March 19, 2004
A
publication of the Gulf Coast Institute
³[Houston
doesnıt] need to convert the whole city into New York, but we should create a
core with a lot of the features of New York for those who want that urban,
dense, walkable, mass transit lifestyle.²
-Tory Gattis, local businessman and
creator of the ³Advancement and Amenity Dollars² benchmark http://www.americancity.org/Archives/Issue4/hirschman.html
³Indeed, we can see from both parts of the study that there is little
correlation between the supply of lane mileage per person and system
performance. Instead, it seems that greater connectivity, transit availability,
and pedestrian-friendliness are at least partially responsible for superior
transportation and environmental performance.²
-Environmental Protection Agency study
that measured several different types of regional transportation systems (see
story in REGIONAL NOTES).
The
Regional Transportation Plan/100 Percent Plan Part Three
The final draft of the long-term
Regional Transportation Plan, including the 100 Percent Plan, was released
today. This plan is the most comprehensive transportation plan in the Houston
region that goes well beyond the voter-approved Metro Solutions plan in
defining the future of transportation in Houston. This meeting will focus on
the major components of the plan and discuss how the public can get involved.
The Transportation Policy Council, the group of local elected and
transportation officials, should vote on the plan April 23rd. For a copy of the
plan, visit http://www.2025plan.org.
The Livable Houston meeting is Wednesday, March 24th, noon-1:30 pm,
Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555 Timmons, second floor. Bring your lunch.
For more information call 713-523-5755. The Gulf Coast Institute and the
Houston-Galveston Area Council host Livable Houston/Smart Growth
bring-your-own-lunch meetings that are open to the public on the fourth
Wednesday of every month. For more information, visit http://www.gulfcoastideas.org
and click on the ³Livable Houston Initiative.²
³Our Town² lecture set April 2
A gallery lecture about the exhibition
³Our Town: Houston Past Present Future² will be given by Gulf Coast Institute
President David Crossley at the Joan Wich &Co. Gallery at noon on Friday,
April 2. The bring-your-own-lunch event is free and open to the public. Please
RSVP to 713-227-2480 or by email to crossley@gulfcoastideas.org.
The exhibition includes photographs, drawings, maps, and text that explore the
complexity and contradictions of a gigantic but still-young city just as it
moves beyond adolescence. The show runs through April 10. Gallery hours are 11
am 5 pm Wednesday through Saturday. 914 Preston at Main, upstairs. Note: take
the train to the Preston stop. http://www.joanwichgallery.com
Houston
ranked 61st in worldwide quality of life survey
Houston ranked 61st for overall
quality of life on a survey that evaluated 215 cities across the world. Mercer
Human Resource Consulting, an international firm, completed the survey to help
companies determine employee compensation for the ³hardship² of living in
certain cities. Zurich, Switzerland; Geneva, Switzerland; and Vancouver,
Canada, ranked at the top. Baghdad, Iraq, came in last. Honolulu (24th), San
Francisco (tied for 24th), and New York (28th) were the top US cities. Atlanta
ranked as the lowest US city at 66th. The company said US cities fell in the
rankings this year because of tighter security restrictions. http://www.mercerhr.com/pressrelease/details.jhtml/dynamic/idContent/1128760
How Houstonıs transportation system fared in EPA systems comparison
Smart growth transportation systems
outperform conventional transportation systems, concluded a recent study by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The study compared conventional,
car-dependent systems, including the one in Houston, against more diverse,
smart growth systems. Out of a sample of 13 cities that were clumped into five
groups of similar populations but different systems, it found that the ones
with ³greater connectivity, transit availability, and pedestrian-friendliness²
have superior transportation and environmental performance. In four out of the
five groups studied, smart growth systems fared the best. The study compared
Houston against Atlanta and Philadelphia and found that the latter performed
the best in part due to its transit service, block size, and intersection
density. Philadelphiaıs residents have a much higher rate of transit access in
part due to its more than 960 miles of rail. Houston will have 72 miles of rail
after Metroıs long term transit plan is implemented. Philadelphiaıs vehicle
miles traveled per capita are about 30 percent less than Houstonıs. Performance
was measured in terms of lower vehicle miles travel per capita, fewer auto
trips per capita, lower average auto trip distance, less congestion, greater use
of public transit, and fewer vehicle emissions. The study also suggested that
³lane additions and lowering densities do not, by themselves, prevent worsening
congestion. Indeed, we can see from both parts of the study that there is
little correlation between the supply of lane mileage per person and system
performance.² For the executive summary of the study, visit http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/execSummary.htm
Environmental streamlining approved for Trans Texas Corridor
The Trans Texas Corridor, a 4,000-mile
transportation swath of highway, rail, and utility lines, could roll through
your region faster than expected due to a recent agreement between state and
federal transportation authorities.In only the second arrangement of its kind
in the nation, the Federal Highway Administration has agreed to streamline the
projectıs environmental process by funding planning activities of the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) during the environmental analysis process.
Usually, federal funding doesnıt come until after a completed environmental
analysis of overall environmental and social impact. Now, the department can
begin planning the corridor during, rather than after, the analysis so that
construction can begin soon after the environmental study is complete. Many,
including Sierra Club members have expressed concerns that this allows TxDOT to
secure right-of-way earlier than usual and will lengthen rather than shorten
the process because of public protest. A spokesman at the Texas Department of
Transportation said she was not yet sure of the right-of-way implications. For
TxDOTıs press release, visit http://www.dot.state.tx.us/txdotnews/nr-fhwa.htm
Biking in Houston
Houstonıs regional bikeways have more
than doubled in the past eight years, according to the Houston-Galveston Area
Council (H-GAC). In 1996, the region had only 161 miles of bikeway and today
the region has over 445 miles of bikeway with 1,243 miles targeted in
transportation plans. H-GAC has updated the Regional Bikeway Plan, a plan that
identifies existing and planned bikeways in the eight-county region where
biking is encouraged. To find a description of the plan, visit the appendix
entitled ³Bike Plan and Guidelines² at http://www.2025plan.org/info/info.html.
To find a map of bike trails in the City of Houston, visit their website at http://www.publicworks.cityofhouston.gov/bikeways/maps.htm.
The website includes information about 280-mile bike network in the city as
well as other bike events and education.
Austin
tops renewable energy chart
Texası Austin Energy sold the most
renewable energy of any green power utility program in 2003, according to a
recent ranking from the Department of Energyıs National Renewable Energy
Laboratory. According to the list, Austin is selling 50 percent more than the
second-place finisher, Oregonıs Portland General Electric. In terms of
percentage of customers who buy green power, Lenox Municipal Utilities in Iowa
takes first place with 11% of its customers buying green power. http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2004/1404_green_pwr_programs.html
PLANNING
School sprawl: causes and
effects
School districts are increasingly
building new buildings further out rather than renovating structures they
already have, according to an article by Governing magazine. The article
attributes the preference of new construction over rehabilitation in part to an
³old wives tale² that it is better to build a new school than to renovate if
renovation would cost more than half the cost of new construction spread half a
century ago that has since been institutionalized by some states. However,
according to the article, effects of such sprawl decisions go beyond building
costs to infrastructure, congestion, lost time, and other indirect costs. http://www.governing.com/archive/2004/mar/schools.txt
New attempt to energize public about democracy
New Haven, Connecticut, is the testing
ground for what could be a new form of participatory democracy, according to
The Next American City. Each year, a group representing New Havenıs regional
population gathers together in what is called a Citizens Forum to discuss
issues such as airport expansion and property tax revenue. The group of
citizens, who are paid to participate, is given a survey at the beginning of
the day and then spends part of the day discussing and learning different
points of view about the issues listed on the survey. At the end, participants
take the same survey over again. Results have shown that a significant number
of participants change their mind after the discussions. Many are calling this
a way to do three important things: 1) test standard assumptions about public
views, 2) educate voters, and 3) gradually kindle public interest and spark
political action. Unlike standard telephone polling or town hall meetings,
proponents of this ³Deliberative Poll² say the process is more meaningful.
Skeptics worry about motives behind the forumıs backers. http://www.americancity.org/Archives/Issue4/DEPT_gov.html
URBANISM
NYC unveils colossal west side
renovation
Using the 2012 Olympics as a catalyst,
New York City recently unveiled plans to completely redo the west side of
Manhattan with a $3 billion subway extension, a stadium and convention center,
new parks, 12,000 new homes, and 28 million new square feet of office space.
The city estimates the makeover will bring in $16 billion in tax revenues. Many
area groups support the plan but neighbors are voicing dissent, wondering if
the investment will pay off and if the plan will take away resources from lower
Manhattan. Source: Economist, March 2004
New Orleans main street makeover
The City of New Orleans recently
unveiled a $17 million plan to restore Canal Street as the cityıs ³front door,²
according to the Times Picayune. ''We need to make Canal 24 hours - residential
as well as retail - so there is always something going on,'' said New Orleans
City Council member Renee Gill Pratt. The plan will include new sidewalks,
pedestrian ³bump-outs² that will reduce the curb-to-curb distance for
pedestrians, 250 newly planted palm trees, and new street lights along the
street that passes through the French Quarter and the business district. Groups
supporting the plan hope it will generate hundred of millions of private development.
Source: Times Picayune, February 19, 2004.
The flip side of Florida
Could Richard Floridaıs creative class
idea that emphasizes the importance to a cityıs success of the hip,
coffee-house sippers, tech gurus, gays, and ³creatives,² really be just an idea
that should have busted with the tech boom, questions columnist Christopher
Shea in the Boston Globe. As mayors and governors climb on to the creative
class wave emphasizing the effect of the three Tıs of technology, talent, and
tolerance, on a cityıs bottom line, others are questioning the feasibility of
Floridaıs theories. One public policy professor and creative class critic Joel
Kotkin said he was mystified when the leaders of gray Midwestern cities began
to ask him for advice on how to lure 25-year-old gay college graduates to their
regions. He said his response to them was, ³What do you mean? You don't have a
snowball's chance in hell.² http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2004/02/29/the_road_to_riches/
MOBILITY
Prius trumps the Hummer
³After 9/11, Hummers became a cocky
symbol of American greatness. Driving the biggest, baddest,
least-fuel-efficient car on the planet was tantamount to giving the finger to
environmentalists, Adrianna Huffington, and all those who suggested that the
involvement of Saudi citizens in the attacks should lead us to rethink our
dependence on foreign oil,² said a recent article in the online Slate magazine.
The article shows how the popularity of Hummers, military-derived vehicles that
get 13 miles to the gallon, are now being overshadowed by Priuses, the Toyota
hybrid that gets 50 miles to the gallon. Hummer sales in January 2004
were down one third from the year before while Prius sales were up 84 percent
over the same time period. http://slate.msn.com/id/2096191/
When cars are safety nets, not requirements
San Franciscoıs car-sharing program is
giving those wishing to kick their car habits extra ability to do so. The City
CarShare program has fleets of fuel-efficient vehicles in ³pods² across the
region that allow members to drive cars on demand. The program costs $10 a
month with added charges of 44 cents per mile and $2-$4 per hour. So far, 3,000
people have signed up with 150 joining monthly. Officials hope the program will
lesson congestion, reduce air pollution, and help those without the ability to
buy a car. A Federal Highway Administration study found that two-thirds of the
programıs members either sold or decided against buying a car after joining.
New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Chicago,
Portland, and cities across Europe have similar programs. http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/8441992p-9371223c.html
METROPOLITAN ECONOMICS
New Jersey wants builders to
pay for utility lines to curb sprawl
In a bid to curtail suburban sprawl,
New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities is seeking to place the full financial
burden of extending water and utility infrastructure into undeveloped areas on
the shoulders of builders. The cost previously was shared by ratepayers in
cities and developed suburbs; developers also picked up some of the
responsibility, but typically recovered 50 percent of their investment or more
as new utility customers came into the system. Shifting the onus squarely to
developers would give some teeth to the stateıs Development and Redevelopment
Plan - which aims to direct growth into cities, established suburbs, and new
rural centers. However, critics say that the proposal will not deter sprawl but
will pass the extra costs onto homebuyers and, ultimately, inflate housing
prices. Source: Associated Press, February 2, 2004.
Hispanic Nation
The US is becoming evermore Hispanic;
the sheer numbers of Hispanics indicate that they are the new postwar baby
boomers, ³becoming a driving force in the economy, politics, and culture,² said
BusinessWeek magazine. Latinos surpassed African Americans last year, according
to the article, as the largest minority group in the nation and have made up
half of all new workers over the past decade. Characteristics such as a high
birth rate and increasing disposable income mean they will be a source of
economic growth for the nation, the magazine said. The question, said the
article is, ³How much will Hispanics change America, and how much will America
change them?² http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_11/b3874001_mz001.htm?c=bwinsidermar5&n=link1&t=email
REGIONAL
Culberson talks transportation, March 22, Houston. US Representative John Culberson
will talk to the Greater Houston Partnershipıs Transportation and
Infrastructure Advisory Committee at a luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Contact Rachel Woods for more information rwoods@houston.org.
Regional Transportation Plan Public Meeting, March 23 and April 13, Houston. Public hearing on the
2025 Regional Transportation Plan at Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555
Timmons Lane, second floor, 6-8pm. http://www.2025plan.org/
Sprawl Video Series, Mar 26,
Houston. Mothers for Clean Air, Houston Sierra Club's Sprawl Committee, and the
Citizens Environmental Council host a free video series on sprawl, 6:15 pm at
3015 Richmond. Email Jane Laping at mfca@mothersforcleanair.org
or call 713-526-0110 for more information.
Turning Green into Gold, April 21,
Houston. Urban Land Institute luncheon about how ³green building² and
³sustainable development² are providing a new competitive advantage for real
estate projects. For more information, visit http://www.Houston.uli.org.
or call 713-935-0440.
Backyard, Bayou, and Beyond, April
7th, Houston. Conference about how to reduce flooding and improve water quality
in Houston neighborhoods. University of Saint Thomas, from 8am to 5pm. http://www.urban-nature.org/wshed_symp/sponsors.htm
Our Town: Houston Past Present Future,
Mar 6- April 10, Houston. An exhibition at the Joan Wich Gallery, 914 Preston
at Main.Gallery hours 11 am 5 pm Wed-Sat. 713-227-2480. http://www.joanwichgallery.com
Annual Texas Transit Conference, May 15-18, El Paso. The annual Texas Transit
Conference will highlight the new public transit provisions at the state level.
http://www.texastransit.org/
Density by Design Building a Great City, Preserving a Great Environment, May 19 at the Rice Hotel. Convened by Gulf Coast
Institute, Houston-Galveston Area Council, and Texas Sea Grant/Texas
Cooperative Extension. Register at http://www.densitybydesign.com
Nature field trips, Houston. The Houston
Audubon Society is hosting field trips through May to Waller, Anahuac, Bolivar
Flats, High Island and Brazos Bend State Park. http://www.houstonaudubon.org/
Note to readers: If you have news
to share, have reports from events, or would like to add subscriber names,
please let us know at issues@gulfcoastideas.org.
Prepared by Catherine Rentz Pernot
Gulf Coast Growth News is a publication of the Gulf Coast Institute. The Gulf
Coast Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality
of life in Houston. To support the Institute, go to http://www.gulfcoastideas.org.
To join the Instituteıs 1000 Friends of Houston, go to http://www.1000friendsofhouston.org