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MTI - Good station-area planning is critical for the successful operation of a high-speed rail station

MTI Report 12-75 was edited by Aggie Writing Services.

Lessons learned from the European experience 

San José, Calif., February 8, 2017 —Good station-area planning is an important prerequisite for the successful operation of a high-speed rail (HSR) station; it can trigger opportunities for economic development in the station-area and station-city. What is less clear, however, is what constitutes good station-area planning. 

Researchers at the Mineta Transportation Institute recently completed a comparative analysis of HSR station development in order to provide valuable lessons for the California HSR system, in general, and the San José, California, Diridon Station, in particular. A Comparative Analysis of High-Speed Rail Station Developing into Destination and Multi-Use Facilities: The Case of San José Diridon identifies the elements of good station-area planning, documents what experts consider as challenges and opportunities, and extracts recommendations to improve future HSR station-area development.

The team, led by Dr. Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, reviewed literature on planning intermodal transit facilities, completed an in-depth assessment of current planning efforts for Diridon Station—including site visits and interviews with planners and urban designers—and conducted in-depth case studies of five European HSR stations: Lille and Lyon, France; Utrecht and Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and, Turin, Italy.

According to Loukaitou-Sideris, “there are a number of attributes that characterize successful HSR station-area planning.” These include:

• Strong spatial connectivity, defined as the seamless integration of the station with its surroundings;
• Strong intermodal connectivity, defined as the seamless integration of different transportation modes at the station, and convenient access and transition from one mode to the other; and
• Strong operational connectivity, defined as good project governance, and coordination and collaboration among the public and private sector.

Specific recommendations for San José Diridon Station focus on station design and services, intermodal connectivity—including connections to nearby Mineta San José International Airport—as well as operational connectivity such as the development of a Joint Powers Authority.
The report is available for free download from http://transweb.sjsu.edu/project/1502.html

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, PhD is a professor of urban planning and associate dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Deike Peters, PhD is an assistant professor of environmental planning and practice at Soka University of America. Paige Colton is a graduate student in the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning program at UCLA. Eric Eidlin is a transportation planner and Sustainability Lead with the Federal Transit Administration.

ABOUT THE MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE
The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) conducts research, education, and information transfer programs regarding surface transportation policy and management issues, especially related to transit. Congress established MTI in 1991 as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. MTI won national re-designation competitions in 2002, 2006 and 2012. The Institute is funded through the US Department of Transportation, the US Department of Homeland Security, the California Department of Transportation, and public and private grants. The internationally respected members of the MTI Board of Trustees represent all major surface transportation modes. MTI, the lead institute for the nine-university Mineta National Transit Research Consortium, is affiliated with San Jose (CA) State University’s Lucas College and Graduate School of Business. Visit transweb.sjsu.edu


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Contact:
Hilary Nixon, Ph.D.
MTI Director of Research and Technology Transfer
408.924.7564 | hilary.nixon@sjsu.edu

GA/GBN: Statement from Green America on Trump’s Executive Order

by Scott Kitson | Feb 6, 2017

Green America stands strongly against President Trump’s executive order on immigration. We are proud to partner with the American Sustainable Business Council to ensure that businesses and employers can raise their voices in opposition.

Take Action: Add Your Name »

The ban on travel and immigration, which initially included valid visa and green card holders, and applied to seven predominantly Muslim countries, unjustly targets Muslims. Discriminating against individuals based on religion and national origin is fundamentally un-American.

America is already great—because we are a nation of immigrants. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, especially for businesses able to tap into a diverse employment pool to compete in the global marketplace. Since the founding of our country, immigrants have brought their talents and fresh perspectives, promoting strong communities and a strong economy.

Anti-discrimination policy exists today to prevent discrimination in the workplace. Simply put, President Trump’s order is in direct conflict with how we run our businesses, and is not how America operates. We reject discriminatory actions; we respect people irrespective of their religion and we seek broad-based prosperity for all Americans.

This ban is dangerous and fundamentally disruptive to society and the economy. President Trump has created a culture of fear and uncertainty that ultimately hurts our communities, families, and the marketplace.

We believe we can achieve both safety for ourselves and safety for those fleeing crisis or conflict in their home countries. We welcome all immigrants seeking opportunity.

Green America’s Green Business Network is proud to join the growing number of businesses from a wide range of sectors in opposition to Trump’s executive order on immigration. We stand for diversity, which is crucial to our country’s continued prosperity and innovation. Raise your business voice, and tell the Administration that you oppose the immigration ban.

Take Action: Add Your Name »

(Source: http://www.greenbusinessnetwork.org/statement-from-green-america-on-trumps-executive-order/)

GA/GBN: US SIF Foundation Releases 2016 Trends Report on Sustainable, Responsible, and Impact Investing

by Scott Kitson | Dec 01, 2016
According to the latest report from the US SIF Foundation, sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investing assets have expanded to $8.72 trillion in the US, up 33% since 2014. This equates to one in five dollars invested under professional management. The full reports explains this growth, in addition to exploring the top issues concerning money managers and their clients.

The Trends Report, now in its 11th year of publication, is a snapshot of US-domiciled assets engaged in sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) strategies at year-end 2015. The report measures two SRI strategies: (1) ESG incorporation, and (2) Filing shareholder resolutions on ESG issues.


The report shows a 33% growth over the past two years, and a 14-fold increase since 1995.

To read more highlights or download the full report, visit US SIF.

US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable Responsible Investment is the leading voice advancing sustainable, responsible and impact investing across all asset classes. Its mission is to rapidly shift investment practices toward sustainability, focusing on long-term investment and the generation of positive social and environmental impacts.

The US SIF Foundation undertakes educational, research, and programmatic activities to advance the mission of US SIF.


(Source: http://www.greenbusinessnetwork.org/us-sif-foundation-releases-2016-trends-report-on-sustainable-responsible-and-impact-investing/)

GA/GBN: New 2017 National Green Pages Released

by Scott Kitson | Nov 17, 2016

Green America is unveiling today its newest issue of National Green Pages (NGP), the ultimate sourcebook for green living, purchasing and investing. This year’s edition is available in hard copy or online. The NGP continues to honor the greenest businesses in the country and provides consumers with an extensive range of ideas for greening their lives, work, and community. Readers can also take advantage of 450 freebies and discounts from Green America’s Certified Green Business Network members nationwide.

Featuring thousands of socially and environmentally responsible businesses, the 2017 National Green Pages is a great resource for those who wish to create a safe and healthy home, promote peace and justice, protect the environment, and support a living wage for workers. Readers can discover tips for green remodeling, eco-travel, non-toxic cleaners and clothing, responsible banking and investing, and much more.

“With each green choice you make, you help solve our planet’s problems,” said Alisa Gravitz, president and CEO of Green America. “When you buy fair trade food and gifts, you ensure fair wages for producers around the world. By choosing organic food and clothing, you put an end to the dangerous pesticides used on conventional crops. By making your home more energy-efficient, you promote a clean-energy future. You restore the Earth. You save lives.”

All of the companies in the 2017 National Green Pages go through a careful certification process to ensure that their environmental and social responsibility claims are accurate. These businesses are certified by Green America for their social and environmental impacts.

In addition to providing information on specific companies, the 2017 National Green Pages details the types of green businesses “you need in your life,” as well as the types of business “sucking the life out of your community,” and helps readers avoid greenwashing.

Hard copies of this year’s National Green Pages can be ordered for $12.45 per copy (including shipping) online or by calling 1-800-58-GREEN. Green America members also receive the National Green Pages for free. Information about companies certified by Green America can be accessed online at greenpages.org, which includes a search feature to find green, healthy, and ethical products and services.

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ABOUT GREEN AMERICA
Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides economic strategies and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org.

The Green Business Network® is a program of Green America, the nation’s leading non-profit organization working to build a green and just economy. Comprised of 3,000 businesses, the Green Business Network is home to both rising social and eco enterprises and the most established green businesses around. We provide the tools, the information, and the consumer base to help you thrive in today’s competitive green marketplace.

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin, (703) 276-3255, or mkarlin@hastingsgroup.com.

(Source: http://www.greenbusinessnetwork.org/new-2017-national-green-pages-released/)