A shadow of the past, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from CubanoConFlickr’s photostream

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is the regional planning agency for our area (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland counties). According to SPC, “The Commission develops plans and programs for public investments; fulfills federal and state requirements for transportation, economic development, and local government assistance programs; and operates with public involvement and trust.” They direct approximately $33 billion in state and federal funds through 2030. The last time we wrote about SPC, they were taking public comments on their Public Participation Plan. This time, they have set up a public comment period and regional public meetings on the draft of their 2040 Long Range Transportation and Development Plan for Southwestern Pennsylvania. There are four components to the plan. You can review each by clicking on the following links:

2040 Transportation and Development Plan for Southwestern Pennsylvania

Environmental Justice Benefits and Burdens Assessment for the 2040 Plan

Air Quality Conformity Determination for the Pittsburgh Transportation Management Area

Southwestern Pennsylvania Public Transit Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan Update

The 30-day public comment period for the 2040 Long Range plan began on May 18th and will conclude on Friday, June 17, at 4:00 p.m.

You can attend a Public Participation Panel meeting to hear presentations, look at maps, ask questions, and submit your comments. The Pittsburgh meeting will take place:

June 8, 6:00 p.m.
Regional Enterprise Tower
31st floor
425 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh 15219-1852

If you cannot attend that meeting, written comments may be submitted:

Online:
www.spcregion.org

Mail:
SPC Comments,
425 Sixth Ave., Suite 2500
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1852

Fax:
Comments, 412-391-9160

E-mail:
comments@spcregion.org

You can view the public notice here, for a full schedule of regional meetings.

P1120468, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from wyliepoon’s photostream

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is the regional planning agency serving the Pittsburgh area (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland counties). Its responsibilities include planning and prioritizing the use of all state and federal transportation funds allocated to this region. Federal mandates include the publication of a 20-year plan, establishment of a 4-year improvement plan and development of a “unified” planning program which identifies all transportation planning activities currently underway. SPC offers the public an active role in the development of these plans and programs. To that end, they have a Public Participation Plan which outlines how they foster proactive participation in their process. They’ve recently updated their Public Participation Plan to “reflect the enhanced use of technology.” There’s a 45-day open comment period for the draft plan which began on February 28th and which will close on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 4pm (you can view the official notice here).

A presentation of the updated plan will be held at a meeting which is open to the public:

Thursday, March 24, 2011
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Xplorion Lobby
Regional Enterprise Tower
425 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

They will accept comments there. If you cannot make this meeting, written comments can also be made:

Via Email: comments@spcregion.org

Via Mial: SPC Comments, 425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2500, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Via FAX: 412-391-9160

You can view the actual draft Public Participation Plan here (.PDF).

 

VO!CE of the Region

Here’s another way to voice your opinion. VO!CE of the Region is an online community of residents in our tri-state area who participate in polls, surveys and forums on local, regional and national topics of interest. Recent topics have included “Allegheny Riverfront & Mellon Arena site development; pros and cons of a City/County merger; Marcellus Shale: drilling, regulating, and educating the public on the facts and their rights; public transportation shortcomings and alternatives, and options for balancing the state’s budget. ” Participants include regional government, businesses and organizations. You can sign up to get started here.

 

INTA Communities of Competences

Lastly, INTA is a global effort to open up conversation. It’s an “association of public and private policy-makers and urban practitioners to share knowledge, experience and tools for integrated urban development.” The ultimate goal is to ensure that urban areas in the future will be more sustainable and more cohesive. The following Communities are currently active:

Urban Development in the New Economy: Workspace urbanism Рco-animated by Larry Barth (Architectural Association, London), Charles Lin (NCTU, Taiwan), R̩mi Feredj (RATP, Paris).

Innovative Metropolitan Development – co-animated by Paul Gerretsen (Deltametropolis, The Netherlands) and Abel Enguita (CEIM, Madrid).

Innovation, Services and Territories with sub groups on Tourism and Heritage, Health, Retail Рco-animated by Pascal Carr̩ (group ING), Christine Lor, Marc Bechet (Rh̫ne Alpes Tourism) and Joseph Tossavi (OGOLD, Benin). [In French]

Innovative Habitat – co-animated by Maurice Charrier (International Laboratory for Popular Habitat), Marek Bryx (Warsaw School of Economics), Mohamed Mbarki (Agency for the Eastern Provinces) and Marc Brabant (Logistransport).

Morning Break, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from NewEndProductions’ photostream

The Shyne Awards recognize the positive achievements of young adults (ages 13 -19) and gives them the opportunity to “shyne.” It’s open to young people in Southwestern PA including Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Greene, Fayette, and Butler counties. Nominations can be made from February 1st to May 1st and the awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at the August Wilson Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. Awards will be given in the following categories:

Academics: The individual must display exemplary academic standing, and community information on how their ability to achieve assists their and will benefit the community-at-large.

Arts: This category includes various forms of the arts including music, dance, vocal and visual arts. The applicant must provide in this area supporting documents that will display and communicate their designated achievements and success.

Community Service: The individual must communicate an area(s) in which they are providing a service to an individual, group or organization. Supporting documents must communicate number of years, time and talents have been donated to a specific cause(s); goals and outcomes applicant wishes to accomplish through their service.

Entrepreneurship: Information about the business, how many years the young adult has been in business, service/product they provide and how their business benefits the consumer/community.

Service in Ministry: Information must be provided about the individual’s involvement in ministerial activities, the length of time serving, the impact and the goals the individual wishes to accomplish serving in this capacity.

Science: This category is designated for young adults who display exemplary talents in one or more of the following areas: chemistry, biology, astronomy, geology and/or physics.

Overcoming Obstacles: This category will spotlight an individual who has encountered an extreme circumstance and chose to rise above and achieve their goals. Examples are, but not limited to, a death, environment, and accident or illness

Young Adult Group: An assemblage of individuals engaged in a collective activity involving, but not limited to, music, ministry, and/or community service.

You can learn more about the award rules here and download an application to nominate a worthy young adult here.

As their website proclaims: “It’s not just an event. It’s a movement!”

Here’s a recap of last year’s awards:

turquoise and green kid paint texture, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from Abby Lanes’s photostream

There’s a slew of environmental and arts grants available right now for Pittsburghers. These grants cover a broad range of opportunities for applicants. There’s something here for everyone! Community groups, non-profits, faith-based institutions, companies, entrepreneurs, small arts organizations and individual artists and designers are all encouraged to investigate the following list of grants. (Grants are listed in order of their deadlines.)

179_52 (My pet frog, sitting on a green painting), a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from artmonstergirl’s photostream

ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS

Green Building Alliance Product Innovation Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2011
This is a fantastic opportunity for companies and entrepreneurs with existing products or concepts to apply for financial assistance with the goal of creating new and innovative green building products. Established commercial firms and universities located in Pennsylvania are eligible and collaborative efforts are strongly encouraged. More information available here.

EPA Environmental Justice Small Grant Program
Deadline: March 31, 2011
The Environmental Protection Agency has 45 grants available totaling $1.2 million in funding to address local health and environmental issues. These include: 40 grants of up to $25,000 each to support projects that address a community’s local environmental issues through collaborative partnerships, and; four grants of up to $50,000 each to gather better science on the environmental and health impacts of exposure to multiple sources of pollution in communities. Information on eligibility and how to apply here and more information on the program in general is here.

ART GRANTS

The Heinz Endowments Small Arts Initiative
Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 4:00-5:30 PM
This is an informational session for The Heinz Endowments’ Small Arts Initiative which is dedicated to project support for professional arts organizations in southwestern PA. It takes place at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre, 5941 Penn Avenue in East Liberty. There will be a review of key components of their grants program and a Q&A session. Additional information and a download of their 2011 Application Guidelines is available here.

Next Episode Pittsburgh Open Call for Artist Proposals
Deadline: February 25, 2011
Next Episode Pittsburgh has put out an open call for artist proposals for their Inaugural Public Program Series. This is an opportunity for Pittsburgh-based artists to submit proposals for temporary public artworks, performances, or site-specific installations in any medium to be presented at various locations throughout Pittsburgh beginning this May. More information here.

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Artist Opportunity Grants
Deadline: March 1, 2011
These grants are intended to fund professional growth opportunities for artists. They help to support expenses that are related to an artist’s development. Examples of the types of items covered: expenses for mounting a show, travel and lodging to attend a workshop/residency, shipping expenses for an exhibit in another city, etc. Grants range from $250 to $1,500. Additional information and application download can be found here.

Office of Public Art RFQ for Wood Street to Mon Wharf Design Team
Deadline: March 7, 2011 at 5:00 PM
The Office of Public Art, in conjunction with Point Park University and Riverlife, is seeking to commission an artist to be a part of the design team to develop an innovative project that connects Wood Street to the newly created Mon Wharf Landing in downtown Pittsburgh. The artist will be placed on a design team with La Quatra Bonci Associates which designed the Mon Wharf Landing. Artists teams (including individuals working in multiple fields) are encouraged to apply. While this is open to all artists living in the US, Pittsburgh-based artists are strongly encouraged to apply. The Request for Qualifications is available here.

On Thursday the State Senate will vote to approve the final passage of two regulations that will help protect Pennsylvania’s waterways from the consequences of Marcellus Shale drilling and pollution created by development.  The first regulation, the Wastewater Treatment Requirements, would require drillers to reduced the number of total dissolved solids in drilling wastewater to drinking water quality levels before it can be released back into streams and rivers.  The second resolution, Erosion and Sediment Control, would require companies to maintain a 150 feet vegetation buffer between any development and Pennsylvania’s best streams and rivers.

Polluters across the state are fighting against the passage of these clean water regulations, and we need your help to fight back.  Please contact your state senator before the vote at 12pm on Thursday to voice your support for these regulations.

Learn more – check out PennFuture’s “Take Action to Protect Clean Water”

A new report by the Keystone Research Center shows that Pennsylvania has begun to invest in sustainable development across the state.  Between 2003 and 2008, Pennsylvania’s three major economic development assistant programs invested more aid per capita into older cities and towns than into “outer townships.”  KRC also released data on how the state’s major metropolitan areas distributed the business subsidies they received, and ranked that data in order from the most investment into older communities to the least.  Of the 9 areas examined, Pittsburgh was tied with Lancaster for 6th, behind Erie, Reading, Harrisburgh, Philadelphia and Scranton – Wilkes Barre.

To learn more, read the report.

The Creative Neighborhood Revitalization Taskforce, a group of students at The Ohio State University, are among the many speaking out for sustainable development and investment in older communities.  It is imperative that the Pittsburgh region begins to focus on reversing our cycle of sprawl and decline, and emerges as a leader in Pennsylvania and the nation in the practice of revitalizing our older communities through smart growth practices.  Watch a video created by The Creative Neighborhood Revitalization Taskforce below.

On Friday, May 21st, the Regional Green Economy Task Force will host the Green Pathways to Prosperity Summit in Pittsburgh.

This summit will bring together government officials, clergy, organizational leaders, business leaders and community advocates who represent traditionally disadvantaged constituencies for a day of discussion on how Pittsburgh can attain the goal of a socially just, economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable future.  Key topics of the summit will include climate change, environmental justice, emerging industries, and public policy.

The goals of the Green Pathways to Prosperity summit are to both contribute to a more informed group of community leaders, and to also inspire collaboration between those in attendance.  For more information on this summit, contact Khari Mosley at k.mosley@gtechstrategies.org.

Meetings Postponed Due to Snow

OnTuesday February 9th and Wednesday February 10th, CSX will hold public meetings to provide residents with information on the National Gateway Project.

Structures in Western Pennsylvania will be affected as CSX works to increase the vertical clearance along rail lines. This meeting will allow those in attendance to see the plans for the affected structures.

An open invitation has been extended to all for these meetings.  The February 9th meeting will be held in Somerset, PA, and the February 10th meeting will be held in Pittsburgh.

Click Here for More Information

On Monday, November 16th, the Northstar Commuter Rail trains made their first trip shuttling commuters into downtown Minneapolis.

The rail line was first conceived in 1993, and finished this year $10 million dollars under its original budget. This is the second rail system that Minneapolis has seen in recent years – in 2003 Hiawatha, a light rail system, was introduced there.

Read More About the North Star Debut

Earlier this year, Councilman Bill Peduto presented to Council the findings from a six-month study on the possibility of a commuter rail line in Pittsburgh. This city line would connect Hazelwood on the Monongahela River to Lawrenceville on the Allegheny River. It would pass near The Technology Center, Schenley Park, CMU and Oakland, The Baum-Centre Corridor, Bloomfield and Lawrenceville.

But this line would also be just one link in a multi-county regional system. Not only would it connect to the Mon Valley and Westmoreland County – via Norfolk-Southern -and the Allegheny Valley and Armstrong County – via the AVRR (which are two projects being pushed right now), but the CSX line itself extends North along Route 8 all the way to New Castle in Lawrence County, and South to Washington, PA. This leaves many possibilities open for further expansion in the future. Investment in this rail line for Pittsburgh would be a long-term investment in regional transportation.