| Western Pennsylvania Community Roundtables |
Working with partner organizations, including Sustainable Pittsburgh, Local Government Academy, Government Finance Officers Association of Western Pennsylvania and the Lawrence County Council of Governments, 10,000 Friends organized three stakeholder roundtables as part of outreach efforts to raise awareness of current challenges facing Pennsylvania.
The roundtables focused on the findings of three recent research reports: Committing to Prosperity, by the Brookings Institution; Strengthening Rural Pennsylvania, by Penn State University; and Structuring Healthy Communities, by the Pennsylvania Economy League). The reports focus on the economic conditions of the Pennsylvania's communities and highlight the need for governance and investment reforms.
The western Pennsylvania roundtables were a component of a statewide outreach effort that included 13 locations across the state. Roundtable participants consisted of local government officials, community leaders and business owners. Stakeholders offered various insights and engaged in lively discussions on the issues of municipal cooperation, taxation and tools necessary for economic competitiveness.
To read the reports please go to our Renew PA website www.renewpa.org
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| Using Transportation to Benefit Communities |
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Neighborhoods Now, formerly the Philadelphia Neighborhood Development Collaborative, is working to strategically link transportation investments with community development. Through their transit-oriented development program, Neighborhoods Now is seeking to revitalize neighborhoods and attract market investment by improving and leveraging existing transportation assets.
Transit-oriented development focuses development around transportation nodes, giving communities greater access to jobs, amenities and other market opportunities. Neighborhoods Now is currently working with the Econsult Corporation to examine systemic barriers that prevent communities from leveraging transportation networks and strengthening surrounding real estate markets.
To learn more about how CDCs are using transportation to encourage community development activities go to http://www.neighborhoodsnowphila.org/transit |
| PennDOT Hosts Smart Transportation Workshop |
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Smart Transportation is the ability to link transportation investments with land use planning and economic development decision-making. Over the past year PennDOT has developed and begun implementing ten principles that provide fundamental guidance for transportation investments.
In June, PennDOT Officials organized the first Smart Transportation Workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to obtain insights from partners to help develop new policies to guide the projects and daily business of PennDOT. Major points of discussion included removing funding barriers, linking project financing with community needs and increasing pubic engagement into the decision-making process.
A second workshop will take place to with PennDOT leadership and regional partners to identify programmatic opportunities to encourage Smart Transportation.
To view copies of Secretary Allen Biehler's presentation and a summary of the workshop please click here
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/CPDM.nsf/InfoSmart?OpenForm |
