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DVRPC News Winter 2002
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DVRPC News Winter 2002
DVRPC News - Winter 2002
TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE REGIONNEW DIGITAL AERIAL PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE Compared to the one inch to 400 or 800 foot scale, black-and-white, poster-sized aerial photographs that planners have been using since 1965, the new digital aerial photos are downright high-tech. The benefits for users? These new photos offer improved scale, better positional accuracy, and less distortion when matching up photos. Better still, they blend seamlessly into modern computer applications like mapping and geographic information systems (GIS).
"We discussed this project with our member governments," explains John J. Coscia, Executive Director of DVRPC. "We agreed that the time was right to try something new and we couldn't be more pleased with the results." With funding in place from the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, DVRPC contracted with a vendor team headed by BAE Systems ADR of Pennsauken, NJ to undertake the project. The BAE team flew the region in the spring of 2000, covering all nine of DVRPC's counties, as well as the four counties in the South Jersey Transportation Planning Area, and Ocean and Somerset Counties. BAE captured the entire region in about 2,700 images or "tiles" with each image covering approximately 1.6 square miles. The photos have a design scale of one inch to 200 feet, resolution of 1.5 feet and positional accuracy of five feet or less. "We are thrilled with the quality and the accuracy of the new digital photos," said Coscia. The digital files are available in TIFF format (20mb per tile) or MrSID format (1.1mb per tile), and will be available initially as municipal sets or county sets on CD-ROM for the DVRPC region and additional New Jersey counties. Printed copies are also available at 1"=200' or 1"=400' scale. Custom orders will be available in 2002 for customers needing several individual tiles. And, as always, historical photos of the DVRPC region,from 1995 back to 1959, will continue to be available as photo atlas sheets. For more information regarding DVRPC imagery products, including price lists and image guides, contact Sharon Smith at 215-238-2828; email us at mapsales@dvrpc.org; or visit us on the web at www.dvrpc.org. DVRPC MAKES COMMITMENT TO REGION'S CITIZENS In 1994 DVRPC's Board adopted The Public Participation Policy, a written statement that laid down in very general terms our intent to do effective public involvement. We've now come 360 degrees , the newly adopted Public Participation Plan, A Strategy for Citizen Involvement is an all-encompassing guide that is intended to serve two purposes: to give direction to the board and staff in dealing with the public and to tell citizens of the region that we intend to deal with them fairly and honestly. "The adoption of this plan is a perfect example of how we, as an organization, are fully committed to working with the public in an effort to better serve the region," stated DVRPC Executive Director John J. Coscia. "In doing so, we hope to encourage interest and participation in making decisions that will affect everyone in the Delaware Valley." The new Plan further details DVRPC's promise to not only respect federal mandates, but to exceed them by urging citizens to actively participate in decision-making on all levels. Committees such as the Regional Citizens Committee (RCC) exist for this purpose. Monthly meetings of the committee, open to anyone who is interested, provide an opportunity for citizens to voice their comments and concerns about decisions being made at DVRPC. "The Plan outlines our commitment to reach out and satisfy as many populations as possible, and to do so in an equitable and timely manner," explained Candace Snyder, Director of the Office of Communications and Public Affairs. "We believe that public participation is complementary to the decisions we make and imperative in ensuring a sense of equality for the citizens of the Delaware Valley." For more information about the Plan or the Regional Citizens Committee, please contact Candace Snyder at 215-238-2875or via email at csnyder@dvrpc.org. HEAR EVERY VOICE The Commission has established two Environmental Justice committees: one is a technical advisory committee to review staff work in mapping transportation improvements with the goal of overlaying low income and minority population data; the second is a public participation task force that represents minority, low income, disabled, economic, religious, housing and educational groups. In October, 2001, DVRPC released an Environmental Justice Report, entitled And Justice for All. The report promotes the Commission's strategy for fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people by summarizing DVRPC's environmental justice-related policies and public involvement activities, as well as by describing a qualitative and quantitative methodology for evaluating our long-range plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The document also recommends policies and implementation strategies to enhance the agency's environmental justice responsibilities, including annual monitoring and evaluation to ensure that our techniques remain effective. Under an Executive Order in 1994, three principles of Environmental Justice were clarified:
Some might say that DVRPC, like many other regional planning agencies, is meeting these standards because it is required to do so by law. However, a closer look would reveal that DVRPC is striving to push the envelope on these standards because it is the right thing to do. "We at DVRPC exist because of the citizens of the Delaware Valley. In order to fulfill our mission, we believe that it is vital to offer the opportunity for involvement to each and every individual we represent," states Executive Director John J. Coscia. DVRPC Freight Committee Goes Global
TEAMING UP FOR TRANSIT During the Board meeting that followed the Retreat, approval was given to establish an exciting new concept known as the Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI). TCDI will be structured as a grant program that will provide resources to the region's cities and first generation suburbs to pursue community development and revitalization efforts.
COMMISSION FINALIZES STUDY OF TOD
FOR NEW JERSEY LIGHT RAIL LINE
The implementation of the SNJLRTS is an attempt to restore a bit of history to the towns that grew up along the old Camden and Amboy Railroad, constructed in the 1830s. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many communities along the Delaware River were vibrant centers with a mix of compact residential neighborhoods, downtown business districts, and industrial facilities. Post-World War II suburban development, along with a decline in industry and population, contributed to the end of passenger service in 1963. The DVRPC study, which began in 2000, promotes TOD as a land use strategy. TOD is known for its moderate to high density, pedestrian-oriented, mixed use development within close proximity to a transit station. The goals of the study include encouraging TOD around the study stations and benefitting the surrounding host community, while promoting ridership along the rail corridor. While working with Burlington County, DVRPC also partnered with station communities, including Burlington City, Riverside, Roebling (Florence Township), Delanco, Beverly and Edgewater Park (which share a station), Riverton and Palmyra. Because no two stations are alike, the study has worked to configure the best possible plan to fully consider the needs of each local area. In an effort to round out the study, DVRPC made several recommendations for implementing TOD, including zoning and master plan changes, identification of development opportunity areas, access improvements, and funding resources.
TAKING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD DVRPC held a series of Town Meetings throughout October and November, 2001 in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey to assess the feelings of the region's citizens about such issues as those listed above. The meetings were also intended to serve as catalysts for addressing specific challenges that lie ahead , challenges such as transit service options in the suburbs, planning and revitalizing transportation corridors, regional economic development, growth management and municipal partnerships, and neighborhood development and revitalization. The process served as a follow-up to the adoption of Horizons, the Year 2025 Long-Range Plan for the Delaware Valley. "We're taking the show on the road. These meetings were an opportunity to talk directly to residents throughout the region and garner support for the recommendations of the Plan. We were very pleased with the numbers of attendees at each meeting and hope that this encourages more citizens to participate in the future. Their thoughts are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to a productive working partnership," explained John J. Coscia, Executive Director of DVRPC. NEW MASTERS DEGREE IN COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL
PLANNING AIMS TO MEET REGIONAL NEED 
The M.S. degree in Community and Regional Planning, coupled with an undergraduate program approved in June, is designed to give students the necessary skills to enter the front lines in the struggle to ensure sustainable communities. Students in the program will learn how to create and evaluate plans that make the best use of a community's land and resources for commercial, institutional, residential, and recreational purposes. The graduate degree program is designed for both traditional-aged students and adults interested in pursuing a degree in Community and Regional Planning or furthering their careers within the field. In addition, the program is designed for working people. Individuals can continue to go to their jobs during the day while taking CRP courses in the evening. The B.S. and M.S. degrees in Community and Regional Planning will be offered for the first time in Fall, 2002. To learn about the new Community and Regional Planning program Temple University Ambler, call 215-283-1500or visit www.ambler.temple.edu. TransitChek's 10th Birthday Celebrates Savings For Commuters AN EVENING OF REGIONAL EXCELLENCE |
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As part of Try Transit Week
and to celebrate TransitChek's 10th birthday in September, 2001, commuters at the Market East train station in Philadelphia were greeted with balloons, giveaways, birthday cake, and live music. Riders also signed up to win $15 TransitCheks. Pictured (from left above) are Paul Levy, Executive Director of Center City District; Jack Leary, SEPTA General Manager; John J. Coscia, DVRPC Executive Director and Thomas R. Hickey, PATCO General Manager, who were presented with a TransitChek commemorating over $36 million in sales for the program since 1991. More than 500 Delaware Valley employers now participate in TransitChek!