November 11, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #janette sadik-khan, #urban planning, #cities, #bike ped

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An If/Then Reflection on Janette Sadik-Khan's Legacy

Over the years I have been fortunate to work with Janette Sadik-Khan on different federal policy efforts. I don’t know where she is headed next, but I do know that IF she is involved THEN she will make an impact. What I find amazing and transferable to any city is the story her legacy tells about leadership, vision and the ability to take risks. Janette has reshaped transportation and shifted our perceptions about what is possible and now normal both in the market place and in the court of public opinion – not only in New York City but across the country as witnessed by cities like Indianapolis, Cleveland, Oklahoma City, and Salt Lake City to name only a few redesigning streets to work for people, cars, bikes and transit; and reclaiming sidewalks, trails and streets for active public spaces.

October 28, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #transit, #TOD, #equitable development, #Enterprise Community Partners, #University of Minnesota, #MPO, #transportation, #urban planning

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New Reports Developed by MZ Strategies, LLC Spotlight Transit as a Community Building Tool

Last week at the Rail~Volution conference in Seattle, two new reports developed by MZ Strategies, LLC were released that provide useful data, analysis and policy recommendations for transit investments that promote broader economic competitiveness, community revitalization, and increased access to regional housing, employment and life opportunities.

October 18, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #transit, #transit oriented development, #MPO, #MZStrategies, #Railvolution, #performance metrics

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MZ Strategies Joins the Rail~Volution

Rail~Volution is this country’s premier conference on “building livable communities with transit” and it's hosted this year by Seattle from Oct. 20-23. Mariia Zimmerman, Principal of MZ Strategies will be at the conference and is moderating two sessions and presenting findings from several new reports prepared by MZ Strategies for the University of Minnesota, Enterprise Community Partners, and the Metropolitan Council.

September 23, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #MPO, #transportation, #transit, #transit finance, #bike ped, #CMAQ, #highways

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How Metros Invest Transportation Funds: MZ Strategies Report on Regional Allocation Process

MZ Strategies, LLC released a new report examining how Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) allocate federal transportation formula funds. The report, “Regional Allocation of Federal Transportation Funding,” looks at the decision making process of six MPOs: Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Phoenix, Portland -- highlighting practices used by each to meet local and regional transportation priorities.

September 10, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #TIGER, #transit, #community development, #new starts, #USDOT, #Enterprise Community Partners, #sustainable communities

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For USDOT it's Transportation for Communities

Two recent announcements by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) may have long-term impact on community development practitioners. In August, the Federal Transit Administration issued final guidance for its Capital Investment Program which funds New Starts and Small Starts transit projects (think subways, streetcars, light rail and bus rapid transit). And last week Secretary Foxx announced the latest round of TIGER grant recipients in 37 states (think big money for big transportation projects). With both of these announcements, USDOT signaled its recognition that these kind of large infrastructure investments can profoundly influence the way communities develop and markets respond.

August 21, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #planning, #MAP21, #MPO, #USDOT, #livablecommunities, #livability

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Navigating the Regional Transportation Funding Maze

I’ve spent a fair amount of my “summer vacation” examining how metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) use their planning and programming tools to support livable communities. This is a question that a growing number of regions are interested in learning to help them make better investments with scarce public resources. While still far too opaque, best practices are emerging. MZ Strategies, LLC is involved with several efforts to help spread the word.

July 02, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: Regional Planning, public engagement, youth engagement, rural urbanism

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Engaging Youth and Growing Rural Urbanists

How are we doing as urban planners to engage youth in the visioning, planning and design of the cities and farms that they will inherit? As the dog days of summer get underway, there are ample opportunities for planners working on site plans, station area planning, long-range or comprehensive planning to engage youth and take advantage of the fresh ideas and eagerness which the next generation brings to these issues. Engage kids and you may be surprised by what ideas emerge, including a burgeoning rural urbanism.

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June 03, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: urbanism, Boston, CDCs, HUD, CDBG, #economic resilience

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Reclaiming America’s Cities and Neighborhoods

Cities are evolving, dynamic organisms. This is what makes them so incredible to those of us in the planning and design professions. They are a constantly changing experiment, but what I love is what they also say about American ingenuity and tenacity. No other country abandoned their cities as fervently as in the US, but no other country can show the types of successful transformation of urban neighborhoods particularly in the face of relatively minor federal support.

May 13, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: Regional Planning, economic development, economic opportunity, transporation planning, Metropolitan Council, Twin Cities, NARC

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Planning for Regional Competitiveness

MZ Strategies, LLC and the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) released a new report entitled “Planning for Regional Competitiveness.,” funded by the McKnight Foundation to help inform efforts underway in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The report highlights best practices that strengthen regional economic competitiveness. Building upon lessons learned from the greater Denver, Seattle-Tacoma, and Kansas City metropolitan regions and a national survey of regional planning councils, the report provides recommendations to improve regional economic competitiveness and improve cooperation to grow economies and reduce economic disparities.

April 12, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #2014budget, #sustainable communities, #economic resilience, #HUD, #T4America, #transporation finance

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HUD Rebrands Its Sustainability Initiative around Economic Resilience

Two new updates worth spotlighting: 1) The Obama Administration has finally released its FY2014 budget proposal which includes a re-branded $75 million Integrated Planning and Implementation grant program at HUD (formerly the Sustainable Communities Initiative) ; and 2) a new State Transportation Funding Proposal tracker by T4America to help follow the evolving set of proposals by Governors and State Legislatures to fill the funding gap created by insufficient federal support for highways, transit, bike and rail projects.

April 03, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #transit, #TOD, #streetcar, #Arlington, #Colombia Pike, #affordable housinig, #form based codes

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Planning Globally, Acting Locally with Arlington’s Streetcar

Over the past decade I have worked with many communities to help realize their local transit and development aspirations. During this same time, Arlington County, the community I am proud to call home, has been taking a painstakingly thorough path to re-introduce streetcar service along Colombia Pike. Funding remains elusive as sequestration threatens the proposed federal share, and local critics smell blood in the water. The current threat to Arlington’s own streetcar desire, is a reminder to me of the importance for transportation professionals to engage in these same issues when they are happening in our own backyard.

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March 18, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #MAP21, #Congress, #sequestration, #budget, #FY2014 funding, #transit, #transit finance, #bike ped

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Time for Congress to Clean Up its Self-made Transportation Funding Mess

It’s March in Washington, DC. The time of year when cherry trees start to blossom and the city is invaded by people of every political persuasion here to lobby Congress and the administration about any and everything having to do with the budget. Knowing what to say to Congress this year feels a little harder. We find ourselves in a politically-made quagmire happening at the same time that states and cities have identified an incredible set of projects to create jobs, support economic growth, address environmental challenges, and make our communities great places to live.

We cannot depend too much on federal funds to solve our problems. But we also cannot continue to let Congress kick the can, or worse, kick us when we’re down. Individual voices make a difference. If you care about these issues, make your voice heard!