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| From Our President |
It is said that it takes a crisis to effect change. Certainly a global economy in a tailspin qualifies as a crisis. Each day, new proposals and ideas surface to forestall a total economic meltdown.
We should not forget that even before the economic freefall, there was no strategic federal policy on transportation. In our haste to stem the tide on job loss, we shouldn't overlook the need for a clear vision and rigorous accountability standards that our states and regions must adhere to. It would be a travesty if projects to restore our broken infrastructure and build economic competitiveness create more problems than they solve. ...More | |
10,000 Friends Outlines Transportation Investment Principles
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 In an essay published in Harrisburg's Patriot-News, 10,000 Friends President Judy Schwank made the case for further federal stimulus to come in the form of infrastructure investment. History shows us that infrastructure investment can provide the two-fold benefit of putting people to work quickly and creating results that can drive economic activity for decades. To help guide our transportation stimulus funding, 10,000 Friends is advocating for a set of transportation investment principles that can apply to any infrastructure investment. These are summarized as follows: - Fix it first. Priority should be given to infrastructure in existing communities to encourage infill and brownfield development in our core communities.
- Transportation impacts land use, and the reverse is true, too. We need to link infrastructure investments to specific land uses where they will have the most impact.
- Investment decisions should be made strategically, using a ranking system similar to the Keystone Principles. We should demand accountability, ensuring the funds are expended as planned and jobs promised are created.
- Fund projects with multiple payoffs. Transportation investments can impact a wide range of national stresses, such as gasoline-price volatility, climate change, road congestion and the resultant impact on air quality.
Be sure to read the entire essay for more of Judy's ideas on these issues. |
Penn State Documentary Exposes Water Infrastructure Challenges
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While many of the current discussions on infrastructure have focused on the need for transportation investments, there is an equally urgent need to repair and upgrade our aging water and sewer systems. This point is driven home in a documentary by Penn State Public Broadcasting entitled "Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure," which is currently airing on public television stations across the country. While the documentary presents a national perspective on water infrastructure, it highlights the specific challenges faced by three Pennsylvania communities: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Herminie, a small community in Westmoreland County. Visit the Liquid Assets website to view a trailer and learn how organizations can use the documentary to stimulate dialogue about water infrastructure challenges in their own communities.
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Infrastructure Stimulus A Hot Topic At Governors' Meeting
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On December 3, President-Elect Barack Obama met in Philadelphia for a discussion with the nation's governors. The focus was on Obama's plans for economic stimulus with a consensus emerging among the voices in the room: any stimulus money dedicated to infrastructure should be spent on projects that are ready to go. In many cases, these are projects that also fit the "fix it first" philosophy advocated by 10,000 Friends. While new infrastructure projects have to go through lengthy planning phases and may need new rights of way, renovations and upgrades to existing infrastructure have fewer hurdles.
Read more about the governors' meeting in this insightful article from the Washington Post.
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Good Reading
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The staff of 10,000 Friends has been busy traversing the state and meeting with newspaper editorial boards to discuss the findings of our recently published study Plan Regionally, Implement Locally, An Evaluation of Multi-municipal Planning and Implementation in Pennsylvania. Our efforts to spread this important information have begun to pay off, and the positive response that we've received from editorial boards indicates support for the value of regional cooperation.
The Philadelphia Inquirer placed the study within the context of the current recession and housing slump. This time of slowing growth can be leveraged by communities as an opportunity for planning. Tightening budgets can serve as an incentive to cooperate with neighboring community to reduce costs.
The Johnstown Tribune Democrat set the context of our research in the local planning efforts of central Cambria County.
The Pottstown Mercury made the link between planning and transportation with their analysis of traffic projections on Route 100.
Keystone Edge, a web site that tells the story of the new economy in Pennsylvania, noted the impressive interest across Pennsylvania in multi-municipal planning. With 27 percent of municipal governments across the state involved in a multi-municipal plan, you can bet that a community near you is realizing the benefits of working with their neighbors.
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| Stay Connected |
We update our site regularly with articles, opportunities and links, so please bookmark the home page of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania and stop by often.
To find your legislator and get copies of introduced legislation, visit the State General Assembly website. As always, thank you for staying connected to 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania. Please contact us if you have questions or would like more information.
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| 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania |
 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania works as an alliance of organizations and individuals committed to promoting land use policies and actions that will enable Pennsylvania to strengthen its diverse urban, suburban and rural communities. Through a diverse coalition focused on a positive agenda, we seek proactive solutions and options for local, regional and state leaders. Visit our website. | |
