WSP’s Post

Colorado Springs is at a pivotal moment in its infrastructure journey, as efforts to replace and rehabilitate aging bridges take center stage. With 218 bridges rated in fair to excellent condition, the city faces the challenge of addressing 13 critical bridges deemed “poor” or “failed.” Ongoing projects, like the $40M Circle Drive bridge replacements and the advanced Voyager Parkway Bridge, highlight a forward-thinking approach to maintain safety and connectivity while accommodating growth. New technologies, such as waterproofing and modern coatings, are extending lifespans and maximizing returns on investment. Infrastructure like this isn’t just about steel and concrete—it’s about fostering economic development, ensuring public safety, and building a foundation for future growth. These efforts, funded by taxpayer-supported initiatives like PPRTA and federal grants, demonstrate the importance of community-backed solutions. Colorado Springs’ proactive planning is shaping a city that’s ready for the future. Let’s celebrate the unsung heroes behind these projects and the vision that keeps us moving forward. 🚧 #InfrastructureMatters #ColoradoSprings #BuildingBridges

Across the United States, communities are grappling with the need for alternative routes to address infrastructure challenges, improve travel times, and enhance safety. In the Treasure Valley, we've unfortunately experienced a perfect storm of these issues. Our roads, designed for a smaller population, are struggling to accommodate the rapid growth of the past five years. While the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is making significant strides in improving our existing highway and interstate systems, the reality is that we need more options to meet our growing transportation needs. Pathways Forward Idaho is committed to working collaboratively with the public and elected officials to identify innovative solutions to these challenges. By fostering open dialogue and seeking input from all stakeholders, we can develop transportation strategies that better serve our community and ensure a safer, more efficient future for the Treasure Valley. #PathwaysForwardIdaho #TreasureValley #Transportation #Infrastructure #Safety #Community #Idaho #Growth #Development #Solutions

Did you know 75% of Main Streets are bisected by a state highway? Neither did I. Main Street communities are our gateways to outdoor recreation, and chances are your community is struggling to improve walking and biking safety or address the state highway that inevitably cuts through your downtown. This article form Main Street America is a great entry point to federal sources of funding that are available to leverage transportation improvements for downtown revitalization and start to build (what John Simmerman calls) an "Active Towns" culture of people-focused movements and activity. https://lnkd.in/e7AjrARC

Let's shine a light on the outstanding achievement of the City of Douglas, Arizona, celebrated as another one of our esteemed #ThrivingCommunities! Their remarkable success in securing the $23,518,381 #RAISE grant for the Commercial Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Project: Addressing Safety, Equity, and Connectivity calls for jubilation. Positioned as a rural disadvantaged area, this project stands as a beacon of hope, poised to revolutionize the very essence of this border community. This groundbreaking initiative will sow the seeds of transformation through the funding of a Complete Street study, coupled with the design and execution of recommended Complete Street enhancements and state-of-the-art repair interventions covering approximately 7.8 miles across ten pivotal roadways within the City. The comprehensive improvements encompass a spectrum of enhancements, ranging from pavement resurfacing to the installation of pedestrian facilities, safety measures, traffic flow optimization, and drainage upgrades. By championing Complete Streets solutions, this project will fortify the safety of both motorized and non-motorized travelers, significantly reducing fatalities and severe injuries, particularly amidst the bustling truck traffic navigating downtown streets to and from the existing Port of Entry at the U.S./Mexico border. The strategic redirection of truck routes away from the city center is poised to not only bolster safety but also lay the foundation for a vibrant, pedestrian-centric downtown renaissance. Furthermore, this endeavor will enhance air quality in a region grappling with elevated asthma rates, while championing environmental preservation through the reclamation of old mining landfills. The multifaceted improvements will revolutionize mobility within the city's transportation ecosystem, with bilingual signage serving as a testament to inclusivity and community cohesion. With unwavering pride, the City of Douglas embarks on a transformative journey toward safety, equity, and interconnectedness, setting new standards of excellence for all to admire. Our Team (The Ray Highway, Arcadis, InfraStrategies LLC, and Beverly A. Scott, Ph.D. ) was proud to support you on this initiative through the #USDOT Thriving Communities program. #bettertogether #transportation #mobility #inclusivity #completestreets #connectivity #safety #grants #funding #portofentry #bordertown

I am not against densification in Calgary BUT I am against how the Mayor, Jyoti Gondek, is approaching this. My letter to the City of Calgary is below as well as a link to the petition. Please sign this if you support this. I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed rezoning of the existing lot in Lakeview Village at 2917 Lindstrom Drive SW from a single-family home into two smaller subdivided lots. This proposal not only threatens the character of our cherished neighborhood but also raises significant concerns regarding transparency and the long-term implications for our community. First and foremost, the lack of transparent consultation surrounding this rezoning request is deeply troubling. Many residents, including myself, were unaware of the implications of this proposal until very recently, and was only because of an email from our local community association versus public signage in the area. Effective community engagement is essential in matters that affect our living environment, and the absence of open discussions and public forums means that many voices are not being heard. This lack of communication undermines the trust between the community and local authorities and sets a concerning precedent for future developments. Additionally, the conversion of a single-family lot into two much smaller lots would fundamentally alter the character of Lakeview Village. Our neighborhood is known for its spacious properties and family-oriented atmosphere. Increasing the density by allowing two homes where one currently stands could lead to overcrowding, increased traffic, and a strain on local resources. This change would not only diminish the aesthetic appeal of our area but also impact the quality of life for current residents. Moreover, approving this rezoning creates a dangerous precedent. Allowing this subdivision could pave the way for further encroachments on single-family zones, leading to a domino effect that would irrevocably alter the fabric of our community. It is crucial to consider the long-term implications of such a decision, as it could encourage similar requests that ultimately jeopardize the unique identity of Lakeview Village. Finally, I urge you to consider the potential impact on property values and the overall sense of community that has been cultivated in our neighborhood. A hasty decision to rezone could lead to a decline in property values, as prospective buyers often seek homes in areas with established single-family residences. The stability of our community is at stake, and we must prioritize the interests of current residents over short-term gains. In conclusion, I respectfully ask you to reject the proposed rezoning of this lot. It is imperative that we protect the character of Lakeview Village, ensure transparent communication with residents, and maintain the integrity of our community for future generations. https://lnkd.in/giCHzZcQ

✅ This post from National Trails UK makes total sense! As I've seen in my own trail development projects, walking👣, cycling🚲 and multi-user♿ trails offer great synergies🔁 with existing and potential nature corridors🌼🐝🌳 🦆. There are at least two possible approaches here: 1️⃣ As with the West of England Combined Authority, we can use existing trails as elements within planned or enhanced nature corridors; 2️⃣ As with my own recent project - the #GMRingway, Greater Manchester's walking trail - we can use existing or potential nature corridors (notably river valleys♒, canals🛥, and interconnecting parks🚸 and green🌲 spaces) to guide the development of new trails, especially in urban fringe areas. Needless to say, it's important to consider🤔 and mitigate⬇ the human impact of walking/cycling trails and other nature-connection resources on the natural sites being visited. If any local authorities, devolved city-regions, landscape management bodies, or others are keen to discuss ideas for combining trail development with their nature recovery or environmental strategies, feel free to get in touch... 📧 #NatureRecovery #NatureRecoveryStrategy #EnvironmentPlan #walking #cycling #WalkingTrail #CyclingTrail #parks #LocalNatureRecoveryStrategies National Parks UK Natural England National Landscapes Association National Parks England National Parks Partnerships

We're grateful to be part of the Village of Lytton's journey to rebuild after a fire in 2021 claimed two lives, burned down 90% of the village, destroyed over 100 properties, and damaged more than 40 homes in the Lytton First Nation community. It has been a long road in Lytton with various obstacles, including a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) declaration that remained in effect until June 14, 2023. This was essential for safety and restoration efforts, but delays persisted due to contamination concerns and Lytton's archaeological significance, which required additional measures to remove and replace contaminated soil. Digital tools have been crucial in streamlining processes, helping displaced residents, and enabling remote work. Lytton's journey to rebuild and grow after the tragedy is marked by perseverance, technological innovation, and community effort. Their story, along with the challenges they've faced, is one of resilience and strength in the face of adversity. Learn more about the rebuilding efforts from LYNN BERLIN, RBO, CRBO, the Village of Lytton's Manager of Building & Permits/Building Official - Plan Reviewer, here: https://hubs.li/Q02H-bH10 #CommunityDevelopment #DigitalTools #LocalGov #GovTech

WaPo Opinion (edited). It’s not been two months since I settled in Mexico City, and the water service to my apartment has been cut off at least three times. Tanker trucks navigate the streets, carrying water from the slopes to the west to parched buildings all around me. We’re all supposedly bracing for “Day Zero,” when, according to local lore, the city will run entirely out of the stuff. I wasn’t yet a teen when President Luis Echeverría pushed the button to start the Deep Drainage system, a 40-mile network of humongous tunnels running as far as 200 meters under the surface, built to put an end to the flooding that would regularly lay waste to the city’s poorest neighborhoods in the rainy season. Mexico City was engineering solutions to fight water at least as far back as the 16th century, when Mexico’s colonial rulers decided to build the seat of their empire atop the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, famously centered on an island upon a system of lakes. In pre-Columbian Mexico, the Mexica relied on causeways and levees to keep the main island dry by regulating the water level among the lakes. They developed a system to grow produce on large floating islands called “chinampas” to the south. In the rainy season, excess water would drain toward wetlands in the north. The lakes were drained to recover land for urban use. Land was paved over, reducing the earth’s capacity to absorb water. Pre-Columbian canals and levees were dismantled on the grounds that they retained water within the city limits. The rivers had to go too under the argument that they carried human waste and disease. Having engineered an array of defenses to keep water out of the city, city planners had to get it somewhere else. Largely, they sought it underground. But as more water was pumped out than could be replenished, the earth started to give. The city has been sinking at a rate that has reached some 20 inches per year. Today, most of the rainwater that falls on Mexico City and its surroundings is expelled through the drainage system. The lake system that once covered almost 600 square miles now covers about six. The city draws over twice as much water from its aquifers as is replenished every year. And that’s not enough. There are estimates that every additional hectare of new urbanization reduces the replenishment of underground aquifers by some 660,000 gallons per year. And the city footprint has been expanding at over 3 percent per year. Moreover, land subsidence is cracking pipes to the point that some 40 percent of water is lost to leaks on its way to consumers. The city water authority says demand will grow 28 percent by 2030. By then, over half of users will lack continuous supply, served instead via either daily or weekly deliveries. Mexico City owes its water shortage to an unflinching belief in our supremacy over the natural ecosystems. We conquer them. If they insist on flooding, we flush the water away. Then we get thirsty.

Did you know that the average transit-reliant New Orleanian can only reach 12% of the regions jobs in 30 minutes or less? Many riders spend over an hour each way on their daily commute. It wasn't always this way and it doesn't have to remain this way. This morning I had the opportunity to attend a breakfast briefing titled, "Why Public Transit Must Grow: The Case for Funding Greater New Orleans Transit," presented by Ride New Orleans. The panel included Eugene J. Green, Jr., Kelsey Foster, Kevin Ferguson, and Samuel Buckley, AICP. I haven't been dependent on public transportation since 1999, but I recognize that what effects some people in our community ultimately effects the entire community. A strong public transit system benefits the economy, and the climate, while improving equity. In time, it also reduces traffic! These are some of the reasons I'm in support of the work being done by Courtney Jackson, the rest of the team at RIDE New Orleans, and all of the community members who are working together rebuild our transit system. To learn more about the vision and how it can be funded, visit https://lnkd.in/g3w5BYCm #publictransit #masstransit #equity #publictransportation #climatechange #accesstojobs #qualityoflife

The Texas Department of Transportation is gearing up for a massive $4.5 billion project to overhaul I-35, the largest and costliest highway endeavor in our city's history. 🛣️ What does this mean for you? Expect traffic and lane closures as the project unfolds over the next decade. But beyond the inconvenience, there's a silver lining: city leaders anticipate improved mobility, walkability, and a revitalized downtown core. 🌇🚗 As the project kicks off with the reconstruction of the Riverside Drive intersection and the Martin Luther King Boulevard Bridge, it's essential to stay informed. 📆 . . . . #I35Expansion #AustinTraffic #UrbanDevelopment #CityRevamp #InfrastructureUpgrade #AustinRealEstate #CommunityProgress #CityTransformation #MobilityImprovement #TransportationUpgrade #UrbanRenewal #DowntownAustin #CityLife #NavigatingChange #HomeSweetHome