| | | NPSG13-155 | | Rural Sustainability: Design and Strategic Considerations Speakers: Alexandria Murnan, Graduate Student, University North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Hannah Twaddell, President, Hannah Twaddell Associates, LLC. Moderator: Chris Beck, Senior Projects Advisor, U.S. Department of Agriculture (2 hour session) Massive outmigration and major industry shifts have left many small towns across the country with challenging impacts of changes in population and local economies. Others are feeling the pressure of new development dynamics. Innovative local leaders are developing strategies creating economically dynamic places where people want to live. How will placemaking, smart growth, regional planning and innovative economic development contribute to revitalizing small towns? Based on current case study research conducted by the panelists, the details of the strategies as well as the designs that form the basis of rural smart growth will be presented and discussed. Examples of successful design and project management approaches are presented. The diversity in the types of rural communities makes “rural” strategies difficult to pin down. The panelists present portfolio-style examples of rural smart growth in a variety of settings, and will lead a discussion of key elements of rural sustainability. | | MP3 | | $20.00 | | $20.00 | |
| | | NPSG13-110 | | Intercity Passenger Rail in America: Creating Regional Centers Speakers: Wayne Aldrich, Development Director, Town of Normal, IL; Brian Harner, Architect, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation; Wilma Quan, Urban Planning Specialist, City of Fresno, CA As the nation considers building new high-speed rail connections and strengthening existing intercity passenger rail networks, communities large and small are thinking about leveraging rail assets in new ways. Many metropolitan areas have plans to revitalize historic stations into multimodal and economic centers, while smaller communities reassess how to leverage intercity rail stations into a regional economic development strategy. This session will address such questions as: How can stations catalyze TOD-like development patterns and help curb sprawl? How can high-speed rail stations become regional growth centers? How can good station area planning concentrate jobs and growth? Speakers offer case studies from a metropolitan area focusing on economic development and multimodal connectivity at Washington, DC, Union Station; planning for a new High Speed Rail station in Fresno, CA, to refocus economic growth and jobs downtown; and revitalization of a small-town Main Street centered on rehabilitation of an historic train depot. | | MP3 | | $10.00 | | $10.00 | |
