http://citiwire.net/post/2109/ Our mission... to reflect a new narrative for 21st century cities and regions. Leaving behind the 20th century pattern of cheap energy, endless automobility, burgeoning suburbs, threatened inner cities. To a challenge-packed 21st century: energy prices headed north, perilous carbon emissions, deepening have-have not divisions, excruciating social problems and deep challenges in education. But a time of exciting promise, too. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:15:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://citiwire.net/post/2109/comment-page-1/#comment-3601 Mayraj Fahim Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:11:19 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=2109#comment-3601 Mexico City metro desperately needs an adequate regional governance mechanism; in addition to its inability to properly operate the system the federal district has already. There was a whole conference in 2004 dedicated to water problems exacerbated by failure to have a proper regional body. Regions in France have least power. The counties and municipalities have most power and are unwilling to cede power to new local body on the block. This is where the national government needs to step in;but, a right wing government has typically not been one to advance regionalism in France. Having a directly elected regional body won't make much difference-and may make things worse by causing friction with other governments! Their most structured systems are urban communities;but, these do not embrace whole areas. France has to further evolve its regional bodies. Also in Paris regional governance is weak. This has been because Paris has been reluctant to get involved. The poor suburbs have been treated like orphans and that is a sure sign that regional governance is flawed and lack adequate redistribution capacity. The French have done a lot-more than most countries;but, population growth and demographic changes require constantly keeping up with changing ground condition. Also whenever the right has been in power system has regressed. So it is not as advanced as it should be. The US system is far behind because of absence of effective integrated local governance mechanisms. Minority-majority era with much diminished economy will be its worst outcome and will be realized as soon as the new majority babies in the cradle begin their income earning years. America's time to reform system has basically run out. After this all the changes will be because of effects of new demographic change. Mexico City metro desperately needs an adequate regional governance mechanism; in addition to its inability to properly operate the system the federal district has already. There was a whole conference in 2004 dedicated to water problems exacerbated by failure to have a proper regional body.
Regions in France have least power. The counties and municipalities have most power and are unwilling to cede power to new local body on the block. This is where the national government needs to step in;but, a right wing government has typically not been one to advance regionalism in France. Having a directly elected regional body won’t make much difference-and may make things worse by causing friction with other governments! Their most structured systems are urban communities;but, these do not embrace whole areas. France has to further evolve its regional bodies. Also in Paris regional governance is weak. This has been because Paris has been reluctant to get involved. The poor suburbs have been treated like orphans and that is a sure sign that regional governance is flawed and lack adequate redistribution capacity.
The French have done a lot-more than most countries;but, population growth and demographic changes require constantly keeping up with changing ground condition. Also whenever the right has been in power system has regressed. So it is not as advanced as it should be.
The US system is far behind because of absence of effective integrated local governance mechanisms. Minority-majority era with much diminished economy will be its worst outcome and will be realized as soon as the new majority babies in the cradle begin their income earning years. America’s time to reform system has basically run out. After this all the changes will be because of effects of new demographic change.

]]> http://citiwire.net/post/2109/comment-page-1/#comment-1415 Jon Reeds Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:48:38 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=2109#comment-1415 I hope no-one cites the UK as "the Holy Grail on mass transit". It's true we have many long-standing suburban railways, four or five metros and half a dozen light rail systems. But there's only one light rail scheme under construction (Edinburgh) and currently no cities are due to get a new system. Plans to help heavy rail operators buy some new cars have just been cut back. Meanwhile the new government has decided (so far as England is concerned) to drop minimum density standards for new residential development, the idea being that "more family homes" will be built. America may have a long way to go, but perhaps it is at least moving in the right direction? I hope no-one cites the UK as “the Holy Grail on mass transit”. It’s true we have many long-standing suburban railways, four or five metros and half a dozen light rail systems. But there’s only one light rail scheme under construction (Edinburgh) and currently no cities are due to get a new system. Plans to help heavy rail operators buy some new cars have just been cut back.
Meanwhile the new government has decided (so far as England is concerned) to drop minimum density standards for new residential development, the idea being that “more family homes” will be built.
America may have a long way to go, but perhaps it is at least moving in the right direction?

]]> http://citiwire.net/post/2109/comment-page-1/#comment-1411 Ralph Craft Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:22:49 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=2109#comment-1411 In the late 1980s I was doing a study for the National Governors' Association on transit development, and just like you, began gathering statistics on Europe which is the Holy Grail on mass transit. What I found was since WWII car ownership in most European countries has skyrocketed, and not much new transit has been developed. Oh sure, France has the TGV, but they also have a very large interstate quality toll road system. And have you noticed all the suburban sprawl outside Paris? In the late 1980s I was doing a study for the National Governors’ Association on transit development, and just like you, began gathering statistics on Europe which is the Holy Grail on mass transit. What I found was since WWII car ownership in most European countries has skyrocketed, and not much new transit has been developed. Oh sure, France has the TGV, but they also have a very large interstate quality toll road system. And have you noticed all the suburban sprawl outside Paris?

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