Most planners have an aspiration toward placemaking: we dream of quaint public squares where residents can walk to local businesses as streetcars hum past tree-lined sidewalks. We dream of the “15 Minute City”, of cheerful connected places where community and opportunity thrive in abundance.
Doing More with Less: Art or Science?
During the last week of October I attended the Rail~Volution transit conference. While the sessions were timely, insightful and thought-provoking, I couldn’t help but notice the eight-ton elephant in the room: COVID-19. Even when we don’t talk about it, COVID is present. However, there was one session that widened my perspective on the private sector’s role in community planning in … Read More
COVID-19 Customer Survey Results
As our nation continues to navigate the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic, we took an opportunity to survey our customers and hear firsthand the daily challenges and obstacles that transit agencies and operators are facing. The survey was divided into four sections: marketing & communication, resilience planning, operations, and funding.
Let’s Talk TRANSform: Recapping Our Time at APTA’s Annual Meeting
Another great APTA Annual meeting has come and gone, but not without leaving us with a wealth of knowledge to mull over. This year’s meeting was hosted in the city that never sleeps at the New York Marriott Marquis. The big city lights paled in comparison to the powerful discussions happening inside, and we’re here to recap some of the … Read More
Designing Cities: 2019 NACTO Recap
It’s been a few weeks since I was at the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Designing Cities 2019 Conference, but I am still riding the energy waves from that event. NACTO is my happy place. It’s a chance for me to breakaway from the day-to-day at the office and let my inner urban and transit planner come out. … Read More
Supply Begets Demand…
In my first job after college, I walked to work every day. At that time, I worked at the UNC General Alumni Association, in the heart of the Carolina campus, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world.
Creating Vibrant Cities: Going Above and Beyond Traditional Transportation
Last week several members of the TransLoc team traveled to New York City for the 2019 ACT International Conference. This year’s conference brought together over 650 professionals from across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe to discuss a wide range of transportation topics and solutions to enhance mobility in communities worldwide. There were 40 educational sessions focused … Read More
The Best Time to Plant a Tree was 20 Years Ago. The Next Best Time is Today.
I grew up on 10 forested acres of land on the side of a mountain on the outskirts of the western North Carolina city of Asheville. My parents built our house overlooking Haw Creek Valley and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our nearest neighbor was a third of a mile through the woods.