Posted by Josh Burroughs on Tue, Dec 29, 2009 @ 03:45 PM
I was reading the other day that TransForm, an advocate for smart public transportation and walkable communities, just awarded its first-ever GreenTRIP certification to a new development in San Jose called The Ohlone. That's because The Ohlone development will keep the number of new parking spaces as low as possible and offer
incentives for new tenants to drive less. Here's a quick link to
The Ohlone Project website.
Formerly TALC (the Transportation and Land Use Coalition), Transform advocates programs and projects such as green communities, safe routes to schools, smart growth, and innovative public transportation options.
When it comes to green building, how people get to a building is just as important as what that building is made of. They want GreenTRIP to become the gold standard for low-traffic development.
Click
here to learn more about their program, and if you know of a project, it's simple to apply for a certification!
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To learn more about sustainable building practices and green construction techniques for your next project, e-mail Jeff Current at jcurrent@barryswensonbuilder.com today to see how your project can reach maximum efficiency.
Posted by Josh Burroughs on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 @ 01:59
I recently attended a presentation of the VTA’s plans for a Bus Rapid Transit system in San Jose and I thought I’d share some of the benefits it will bring to our area. As our future city planning calls for more efficient, upgraded transit corridors with multiple modes of transportation, BRT will be a key part of our future growth in the South Bay.
KEY BENEFITS:
- BRT will provide a quicker ride with 30% increased travel speeds along the cooridors.
- BRT will serve more people by being placed where the demand exists.
- BRT will attract new transit passengers leading to a reduced carbon footprint for the South Bay (40% of total emissions stems from transportation currently)
- BRT is affordable- a fraction of the cost compared to rail
- BRT is cool and safe, and will encourage development of areas around the stops to create both day and night activities.
Here's an example of the transformation to take place at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose along with the VTA route outline.
** all photos from VTA Transit Plan June 2009
Posted by Josh Burroughs on Wed, Aug 12, 2009 @ 01:20
Thursday, September 24, 2009 @ the Hilton San Jose
9:00am - 4:30pm; Register Online at www.ulisf.org
The TOD Marketplace connects city planners with developers who can
help them realize their vision. This will be the 4th year for this
exciting event, which is organized by The Urban Land Institute, MTC,
ABAG, Reconnecting America, and The Non-Profit Housing Association of
Northern California.
Featured Cities are all regional FOCUS Priority Development Areas.
Over the summer, each city leads a ULI-sponsored tour of their TOD area
and presents their plan to a multi disciplinary panel, including real
estate, regulatory, transportation, and affordable housing specialists.
At the September 24th Marketplace, panels will present their
findings and recommendations in a dynamic conversation with city staff
and the audience. We are pleased to have Christopher B. Leinberger of
The Brookings Institution giving the keynote speech: "TOD: Stimulus and Reauthorization, a path to recovery and long-term sustainability".
You can register online
at ULI's webiste for both the TOD MarketPlace and TOD Site Tours!
Non-ULI members will need to create a free profile in order to
register.
Participants can earn up to 5 AICP CM credits.
Planning to spend the night in San Jose? For room reservations
contact the San Jose Hilton at (408)287-2100. For group rates, mention
the TOD MarketPlace before September 10.