Limekiln Latitudes
On place, purpose and pretty things.Archive for Reading, PA
high speed rail
i’ve been immersed in all things rail on both a personal and professional level lately. at home in reading, pennsylvania, the legacy is hard to ignore and state and federal transportation agendas will be critical to long term development and revitalization in the city. and at van alen institute, we’re in the early planning and development phases of a design competition focusing on high speed passenger rail in the U.S. — including investigations into the effects that a federal network of infrastructural improvements will have on the design of cities themselves, the role that design and architecture will ultimately play in weaving a national HSR system into existing urban contexts, and the opportunities that this system will create for innovation with respect to transit-oriented architectural typologies. needlesstosay, the announcement last week by president obama, vice president biden, and DOT secretary ray lahood was exciting… and i got to hear PA governor ed rendell speak even more passionately about it at the regional plan association’s regional assembly on friday.
the following is an overview from the federal railroad administration’s “Vision of High-Speed Rail in America” (including links to the full strategic plan, corridor maps, and a video of president obama’s announcement):
President Obama proposes to help address the nation’s transportation challenges by launching a new and efficient high-speed passenger rail network in 100-600 mile corridors that connect communities across America. The Strategic Plan outlines the President’s vision that would transform the nation’s transportation system by rebuilding existing rail infrastructure while developing a comprehensive high-speed intercity passenger rail network through a long-term commitment at both the federal and state levels. This plan draws from the successful highway and aviation development models with a 21st century solution that focuses on clean, energy-efficient rail transportation.
High-speed rail (HSR) is a family of transportation options that address longer-distance passenger transport needs in heavily populated corridors. Implementing HSR will promote economic expansion (including new manufacturing jobs), create new choices for travelers in addition to flying or driving, reduce national dependence on oil, and foster urban and rural livable communities. With the successful completion of the original phases of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Transportation Project offering Amtrak’s 150 mph train service, known as “Acela,” between Washington, New York, and Boston, efforts have expanded beyond the NEC. A number of high-speed rail corridors are being planned by States that range from upgrades to existing rail lines to entirely new rail lines exclusively devoted to 150 to 250 mph trains.
onward and upward
It’s taken me a full week to digest the success of last Tuesday’s election – not only its national and international significance, but also the personal impact it will have on my own life. Granted it’s been a busy week, too – I celebrated Obama’s election on U Street in DC, capping things off with some 3am chili cheese fries at Ben’s Chili Bowl; I soaked up the latest climate crisis statistics at a heavy-hitting Rockefeller Foundation/UPenn conference called Urban Design After the Age of Oil; and I turned 30 amidst family and dear friends (and a few hundred other people noshing at Shady Maple… a somewhat mindblowing institution).
I’ve got lots to say on all the above, so will be taking things one by one. But in the meantime I just had to document this rare mix of euphoria, relief, and motivation. As someone else has been saying quite a bit lately: “Let’s get to work.”
endorsements
three cheers for the philadelphia daily news. (and such a different tone from the times!) have a feeling i’ll be writing a bit more about the primaries this weekend than anything else – i’m not able to make it home to reading this weekend afterall, but i just may hop on one of the buses to philadelphia that obama’s campaign has coordinated for sunday…
up and coming
reading, pa called “up and coming” on the today show late last year – click HERE to watch the interview with barbara corcoran.
governor mifflin reunion: 06/21/08
the governor mifflin class of ‘96 is getting its minor league on this summer at the reading phillies – technically our 12th reunion, why not! – and i’ve been working with christy (chaknos) weeber, connie kendig, eric byrne and rich linksy on the print materials. keep an eye out for a postcard in the mail next week, and reserve your seats ASAP so we can plan accordingly. hope to see you there!
infrastructure: gaining ground?
ok so! it’s time to get into the real reason i started this site: things are happening in reading, pa.
this funny alignment of professional interests and personal concerns has recently occurred in my family: community-oriented mom clocked some serious time in city hall, civil engineering dad retired only to join miscellaneous planning commissions and civic boards, and i started working for a public architecture foundation in nyc. at the same time, people – and by people i mean everyone from fiercely pa dutch locals to federal govt officials – are talking about redevelopment of and reinvestment in urban infrastructure.
we’ve all got different motivations for preaching this particular breed of gospel – environmental, social, financial, political – but at its core i like to believe that it’s about two things: public participation and quality of life.
inga saffron, architecture critic for the philadelphia inquirer, wrote a piece on friday about the need for all three presidential candidates to shift their rhetoric to more urban concerns:
In the next few years, we’re likely to hear a lot more about weaning ourselves off imported energy, dealing with greenhouse gases, and retaining economic parity with fast-rising Asian nations. Coming to grips with that triple threat means buffing up our energy-efficient creativity incubators, otherwise known as cities.
So, though the candidates’ proposals for ridding America of incandescent bulbs and gas-guzzling vehicles are nice little ideas, the fast lane to energy independence requires significant federal infusions for mass transit, basic infrastructure, and making cities more livable for families. Consider the money an investment in national security.
i’m not going to use this site to rant against new urbanism or suburban sprawl or inefficient land use or the substantial lack of design in most urban development projects – bruce katz at the brookings institution leads that charge in a far more professional and data-driven way than i’m capable of. (watch this video or read this article on the brookings website for a taste…)
but i will say this: ms. saffron is right, and pennsylvania is uniquely poised to encourage innovation and experimentation with respect to the redevelopment of its metropolitan areas. but in order to reinvest in cities, first and foremost we’ve got to fall in love with them again.
