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Events

New updates for 10th annual Smart Growth Conference

Momentum is gathering for this 10th annual Smart Growth Conference scheduled for Friday, October 15, 2010 from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Entitled "Regional Collaboration: Investing in Sustainable Communities," the conference will be in-step with the Obama Administration's Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities (comprising federal DOT, EPA, and HUD) in supporting integration of housing, transportation, water infrastructure, energy conservation, and land use planning and investment.

Additional speakers continue to be added, alongside keynote speaker Peter Calthorpe, Principal, Calthorpe Associates - Urban Designers, Planners, Architects. Mariia Zimmerman, Deputy Director of the HUD Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, will provide a federal perspective on sustainable community development in terms of the Obama Administration's goals and what the regional response is hoped to be. Additional speakers include PA Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler and PA Secretary of Environmental Protection John Hanger who will explore cross-jurisdictional coordination for regional smart growth and sustainable community development policy and implementation.

Public participation is a key element to this event. As the stakes continue to rise, four pressing issues will be interwoven in deliberations: Transportation Funding Crisis, Water & Sewer Infrastructure, Marcellus Impacts, Affordable Housing. Moreover, conference organizers will craft a summary of participants' input and resulting action plan for presentation to the candidates for Governor, other candidates and incumbents, and community leaders.

Special this year is a competition utilizing the “14 Sustainable Community Essentials" that were released at last year's event. In the near future, individuals will be invited to identify and submit the significant tipping point(s)* or game changing moments they see as being a point of departure whereby the policy and practice of sustainable development accelerated for the region. Tipping points can be: policies, acts of leadership, mishaps, demonstration projects, an event, etc. all of which relate to one or more of the 14 sustainable community essentials. Stay tuned for details. Grand prize is an Apple iPad, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Technology Council.

More information

Events Continued

Resources

Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program — Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Response

Wednesday, August 4
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Regional Enterprise Tower, O’Neill Room, 23rd floor, 425 Sixth Ave., downtown Pittsburgh
Bring a bag lunch. Beverages provided.
No fee to attend.
RSVP (412) 237-3171
Presented by the Sustainable Development Academy of the Local Government Academy and Sustainable Pittsburgh

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced opening of a $100 million sustainable regional planning grant program. According to the International City Management Association, “the regional planning grants will be awarded competitively to multi-jurisdictional and multi-sector partnerships, as well as regional consortia consisting of state and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic organizations.”

How is southwestern Pennsylvania poised to take advantage of this opportunity and accelerate this region’s adoption of sustainability as a lens for making decisions, forming policies, and evaluating programs? Attend this lunchtime discussion to learn more about the grant program, of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s plans to submit the region's application (due August 23), and how and when you can get involved.

Featured will be a presentation by Lew Villotti, SPC Director of Planning and Development who will explain SPC's building on the progress made in its award-winning Project Region outreach process for the Region's Plan as it responds to the HUD grant program on behalf of the all of southwestern PA. The HUD Regional Planning Grant brings high stakes for positioning our region competitively for future projects and funding in step with the Obama administration's Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

Don’t miss this free event hosted by Local Government Academy and Sustainable Pittsburgh as part of its ongoing Sustainable Development Academy series.

SAVE THE DATE - Regional Water Conference: Protecting and Using our Greatest Asset

Thursday, September 9
Details forthcoming at www.C4SPgh.org.

This conference highlights ways in which this region leads in the management of water and this greatest asset is being used. This event is intended for professionals seeking to learn about practical solutions as well as engineering practitioners looking to understand what is on the minds of community leaders relating to sustainability and clean water.

Presented by: American Society of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section; Environmental & Water Resources Institute; and Champions for Sustainability, a program of Sustainable Pittsburgh

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Public Forum - SAVE THE DATE

Monday, September 20
8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Duquesne University - Power Center Ballroom, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
No fee to attend.
Registration information will be provided in a future edition 3-E Links

A new on-street BRT service is under consideration in Allegheny County to offer faster, more reliable, and easier to understand transit service. The initial focus is to link Downtown Pittsburgh with Oakland and other East End neighborhoods. As has been realized in other cities, “Rapid Bus” service improves transportation and is an effective catalyst for community revitalization. Implementation of BRT in Pittsburgh’s East End could result in similar benefits for the Forbes and Fifth Avenues Corridor. Before us is a golden opportunity to envision and design the service, facilities and economic development that leaders and citizens want for their neighborhoods.

This forum, focused on Pittsburgh’s Downtown – Oakland – East End area, will feature planning, development, and transportation professionals with BRT experience along with elected officials and transit stakeholders from our community. Breakout sessions will facilitate discussion of BRT benefits, challenges and community development issues.

Pittsburgh BRT Forum Collaborators (as of July 14, 2010):
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Allegheny County Department of Economic Development
Allegheny County Transportation Action Partnership
Bike Pittsburgh
City of Pittsburgh - Department of City Planning
Hill House Development Corporation
National Bus Rapid Transit Institute
Oakland Planning & Development Corp.
Oakland Transportation Management Association
Oakland Task Force
Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Remaking Cities Institute
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Sustainable Pittsburgh
Uptown Partners

REGISTER NOW - 10th Annual Southwestern PA Smart Growth Conference:
Regional Collaboration: Investing in Sustainable Communities

Friday, October 15
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, downtown Pittsburgh
Lunch provided.
Early registration: $25; After 9/23: $45. Free for elected officials.
REGISTER NOW
For exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities contact: cgould@sustainablepittsburgh.org

For this 10th anniversary, the conference will be a milestone for the high stakes surrounding the region's capacity building for smart growth. Focus will be on alignment with the Obama Administration's Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities (comprising federal DOT, EPA, and HUD) in supporting integration of housing, transportation, water infrastructure, energy conservation, and land use planning and investment. As such, this one-day, conference will identify barriers and solutions to cross-jurisdictional coordination for regional smart growth and sustainable community development policy and implementation. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan hit home the need and opportunity of our times in recently stating, "Our challenge now is to bring that holistic view of community development into the mainstream -- to help build sustainable neighborhoods, communities and regions that are as interconnected as the challenges they face."

The conference will again serve as a public input session to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission's process of updating the region's Long Range Transportation and Development Plan. This update will be distinguished by addition of enhancements appropriate to a regional sustainable development plan per the six "Livability Principles" prioritized by the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

The conference will feature:
- Representatives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will discuss the U.S. government's interagency partnership to support and promote sustainable communities.
- Keynote address by Peter Calthorpe, Principal, Calthorpe Associates - Urban Designers, Planners, Architects
- Allen Biehler, Secretary of PA Department of Transportation
- John Hanger, Secretary of PA Department of Environmental Protection
- SPC public process per the region's sustainable development plan
- Four pressing issues interwoven in deliberations: Transportation Funding Crisis, Water & Sewer Infrastructure, Marcellus Impacts, Affordable Housing
- Formal presentation of competition results – “14 Essential Tipping Points for SWPA Sustainable Community Development" (web site soon) - Learn what federal and state agencies are looking for in capacity and qualification for sustainable community investment
- Identification of actionable steps whose implementation will position our region to accelerate sustainable development and be a priority place for investment
- Crafting of a summary of participants' input and resulting action plan for presentation to the candidates for Governor, other candidates and incumbents, and community leaders

Southwestern PA is a contemporary proving ground for hastening the new American dream found in revitalizing livable, sustainable communities through smart growth policies that discourage sprawl, congestion and pollution. Come be part of continuing the region's sustainability renaissance for economically competitive, environmentally sustainable, opportunity rich communities. More than a one-time event, the conference will be a point of acceleration and innovation for the region's positive path.

Peter Calthorpe has been named one of twenty-five "innovators on the cutting edge" by Newsweek Magazine for his work redefining the models of urban and suburban growth in America. Starting practice in 1976, he has a long and honored career in urban design, planning and architecture, combining his experience in each discipline to develop new approaches to urban revitalization, suburban growth, and regional planning. His early published work included technical papers, articles for popular magazines, and a number of seminal books, including Sustainable Communities with Sim Van der Ryn, and the Pedestrian Pocket Book with Doug Kelbaugh. The Next American Metropolis: Ecology, Community, and the American Dream, published in 1993, introduced the concept of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and provided extensive guidelines and illustrations of their board application. His latest book with William Fulton, The Regional City: Planning for the End of Sprawl, explains how regional-scale planning and design can integrate urban revitalization and suburban renewal into a coherent vision of metropolitan growth.

Presented by Sustainable Pittsburgh's Sustainable Community Development Network in collaboration with: 3 Rivers Wet Weather, 10,000 Friends of PA, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Green Building Alliance, Group Against Smog and Pollution, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Local Government Academy, Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 10, District 11, and District 12, Pennsylvania Resources Council, Remaking Cities Institute, Smart Growth Partnership of Westmorland County, Southwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Planners Association, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Pittsburgh, Young Preservationists Association

Public invited to Opening Plenary Panel: Assessing Environmental Disasters in the U.S.

Sunday, August 1
5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Ballroom BC, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, downtown Pittsburgh
Free and open to the general public.
Contact: Contact: Katie Kline (katie@esa.org)

A panel of experts will discuss several case studies from prominent environmental disasters, including the discovery of Asian carp in the Great Lakes and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig accident, during the Opening Plenary Panel at the Ecological Society of America’s 95th Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh on Sunday, August 1, 2010. In this Plenary Panel entitled “Environmental disasters in the US: exploring our reactive mode,” the scientists will also address the ways in which society assesses risk and reacts to, instead of prevents, grave outcomes.

The panelists will include Robert Twilley from Louisiana State University, an expert in wetlands on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, David Lodge from the University of Notre Dame, an invasive species expert and David Dzombak, an expert in water quality engineering and contaminated site remediation, and Baruch Fischhoff, an expert in risk analysis and decision science, from Carnegie Mellon University.

This free event will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and the public is strongly encouraged to attend.

Food & Water Watch: Fair Food or Bust!

Tuesday, August 3
Cooking demonstration
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Braddock Farms, 1129 Braddock Avenue, Braddock 15104

Meet-up with Food & Water Watch and Local Activists
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Quiet Storm Café, 5430 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh 15206
Space Limited, RSVP (909) 762-6530
Flyer
Web site

Founded in 2005, Food & Water Watch works to ensure the food, water and fish people consume is safe, accessible and sustainably produced. So that everyone can enjoy and trust in what is eaten and drunk, Food & Water Watch helps people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to homes, and protect the environmental quality of oceans, among many other things.

Food & Water Watch is calling for a revision of the Farm Bill in Congress in 2012 that will include measures to protect farmers against the lack of competition caused by big agribusiness. The Education and Outreach team is travelling through America's heartland to reach out directly to the people most affected by these issues. The team is accompanied by celebrity chef and foodie activist Rocky Barnette who, as the face of the road trip, will be visiting farms, county fairs, farmer's markets, and more to educate people about the Food & Water Watch Farm Bill campaign.

Community meeting - Electronic Advertising and Message Signage

Wednesday, August 4
6:00 pm
John P. Robin Civic Building, First floor conference room, 200 Ross Street, downtown Pittsburgh
To find relevant documents and for more information on this issue, visit the Department of City Planning’s website, under the “Electronic Advertising and Message Signage” heading.

Illuminated signs and billboards have been a part of city skylines for decades. But in recent years, new technology has created many new types of moving, flashing and color-changing electronic signs that were previously not possible. With new LED technology, these signs can often be seen for miles.

As Pittsburgh residents and business owners, how do we use electronic signage and take advantage of new lighting technologies while still protecting our city’s famous scenic vistas, controlling light pollution and maintaining motorist safety? New legislation is being developed to bring the zoning code up-to-date with the new technology.

You're invited to this community meeting with the Department of City Planning, along with legal expert Chris Duerksen of Clarion Associates and lighting expert Nancy Clanton of Clanton & Associates, Inc. They will explain the draft legislation for electronic signage and hear your opinion on how to proceed. Your participation is crucial in creating an informed plan for electronic signage. Come prepared to discuss your thoughts on how new signage is changing the face of Pittsburgh!

Human Health and the Environment Workshop

Wednesday, August 4
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Ohio Township Municipal Park, 325 Nicholson Road, Sewickley
Cost: $20 per person (all participants receive a comprehensive green cleaning kit for attending)
Contact: Sarah Alessio Shea at saraha@ccicenter.org or by calling (412) 488-7490 ext. 236

In 1962 Rachel Carson stated that for the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death. This statement was true then and continues to be true today.

The Health and the Environment Workshop is designed to heighten awareness and encourage action around the issue of carcinogens and toxins that individuals come into contact with daily through the products used and food eaten. The workshop also focuses on the consequences of these toxins on health and how to avoid exposure. The program provides the public with practical solutions such as safe alternatives and healthy lifestyle choices. A second workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, August 11 at the CCI Center on the South Side.

Presented by the Pennsylvania Resources Council in partnership with UPCI Center for Environmental Oncology.

Opportunities still available to attend P32 Community Conversation meetings

Power of 32 (P32) is a regional visioning initiative that involving tens of thousands of people across 32 counties in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia in creating a shared vision for the region’s future. Through P32, one can think differently about this region’s challenges—-its role in the global economy, quality of life, and opportunities—-and act in ways that set a new direction for the future. These Community Conversations will help develop a long-term vision for the region and participation is vital to its success. Find a conversation near you. More information is available at www.powerof32.org.

BikeFest 2010

August 6 - 15
Various times and locations

BikeFest Highlights:
Aug 6: BikeFest Kickoff Party – a fundraiser for BikePGH
Aug 7: I Made It Market, BikeFest edition + Bike Swap
Aug 8: Sunday Seersucker Saunter Spectacular
Aug 8: BikeFest Pool Tour
Aug 9: Mobile Bike Repair Project
Aug 11: Bike-in Movie: The Great Muppet Caper
Aug 12: Ladies Mt. Biking 101
Aug 12: Bike Polo Pickup Game
Aug 12: Disposable Film Fest Bike-In Movie
Aug 13: A Flock of Cycles: Flock all Night
Aug 14: Bicycle Times Ride to PAPA – World Pinball Championships
Aug 14: Lecture by David Herlihy, Author of the Lost Cyclist
Aug 15: Creamcycle, the Revival
Aug 15: Zomb the Tombs – Pittsburgh Cemetery History Tour

BikeFest, the region’s annual celebration of biking and bike culture, kicks off August 6th with a fundraiser for BikePGH at the Pittsburgh Opera, 2425 Liberty Avenue in the Strip District. Over the following 10 days, BikeFest will feature 60 independently organized rides and events throughout the city geared towards cyclists.

Pittsburgh is filled with interesting things to see and do, and there is no better way to experience the city than on a bicycle. Bike Pittsburgh decided to celebrate the two by creating BikeFest--to both raise awareness of the bike as a fun, healthy, and environmentally friendly way to get around, and to highlight some of the amazing things Pittsburgh has to offer. Bike Pittsburgh serves as a clearinghouse to provide information on BikeFest. All rides are at your own risk. Details and schedules can be found at www.bike-pgh.org/bikefest.

Sprout Fund Spring Program: Attend the 2010 Biodiversity Symposium

Monday, August 9
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm (registration starts at 2:30 pm)
Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh
Free; registration is required
More information

The Spring Program is a funding stream designed to catalyze biodiversity projects in Southwestern Pennsylvania with small grants of up to $20,000. Supported by The Pittsburgh Foundation and led by The Sprout Fund, the program seeks to support projects that enhance and preserve our region’s natural ecosystems. To learn more about biodiversity and the Spring Program, please plan to attend the 2010 Biodiversity Symposium at the Cabaret at Theater Square in Downtown Pittsburgh. The symposium will explore current topics and trends, promote a better understanding of local biodiversity, and plant the seeds for potential collaborations among regional stakeholders. From conservationists and ecologists to botanists and beekeepers, this gathering will provide an opportunity for all environmental advocates to brainstorm ways to protect and enhance the biodiversity of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Spring funding awards will catalyze community-based projects that creatively address the ecological challenges faced and inspire greater stewardship of this region’s natural resources. Deadline is September 24, 2010. Get involved and submit your idea at www.sproutfund.org/spring.

How to Market Green Building Products: Greenwash or Green Products?

Two-part webinar course
Wednesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 18
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Contact: Rob Zahorchak at robz@gbapgh.org
More information

This course is for building product manufacturers and distributors who are just entering or seeking to enter the green building marketplace. Company sales representatives, marketing professionals and company leaders are all welcome!

This training focuses on:
• Understanding the green building market
• Greenwashing
• U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED® ) Building Rating System
• Ways in which your products can be counted towards points within LEED

Allegheny Green and Innovation Festival

Saturday, August 14
11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Hartwood Ampitheater
Press release

Come to the Allegheny Green & Innovation Festival and learn about sustainable living and innovation in all forms. This zero-waste event will include earth-friendly food & product vendors, crafters, green living demonstrations, musical entertainment, children’s activities & much more! Any organization or individual interested in providing a demonstration or exhibit should send an e-mail to greenfestival@alleghenycounty.us. There is no fee for vendors, but the focus is on green living, sustainability, and innovation. All exhibits should be informative and engaging.

Port Authority Public Hearing

Thursday, August 19
8:00 am - 8:00 pm
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, downtown Pittsburgh
More information

Port Authority is proposing to reduce service by 35 percent, including the elimination of 48 routes, and increase its fares by a quarter for most riders in January due to a statewide transportation crisis. The Federal Government's decision to not permit tolling on Interstate 80 has created a $450 million gap statewide in transportation funding. The local impact for roads, bridges and public transportation would be devastating. Port Authority's impact is immediate and it is accepting public comments in writing or at PortAuthority.org from July 28-Aug. 31. Those wishing to testify at the public hearing are encouraged to pre-register by calling 412-566-5437 (TTY 412-231-7007) from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Oral testimony will be limited to three minutes per speaker. Those who have not pre-registered may register at the hearing and will be called on as time slots become available. Port Authority will provide a sign language interpreter at the hearing as well as Braille copies of informational documents.

4th Annual Rachel's Sustainable Feast

Sunday, August 29
Noon - 5:00 pm
Rachel Carson Bridge (9th Street Bridge), downtown Pittsburgh
Early bird Ticket: $7 by July 31
Kids 5 and under are free
For sponsorship information, please contact Fiona Fisher at fiona@rachelcarsonhomestead.org or (724) 274-5459

Come see the best of the region's hottest chefs who support local sustainable farmers, favorite local farmers' who grow sustainably, friends who are eco-friendly vendors, and groups who work to protect our land, water and air, and more ways to learn about sustainable living in one of this country's fastest-growing green marketplaces - southwestern Pennsylvania!

Among those chefs in attendance will be Kevin Sousa of Salt of the Earth, Keith Fuller of SixPenn Kitchen, Steve Salvi of Fede Pasta, Penn's Corner Farm Alliance, Sonoma Grille and/or Seviche, and Bill Fuller of the big Burrito Restaurant Group. More updates to come.

Running Green for Three Rivers: 5K Run & Walk

Sunday, August 29
Registration: 10:00 am
Starting Time: 10:30 am
Start: 16th Street Bridge, downtown
Finish: 9th Street Bridge, downtown at Rachel’s Sustainable Feast
Cost: $15.00 ($7 goes to the Rachel Carson Homestead; the rest of the proceeds go to Three Rivers Community Foundation)
Register online or via mail. For more info, visit: rungreenpa.org
Registration form

In pursuit of environmental justice, Three Rivers Community Foundation is organizing a 5K Run & Walk (postponed from World Environment Day in June) to promote and commemorate the sustainable efforts in Pittsburgh. Running Green for Three Rivers will be syncing up with the Rachel's Sustainable Feast organized by the Rachel Carson Homestead, so that the run ends at the feast. The mission of this event is to raise public awareness about and build support for local grassroots sustainability initiatives. Dogs and pets welcome! As a participant, your entry to the Feast is covered by the cost of this event. The Feast runs from 12-4pm.

Sponsored by The Three Rivers Community Foundation in partnership with Rachel Carson Homestead, East End Food Coop, G-Tech, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Group Against Smog and Pollution, Venture Outdoors and other groups TBA.

Resources

UN resolution on right to water passes overwhelmingly. 124 yes, 42 abstentions, 0 no!

“This is truly an historic day,” said Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians and IFG Board Member, who was at the UN meeting for the vote. ”When the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights was written, no one could foresee a day when water would be a contested area. But in 2010, it is not an exaggeration to say that the lack of access to clean water is the greatest human rights violation in the world.” Barlow was joined for the important vote by the Council of Canadians’ National Water Campaigner Meera Karunananthan and Blue Planet Project Organizer Anil Naidoo.

Allegheny Front: Sunscreen Safety and the Latest on Marcellus Drilling

This week on The Allegheny Front, slapping on sunscreen in the summer is what experts say will protect you from skin cancer. We talk with the executive director of Women for a Healthy Environment who says some ingredients in sunscreens aren't safe. We price out some of those that are recommended as being the safest. There's criticism that the organic standards for food aren't being enforced, especially for beef. We discuss local hearings on the safety and environmental impacts of drilling in the Marcellus shale. In other news, states including Pennsylvania are suing the federal government and the Chicago water department to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Our series on children and nature continues with a commentary from two Pittsburgh teenagers on how childhood games are being replaced with indoor technology.

New website invites views and ideas on community issues

The Allegheny Forum Website has been launched!

This new website invites individuals, families and organizations across Allegheny County to provide their views and ideas about major issues that are critical to their communities. The website includes a library of information and resources and provides a discussion format for the presentation and sharing of opinion. Featured topics include water and sewer infrastructure, parks and recreational facilities, emergency services and fire protection services and street maintenance.

The website is part of an initiative led by the Pittsburgh Foundation that is designed to promote discussion and gather meaningful feedback about improving local government and municipal services. All of the public's opinions and ideas received by the website will be presented at a forum where comment will be invited by state and local elected representatives. Please log on to share your thoughts and take part in this exciting initiative! Please share the website with your colleagues, friends, and residents.

Host a screening of "The New Metropolis" in your community

This past May featured "Building Community Connections" at the WQED studios, a film screening and community/civic engagement dialogue about revitalizing core communities. The program included a screening of "The New Metropolis," a two-part documentary film series by award-winning producer, Andrea Torrice, about the challenges faced by America’s first suburbs: a dwindling tax base, population decline, business loss, decaying infrastructure and racial tensions. Then the program turned locally to a discussion on:
• how the issues raised in the film reflect the Pittsburgh region
• steps needed to take to address them
• potential for regional cooperation
• how to create a common agenda that extends across Pittsburgh’s communities.

Continue the Momentum: Host a screening in your community

If you are interested in coordinating a screening of The New Metropolis series and facilitated discussion for your community please contact Grant Ervin at 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania at gervin@10000friends.org. The screenings provide a great opportunity to help engage your community.

View The New Metropolis Viewers Guide

Funding opportunity: Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative

PennDOT has announced the opening of the application window for the next round of Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI) funding, which they are calling PCTI 2010. The program is smaller than the previous time, with a total of $24 million available over two years. The maximum award for pre-construction or construction projects is $1.5 million. The maximum award for planning grants is $300,000. The overview from the PennDOT website identifies a September 15, 2010 application deadline.

Who (Re)Built the Electric Car?

It has "regenerative braking," to capture energy conventional cars lose when you hit the brakes. It's dead quiet, except for the hissing of tires on asphalt and the whirring of a brake pump. And though this prototype's top speed is just 45 mph, the fixed-gear ChargeCar accelerates well, easily beating other vehicles off the line as a traffic light turns green.

ChargeCar looks smart on paper, too. The project's goal is affordable conversions of standard, gas-powered cars into plug-in electric vehicles for commuters and other short-mileage users -- people who drive less than 40 miles a day.

Potentially harmful chemical found in paper receipts

The Environmental Working Group found BPA on 40 percent of the receipts it collected from supermarkets, automated teller machines, gas stations and chain stores. In some cases, the total amount of BPA on the receipt was 1,000 times the amount found in the epoxy lining of a can of food, another controversial use of the chemical. . . "We've come across potentially major sources of BPA right here in our daily lives," Ms. Lunder said. "When you're carrying around a receipt in your wallet for months while you intend to return something, you could be shedding BPA into your home, into your environment. If you throw a receipt into a bag of food, and it's lying there against an apple, or you shove a receipt into your bag next to a baby pacifier, you could be getting all kinds of exposure and not realize it."

More

Agency cuts road, bridge allocations drastically

A new long-range Transportation Improvement Program for southwestern Pennsylvania slashes spending on roads and bridges by 32 percent over the coming four years because of funding shortages and uncertainty. . . The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, a 10-county regional planning agency, approved the plan on Monday. It identifies projects to be carried out over the four years beginning in October.

Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities

ICMA has released a new report, “Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities,” which focuses on how to adapt smart growth strategies to rural communities. Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities, the report examines the challenges rural communities face, including rapid growth at metropolitan edges, declining rural populations, and the loss of working lands. It highlights smart growth strategies that can help guide rural growth while preserving the unique rural character of existing communities.

The report focuses on three central goals: 1) support the rural landscape by creating an economic climate that enhances the viability of working lands and conserves natural lands; 2) help existing places to thrive by taking care of assets and investments such as downtowns, Main Streets, existing infrastructure, and places that the community values; and 3) create great new places by building vibrant, enduring neighborhoods and communities that people, especially young people, don’t want to leave. Featuring case studies from across the country, the report highlights how local governments, states, and non-profits have successfully implemented smart growth strategies to support rural lands, revitalize existing communities, and create great new places for residents and visitors.

Land Development and Transportation Policies for Transit-Oriented Development in Germany and Italy: Five Case Studies

Across the United States, metropolitan regions are increasingly turning to transit oriented development (TOD) as a logical alternative to the autodependent land development patterns of the last six decades. TOD projects, however, face policy hurdles that could inhibit their effectiveness, particularly those that address land use densities, parking, and the role of traffic impact studies.

In this policy brief, Bay Area transportation planner Michelle DeRobertis undertakes a comparative examination of recent TOD developments in five European cities and finds that by planning land-use and transit concurrently, planners in Europe have created successful, vibrant new communities from which their American peers can learn.

For information on becoming a Member of Sustainable Pittsburgh, please visit our website.

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Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support ($1,000 and up) in 2010 from:

Allegheny County - Dan Onorato, County Executive
Atkins Family Foundation
BNY Mellon
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
FedEx Ground
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Richard King Mellon Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
UPMC
Waste Management


Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP