In an opinion piece for The Denver Post, Neal Peirce summarizes a new report on the practical ways in which metropolitan regions around the country are working across jurisdictional boundaries to lay the groundwork for prosperous futures.
Echoing themes discussed recently by Kaid Benfield in his Switchboard blog on the importance of regional planning and partnerships "to address important issues facing metropolitan America in a rational way", Peirce points to the eight key ways in which metropolitan regions are recognizing this need and creating new models to work together.
Peirce, the co-author of a new report [PDF] on the topic titled "America's Metro Regions Take Center Stage", highlights the metropolitan partnerships in cities like Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia and Minneapolis-St. Paul that "assemble broad support coalitions" to "break through historic resistance and register advances," and the role that state and federal government are playing to support such collaborations.
Benfield has also published a follow-up to his prior piece, looking at examples of metro areas that are "coming together voluntarily in issue-specific collaborations to get things done." He cites specific examples such as the Leadership Collaborative, which was established "to come to grips with the ever-outward expansion of metropolitan Atlanta," and the Grand Boulevard Initiative in California's Silicon Valley, "an attempt to transform one of the country's most notorious commercial corridors," as promising precedents for voluntary collaboration.
Taken together, these resources help point the direction to promising, and hopefully replicable, examples of cross jurisdictional efforts to solve to the crucial economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time.
FULL STORY: Peirce: U.S. metro regions on the rise
When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action
As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.
Study: Indiana Regional Planning Project Pays Off
The Regional Cities Initiative funded economic development projects and capacity building to help local agencies collaborate more effectively to promote growth.
Regional Government Reform on the Ballot in Houston
If Proposition B passes, Houston and other populous areas could gain more voting power in the region’s metropolitan planning organization.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie