Don't Miss It - Resilient Cities Event in Mission

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UPDATE: Registration begins on March 7th for the full day program at $100. The FREE evening program does not require prior registration.

On March 24, 2011 at 7:00 pm, there will be a free evening RESILIENT CITIES presentation at The Clarke Theatre, 33700 Prentis Avenue, Mission, BC. No registration for the free evening event is required.

Also on March 24, 2011 starting at 8:00 am at the same location, there will be a day-long symposium on Resilient Cities. The full day program fee is only $100 and requires registration.The online registration should begin on March 7, 2011. I should have read the full email from Cory, sorry! If you are interested in the daytime symposium, you can contact one of these folks for more information:

sfletcher@mission.ca
chalbert@city.whiterock.bc.ca

March 7th registration should be at:
http://www.pibc.bc.ca/content/pibc-institute-chapter-events

We will keep you posted as much as possible on this event and provide an updated link to the $100 full day program registration, if one is forwarded to us. But please take advantage of the free evening presentation starting at 7:00 pm!

Hat tip to faithful SFOT blog read Cory Newcomb and the new Senior Planning Technician for the City of Sidney on Vancouver Island, who brought to my attention this very worthy city building presentation. We wish Cory much success on the island, but will certainly miss seeing him around the FVRD and Metro Vancouver for sure.

Active Transportation Spending in Vancouver

Just for fun, I decided to compare what the City of Vancouver has set aside for cycling infrastructure improvements as compared to South of Fraser municipalities. I must point out that, with the exception of the City of Langley, budget information hasn't been easy to find and requires way to much effort to find. Anyway, in Vancouver they have a three-year, $494.8 million capital budget from 2009 to 2011. In that budget they have set aside $29 million for cycling (Cycling Network, Greenways Program, Burrard Bridge Traffic/Bicycle/Pedestrian Upgrade). On average that's $9.6m per year or $14.94 per person on cycling.

Spending on Cycling Infrastructure (not with new roads)
Vancouver $14.94 per person
Surrey $4.33 person
Township of Langley $1.68 person
City of Langley $0 person

The City of Vancouver outspends Surrey by a factor of 3 on cycling which shows that we have much catching up to do in the South of Fraser give that Vancouver is outspending us on cycling and that they had a 20 year head start!

Downtown Surrey

In case you missed it, yesterday the City of Surrey broke ground on the new City Hall which is part of the new civic centre in Downtown Surrey.



According to the City of Surrey website:

The new City Hall and Community Plaza are part of the Build Surrey program, the most comprehensive construction and capital works program in the city’s history. The program will see a variety of community centres, recreation facilities and infrastructure projects built in every town centre over the next ten years to create vibrant, connected, pedestrian-friendly communities.

Other Build Surrey projects in City Centre include the new Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre, a new 75,000 square foot regional library currently under construction, a covered youth park, a performing arts centre, as well as walking trails and beautification initiatives. In conjunction with the major new residential developments underway, these projects will support new commercial, entertainment, education, civic, and recreation opportunities for residents and businesses in Surrey.

More Resource:
Build Surrey Program Brochure
Civic Centre Development Brochure

Detroit Light Rail - Woodward Avenue

I've been following the progress of a proposed streetcar line in the heart of Detroit for about a year now. Detroit is pretty much a text book example of how 1950's urban planning, white flight, and complete faith in the automotive industry lead to the complete devastation of the core city. Right now 27% of all land parcels in the City of Detroit are vacant and the core city's population continues to shrink. It's not all doom and gloom in Detroit though. While there is certainly some interesting proposals and projects with urban farming in the city, they are also looking to light rail to bring life back.

In 2006, planning started for a 9.3 mile starter streetcar line that will form the backbone of a new regional rail transit system. The 3.4 mile first phase is scheduled to start construction this year.

Proposed Transit Network

They have also posted a video of what Woodward Avenue will look like with light rail.



People and business in Detroit have looked at how light rail has trigger investment in other communities and are looking to get on board. Ironically, like most North America cities, Detroit had an extensive streetcar system that was ripped out for the auto including on Woodward Avenue.

Even more importantly, it will also play a key role in revitalizing Detroit. As Mayor Bing pointed out in his State of the City address, it is a centerpiece of plans to attract 15,000 new residents to the Midtown area.

Businessmen like Dan Gilbert, Roger Penske, and Chris Illitch are so confident in this rail project’s ability to boost downtown Detroit that they are donating their own money to help build it.

Rail transit is no longer just for the New Yorks and Chicagos of the world. Cities like St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Minneapolis, Denver, Charlotte, Houston, Salt Lake City and Phoenix all have successfully integrated light rail into their city streets. Ridership is well above expectations, with the light rail attracting not only low income workers who need affordable transportation, but also professionals seeking an escape from long time-wasting commutes. And like Dallas, these cities are reaping enormous economic benefits from it.

- Michigan Live