Among the participants were the Governor, Lt. Governor, Directors of Administration and Transportation, RIPTA Board and staff, labor leaders, stakeholder groups, major employers, developers and members of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel for Transportation Funding

According to RIPTA Chairman John Rupp, if more money isn't committed to the authority "in the near future, we're going to run out and the buses will stop." Due mainly to the rising cost of fuel and a significant drop in gas tax revenue, RIPTA has gone from a balanced budget in March to projecting a $12 million deficit for next year.

In order to avert severe service cuts that are now being contemplated - or even a stoppage - Grow Smart, in partnership with members of the New Public Transit Alliance (NuPTA) convened key civic, business and political leaders on Tuesday, September 23rd to get input on structuring mass transit funding in a way that allows it to grow with increased demand. The discussion was also seen by many as an important step to envisioning RIPTA's evolution into a robust, multi-modal mass transit system that can give Rhode Island a competitive advantage in the new economy while making significant and measurable improvements to air quality and greenhouse gas reductions.

Feedback at the summit will be used to develop a set of short and long-term funding recommendations. A smaller working group will be assembled in October to vet those recommendations before being sent to the Governor and the General Assembly by 10.28.08.

It is critical that a set of recommendations be agreed upon by the Administration and Legislature quickly in order to avert service cuts that will otherwise be unavoidable.

Summit looks at RIPTA finances - Projo 9/24

Campaign tool provides research and policy recommendations to candidates about a broad set of strategies for restoring prosperity by capitalizing on Rhode Island's vast untapped potential

Rhode Island is an outstanding, dynamic and distinctive place but it is looking weak and sliding into a defensive crouch these days. To accelerate constructive discussion and action on the many policy challenges and opportunities facing Rhode Island, Grow Smart has released its 2008 Candidates' Briefing Book, entitled, "A Blueprint for Sustainable Prosperity and Enhanced Quality of Place".

The book's release is a non partisan effort to promote better understanding of growth and development issues and various strategies and best practices to tap Rhode Island's full economic, environmental and social potential.

At its heart smart growth is about encouraging a pattern of development that prevents waste - waste of buildings and neighborhoods, of environmental resources, energy, tax dollars, of people's time and of people's individual and collective potential.

[Read More]

Program aimed at strengthening the vitality and function of walkable urban, town and village centers through innovative parking solutions

Tackling Your Community's Parking Challenges, the latest workshop developed for the Grow Smart RI Land-Use Training Collaborative, is being offered again following strong interest and positive feedback from those who participated in the July session. The 4-hour workshop, to be held in East Providence, will introduce attendees to new ways of thinking about parking issues, including the public and consumer cost of providing it.

Nathan Kelly, AICP, of the Horsley Witten Group, and Jason Schrieber, AICP, of Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates will return to present zoning, design and management strategies that municipalities can use to balance public and business demands for parking with community goals for environmental protection and maintenance of community character.

The discussion will range from the economics of providing parking to the fallacies inherent in the parking standards on which many communities rely to recent developments in materials and low-impact design. Using mini case studies from around the country, Nate and Jason will offered both time-tested and innovative solutions to parking challenges. Participants will apply what they learn in an interactive design exercise.

The workshop is approved for 4 AICP CM credits.

1st and 2nd quarter 2008 donors help Grow Smart sustain an aggressive statewide movement for better planned development and quality place- making at the state and local level

Grow Smart acknowledges and thanks the many individuals and organizations who provided us with generous financial support during the first two quarters of 2008 (January-June). Tax deductible donations to Grow Smart are what sustain our work - and are now needed more than ever in these very challenging economic times.

Individuals

Corporations

The first annual Sustainable Development & Restoration Summit will focus on the future of historic cities and the processes that are stimulating new business, greater energy efficiency, stronger community.

Presented by Source Newport, conference organizers promise thought-provoking sessions with planning, architecture, finance, construction, and real estate investment leaders as they share solutions and explore new paths to sustainable development and the key role played by restoration and America's historic cities.

A roster of speakers from a variety of disciplines, including Grow Smart Executive Director Scott Wolf, will share the most current information in managing and coordinating the new urban environment around historic property: colonial to 1950s contemporary. Participants will hear how development with "green" awareness and restoration are working side-by-side to grow unrivaled financial opportunities and retain the historic elements that make communities unique.

Click HERE for more information.

The number of shuttered box stores and empty strip malls has expanded over the last nine months, according to NewRules.org and data compiled by commercial real estate brokers and investment advisors.

Chain retailers have announced plans to close more than 6,500 outlets by year's end, even as shopping center construction continues to expand. Developers are on track to bring an estimated 137 million square feet of new retail space online this year. That's more than the average annual growth during the first half of the decade.

"I would avoid ... anything related to commercial construction," advised Michael Larson, associate editor of Safe Money Report and an early predictor of the mortgage crisis.

[Read More]

Click here to let us know if you would like your land-use/water resources related conference or workshop listed on our CommunityConnectionRI Calendar.

Send us Your News. We want to know what's happening in your community.

National / International

CA: Legislature takes aim at sprawl, global warming

As Americans fill trains, frustration grows

High Gas Prices Getting Americans to Focus on Smart Growth

It's Time to Link Energy, Development Policies

New England

As Another Ridership Record is Set, MBTA Adds More Service

Statewide

Transit advocates want a piece of the transportation-aid pie

Projo Editorial: Smart answers in hard times

RIPTA Director says he has no choice

RIPTA plunges deeper into the red

RIPTA takes steps toward service cuts

South County Independent Editorial-RIPTA: A route to nowhere?

A better way to finance RIPTA?

DEM streamlines permitting process

Activists pitch green jobs as a win-win for Rhode Island

Block Island

Burrillville

Central Falls

Coventry

Cranston

Cumberland

East Greenwich