West Central Association Chamber of Commerce’s Post

I am excited to share a new blog post that delves into the design and functionality of a common urban intersection in the Netherlands. This insightful piece explores how Dutch urban planning prioritizes safety and efficiency, ultimately enhancing the experience of cyclists and pedestrians. By examining real-life examples, the post highlights the innovative strategies that can be applied to urban design worldwide. Discover how effective intersection design can transform urban mobility and improve community dynamics. Read the full post here: https://ift.tt/3ew8S9P.

TOMORROW! We’re back with the team from Toole Design Group, Catherine Girves and Tobi Otulana, who we heard from in our last episode on inclusive transportation, and Leah F. Evans, Homeport president and CEO. For this bonus ‘sode we’re discussing how we can support adding density with robust transportation options, including mass transit like light rail and bus rapid transit (BRT). We talk about tackling our public right of way policies and how we can adjust them to make room for modes like biking and walking. Can we add density without having transportation options already built in for the individuals and families who inevitably need to move from one place to another? Would things like BRT and light rail be viable without first establishing density?

Innovation is integral in everything we do......

Here's what we're reading this week

In the winter issue of Metropolis Magazine, Brian Libby and Francisco Brown explore how the new PDX Airport sets a "higher bar for materials sourcing, carbon accounting, and biophilic design." https://bit.ly/3P29f1C 📸: Stephen A. Miller

From historic landmarks to modern marvels, bridges aren’t just pathways; they’re the heartbeat of a city’s history, culture, and spirit. In our latest issue, we dive into the fascinating tales behind the bridges of #London, #Prague, #Budapest, and #NewYorkCity >> https://lnkd.in/dK3ymV4X

It was a celebration of many things, but mostly of our amazing city’s urban core and the people and places who make it great today, and greater tomorrow! #urbanist #urbanplanning #economicdevelopment

Interessant - es sind die Kosten; und „the Economy, stupid!“ „A car-lite city, enabled by robust public transit and a thriving micromobility sector—is not some utopian fantasy; it’s an economic imperative, as proven by cities like London, Singapore, and Stockholm. These cities stand as testaments to the transformative power of congestion pricing; by making investments to modernize their transit systems and support non-car travel, they experienced a boom in economic activity. Further, Stockholm’s traffic reductions save the city the equivalent of $80 million per day through reductions in travel time, proving that a commitment to sustainable urban planning is a commitment to economic growth.“

The City of Cleveland has released two key studies on the future of Burke Lakefront Airport! One study reviews the legal, operational, and financial implications of potentially closing the airport, while the other examines the economic impact of redeveloping the 245-acre site. A major takeaway is that Burke’s current economic impact is relatively small ($76.6M annually), and redevelopment could increase that to $92M, with plans to preserve 200 acres for parks and greenspace. Mayor Bibb emphasizes that no decision has been made, and stakeholder engagement will continue. To learn more and read the Airport Layout Plan Narrative Report and the Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis, click here: https://lnkd.in/eQVuiCnM

PICTURE THIS: The Crossing Debate, 1829 After several years of back and forth about whether and where to build a new bridge across the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland is now proposing to replace the current Chesapeake Bay Bridge spans with much bigger ones--five lanes on each side. Did you know that the same kind of civic debate unfolded two centuries ago as folks debated about building a canal across the Eastern Shore and Delaware? This map shows the six different routes that were proposed and debated when it came to building the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. • The one in black that’s a little hard to see here was the winner. Opening in 1829, it went up the Elk River and then through Chesapeake City and St. Georges into Delaware City. • Other routes in red were in the running, too: (1) from Elkton, Md. to the Christina River, about where Christiana Mall is today along I-95 near Wilmington; (2) from the now-non-existent town of Frenchtown on the Elk River through Glasgow and Red Lion; (3) down the Bohemia River and across Great Bohemia Creek and then on through Middletown and Odessa to the Appoquinimink River; (4) across the Sassafras River through Georgetown (Md.) and Townsend on the way to Odessa and the Appoquiimink; and (5) Up the Chester River through Chestertown and Crumpton on the way through the Blackiston area to Duck Creek, just above Leipsic. I came across this map at the C&D Canal Museum in Chesapeake City, Md. There was no answer there to the question in my mind: How much controversy this all stirred up back then?