2024 Annual Event Recap

November 19, 2024 / / Comments Off on 2024 Annual Event Recap
Our APA-PA Southeast Section Annual Event on November 7th at DesignPhiladelphia was a huge success! The room was spacious, conversation was flowing, and guests were mingling! The panelists were informative, and students and professionals networked amongst each other. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and a housing-themed playlist!
Thank you to everyone who came out to spend the evening with us! We reached over 50 attendees! It was great to see so many of you come out to network and learn how planners can be part of the solution to the housing crisis locally and nationally.
We look forward to continuing to expand our reach in bringing together state and local leaders in planning, students, and other related professionals. Special thanks to Leah Eppinger, AICP, Vincent Reina, Emily Dowdall, Milton Pratt Jr., and Rebecca Ross, AICP for speaking about the future of housing in Southeast Pennsylvania!

We also want to send a warm Thank You to our gracious Sponsors for helping us to host the event!

 

  • Traffic Plan logo
  • DVRPC logo
  • WSP logo
  • Tyler School of Art at Temple logo
  • Kennedy and Assoc. logo
  • UPenn Logo
Category: General /

Dec. 11: DVRPC Presents – Adapting to Changes in the Retail Banking Industry (1.25 CM)

November 19, 2024 / / Comments Off on Dec. 11: DVRPC Presents – Adapting to Changes in the Retail Banking Industry (1.25 CM)
Dec 11, 2024 02:00 PM
Register Here
Brick-and-mortar bank branches are closing at high rates across the country, due to changing consumer habits, and a national shift in the retail banking industry known as the “Great Consolidation.” As detailed in DVRPC’s recent report, The Great Consolidation: Community Banking Decline in Greater Philadelphia, between 2012 and 2022, 405 branches closed in our region alone. This equated to a loss of 22.4 percent of the region’s bank branches.
This trend has implications for everything from household finances and small business growth, to the future of the workforce.
Join DVRPC and a panel of experts on December 11 as we discuss the Great Consolidation, and how to anticipate and adapt to impacts of the changing retail banking industry.
The panelists are:
  • Alaina Barca, Community Development Research Analyst, The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia will discuss her work on defining and mapping the region’s banking deserts.
  • Varsovia Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer, PA CDFI Network will share her expertise on the roles that Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) play in helping unbanked and underbanked populations access important financial services.
  • Karen Sweeney, Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, TruMark Financial Credit Union will explain what types of skills will be needed in the banking workforce of the future, and the steps that TruMark Financial Credit Union is taking now to plan for that future.
Category: CM Credits, General, Upcoming Events /

Call for Volunteers – Help Develop ASCE Report Card!

November 15, 2024 / / Comments Off on Call for Volunteers – Help Develop ASCE Report Card!

2026 ASCE Pennsylvania Infrastructure Report Card Effort to Begin

The four Sections of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in Pennsylvania will be undertaking their combined effort to create and produce the 2026 Report Card on the Commonwealth’s infrastructure in early 2025.  The Report Card is issued every four years by the ASCE Pennsylvania State Council to provide a snapshot of our built environment and 2026 will mark the sixth such time this document has been produced.  ASCE National also produces a Report Card on the nation’s infrastructure conditions and the next release for this document will be in 2025.

The PA Council’s Report Card Committee handles the research and document review necessary to document background information and conditions for development of the grades and backup/support materials.  For the 2022 Report Card, a team of over 75 engineers and representatives of related professions volunteered their time to collect and analyze data, prepare and present their findings for the Report Card.  Background information was gathered for each of the 15 categories evaluated, which included reports, studies, surveys, financial programs, budgets, and related research materials from professional societies, non-profit associations, and local, state and federal agencies.

The grades are developed in the simple A to F school report card format, assigning letter grades based on criteria that includes capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience and innovation.  The grades are based on current baseline conditions and represent an evaluation of the current state of the physical infrastructure itself.  The grades are not meant to be a reflection on the agencies responsible for the infrastructure being graded, which are often working with limited resources.

The Report Card has proven to be a successful method of getting the message across on infrastructure conditions and needs and has been effectively used in the press and by elected officials.

The categories that were evaluated in 2022 are Aviation, Bridges, Dams, Drinking Water, Energy, Hazardous Waste, Levees, Ports, Public Parks, Rail, Roads, Solid Waste, Stormwater, Transit and Wastewater.  We anticipate that at least one additional area, Inland Waterways, will be included in the 2026 effort.  More information on this can be found at Pennsylvania Infrastructure | ASCE’s 2021 Infrastructure Report Card.

The ASCE PA Council will begin enlisting volunteers for assistance with the category evaluation effort in early 2025.  If you have an interest in being part of the Report Card effort, or you would like to obtain additional information/have questions on this, please contact PA Council Vice Chair Bob Wright (rwright@bowman.com).  You do not have to be an engineer or a member of ASCE to participate in this effort.

Category: General /

Registration Closed for Annual Event – Movie Night December 5th!

November 5, 2024 / / Comments Off on Registration Closed for Annual Event – Movie Night December 5th!
Date: December 5th from 6-8pm
Location: Temple University Room 103 in the Architecture Building – entrance on N. 13th Street between W. Norris and Diamond Streets

Registration is now closed for our Annual Event on November 7th as we have reached our maximum number of attendees. We appreciate everyone’s support in making this a great turnout!

We hope to see you at our Ed Bacon movie night on December 5th from 6-8pm! It will be held at Temple University Room 103 in the Architecture Building (entrance on N. 13th Street between W. Norris and Diamond Streets). Soda and popcorn will be provided. Stay tuned for more details!

  • The American Urban Experience – 1970s discussion of American cities issues, challenges, and design.
  • Design of Rome – focuses on the design of Rome including its nodes and axes. Bacon walks along the axes from the major churches and plazas in the city and shows how the city is designed.

Please contact the Events Committee Co-Chairs if you have any questions: Danielle A. Baer, AICP at dabaer@urbanengineers.com or Lorianne DeFalco, AICP at ldefalco@akrf.com

 

Category: Upcoming Events /

Featured Job Listing – WSP – Lead Transportation Planner

October 18, 2024 / / Comments Off on Featured Job Listing – WSP – Lead Transportation Planner

WSP is looking for a Lead Transportation Planner in their Philadelphia office! Click here for the full job announcement.

Category: Featured, Job /

Nov. 7 – APAPASE Annual Event!

October 14, 2024 / / Comments Off on Nov. 7 – APAPASE Annual Event!

Please join us for APAPASE’s 2024 Annual Event!

Tickets are available here.

Thursday, November 7, 2024
5:30 – 8 PM
at Center for DesignPhiladelphia
1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia

The theme of this year’s annual event is The Future of Housing: Planning, Development, and Zoning Solutions in SE Pennsylvania! Come hear from our expert panel and learn how planners can be part of the solution to the housing crisis, nationally and locally. We intend to offer CM credits (stay tuned!).

This is a great opportunity for networking and socializing with planners, students, and other related professionals.
This year’s ticket includes an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, and more!

Center for DesignPhiladelphia is located two blocks north of Market Street, between N. 12th and N. 13th Streets, with easy access to highways and transit.

Please contact the Events Committee Co-Chairs if you have any questions: Danielle A. Baer, AICP at dabaer@urbanengineers.com or Lorianne DeFalco, AICP at ldefalco@akrf.com

Category: CM Credits, Upcoming Events /

Nov. 4: Temple Graduate Open House

October 1, 2024 / / Comments Off on Nov. 4: Temple Graduate Open House
Temple University Tyler School of Art & Architecture Graduate Open House
City Planning, Nov 4, 4:30 PM

Tyler School of Art and Architecture Admissions is thrilled to offer this year’s Graduate Admissions Information Week from November 4th to November 8th, 2024!

Register below for a specific information session to learn more about Tyler’s graduate programs and hear directly from our esteemed faculty. Once registered, admissions will follow up with the location/zoom details! If you have any questions, please contact tyleradmissions@temple.edu or call us at 215-777-9090!
Category: Upcoming Events /

Oct. 23: MPact Regional Rail Day

September 24, 2024 / / Comments Off on Oct. 23: MPact Regional Rail Day

Regional Day: The Future of Regional Rail

Wednesday Oct 23, 2024
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Mpact Transit + Community 2024 $20 Freedom Ballroom

More info + Register

Reimagining Regional Rail

For Greater Philadelphia and Tri-State Access

Mpact Transit + Community’s Regional Day program focuses on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine regional rail for Greater Philadelphia and the Tri-State Area of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, including service operated by SEPTA, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak. During this afternoon program, start with an overview of SEPTA’s regional rail master plan along with best practices and recent innovations in other regional rail systems. Then, join breakout sessions focused on tools and programs to advance transit-oriented communities in the tri-state area, including two corridors along the Schuylkill River.

Regional Day will be a one-stop shop for getting up to speed about the future of regional rail. Scroll down for program details.

Please note: You do not have to be registered for the conference to attend Regional Day. A small separate fee is required. Register here. Under “I am attending” choose “Regional Day.”

 

Willow Grove Station on SEPTA regional rail and nearby market-rate housing.

Market rate housing at Willow Grove Station

Regional Day

Sponsored by PNC Bank

 

Welcome

Soledad Alfaro, Chief Operating Officer, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Leslie S. Richards, CEO and General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

Setting the Stage Together

Part 1: The Future of Regional Rail: SEPTA’s Reimagining Regional Rail Master Plan

2:00 pm – 2:50 pm Freedom Ballroom

SEPTA’s regional rail network was created through a century of infrasructure investments and mergers. In this overview of the new regional rail master plan, we’ll hear about the state of the system post-pandemic, the Network Vision for the future, and how it will be implemented. Created with input from planning partners, customers and diverse perspectives from the region, the master plan outlines potential benefits across the region. SEPTA’s project team will recap the effort to transform SEPTA’s Regional Rail. A Q&A will follow, including a transit advocate’s perspective and audience participation.

Ryan Judge, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Joe Clemens, AICP, Manager, Strategic Planning, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Christof Spieler, PE, AICP, Vice President, Director of Planning, Huitt-Zollars, Houston, TX
Madeleine Pelzel, Planner, Huitt-Zollars, Houston, TX
Connor Descheemaker, Coalition Manager, Transit Forward Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Part 2: Passenger Rail Best Practices and Recent Innovations

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm Freedom Ballroom

Learn about Germany’s S-Bahn “Regional Rail” service model and recent US innovations in regional rail, from Boston’s MBTA and Chicago’s Metra, two legacy commuter rail systems. Both MBTA and Metra are implementing aspects of the  Regional Rail model, including more daytime and bi-directional service, new fare products, and marketing to increase and diversify ridership in the post-pandemic era.
Moderator: Christopher Kopp, AICP, National Practice Consultant, HNTB Corporation, Chicago, IL
Yoav Hagler, Vice President Technical Consulting, DB E.C.O. North America, Inc., Hoboken, NJ
Alistair Sawers, Head of Rail Modernization, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston, MA
Michael Rooks, Chief Railroad Officer, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston, MA
David Kralik, Director, Planning and Programming, METRA Commuter Rail, Chicago, IL

Breakout Sessions – Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC)

3:50 pm – 4:50 pm
Choose from 1 of 3 Breakout Sessions

Breakout 1: Greater Philadelphia TOC Opportunities

Freedom Ballroom

The TOC program at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) plays a crucial role in supporting local municipalities and the region, providing research, tools and station area plans. Learn about these DRVPC resources and how you can tap into them.  Similarly, SEPTA’s TOC program, with new Guidelines and Station Area Concepts, is promoting people-first places, multi-modal connectivity, and economic opportunity. By collaborating with municipalities, SEPTA is enabling more people to live and work near transit. Presentations will be followed by small group discussions about overcoming municipal barriers to TOC.
Karin Morris, AICP, Director of Community Planning, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Philadelphia, PA
Andrew Svekla, AICP, Manager, Office of Smart Growth, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer Dougherty, AICP, Manager, Long-Range Planning, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Kenny Starr, AICP, Manager, Joint Real Estate Development, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA

 

Breakout 2: New Jersey TOC Best Practices and Opportunities

Philadelphia South

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)created its Transit Village Initiative over 25 years ago to spur TOC planning and development. NJ TRANSIT created a Transit-Friendly Planning Guidebook to inform municipalities about how to apply TOC practices to its stations. Rutgers University created a free Transit-Friendly Planning data application (www.transitfriendlydata.org) for users to identify TOD opportunities near transit facilities. Hear from public and academic leaders about how these initiatives have spurred TOC development and ridership, then join a discussion about best practices.
Jelena Lasko, Senior Transportation Planner, New Jersey Department of Transportation, Ewing Township, NJ
Megan Massey, AICP, PP, Assistant Director of Transportation Friendly Planning, New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit), Newark, NJ
Jon Carnegie, Executive Director, Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

Breakout 3: Schuylkill River Corridor Plans and TOC Opportunities

Philadelphia North

With its Regional Rail Master Plan complete, SEPTA is conducting a Manayunk/Norristown Corridor Study to model higher frequencies and new infrastructure. At the same time, the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) is evaluating the proposed Reading to Philadelphia passenger rail project. Get to know more about the project development process for these rail corridors. Then provide “open house” input on TOC planning and multi-modal connectivity, including how to engage elected officials on projects. There will be open house style displays for group discussion and one-on-one input.
Thomas Frawley, Executive Director, Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority, Reading, PA
Joe Clemens, AICP, Manager, Strategic Planning, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Pankaj Jobanputra, AICP, Planner / Project Manager, Simone Collins Landscape Architecture, Norristown, PA
Howard Brown, Senior Program Officer, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, Pottstown, PA
Matthew Popek, AICP, Transportation Planning Assistant Manager, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Norristown, PA

Closing Remarks: Reimagining Greater Philadelphia

4:55 pm – 5:00 pm Freedom Ballroom

Jody Holton, AICP, Chief Planning & Strategy Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA

Ariella Maron, Executive Director, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Philadelphia, PA

Category: CM Credits, Upcoming Events /

Sept. 12 – ULI Urban Resilience Forum (3 CM)

September 1, 2024 / / Comments Off on Sept. 12 – ULI Urban Resilience Forum (3 CM)

Join AIA Philadelphia, Green Building United, Preservation Alliance, and ULI Philadelphia for the second annual Philadelphia Urban Resilience Forum.

This year’s forum will explore strategies and case studies for property owners and communities to mitigate climate hazards such as extreme heat and flooding. Join us for a series of conversations exploring urban resilience across multiple scales, from the regional scale to the neighborhood scale and finally, to the property scale. The Urban Resilience Forum will be a half-day program with three sessions featuring guest speakers presenting case studies, moderated conversations, and audience Q&A. The program will include lunch and networking breaks.

Credits: 3 AICP Credits approved

https://philadelphia.uli.org/events/detail/DEAD6AA8-CFC6-42D4-8784-E9E892A4A39D/

Category: CM Credits, Upcoming Events /

SAVE THE DATE – APAPASE Annual Event

August 27, 2024 / / Comments Off on SAVE THE DATE – APAPASE Annual Event
Thursday Evening, November 7, 2024
at DesignPhiladelphia
1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia
Please mark your calendars for APAPASE’s 2024 Annual Event!
Come join us as we continue to build on our past successes from this year, including the Spring Student-Mentor Mixer and the July Section Council Meeting/Happy Hour. This is a great opportunity for continued networking and socializing!
DesignPhiladelphia is located two blocks north of Market Street, between N. 12th and N. 13th Streets, with easy access to highways and transit.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks to learn more about the theme for this year’s annual event!
Category: Upcoming Events /
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