Rail~Volution comes to Pittsburgh & wants to know your thoughts on Transit Oriented Development

Tuesday, October 23, 2018 @ 10 am -PublicSource will be streaming this session from the 2018 Rail~Volution conference on Facebook. RSVP on Facebook to join the live stream.

One of the best things about living in Pittsburgh, in my opinion, is the easy access to all of the things a big city has to offer. The ease of access is not just concerts and the ballet, but Pittsburgh offers lots of opportunities to get involved in local and national events. Through the magic of Pittsburgh connections (I went to grade school with one of the local conference organizers) this upcoming transit conference is eager to engage Pittsburghers in the conversation.

Rail~Volution, a conference on transportation will be held right here in Pittsburgh, and the organizers are eager to have Pittsburghers participate in the discussion. Even better, you don’t have to leave your house to participate. PublicSource will be live streaming one of the conference sessions, and you can join the conversation in the comments and on Twitter with the hashtag #TODnumbers.

This weekend, transit experts from around the US and Canada will descend on Pittsburgh to share ideas and best practices around transit and communities. The conference kicks off of Sunday with a reception at the Pennsylvanian, the best place to host an event for transit folks – an old train station, of course!. The Rail~Volution conference started in 1995, and this is the first time the conference will be held in Pittsburgh.

Rail~Volution & TOD in Pittsburgh

There are over 75 sessions at the conference, and many are focused on Transit Oriented Development, TOD. PublicSource will be live streaming the Tuesday morning session which features two thought leaders discussing questions surrounding TOD.

Point-Counterpoint: TOD by the Numbers

Go completely interactive about the dynamics of transit-oriented development. Bring your questions to fuel a rapid-fire jaunt through the hottest topics. Two thought-leaders posit their opinions on both sides of a topic. Next it’s time for your sentiments. (It’s okay to challenge the prevailing views!) Then it’s on to the next topic: Does TOD cause gentrification? Is TOD a project or a district? Can we really reduce parking in a TOD? (What about those banks?) What does transit do to property values? What’s the minimum density for a TOD? Follow the conversation live on Twitter while bloggers capture the spirit and continue to get more input. (No PowerPoint. We promise.)

Moderator: Sean Brooks, Manager of Real Estate and Property Development, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Oakland, CA

GB Arrington, Principal, GB Place Making, Portland, OR

Eric Rothman, President, HR&A Advisors, Inc., New York, NY

Join the conversation about TOD

The organizers of this panel will present ten questions, and each question will be answered by experts and conference attendees. The organizers are eager to hear what Pittsburghers think about Transit Oriented Development.

Here are the questions that the panel will review. Which ones do you think are most applicable to Pittsburgh?

Please share your thoughts on TOD with the organizers by leaving a comment here or Twitter with the hashtag #TODNumbers.

What impact does transit have on property values?
Does TOD cause gentrification?
Is TOD a project or a district?
Can we really reduce parking in a TOD (what about the banks)
What is the minimum density for a TOD?
Can we do it all (retail, public art, placemaking, ped/bike access, space for TNC’s)? how far can we go. How far should we go?
Is any development next to transit a TOD? What asset classes should be avoided?
Is having a TOD a community benefit in itself?
What would you do differently in an urban v suburban center v a new district?
Does mode matter in TOD? (rail, BRT, TNC’s)?

FAQ about the Rail~Volution Conference

What is the Rail~Volution Conference?

The Rail~Volution Conference is an annual event that brings together leaders from across sectors – government, advocacy, and community development to share ideas around communities and how transit plays a role in community development. While there are many conferences which are specific to local governments, community development, and transit. Rail~Volution is one of the only conferences that brings these groups together under one roof.

Who attends the Rail~Volution Conference?

planners
community activists
transit officials
consultants
developers
lenders
grassroots organizations
academics
elected officials
health advocates
housing advocates

Some of the Pittsburgh organizations who will have representatives at the conference include Mount Washington Community Development Corporation, BikePGH, The Pittsburgh Foundation, Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburgh Innovation District, Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh.

What are some examples of TOD in Pittsburgh today?

The East Side Bond development in East Liberty was built to be a housing and retail complex that is easily accessible to the East Busway. Read more about TOD in East Liberty in this 2015 story from WESA.
The Ashby at South Hills Village is a housing development located at the South Hills Village rail station.

Shred Your Fears: Skateboarding Retreat for Women

Shred Your Fears is a half-day skateboarding retreat intended for women who want to overcome their fears so that they feel strong and comfortable in their bodies.

Shred Your Fears will be held from 9a-1p on Sunday, November 4 at Switch & Signal Skatepark located at 7518 Dickson Street in Swissvale.

Organized by Maya Henry, a mind-body coach, the event will feature a full beginner skateboarding lesson, yoga and group coaching sessions, unlimited coffee from Satellite Cafe (Constellation Coffee’s “satellite” location in the skatepark), as well as a full dairy-free, gluten-free brunch, and other goodies.

Intimidated by skateboarding? Maya sure was at first, but she is growing to love the sport as she practices with her son. Read more about how Maya got into skateboarding and check out the FAQ’s on the event page. As of this posting, there are only 5 tickets left.

Pitt-starter: Pittsburgh Alternate Histories Book

Pitt-starter is our occasional series about local crowdfunding projects on websites like Kickstarter. You can see our past Pitt-starter posts here.

Pittsburgh artist and author (and DJ) Matthew Buchholz is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund his new Pittsburgh Alternate Histories Book, “Pittsburgh in Olden Times.” Buchholz published Alternate Histories of The World in 2013; the book is available on the Alternate Histories website and Amazon (pro tip – if you order the book from the Alternate Histories website you will receive a signed or personalized copy from the author).

Photo Credit: Alternate Histories Website.

Not familiar with the book? You may have seen some of the Alternate Histories prints on the walls the Independent Brewing Company in Squirrel Hill. Take a look at this blog post on the Alternate Histories website to learn more about the installation at The Independent Brewing Company. It is great to see that many of the frames are from Pittsburgh Center for Reuse.

(If you are a fan of beer and local food, be sure to sign up for The Independent Brewing Company’s email list, an occasional, humorous look at what’s on tap and on the menu. While writing this post, I was inspired to stop in there on Tuesday for dinner, and the guest at the table next to me had such a good time at The Independent’s Dancing Gnome Beer Dinner on Monday, he was back for more on Tuesday.)

Kickstarter for Alternate Histories of Pittsburgh Book

If you would like to pre-order a copy of the Pittsburgh Alternate Histories book or pick up one of these Monongahela Monster t-shirts, head over to Kickstarter and back this project. The project has already met the initial goal of $4000. There is a new stretch goal and eight days left to contribute.

Follow Alternate Histories on Facebook, Twitter @AltHistories & Instagram for more.

Don’t Miss the next In Bed by Ten Dance Party

Be sure to check out DJMB at the next In Bed By Ten Dance party on October 21, 2018 – $10 donation at the door will benefit RAINN – the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. You can learn more about In Bed by Ten in our post about the July dance party.

Urban Hike Explore Carrick on Sunday August 18 – FREE!

Carrick is a Pittsburgh neighborhood located south of the Monongahela River.

Regardless of if you are brand new to Pittsburgh or a life longer yinzer, Urban Hike is a great way to learn about a city neighborhood. For over a decade a group of faithful volunteers have been mapping and researching routes around different Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

Carrick Urban Hike

This time we are going to Carrick! We are excited to check out this neighborhood for the first time.

This 3.5 mile hike will have some ups and downs and then ups again since this is a pretty hilly place. Be prepared for steep climbs and a few places without sidewalks. Come if you are ready for a work out–this one isn’t stroller friendly. There may be some overgrowth so bring bug spray too.

As always, we walk rain or shine (or intense heat), so come prepared for whatever the weather may hold.

Meet at the Carrick Shopping Center on Brownsville (2134 Brownsville Rd) near the intersection of Parksfield and Brownsville. There is a Dunkin Donuts if you’d like to come early to grab a coffee and metered on-street parking on Brownsville (not enforced on Sundays).

We will be ending at the Nepali Asian Restaurant in the Carrick Shopping Center and invite everyone to join us for lunch.

Date: Sunday, August 19, 2018
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Carrick Shopping Center, 2134 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15210
FREE
RSVP – not required but it is helpful to reply to the Facebook event.

Interested in learning more about Carrick? Follow the Carrick Community Council on Facebook here.

Shop, Eat & Drink Local at Crafts & Drafts on Sunday, July 22

Made with heart is probably the best way to summarize this event. East End Brewing has been making beer right here in Pittsburgh with a lot of love for years. This weekend they are oping up the brewery to a great line up of local vendors for a super Sunday afternoon. The event is free to attend and there will be food trucks, local of course for eats and treats.

East End Brewery’s Brewpub is a very family friendly space, so this is a great event for the kiddos, too.

Summer Crafts and Drafts
Sunday, July 22, 2018
12-5pm
East End Brewing Brewpub in Larimer, 147 Julius Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Vendors Include:

But wait, there is more!

Info table from Fresh Fest 2018 where you can learn more about this amazing event showcasing black breweries and collaboration beers
SALE table from us at East End Brewing where you can snap up some shirts for cheap

Can’t make it out for Crafts & Drafts? Shop local online!

You can check out many of the vendors online. Also, Alternate Histories @AltHistories put together this list of local businesses you can support by shopping online.

I 💛 PGH

IheartPGH: a blog about Pittsburgh and people who love this city