The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council recently convened to discuss the reauthorization of the federal transportation program, which will expire in September 2009.

Members of NYMTC—which include representatives from MTA, NYSDOT, NYCDOT, NYC Department of City Planning and county executives from Nassau, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties—hosted the meeting because “policy issues and funding become extremely important to what’s in the future for transportation,” said Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano. NYMTC invited four experts to offer suggestions on how to plan for the upcoming reauthorization. The panel included ENO Transportation Foundation Chairman Lilian Borrone, The Surface Transportation Policy Partnership President Anne Canby, American Public Transportation Association President William Millar and National Association of Regional Councils Executive Director Cameron Moore.

“The ‘challenges of growth’ is the overall theme this year,” said North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Executive Director Joel Weiner.

Moore, who thinks the reauthorization will be rescheduled to 2010, was the first panelist to address the challenge.

“We need to create flexibility at the local and regional levels but also be consistent with national transit,” he said. “We need to invest where it makes sense and not create competition between modes.”

Barrone agreed, and also suggested creating a new context for change by “understanding what the federal policy will include and how create a complimentary policy in the regionals.”

Also focusing on harmony between national and local, Canby stressed five points to consider when evaluating reauthorization: having a clear purpose, a feasible program, a decision-making strategy, adequate funding and creating accountability.

Members of NYMTC moved to take all suggestions into consideration and will continue to evaluate the program before its expiration.

The Future of NY According to Jane Jacobs

The Municipal Art Society of New York has launched an exhibit to display the urban design principals in Jane Jacobs’ renowned book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. The exhibit also illustrates how the theories presented are relevant to New York’s current urban landscape.

“Jane Jacobs and the Future of New York highlights an approach to urban theory and planning that remains powerfully relevant in a city that is experiencing an unprecedented influx of wealth and development,” said Kent Barwick, president of the Municipal Art Society. “We hope that this effort informs the development process and energizes a new breed of activist.”

In addition to the ongoing exhibit, the project also includes numerous panel discussions on culture, economics, development, real estate, transportation and how they will affect the future of New York City.
 
“The project presents the principles and activism of Jane Jacobs and challenges New York City residents to study the use of their city, its streets and the built environment,” said Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, who is the project sponsor. “The project inspires citizens to support and fight for the health of their own neighborhoods, and it encourages city officials, developers, planners and architects to embrace and implement Jane Jacobs’ teachings.”

The exhibit is on display at the Municipal Art Society’s Urban Center until January 5, 2008.

Catskills Resort Clear for Take Offe

An exhausting seven-year battle over a major resort in the Catskills was recently resolved. Developer Crossroads Ventures, numerous environmental groups, New York State and New York City finally reached an agreement to erect a smaller complex and assure environmental protection and land preservation.

The Belleayre Resort is on the border of Ulster and Delaware counties and melts into a New York City watershed—which provides safe drinking water and also houses trout streams.

“The environmentally sensitive plan for a smaller development of Belleayre demonstrates that when government and the private sector are willing to take creative approaches, economic growth need not preclude environmental protection,” said Alan Steinberg, regional administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. “The new plan with its focus on land preservation, conservation and sustainable practices, allows for the continued rigorous protection of the NYC watershed, the source of drinking water for millions of New Yorkers.”

The new $400 million resort plan will span 1,400 acres—downsized from its over 2,000-acre plan—and include two hotels, 259 lodging units, a conference center, a spa and an organic golf course. The resort will also be near the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center so visitors can take advantage of offered activities.

The amendments to the resort plans include a 52% disturbed acre development reduction, only LEED-certified buildings, elimination of one of two golf courses and a commitment to organic management, prohibited from building on steep slopes which buffer wetlands and streams, design and material altercations to fit into surround environment  and stormwater management. The resort will also have to reduce its number of lodging units to minimize traffic, eliminate its private sewage treatment plan and use the existing city-owned plan, as well as ensure the protection of near-by Birch Creek. The investment of $500,000 in state funds for the Central Catskills Smart Growth Initiative—a grant to local communities to plan for increased growth and development in the region—is also a key components.

“This project will simultaneously revitalize the region’s economy by creating hundreds of new jobs and protect the environment through green buildings, watershed protection and land preservation,” said Governor Eliot Spitzer. The Belleayre is expected to create 450 full-time permanent jobs, 150 part-time jobs and 1,800 construction jobs over an estimated eight-year construction period.

Although the complete project team has yet to be released, award-winning Architect Robert Lamb Hart has been selected to design Wildacres, one of the hotels at the complex. PGA Tour star Davis Love III will be designing the golf course.

As for the current status of the construction, the project team declined to comment. “We have preliminary approvals to get through before we are allowed to talk to the press,” said a spokesperson at Crossroads Ventures, LLC. “Call us back in six months.”