Rail~Volution Archives

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.

Are you a big sustainability nerd? Or are you looking for ways to improve transportation in your area? Well, then you’re going want to check out the Rail~Volution conference coming to Pittsburgh this fall. What’s Rail~Volution, you might ask? It’s a non-profit organization that seeks to build more livable communities with transit. You know, like what’s happening in forward-thinking cities like Pittsburgh.

The annual three-day conference, previously held in places like Denver, Portland, Dallas, Boston, and San Fran, features 80 sessions related to transit and livability. The event is for “people involved in urban planning, people who are involved in policy-making, people who are involved in advocacy related to development issues in any way shape or form,” says Breen Masciotra, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Project Manager for the Port Authority of Allegheny County. She explains that the event will “offer education, networking, and community…. and connects you to like-minded people that you can reach out to all year; it’s like summer camp for adults.”

Rail~Volution will be held on October 21-24, with registration in June. But before then, the Rail~Volution National Steering Committee, made up of 40+ livability professionals from across the United States and Canada, is calling for conference speakers. The committee seeks presenters for the event’s workgroups on topics that include: Innovations in Mobility to Enhance Livability; Transforming Communities through Transit-Oriented; Making Transit Great Again; Shaping Transit for Community Needs; Diversity: Equitable Development, Community Engagement, Communication and Placemaking; and Rail~Volution PK Slam, powered by PechaKucha. “Everyone and anyone should submit something; we are hoping to have a strong participation from local speakers,” notes Masciotra. Proposals are being accepted now till March 22nd. To learn more, visit the Call for Speakers page on Rail~Volution’s website.

To find out more about the conference or Rail~Volution head over to RailVolution.org. Also, stay tuned to Rail~Volution’s Facebook page for details on upcoming Happy Hour events and volunteer opportunities.