File:///c|/my documents/infrastructure informer/2003 informers/informer 11-03/informer 11-03.txt

file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt ===========================THE INFRASTRUCTURE INFORMER=========================== The Electronic Newsletter of the Institute for Civil Infrastructure Systems (ICIS) at NewYork University's Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service (http://www.nyu.edu/icis) * "Energy Bill Blocked in Senate, At Least for Now"* "Germany Starts Historic Nuclear-Power Shutdown as First Plant Switches Off"* "U.S. Wants a Smarter Grid to Avoid Another Blackout"* "Panel Suggests Gas Tax Rise in New Jersey"* "Metro's Train Comes In: Rail Plan Approved"* "Congestion Charging 6 Months On"* "Recycling for Reefs: More than Redbirds"* "State Promotes Test for Projects"* "Happy Trails"* "Texas Fish on Prozac Pose a Problem"* "Designers Scramble to Meet Myriad Needs of Utilities"* "Disconnected Urbanism"* First Homeland Security University Center of Excellence Announced: Homeland SecurityCenter for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events* "The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Hearing on Financing PortInfrastructure - Who Should Pay?"* "Housing: Shipping Containers Show Promise for Living Space" WEB FEATURE OF THE MONTH: "MIT OpenCourseWare: Urban Studies and Planning" ******************************************** ===================INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS=================== -------------------------------------------------"Energy Bill Blocked in Senate, At Least for Now"-------------------------------------------------A vote in the Senate on November 21st collected enough votes to block the Bushadministration's energy bill. at least for the time being.
Ichniowski, Tom. "Energy Bill Blocked in Senate, At Least for Now." McGraw HillConstruction, enr.construction.com. November 21 2003. 1 December 2003.
http://www.construction.com/NewsCenter/Headlines/ENR/20031121b.asp --------------------------------------"Germany Starts Historic Nuclear-PowerShutdown as First Plant Switches Off"--------------------------------------Germany began closing one of eighteen nuclear power plants, commencing a new plan toshift the country's energy supply permanently away from nuclear energy over the next twodecades.
Associated Press. "Germany Starts Historic Nuclear-Power Shutdown as First Plant Switches file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt (1 of 6) [4/8/2004 4:04:55 PM] file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt Off." PlanetSave.com. November 14 2003. 30 November 2003.
http://www.planetsave.com/ViewStory.asp?ID=4486 -----------------------------------------------------"U.S. Wants a Smarter Grid to Avoid Another Blackout"-----------------------------------------------------Electric transmission experts have been researching a "smarter" electric grid system thatutilizes information technology in real time to avoid breakdowns.
Kemezis, Paul. "U.S. Wants a Smarter Grid to Avoid Another Blackout." McGraw HillConstruction, enr.construction.com. November 24 2003. 1 December 2003.
http://www.construction.com/NewsCenter/Headlines/ENR/20031124l.asp -------------------------------------------"Panel Suggests Gas Tax Rise in New Jersey"-------------------------------------------New Jersey Governor James McGreevey's transportation commission recently recommended thatthe state increase its gasoline tax by 12.5 cents or more per gallon, which may spark apolitical controversy over the matter.
Kocieniewski, David. "Panel Suggests Gas Tax Rise in New Jersey." New York Times.
November 25 2003. 30 November 2003. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/25/nyregion/25JERS.html --------------------------------------------"Metro's Train Comes In: Rail Plan Approved"--------------------------------------------Voters approved Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority's $7.5 billion regional transitplan despite strong opposition forces. The result will change the nature oftransportation in Houston, decreasing reliance on cars.
Wall, Lucas. "Metro's Train Comes In: Rail Plan Approved." Houston Chronicle. November 52003. 23 November 2003.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/ec/metrorail/2201398 ---------------------------------"Congestion Charging 6 Months On"---------------------------------Transport for London reviews the impacts of congestion pricing in London 6 months afterits launch. Findings include a 30% reduction of traffic delays in the charging zone,less time spent at lower speeds and traffic queues and estimates of traffic and commuterdiversion.
Transport for London. "Congestion Charging 6 Months On." Transport for London. October 232003. 23 November 2003.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/downloads/pdf/congestion-charging/cc-6monthson.pdf -----------------------------------------"Recycling for Reefs: More than Redbirds"-----------------------------------------With the retirement of the last Redbird subway cars, Waterwire examines the practice ofutilizing subway cars as artificial reefs.
Gaines, Porter-Ann. "Recycling for Reefs: More than Redbirds." Waterwire.net. November 122003. 23 November 2003.
http://www.waterwire.net/news/fullstory.cfm?ContID=1455 ----------------------------------"State Promotes Test for Projects"---------------------------------- file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt (2 of 6) [4/8/2004 4:04:55 PM] file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt Governor Romney of Massachusetts proposes new criteria to gauge future majortransportation projects, including measures of cost-effectiveness, congestion reduction,environment impact and benefit, and the promotion compact development. Flint, Anthony. "State Promotes Test for Projects." Boston Globe. November 11 2003. 23November 2003.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2003/11/11/state_promotes_test_for_projects/ --------------"Happy Trails"--------------Urban areas are seeing the inclusion of bicycle paths into the city as new transportationcorridors, including recent rail-to-trail conversions.
Atkin, Ross. "Happy Trails." Christian Science Monitor. November 19 2003. 23 November2003.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1119/p11s02-lihc.html -------------------------------------"Texas Fish on Prozac Pose a Problem"-------------------------------------Fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, has found its way through an area wastewatertreatment plant into Lake Lewisville, northwest of Dallas.
Herskovitz, Jon. "Texas Fish on Prozac Pose a Problem." Reuters. ESPN Outdoors. 30November 2003.
http://espn.go.com/outdoors/conservation/news/2003/1027/1648110.html ------------------------------------------------------"Designers Scramble to Meet Myriad Needs of Utilities"------------------------------------------------------McGraw Hill Construction examines the state of security investments in our nation's waterutilities.
Rosta, Paul B. "Designers Scramble to Meet Myriad Needs of Utilities." McGraw HillConstruction, enr.construction.com. December 1 2003. 1 December 2003.
http://www.construction.com/NewsCenter/Headlines/ENR/20031201d.asp -----------------------"Disconnected Urbanism"-----------------------Paul Goldberger discusses how cell phones have changed our sense of place, intruding intoevery possible moment and location and creating a disconnect between the urban dwellerand their experience of place.
Goldberger, Paul. "Disconnected Urbanism." Metropolis Magazine. November 2003. 23November 2003.
http://www.metropolismag.com/html/content_1103/obj/index.html --------------------------------------------------First Homeland Security University Center ofExcellence Announced: Homeland Security Centerfor Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events--------------------------------------------------The U.S. Department of Homeland Security selected the University of Southern California(as the lead institution) as the first Homeland Security University Center of Excellence.
The new center, housed at USC, is called the Homeland Security Center for Risk and file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt (3 of 6) [4/8/2004 4:04:55 PM] file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, and is headed by Professors Randolph Hall (PI) andDetlof von Winterfeldt (co-PI) at USC. University partners with USC are New YorkUniversity, Wagner Graduate School of Public Service - The Institute for CivilInfrastructure Systems (Professor Rae Zimmerman), the University of Wisconsin at Madison(Professor Vicki Bier), and individuals at the University of California (Berkeley) andfrom MIT. The USC team was selected from 72 applications.
U.S. DHS release http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=2387 NYU-Wagner School Release http://www.nyu.edu/publicaffairs/http://www.nyu.edu/wagner/news/146.html ---------------------------------------------------------------"The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Hearing onFinancing Port Infrastructure - Who Should Pay?"---------------------------------------------------------------The House of Representatives Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee held a November20, 2003 hearing to discuss financing for port infrastructure projects, and assesswhether changes will be needed to adequately support future needs. Testimonytranscriptions include: U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), U.S. Rep. Doug Ose (R-CA),Jean C. Godwin (Executive Vice President and General Counsel, American Association ofPort Authorities), Robin Lanier (Executive Director, Waterfront Coalition) andChristopher Koch (President and CEO, World Shipping Council).
------------------------------------------------------------"Housing: Shipping Containers Show Promise for Living Space"------------------------------------------------------------In response to the tens of thousands of empty shipping containers crowding seaportsacross the United States, Fox & Fowle Architects is developing a unique housing projectbased on shipping containers as building materials. The result is a new approach to anurban mixed-use community.
Angelo, William J. "Shipping Containers Show Promise for Living Space." McGraw-HillConstruction Engineering News-Record. November 17 2003. 23 November 2003.
http://www.enr.com/news/buildings/archives/031117.asp ************************************************************ ===============UPCOMING EVENTS=============== Wednesday, December 3, 2003--------------------------------------------------------"Green Infrastructure, Audio Conference Training Series"--------------------------------------------------------Web ConferencePresented by the American Planning Association and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy,this audio conference series addresses the value of parks and greenery to environmentalplanning. Panelists include Mark A. Benedict (Senior Associate, Strategic Conservation,The Conservation Fund), Peggy Harwood (National Program Manager, USDA Forest Service -Urban & Community Forestry), Megan Lewis, AICP (Senior Research Associate, AmericanPlanning Association), Jack Scholl, AICP (Senior Principle, Environmental Planning &Design, LLC), and moderator Stuart Meck, FAICP (Senior Research Fellow, American PlanningAssociation). (APA) Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. E.T.
For more information: http://www.planning.org/audioconference/ Sunday, December 7 through Tuesday, December 9, 2003------------------------------------------------------"Transit Initiatives and Communities: Lessons Learned"------------------------------------------------------ file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt (4 of 6) [4/8/2004 4:04:55 PM] file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt Tempe, AZThe Center for Transportation Excellence in Tempe, AZ hosts a conference that aims toequip local groups with the tools to bring transit initiatives to their communities. Sessions include "Developing a Winning Message," "Tactics and Strategies," "Marketing andMedia," "Raising funds," "Recent Case Studies," and "Campaign Planning." (Center forTransportation Excellence) For more information: www.cfte.org/events.asp Tuesday, December 9 through Friday, December 12, 2003--------------------------------------------"Ground Water in Coastal Zones:Availability, Sustainability and Protection"--------------------------------------------Orlando, FLThe Association of Ground Water Scientists and Engineers, a division of the NationalGround Water Association (NGWA), presents their annual conference examining issues ofgroundwater health in coastal zones.
Phone: 800-551-7379, ex. 554e-mail: ctreyens@ngwa.orgFor more information: www.ngwa.org/pdf/AGWSEbrochure.pdf Through Monday, January 19, 2004------------------------------------------------------------------"BIG & GREEN: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century"------------------------------------------------------------------New York City, NYThe Museum of the City of New York hosts this fascinating exhibit examining leadingdesigns on "green" skyscrapers and megastructures, built to consume less energy andutilize renewable materials and resources.
For more information: http://www.mcny.org/Exhibitions/BigGreen/Bigngreen.htm ==========================FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN 2004========================== Monday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 23, 2004---------------------------------------"Security Threats in a Networked World:New Technologies, New Challenges"---------------------------------------Chatham House, London SW1A conference organized by The Royal Institute of International Affairs in associationwith the UK Cabinet Office, Civil Contingencies Secretariat. Web: http://www.riia.org Phone: Conference Unit on +44 (0) 20 7957 5754e-mail: conferences@riia.orgMail: The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, St James's Square,London SW1Y 4LE, UK Monday, March 29 and Tuesday, March 30, 2004---------------------------------------------------------------------"The 3rd Annual New Roofs for a New Century International Conference" ---------------------------------------------------------------------New York, NYThe 3rd Annual New Roofs for a New Century International Conference (NRNC) kicks off inNew York City.
file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt (5 of 6) [4/8/2004 4:04:55 PM] file:///C|/My Documents/Infrastructure Informer/2003 Informers/Informer 11-03/Informer 11-03.txt ------------------------------------------------"MIT OpenCourseWare: Urban Studies and Planning"------------------------------------------------MIT OpenCourseWare offers free MIT Urban Studies and Planning course materials to thepublic. Over 30 courses are featured in Urban Studies and Planning, from "SustainableEnergy" to "Urban Transportation Planning." No registration is required.
Source: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Urban-Studies-and-Planning/index.htm ************************************************************************************************************************************** The INFRASTRUCTURE INFORMER highlights innovative projects, practices, research andinitiatives in the planning, financing, operation, and management of civil infrastructuresystems. By focusing on innovation and collaboration among stakeholders, ICIS intends forthe newsletter to both inform and connect various individuals and organizations from arange of disciplines and perspectives. It is also used to promote related infrastructureevents and activities taking place around the country.
You are receiving this electronic newsletter because you have come into contact with ICISin some way: virtually, through signing our web site guest book, or physically, throughmeeting someone connected to ICIS at a workshop or conference.
ICIS was established in January 1998 with funding from the National Science Foundation.
Located at New York University, the ICIS consortium includes: NYU, Cornell University,Polytechnic University of New York, and the University of Southern California.
We welcome comments or suggestions for future issues and encourage you to forward thisnewsletter on to colleagues and others who might be interested. If you have troubleaccessing the full articles of this edition, please send your correspondence via email toicis@nyu.edu.
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Source: http://icisnyu.org/admin/files/Informer2003November.pdf