Monday, January 4, 2010

South Fraser OnTrax Presents Sustainability on the Edge

South Fraser OnTrax presents Sustainability on the Edge, an event combining the knowledge and expertise of professionals in a number of areas including Translink, Metro Portland, the Township of Langley, and The City Program at SFU. This is a rare opportunity to come and see this many experts on transportation and sustainability in one place, presenting on cutting edge ideas and answering questions.

South Fraser OnTrax is proud to present an opportunity for everyone interested in sustainable communities and transportation options to hear from a number of experts in these fields, including representatives from Metro Portland, Simon Fraser University, the Township of Langley, and Translink. Residents of the Fraser Valley will find this event to be particularly enlightening as presenters will focus on issues relating to communities on the edge of Metro Vancouver.

South Fraser OnTrax advocates for the growth and improvement of communities through sustainable transportation and transit oriented development. In this spirit with the help of a grant from the Township of Langley, OnTrax will be hosting Sustainability on the Edge at the Fraser River Presentation Theatre at the Township Municipal Hall on Tuesday, January 12th, from 7-9pm. On hand for presentations and a question and answer session will be representatives from Metro Portland, Translink, the Township of Langley, and Simon Fraser University, with Councillor Jordan Bateman moderating.

Councilor Collette, keynote speaker from Metro Portland, chairs Metro's Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation, which determines priorities and projects slated for funding with federal transportation dollars in the region. Collette also is council lead on the High Capacity Transit System Plan, planning for the region's next 30 years of investments in light rail, commuter rail, regional streetcars and bus rapid transit. She serves on the Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project Steering Committee, the Sunrise Project Policy Review Committee, and previously served on the Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail Project Steering Committee.

Mr. Gordon Price, Director of The City Program at Simon Fraser University, is also a regular lecturer on transportation and land use for the City of Portland, Oregon and Portland State University. In 2003, he received the Plan Canada Award for Article of the Year - "Land Use and Transportation: The View from '56" - from the Canadian Institute of Planners. In 2007, he was the winner of the “Smartie” People Award from Smart Growth B.C. In 2009 he was made an honorary member of the Planning Institute of B.C. He sits on the Boards of the Sightline Institute and the International Centre for Sustainable Cities.

Translink will also be participating, providing a planner with expertise in Transit Oriented Development to speak and to sit on the panel for questions.

Councillor Jordan Bateman from Langley Township will be moderating the events. Councillor Bateman has served on Langley Township Council since 2005.

South Fraser OnTrax (SFOT) is a non-partisan group of local people who have a passion for making great communities even better with the introduction of sustainable transportation options that are made available to all. SFOT is particularly excited about this event, and the effects that the presentations will have on local development and sustainability initiatives in areas such as the 200th Street Corridor and the Interurban.

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