George Marshall’s Post

This Bloomberg article highlights the link between public transit and local economic development activity. It is disappointing to hear how the MBTA's operational challenges are to a point where Boston's downtown business leaders are recognizing that it is impacting their downtown's economic recovery. It is increasingly critical for public and private sector civic leaders to recognize that these areas of city building are interconnected and to actively speak up for and model collaboration and cooperation. We no longer live in a world where a city's Economic Development department or a region's transit agency can operate in a vacuum - civic leaders must regularly cross agency borders to achieve shared goals, vision and values.

Yesterday marked a significant milestone with the release of our 5-year Refresh of the Blueprint for Regional Mobility—the region’s first employer-led agenda dedicated to improving mobility networks from Baltimore to Richmond. This refresh, building on the progress and changes since the original Blueprint’s 2018 release, will steer our collective efforts over the next five years to foster an equitable, innovative, and seamless transportation network.   We appreciate the engaged leadership and dedication of Ken Samet at MedStar Health, Robert Blue at Dominion Energy, and Mark Weinberger, who serve as chairs of our Regional Mobility and Infrastructure Committee. Their commitment to creating reliable, safe, and highly connected transportation and infrastructure is positioning us for global competitiveness as a region, a community of companies and organizations, residents, and transformative investments. A special thank you to all our board partners who have been instrumental in championing regional mobility and infrastructure investments as a driver of economic competitiveness. Your leadership has been pivotal in identifying and advancing these priorities. Additionally, heartfelt thanks to the more than 100 regional stakeholders who provided invaluable input during the Refresh process.   Together, we are shaping a future where our mobility networks support thriving communities and robust economic growth. Looking forward to further discussions to walk through the refresh and engage our public sector partners to rally around the larger regional collaborative priorities identified in this blueprint to drive this work forward. Read the report: https://bit.ly/4d3CJGc   EY Jon Godsmark Tim Melrose JBG SMITH Matt Kelly Jay Corbalis Dominion Energy Robert Blue Mark Weinberger MedStar Health Ken Samet T. Rowe Price Bill Stromberg Clark Construction Group Robby Moser Jay Grauberger Michael Post Washington Gas Blue Jenkins Red Cell Partners Grant Verstandig Better Housing Coalition GRETA HARRIS Boeing Dave Calhoun Greater Baltimore Committee Federal City Council Coalition for Smarter Growth Greater Washington Board of Trade Tysons Community Alliance Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Northern Virginia Transportation Commission Maryland Department of Transportation District Department of Transportation (DDOT) GRTC Central Virginia Transportation Authority Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) Amtrak   #RegionalMobility #Infrastructure #EconomicGrowth #Innovation #Community

🚂🌟 Diverse Tracks to Inclusion in the Rail Industry 🌟🚂 As part of our community at Ethnicity and Race in Rail, we ask our members the question: "How would you like to see the rail industry change for you?" Your insights are laying down the tracks for transformation, and we're starting to notice some powerful themes emerging: 📈 Growth in Diversity & Inclusivity 🤝 Crafting Inclusive Environments 🚀 Diversity in Leadership Positions 🌍 Making Rail Inclusive for All These aren't just fleeting thoughts or buzzwords; they represent the signals of change. It's the passion and steadfast commitment of our members that will convert these themes from mere 'words on a post' to the bedrock of everyday norms within the UK Rail Industry. Together, we're engineering a future where these values are not just the aspiration but the reality – ensuring every journey on the UK rail reflects the diversity and spirit of the communities we serve. Let's continue this journey together, shaping a rail industry that's as wonderfully diverse as the passengers it carries. Feel free to comment on this post to tell us: "How would you like to see the rail industry change for you?" #railindustry #diversityandinclusion #leadership #communityvoice #changemakers

A wet and windy day at UKREiiF today but some interesting themes coming out of the sessions I attended. Certainty and consistency of policy is key to ensuring delivery and securing investment. Policy needs to be clearly matched up to our overarching goals and objectives. Importance of place – Devolution has facilitated a place based approach to planning, development and infrastructure. Infrastructure should be fit for purpose and contextual, reflecting local people needs. All about delivery – There is a lack of trust in delivery of major transport infrastructure with numerous references to HS2 and Leeds Tram. However the Mayors are really focused on delivery. We need to remove the barriers to deliver and whilst it is important that the vision is in place, the focus is on pipeline, pace and being pragmatic. Collaboration – West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin said “This is a team sport”. So often failure to deliver is due to working in silos. It is not just about transport we need to work across regeneration, housing, health and planning, combining both public and private sector at the start of the process. Fairness – need to consider the distributional impacts of the policies we make and infrastructure we develop. Greening up can also be levelling up. Fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow ☔

The Toronto region is choking on growth with a population that has grown significantly over the past 25 years, without the needed infrastructure to keep pace. Fortunately, governments are investing significantly and the Toronto region is on the cusp of a transportation revolution, with more than $80-billion in transit capital projects underway. It's the largest transit infrastructure build in North America, which comes with historic opportunities and also some formidable challenges. To better understand how we can get our region moving, we spoke with Karla Avis-Birch, Chief Planning Officer Metrolinx about how we’re going to get around our region in the future. Read our conversation with Karla here: https://lnkd.in/gzdw4YcV

At Norfolk Southern, we're on a transformative journey that’s a Better Way Forward for our company and the rail industry.    Our team is building resilience and operational excellence into every aspect of our business. We’re making strategic investments in safe and reliable service, driving continuous productivity, and innovating solutions to deliver smart, sustainable growth. This is what Better Way Forward is all about – unlocking the full potential of our powerful franchise. It's more than a strategy; it's a pathway to creating long-term value for our customers, employees, shareholders, and communities.   Learn more about our strategy at https://lnkd.in/d5NJCwXY. #NSBetterWayForward #NorfolkSouthern #Strategy

With projected population growth in our region of 200,000 by 2054, we need to plan now for that growth. So it's great to see this major milestone in the Ōtaki to North Levin (O2NL) expressway; https://lnkd.in/gaxkwVT4 Ō2NL will enable shorter safer connectivity for those travelling within and though Kāpiti and Horowhenua, with up to 15-minute travel time savings for trips from Ōtaki to north of Levin, and six minutes for trips from Ōtaki to Levin. Wellington Regional Leadership Committee has long advocated for the need for investment in transport infrastructure for our region, including in the recently completed and regionally-endorsed Future Development Strategy, which includes O2NL as a key strategic transport project for the region (page 51): https://lnkd.in/gU7gPWQw

ULI Nashville’s Mobility Action Council Presents: BRT in the Southeast - How Southern Cities are Moving Forward with Bus Rapid Transit This Virtual Power Hour on August 9 will be a discussion about why Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is featured as a key tool to improve transportation systems in two cities in the Southeast: Richmond, VA and Charleston, SC. This conversation will include Julie Timm, former CEO of GRTC; Duke Dodson, CEO of Dodson Development Group; and Sharon Hollis, Principal Planner at BCDCOG. Hear first-hand how communities came together and agreed to pursue funding for BRT, how the private sector has responded to public investments along the corridors, how success is being measured, and how expectations are managed through the long process of project delivery. As Nashville considers investing in BRT, this program will offer critical insights for how Nashville can invest in corridors that foster prosperity for businesses and citizens. Click the link to register: https://lnkd.in/erzfp-vr

Milwaukee County Transit System’s decision to recommend a pause of the development of the CONNECT 2 Bus Rapid Transit project along 27th Street is a disappointing one, but understandable given the County’s ongoing fiscal challenges. Ultimately, this decision reflects the need for a new approach to regional transit, including dedicated, regional funding for all types of transportation choices. As SE Wisconsin’s convener and advocate for transportation choices across our region, MobiliSE has spent the better part of the last decade hearing from a diverse array of stakeholders about the need for more transportation alternatives beyond single occupancy cars. We have heard time and time again from suburban businesses in need of workers, city of Milwaukee residents in need of jobs, and from a diverse array of community members across the region who simply want safe streets and access to life’s essentials. Many of our community conversations over the past few years have taken place along the 27th Street Corridor, where CONNECT 2 has been in the planning stages. CONNECT 2 is not a perfect project, but it is a clear response to the voices that we have heard loud and clear, from Milwaukee area residents and businesses, who want more access and more choices for getting around. While on-demand rideshare services like MobiliSE’s own FlexRide Milwaukee can help fill in gaps in the transit network, they can only meet a fraction of the demand. The backbone of regional transit remains high capacity, fixed route service that is fast, frequent and reliable. Bus Rapid Transit projects like CONNECT 2 have proven that they can provide this type of service at scale, and a reasonable cost to the taxpayer. We commend Milwaukee County and MCTS for having the vision to pursue this project. But we will not have the transportation alternatives we need until we have dedicated funding for transit and a regional approach to transportation challenges. MobiliSE will continue to advocate for these changes to set up our region for success. For more information on our advocacy work, and to get involved, visit www.mobilisewi.org

Network North... a hot topic with much to debate on. With the news yesterday that some of the reinvested monies from HS2 will be used in London for road upgrades (crazy), I thought I'd recap where the monies is due to go etc.. Let's dive into the details and the questions we need to as: 🛤 HS2: How do you see the completion of Phase 1 impacting connectivity between Birmingham and London? Any ideas on optimizing the rescope of Euston station for better efficiency? 💰 Reinvestment Strategy: If you had the power to redirect funds from HS2, where would you prioritize transportation projects in your region? How can reinvesting in regional commitments promote a more inclusive and equitable transport network? 🌟 Network North Highlights: What potential benefits do you foresee from a network serving hundreds of places and tens of millions daily? How can this approach contribute to genuine "levelling up" across regions? 🚆 Northern Investment (£19.8 billion): Which Northern cities do you believe will experience the most significant positive impact from the £3 billion connectivity plan? If given the opportunity, how would you suggest allocating the £12 billion for Manchester to Liverpool connectivity? 🌍 Midlands Investment (£9.61 billion): In what ways can the Midlands Rail Hub (£1.75 billion) bring about positive changes for commuters and businesses? What local projects would you prioritize with the additional funding for the West Midlands Combined Authority? 🤝 Open Discussion: How can collaborative efforts between local leaders and communities shape the future of transportation in your area? Join the conversation! 🌐 #TransportationForum #NetworkNorthDiscussion #FutureOfConnectivity 🌐