, the new transportation hub led to the restoration of the local opera house, a new conference center, and department stores. Meridian also now has the 15th largest urban forest in the U.S. The urban forest includes bike paths and trails.

Smith said the U.S. needs a “transformational transportation bill.” It can no longer just be about “asphalt,” but needs to be about “rail — light, heavy, high-speed, and include housing, planning, metrics, and smart growth.”

Transportation for America (T4America), an organization in which Smith plays a lead role, now has 360 partner organizations, and sends some 50,000 emails to Congress in each campaign. T4America is aiming for a transformational surface transportation bill that can provide incentives for:

• Affordable housing near mass transit
• Robust transit, walking, biking
• Improved mobility options for senior, low-income residents and veterans
• Incorporation of local voices (transportation is often sited within highway departments and the U.S. needs to get away from highway development)
• Green ports and freight.

Given that SAFETEA-LU, which passed in 2005, just expired, the current gas tax which funds all sustainable transportation work is also up for renegotiation. The U.S. Senate and administration want an 18 month extension into 2011. Regardless of how long the extension lasts, the issues need to be dealt with immediately. “Revenue from the gas tax doesn’t cover SAFETEA-LU. New sources of revenue are needed and there are different ways to do this.” New funds are needed for public transit and regional planning around transit-oriented development. Smith said the numbers aren’t critical, but what is needed is a basic change in the way the U.S. sees transportation. A new surface transportation bill must be transformational, and include housing, rail, environmental sustainability, if the U.S. wants to retain its economic competitiveness.

Smith added that “no rail system pays for itself.” In Europe, governments invest heavily in rail systems because of other economic, social, and health benefits they provide. In the U.S., “we spend more on highway roadkill clean-up than passenger rail.”

Smith and Barnhart encouraged people to check out MyCommuteSucks.org, and urged architects, landscape architects, and planners to get politically involved in their communities.

Image credit: Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Flickr

ACE Mentoring Indiana is in pursuit of Light Rail

In September, Indiana’s ACE Mentoring program started the year by introducing mentors and students at selected high schools. The program began with students introducing themselves and talking about their interests. Then the mentors reviewed the program’s goals and student expectations regarding advanced learning, networking, scholarships, and internship opportunities.

To create early interaction between the students and mentors, the first session consisted of designing and constructing name tags. The ACE mentor leader played the role of project owner and students were placed into designer and contractor groups alongside mentors. Once project “name tag” began, the owner began watching the time and reviewing team efforts.

This exercise incorporated project name tags as an introduction to the light rail project the students will undertake for this years mentoring project. The student’s thought process begins to develop as they work in teams and communicating ideas. Their project “name tag”, communicated the design intent on paper for contractors to bid. Some used text and others used drawings to detail size, color, shape, etc. They learned that a clearly defined design parameter helped the contractors accurately bid the work. This bidding process was based on time and effort to complete the name tags.

Look OUT! Did someone say, “Change order?” Of course there were change orders, and the owner made last minute request to keep everyone scrambling. The session concluded by evaluating the project time in addition to product quality to determine which team provided the best product solution. To conclude project “name tag”, the mentors initiated discussion on lessons learned and how the exercise reflects actual construction and design parameters.

Students will begin their next session with an on-site visit focusing on architecture and landscape architecture professions. To learn more or sign-up as a landscape architect mentor, go the acementor.org, select the mentor tab on the top left of the page and select online application. Please note background checks are completed in about five minutes at the City County Building, so do not fill out the on-line background check. You may also contact Daryn Fair at 317-578-4462 or daryn.fair@gmail.com.

SDAT Workshop- Professional Participation Requested

Be a part of the exciting Sustainable Design Assessment Team. We need local professionals to help explore a new model for sustainable neighborhood renewal. From affordable housing and quality jobs to green infrastructure and brownfields, chances are there is a topic you have critical expertise in. This is a great opportunity to give back to our community and help shape public policy in a manner that benefits a neighborhood we've long neglected.

The workshop is a three-day affair, concentrating on gathering community input on Wednesday, interpretting that input into several alternative visions and policies for the future on Thursday, and wrapping everything into a cohesive story for a public presentation on Friday. All work will be evaluated against a series of Policies and Goals previously identified through the Smart Growth Renewal process.

• All food (and good food at that!) and snacks will be provided.
• We will have standard charrette supplies, but you are welcome to bring your own materials.
• You will receive recognition in the report.
• This program can be counted towards your CEU requirement.
  

The charrette track will work in three multidisciplinary teams to explore alternative renewal scenarios and be led by a local professional. Full-workshop (October 28, 29, 30) participation is critical to maintain concept continuity and we ask that you register for as many days as possible. If you only can dedicate one day, Thursday is probably the most critical. Download a complete schedule.

For more information please visit the Sustainable Design Assessment Team website.

Pilot Projects to Test First National Rating System for Sustainable Landscapes

The Sustainable Sites Initiative™ announced a November 5 call for pilot projects that will test the first national rating system for sustainable landscapes. The Initiative is a partnership between the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden to create guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings. The announcement took place at the ASLA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The Initiative will accept applications starting November 5 and closing February 15, 2010, in conjunction with the release of the next report and new rating system, online at www.sustainablesites.org. Any type of designed landscape is eligible to participate, ranging from academic and corporate campuses, parks and recreation areas, transportation corridors to single residences so long as the total size exceeds 2,000 square feet. Fees for participating in the pilot project process may run between $500 to $5,000 depending on project size. Approximately 75 to 150 projects will take part in testing the rating system.

Until now, design and construction rating systems included little recognition for benefits of sustainable landscape and site design. Landscapes can clean water, reduce pollution and restore habitats, all while providing significant economic benefits to land owners and municipalities. The U.S. Green Building Council, a stakeholder in the Initiative, anticipates incorporating the Sustainable Sites guidelines and performance benchmarks into future iterations of its LEED® Green Building Rating System™. More information is available at www.sustainablesites.org.

2009 INASLA Annual Meeting and Design Awards Presentation Registration Information

2009 INASLA Annual Meeting and Design Awards Presentation

Friday, October 23, 2009
University Place Conference Center
850 W. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN

Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. I
t was loaned to you by your children."
Kenyan Proverb

Registration Form

Save $30 if you register before October 10!

7:30- 8:30 Registration and Participant Breakfast

8:00-8:30 Welcome comments

8:30- 10:00 Keynote Speaker

Kaid Benfield, Director- NRDC's Smarth Growth and Transportation Program
"Landscape architects have always been at the forefront of environmental responsibility. But what does this mean in the 21st century? Climate change is not only coming: it's here. And so is rapid population growth. Over half of the homes, shops, schools, and workplaces we will need in 20 years aren't built yet. We had better get it right. And we can."

Kaid Benfield is director of the smart growth program at the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Washington, D.C. He co-founded LEED for Neighborhood Development and the national coalition Smart Growth America. He is author or co-author of several books on sustainable development, including Solving Sprawl, Smart Growth In a Changing World,and Green Community, forthcoming from the American Planning Association.

Kaid is also one of the environmental community's leading online voices through his daily Switchboard blog. He is a graduate of Emory University and Georgetown University Law Center.

10:15-11:30 Concurrent Breakout Session #1

Allyson Pumphrey, City of Indianapolis Office of Sustainability
Indianapolis's Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative

Allyson Pumphrey from the City's Office of Sustainability will discuss the background & priorities of the Office of Sustainability. Specifically, she will highlight the Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative- a multi-faceted, multi-department approach to integrating green stormwater infrastructure into the overall solution for the City's water quantity/quality challenges by providing cost savings for the public side and incentives for the private side. She will also provide an update on current projects, recent accomplishments, and ongoing goals of the Office.

Alan Culwell, Attorney- Bingham, McHale LLP
Land Use Law and LEED for Neighborhood Development
Session description still to come! Stay tuned for additional information.

11:45-2:00 Lunch and INASLA Awards Presentation

Luncheon Speaker
Brian Dougherty, ASLA VP of Membership

2:15-3:30 Concurrent Breakout Session #2

Tom Barrett, Green Water Infrastructure, Inc.
Rainwater Harvesting and Condensate Recovery- New Tools for Sustainable Sites
Rainwater Harvesting and Condensate Recovery - New Tools for Sustainable Sites Capturing and using rainwater is enjoying revival as an alternate source of water to enhance the landscape. Up to 90% of the rain, which falls onto a site, can be captured, stored, and used to create a sustainable community.

Additionally, the water condensing from air conditioning units during thesummer months in hot humid areas can produce thousands of gallons of water each day. It is possible to combine rainwater harvesting and condensate recovery to irrigate the landscape. Join Tom Barrett as he explains how use of locally produced, non- potable water helps develop a "natural approach" to efficient use of water and relieves stormwater management issues.

Eric Ummel, Heartland Restoration

Installation Methods and key elements of design/ specifications of native prairies, pond edges and stream bank stabilization
Learn what makes a native prairie seed installation successful directly from the contractor. Eric Ummel, Director of Heartland Restoration Services, Inc. has been installing prairies for 10 years. He can answer your questions from what key elements to specify in your design, to what your client should expect through the first five years after installation. This presentation will focus on proper site preparation, installation techniques, and both short and long-term management needs.

3:45- 5:00 Concurrent Breakout Session #3
Dan Overby, AIA, LEED AP
LEED 2009 and Sustainable Sites Initiative Update
Earlier this year, the U.S. Green Building Council launched the latest version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System*. LEED Version 3 builds on the fundamental structure and familiarity of the existing rating system, but provides a new structure for making sure the rating system incorporates new technology and addresses the most urgent priorities like energy use and CO2 emissions. This session will provide an overview the updates and will also cover the status of the Sustainable Sites Initiative.

Representatives for Smock Fansler Corporation
Sustainability From the Contractor's Point of View
Session description still to come! Stay tuned for additional information.

A TOTAL OF 6 CEU's ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY!

ACE Mentoring Volunteer Opportunities Available!

Whether you are heading downtown for work, or play, light rail is making tracks this year at ACE mentoring. The light rail theme will help you and high school students learn more about a light rail coming your way.* Take the students on local field trips, talk with other professionals and bea leader respresenting the Landscape Architecture professional in the ACE Mentor Program of Indiana.

This is the first year for Landscape Architects in Indiana and we are proud to partner with a NationalMentoring Organization. The ACE program is a unique partnership among industry professionals, including landscape architects, construction managers, engineers and architects, who work together to attract young people to their professions. Please go to www.acementor.org to sign up for this years rail pass. Once on the web site, select the mentor tab on the top left of page and go to the application form. Submit the form and contact Eric Rolle to let so he can add you to the roster for schools. This will take you about 5 minutes. Plan to have fun! DO NOT do the Lexus Nexus Screening Background Check. The screening is done through IPS.

Erica Rolle is the ACE mentor Indiana coordinator contact:
erolle@newindianapolisairport.com
317-496-9125

To learn more about INASLA involvement, please contact:
Daryn Fair, ASLA, RLA
daryn.fair@gmail.com
317-578-4462

Thank you for your participation, we are looking forward to a great year!

The Environmental Habitat Steward Certificate Program

The Environmental Habitat Steward Certificate Program is designed for professionals including landscape architects, planners, architects, engineers, contractors, and developers. Participants will learn fundamental concepts in habitat management and current practices that can be used to preserve or enhance habitats. After this training, participants will be able to apply environmental principles to their traditional professional methods in creative and innovative ways based on the needs of particular project. CE credits are offered.

Please see www.indianawildlife.org/workshops.htm for more information."

This program is offered by the Indiana Wildlife Federation.