What Is Soft Infrastructure?

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FutureStructure Transportation Innovated Intelligent Transportation Building Better A Different Thinking Differently, Optimizing Transforming the Approach Thinking Better Our Systems Built Environment FutureStructure a Publication from the governing institute November and The center for digital government 2013

What is Soft Infrastructure?

How Ideas Drive What we

a supplement to Governing Build. CH2M HILL CH2M SPOTLIGHT: SOLUTION

PROVIDING FORWARD-THINKING SOLUTIONS TO CH2M HILL: FUND FUTURE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE n light of decreasing gas tax revenues CH2M HILL to develop a program that concept to a working pilot system. The — the result (in part) of increasing explored charging drivers based on the overall program included policy develop- Ivehicle fuel economy — fi nding a way actual miles they drove, with a refund of ment, governance, technology research, to generate sustainable revenues that will state fuel taxes paid. systems engineering, and public outreach. maintain and operate the transportation In the process, Oregon legislators and system is a topic of great interest to nearly Offi cials wanted to gauge the feasibility of transportation offi cials learned the keys every transportation agency. using advanced, non-invasive technology to gaining public acceptance by providing to accurately report miles driven by those road users with: At a time when public agencies are vehicles, while protecting users’ privacy. • Data privacy looking for fuel tax alternatives that will They needed to understand the key to • Flexibility, with choice of several generate sustainable revenue, CH2M HILL public acceptance for such a program, payment methodologies and tech- brings deep expertise in transportation and whether related implementation, nology options policy, legislation, advanced technology operations, monitoring, and maintenance • Technology that is reliable, adaptable, systems, and public information strate- could be cost eff ective. easy to use, and open source gies to deftly guide those agencies. • Easy and cost-eff ective program Addressing privacy, ease of use, administration and compliance Helping public agencies and implementation concerns think outside the box Working with ODOT, the CH2M HILL In the end, the pilot system demonstrated When the Oregon Department of Trans- team designed and implemented the that a road usage charging program can be portation (ODOT) decided to examine program from the ground up — preparing a viable, practical, sustainable, and equi- alternate funding approaches, it selected everything from a new road user charging table alternative for a state’s gasoline tax. Sponsored Content

To learn more about these forward-thinking solutions, contact CH2M HILL’s Highways and Bridges Director Susan Martinovich ([email protected]) and CH2M HILL’s Chief Technologist for Transportation Operations Dan Baxter ([email protected]).

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______Designer ______Creative Dir. 100 Blue Ravine Road Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 ______Editorial ______Prepress 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 Page # ______Other ______OK to go BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN

CH2M HILL CH2M SPOTLIGHT: SOLUTION

November 2013 FutureStructure How Ideas Drive What We Build

contents 04

04 20 FutureStructure: Avoiding Bumps A Different Approach in the Road: to the Usual Problems Optimizing Our PROVIDING FORWARD-THINKING SOLUTIONS TO Transportation FUND FUTURE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE Systems CH2M HILL: 10 10 23 n light of decreasing gas tax revenues CH2M HILL to develop a program that concept to a working pilot system. The Thinking Differently 26 — the result (in part) of increasing explored charging drivers based on the overall program included policy develop- About Transportation: 26 Ivehicle fuel economy — fi nding a way actual miles they drove, with a refund of ment, governance, technology research, How Ideas Drive Building Better: to generate sustainable revenues that will state fuel taxes paid. systems engineering, and public outreach. What We Build Connecting Our maintain and operate the transportation In the process, Oregon legislators and Communities and system is a topic of great interest to nearly Offi cials wanted to gauge the feasibility of transportation offi cials learned the keys Creating Our Future every transportation agency. using advanced, non-invasive technology to gaining public acceptance by providing With a Better Built to accurately report miles driven by those road users with: Environment At a time when public agencies are vehicles, while protecting users’ privacy. • Data privacy looking for fuel tax alternatives that will They needed to understand the key to • Flexibility, with choice of several generate sustainable revenue, CH2M HILL public acceptance for such a program, payment methodologies and tech- brings deep expertise in transportation and whether related implementation, nology options FutureStructure is a joint initiative from the Governing policy, legislation, advanced technology operations, monitoring, and maintenance • Technology that is reliable, adaptable, Institute and Center for Digital systems, and public information strate- could be cost eff ective. easy to use, and open source Government. FutureStructure gies to deftly guide those agencies. • Easy and cost-eff ective program is a framework for thinking Addressing privacy, ease of use, administration and compliance through and solving challenges Helping public agencies and implementation concerns faced in building economically, think outside the box Working with ODOT, the CH2M HILL In the end, the pilot system demonstrated environmentally and socially When the Oregon Department of Trans- team designed and implemented the that a road usage charging program can be robust communities. Learn portation (ODOT) decided to examine program from the ground up — preparing a viable, practical, sustainable, and equi- more in the pages of this alternate funding approaches, it selected everything from a new road user charging table alternative for a state’s gasoline tax. © 2013 e.Republic. All Rights Reserved special publication and at 1100 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 1300, Washington, D.C. 20036 FutureStructure.com 916.932.1300 phone | 916.932.1470 fax Sponsored Content On the cover: The new East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, opened to traffic in 2013. To learn more about these forward-thinking solutions, contact CH2M HILL’s Highways and

Bridges Director Susan Martinovich ([email protected]) and CH2M HILL’s cover Image by Joe Ercoli - Anvilimage.com Chief Technologist for Transportation Operations Dan Baxter ([email protected]). futurestructure.com 3

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A Different Approach

4 futurestructure // How Ideas Drive What we Build FutureStructure: A Different By John Miri Approach to the Usual Problems Human beings are not meant to be isolated. We’re terrible at it. Even the basic blueprint of our lives, our DNA, is composed of a complex and interwoven tapestry of individual strands. Left on their own, these building blocks would be lifeless, inert and useless. But knit together in this powerful yet peculiar way, DNA base pairs somehow quicken with the spark of something infinite and wonderful. Shouldn’t our communities — our cities, states, provinces and countries — be the same?

futurestructure.com 5 A different approach to the usual problems

FutureStructure is the idea that the Soft same pattern that defines us as individu- Everything starts with an idea. These als also connects us to each other in liv- ideas turn into physical things — our roads, HARD ing, breathing communities of people. our buildings and so on. If the idea is not right, the The physical things Strictly speaking, FutureStructure is a physical manifestation of — our buildings, framework for thinking through and solv- that idea will not be right. roads, water and ing the challenges in building socially Soft infrastructure energy systems. Hard and economically robust communities. can make an it starts infrastructure can The enthusiastic reception that greeted impact in Here. connect people and be constructed in our first special publication on Futur- unseen FutureStructure is a way to improve eStructure, in which we introduced this ways. built around three concept, likely stems from a reaction to basic tenets. livability. the over-specialization that has plagued modern public policy and obscured this foundational operating principle. Tech Don’t get us wrong: Specialization Increasingly is a good and healthy thing for public sophisticated tools and policy and for communities writ large. systems make us smarter It makes no sense for one person to do and improve the way we build communities each and every job. The very essence of a and connect people. Technology is the community is that it brings the different accumulated know-how that evolves together, whether that means different the tools of the trade. skills, different people or different infrastructure components. But in our quest to squeeze every last post-industrial-era bead of sweat out of our already optimized business processes, we’ve let our focus become too narrow. We’re solving provide people with the opportunity each of these things form the DNA base small, specific problems without a regard to lead better lives. The bottom line of pairs of our community. The art and sci- for the coherent, expansive whole. FutureStructure is the bottom line for ence of FutureStructure is about thinking The reason why this matters — and our communities: We need true, long- boldly and decisively about how to best matters more than ever — is clear when term livability along with sustainable combine them. They are: soft infrastruc- scanning the day’s news on our favorite community growth. We need more ture, hard infrastructure and technology online media. Our fascination with the and better citizen engagement. We infrastructure (see graphic above). unfolding drama in Egypt, for example, as successive governments and perpetual revolution appear to set in, goes beyond a In our quest to squeeze every last post- simple concern for American interests or industrial-era bead of sweat out of our foreign policy. As a nation, we are trans- already optimized business processes, we’ve fixed when we hear stories of how Méde- let our focus become too narrow. We’re cins Sans Frontières, a.k.a. Doctors with- solving small, specific problems without out Borders, was forced to evacuate from a failed state like Somalia or when we read a regard for the coherent, expansive whole. about how a banking crisis nearly destabi- lized the civilian government in Iceland. need infrastructure that brings diverse If we are to initiate positive change in The reason we can’t tear ourselves away neighborhoods together — like the our communities, then we cannot con- from these stories is a deep and abiding metro subway, or “T,” did for Boston’s tent ourselves with merely establishing fear that the structure of our own first- blue bloods, Italian immigrants and or articulating these core principles. The world communities is more fragile, more south-side Irish. This effort is not just vision of FutureStructure only comes complex and more at risk than we would about sustainability, although sustain- alive when it is put into practice. The like to admit to ourselves. And we’re right. ability has much to do with it. It’s about value of a tool or concept is found in its FutureStructure involves doing resiliency, and, ultimately, humanity. application, not in itself. The pages of this something about it. It’s about connect- To recap, and to introduce those new to issue — and the collected wisdom of some ing people and ideas, and putting the the movement, FutureStructure has three of the nation’s leading thinkers, strate- systems and infrastructure in place that basic tenets. Many different instances of gists, activists and practitioners — will

6 futurestructure // How Ideas Drive What we Build RAISING THE GRADES SUCCESS STORY

resource flows of energy, water and System A community is best envisioned as a large more over its landscape, including its system made up of interdependent smaller linkages to embedded infrastructure. Design systems. Everything is connected. “The age of the building, the size of the building, the shell of the building, the road infrastructure — all of Transportation Economic these things have embedded energy Vitality and resources,” says Pincetl. “That Education infrastructure itself leads to what my Social colleague Mike Chester calls ‘emer- Infrastructure gent behavior.’” Emergent behavior is Quality Jobs the collected decisions of community members that arise from infrastructure Governance environmental choices, or are at least heavily influ- Finance Quality enced by them. The urban metabolism map provided for Los Angeles County will help enhance policy and improve land-use decisions with real, tangible apply FutureStructure to the challenges of the relationship between how we live, data. This is especially exciting, since transportation and the built environment. what we build and what we consume.” the stakes are so high. As Pincetl notes, By “transportation,” we mean some- Pincetl advocates looking at resource “Once you transform land, you can’t take thing very large: all of the means, public flows and infrastructure lifecycle of a city it back … that is very, very difficult.” and private, by which people and goods as a system, using deep and meaning- While we take full advantage of the move from source to destination. And ful “cradle to grave” analysis. The ana- hard-data, number-crunching predilec- by the “built environment,” we refer to lytical framework of urban metabolism tions of the planet’s brightest think tanks, those physical artifacts wrought on the details “how energy flows in, how it is research institutions and journalists to landscape by the efforts of human beings make the case for FutureStructure, the and the use of capital — buildings, roads, best summation of this idea might come power plants, parks, reservoirs, airports Contemporary from popular culture. The dreams, aspira- and even the humble hike-and-bike trail. society is very tions and fears of a generation are perhaps One leading thinker contributing resource extractive, most evident in its pop culture, specifi- ideas to FutureStructure is Stepha- cally in how people envision the future. nie Pincetl, Ph.D., an institute direc- and we don’t have a Back in the 1950s, we envisioned the tor and professor-in-residence at the good understanding future as a world of brushed stainless University of California, Los Angeles of the relationship steel, atomic power, clean architecture and (UCLA). Pincetl goes beyond past between how we live, form altogether following function. But work in urban dynamics to consider a what we build and now, in the 2010s, we are the actual people new urban metabolism: a method for what we consume. who live in that world. As we — the people understanding an urban community of yesterday’s future — look ahead, what along much the same lines as one would — Stephanie Pincetl, Ph.d., institute director and do we see? Is it simply more of the same? study a living organism. To her, urban professor, ucla The biggest difference in our present metabolism “allows a comprehensive conceptualization of the future is that accounting for the energy and materials used and how it flows out,” providing, “a it is altogether more human, and more inputs and outputs of different com- very powerful way to understand that of a living community. The futurists of munity systems within a comparative linkage, that supply-chain-type of link- today envision a world where technology framework.”1 Pincetl’s research dove- age, between us and, say, the Congo’s is viewed less like a weapon and given tails nicely with the concept of the city rare mineral deposits,” says Pincetl.2 a more human face. We want our car’s as a system that we described in our To envision her community as a GPS and our smartphones to talk to us first publication on FutureStructure. system, Pincetl was funded to develop in a lifelike voice. Many of us bristle at “I really started my career interested an urban metabolism map of Los Ange- wearable computers that make our faces in why we use land the way we do,” les County. The goal was to take the look creepily robotic. The future of our Pincetl says. In her view, “Contemporary abstract concept and make it much imagination is different from that of our society is very resource extractive, and more granular. After her team’s analy- predecessors. It’s more human. And we don’t have a good understanding of sis, Los Angeles County could visualize that’s why we need FutureStructure.

8 futurestructure // How Ideas Drive What we Build A different approach to the usual problems What is soft infrastructure?

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At the most simple level, soft infrastructure starts with ideas, the conceptual frameworks that give shape and direction to what is eventually physically manifest. Our country’s founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitu- tion and Bill of Rights, are examples of soft infrastructure. They are all ideas that have shaped a nation. Civil service rules and public procurement regulations are other examples of soft infrastructure that define the operating procedures of government organizations. Soft infrastructure is the most important element of the FutureStructure framework because ideas, whether expressed as legislation, regulations or organizational policy, quickly become (for good or ill) as hard as concrete. It will likely turn out that our most produc- tive path to innovation starts with rebuilding the “soft infrastructure” of our thinking. Thinking Differently transbaycenter.org About Transportation:

Throughout history, many of the big transportation innovations that have helped people to live better How Ideas Drive have not involved high technology or even hard infrastructure, at least in a primary role. They have involved thinking better, What we Build. thinking differently, to paraphrase Steve Jobs, and in ways that don’t require an By Alex Marshall advanced computer science degree.

10 futurestructure // How Ideas Drive What we Build P12 When a Bus Becomes a Subway  P12 Bicycle Sharing P15 Complete Streets, Shared Spaces and Public Plazas P17 A New Way to Pay for Roads P18 The Chinatown Bus P19 Thinking Better

 The Transbay Transit Center is a visionary project that transforms downtown San Francisco and the regional transportation system by creating a modern regional transit hub connecting 8 Bay Area counties and 11 transit systems.

transbay transit center

It’s this thinking differently that Some of the most significant develop- plazas in streets. The public sector has defines what we call soft infrastruc- ments in how we get around have come taken the lead in most of these initiatives, ture, a necessary step before creating from simply rethinking how familiar but private companies have been involved hard infrastructure. It involves looking things can be used, or how their support as well. What they have in common is a at the lines on the mental maps in our systems can be structured. They include certain nimbleness, a readiness to rethink heads, and sometimes rearranging the development of what has come to be the usual game plans. Advanced technol- them. When that happens, old things known as bus rapid transit, public bike ogy and government money are often can be used in new ways that are sharing, low-cost inter-city bus service, used, but neither has been crucial. What transformative. pay-per-mile road pricing and public comes first is better conceptual thinking.

futurestructure.com 11 Thinking Differently About Transportation

When a Bus Becomes a Subway In the 1970s, Jaime Lerner, the mayor of the medium-sized city of Curitiba in Brazil, and an architect and planner by training, envied the benefits a subway could provide a city. The heavy-rail trains in tunnels underground could carry people quickly from one place to another, without interference from traffic, and with rapid boarding and exiting. But his city could not afford a subway. Then Lerner had a thought: Why not have a subway above ground, on the street, with tires on a road rather than wheels on rails? Why not have a high-speed bus? Thus was born what came to be Jaime Lerner called bus rapid transit or BRT, which approaches the benefits of a subway at a fraction of the price. Buses with multiple doors run on special lanes cleared of traffic, and pick up passengers at pre-loaded, pre-paid “tubes,” so they can board quickly. Since its inception in Curitiba in the mid 1970s, it has been refined, improved and continues to this day.  The first bus rapid transit system was developed in Curitiba, Brazil, and is now an internationally From Curitiba, it has spread all over the recognized model for public transportation. world. Istanbul has a significant BRT program. In the United States, New York, Los in France in the 1970s, it was Paris that Fashion writers have noted that riding the

Flickr/whl.travel Angeles, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Eugene, catapulted public bike sharing into the free bicycles has become another way to Boston, Chicago, Nashville and Pittsburgh growing popularity it enjoys today. Mayor engage in the French mode of displaying either have a program or are working to Bertrand Delanoë launched Paris’ Vélib’ oneself and one’s style. By transforming establish one. It’s easy to accomplish in plan for public bike sharing in 2007, which life so thoroughly in a world city, and by theory. What’s hard are the politics of who established many of the accepted compo- the clear acceptance the plan gained, pub- wins and loses. True BRT means clear- nents of bicycle sharing plans. It has sta- lic bicycle sharing earned credibility. ing a lane completely of private cars and tions where bikes are available, a limited building permanent station stops. But if free checkout period and private operation done, it can deliver quick service cheaply. of the program — with support gained through advertising. A private company does the actual work of providing, storing Bicycle sharing and repairing bicycles, repaid in large part The modern bicycle, two wheels through advertising revenues.  More powered by thighs connected to pedals and Currently, more than 100,000 Pari- than 100,000 a chain, has been around 125 years. But in sians and tourists ride one of the more Parisians and the past decade, cities have found a new than 20,000 beige bicycles each day. It visitors ride the bikes that way to use it: public bike sharing plans. has transformed the city. It’s common to are part of While various cities had experimented see French men and women promenad- Paris’ Vélib’ with public bicycles, including La Rochelle ing in their best clothes on the bikes. bike sharing Flickr/austinevan program each day. 12 futurestructure // How Ideas Drive What we Build

featureThinking titleDifferently About Transportation

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik- Khan launched Citi Bike, the nation’s largest bike sharing system, with 6,000 bikes available at more than Bike sharing 300 stations on systems such as May 27, 2013. Divvy Bikes in Chicago offer residents and visitors an affordable, sustainable transportation alternative. d ki dd Davi THe trend of Two-wheeled transportation in NYC Bicycle commuting to and from Manhattan has more than doubled since 2005, more than tripled since 2000 and more than quintupled since 1990.

Citywide weekday traffic volumes in NYC decreased 1.8% in 2011 and are

essentially unchanged over o f T ransportation Flickr/ N ew Y ork C ity Department the past four years. 1.8 % Three months after it Like many examples of thinking differ- launched, Citi Bike — NYC’s ently, Delanoë began with a unique philoso- bike sharing program — hit phy. He had the controversial idea that a 80,000 members. city could succeed economically by making itself a nicer place to live, with less attention In August 2013, the to things like tax breaks for companies or Citi Bike system was averaging 36,000 conventional economic development. Dela- bike trips per day. noë did innovative things like turn freeways into beaches in the summer months — another example of soft infrastructure. Since its success in Paris, bicycle Since 2006, NYC has laid down more than sharing has spread to scores of cities large and small, including London, Barcelona, 250 miles of bike lanes Montreal, Denver, Chicago and most (just over 4% of the city’s 6,000 miles of streets). recently New York City. It is becoming an accepted part of city life. And it began not

www.nyc.gov/bikes with a new technology or big investment of

14 futurestructure // How Ideas Drive What we Build It is no coincidence that this hap- pened at the same time in 2007 when Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Janette Sadik-Khan to be the transportation commissioner in his second term. Sadik-Khan, a lawyer and an experienced capital, but with thinking differently. It is city dwellers, often escapees from auto transportation administrator in both the transforming how cities are used, and how dependency, advocate for alternatives to public and private sector (Federal Tran- people relate to the street. car dependency.”3 sit Administration and Parsons Brincker- Roberta Gratz, author of The Living hoff ), moved quickly, showing a nimble- City and The Battle for Gotham, says that ness not only in her conceptual plans, there has been a general trend in recent Complete Streets, but even more importantly in navigating years by young people toward less car- Shared Spaces and the city and state’s treacherous political oriented lifestyles. They are gravitating Public Plazas waters. Sadik-Khan and her staff utilized toward walking, bicycling and another In New York City, cyclists can stop the Department of Transportation’s old-fashioned technology: streetcars. and sit in plazas with tables and chairs (DOT) power to determine what hap- “Piece by small piece, cities are that have sprouted in what were once city pens on city streets. To not get bogged recreating the streetcar systems they streets. In an urban setting where streets down in endless public debate, her teams were once built around, including Los are contested ground, and where the pace launched themselves, commando style, Angeles, but traded in for the deceptive of change can be glacier, these enhance- and over a few days and nights painted hope of the car,” says Gratz. “The recent ments have come quickly, essentially in the new bicycle lanes and turned streets into and rapidly growing bicycle culture is last five and half years. plazas with café seating. accelerating this trend as more and more

futurestructure.com 15  Underutilized streets and other areas in NYC were revamped into public plazas where people can relax and socialize. d K i dd Davi

“We changed a parking lot over a This has resulted in the biggest don’t have that in Rome,” he said. weekend, from an underutilized area for change to how New York City streets Nearby, a group of burly guys from parked cars to a plaza,” says Sadik-Khan are used in the last 75 years since cars Queens expressed their approval: “We’re in an interview with Fast Company about began to dominate them — and for the sitting here aren’t we? We like it.” one of the first projects in the DUMBO better. Cyclists use the new bike lanes, During the same time period in 2007 (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge and thousands of locals and tourists sit and 2008, Bloomberg spent millions in Overpass) section of Brooklyn.4 “And we in Times Square and other lesser-known money and political capital in a sweep- literally just painted it, painted it green, areas. And all this was done for a rela- ing campaign attempting to get permis- sion from the state legislature to set up a congestion pricing system, where “We changed a parking lot over a drivers are charged to enter the city at weekend, from an underutilized peak times. After a year and a half of work, the state legislature did not even area for parked cars to a plaza. vote on the bill and New York City lost Three years later, the sales tax $350 million in promised federal fund- receipts are 172 percent higher ing. The point of this example isn’t to blame Bloomberg for his valiant attempt, than before in the adjacent areas.” but to point out that change can happen Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner, NYC Department of Transportation quickly if the right levers are used. Look- ing more broadly, the bicycle lanes and painted the curbs. Added tables and chairs tively small cost. The changes are now public plazas in New York and now and planters. Three years later, the sales one of the most visible aspects of the city. many other cities fit into several related tax receipts are 172 percent higher than On a sunny weekday afternoon, movements that are based on rethink- before in the adjacent areas. It worked.” Andre from Rome sat with his spouse ing how and what streets are used for. If it hadn’t, then the action could have at a café table in what used to be one They include the Complete Streets been easily reversed. “One of the benefits lane where Broadway and Fifth Avenue movement (www.smartgrowthamerica. of being able to try things out quickly is, intersect by Madison Square Park. In org/complete-streets), and “Shared if it doesn’t work, fine, put it back,” Sadik- accented English, Andre noted the small Space,” where traffic signs are removed Khan says in the same interview. “No but significant ways it was different and and children encouraged to play in the harm, no foul. And that gave us the con- better than the famous pedestrian pla- streets, with the paradoxical results fidence to move forward with something zas in Rome, where thousands gather. that streets are made safer. These are like a Times Square [pedestrian plaza].” “The tables move. That’s important. We all examples of soft infrastructure.

16 futurestructure // How Ideas Drive What we Build Thinking Differently About Transportation

A new way to pay for roads “The Oregon trail was a long one. It Thinking differently can happen took six months to get here, and six at any level, whether local, state or federal. Oregon has been a national leader in months to get back. We are used to transportation and land use since the state thinking on our own.” passed the statewide growth control act, Jim Whitty, Manager, Oregon Office of Innovative Partnership and Alternative Funding Senate Bill 100, in 1973, and in 1974 tore down the four-lane freeway Harbor Drive to create a waterfront park. Since then, both the state and the city of Portland are renowned for developing a cleaner and Before less car-centered form of life. In recent years, the state DOT has continued its record of innovation by experimenting with a controversial but also much sought after innovation: paying for roads by charging drivers for how much they use the road, rather than for how much gas they consume. The Office of Innovative Partnership and Alterna- tive Funding, part of Oregon DOT, exper- iments with different ways of funding highways and transportation. The same office has been experimenting with building solar panels into highways.5 Among urban planners, there has been a growing concern that the gas tax can no longer be relied on as heavily, because as fuel economy and the produc- tion of electric cars increases, revenue  Before and after from gas taxes decreases. Approved by images depicting the previous four- the legislature in 2011, the Road Usage lane freeway Harbor Charge Pilot Program equipped cars Drive in Oregon, now with several types of transponders, sold transformed into a by private companies, that measured waterfront park. how many miles were driven and where, and charged them accordingly. Users, who were volunteers, received a bill in the mail for their road use. Their gas taxes were then refunded. “The basic system worked like a after dream,” says Jim Whitty, manager of the Office of Innovative Partnership and Alternative Funding that set up and ran the program.6 The information on miles driven was transmitted easily through a variety of devices to servers, which cal- culated information so bills could be sent out to the participants in the program. “It has taken us into a new world. It allows total scalability and flexibility,” he says. After the success of the first pilot program, the Oregon legislature approved Senate Bill 810 in 2013 which sets up a Top: City of Portland Archives, Oregon, Aerial view of Harbor Drive. A2012-005, 1974. Bottom: flickr/Greg_e

futurestructure.com 17 Thinking Differently About Transportation

 The Gas Tax: More Miles per Gallon, Fewer Dollars for Roads While the federal gas tax – which is used to fund transportation infrastructure improvements through the Highway Trust Fund – has remain unchanged for 20 years, cars have not. The graphic below shows how rising construction costs and increasingly fuel-efficient vehicles have been detrimental to the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Purchasing Power of the Gas Tax Has Dropped 28 percent Since 1997 Decline is Due Mostly to Construction Cost Inflation

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

Source: ITEP analysis of data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 5%

-5%

-15%

-25% Change in Purchasing Power Change in Purchasing Impact of vehicle fuel-efficiency gains months to get back. We are used to thinking Impact of construction cost inflation -35% on our own. It’s built into the culture.”

the chinatown bus It’s not just the public sector that Several states are increasing their gas tax as a way to acquire funding for infrastructure manages to think differently. improvements. Eight states increased their gas tax in July 2013. While BRT gains adherents, until recently the old style inter-city bus Wyoming 10 cents per gallon travel, where one travels from city to Connecticut 3.84 cents per gallon city in a bus, had been steadily declin- California 3.5 cents per gallon ing, year after year. The top companies, Maryland 3.5 cents per gallon Trailways and Greyhound, had declared Kentucky 2.4 cents per gallon bankruptcy multiple times and were bur- Nebraska 1.7 cents per gallon dened by their expensive network of bus Georgia 0.6 cents per gallon stations. Few people took an inter-city North Carolina 0.1 cents per gallon bus unless it was a necessity.

Governin g Then, on a somewhat shabby corner of a street in Lower Manhattan, another larger pilot program that will put the Whitty envisions a day where all revolution was born. Ethnic Chinese began necessary institutional infrastructure in newer electric or other low-mileage cars offering bus service to Boston at a ridicu- place to make the program permanent, will use this technology routinely. The lously low price, often $10 one way. These if desired. Oregon is on the way to being technology is such that car manufacturers buses had no stations. While perfectly the first state to gradually replace the gas could easily build these devices into their respectable buses, they picked up people tax with what before had been a dream cars for their customers. Programs like on the street. Gradually, non-Chinese among planners, charging road use by “OnStar” already use this information. began hearing about the $10 bus service to the mile driven. The system being set up Whitty speculated on why Oregon has Boston, and taking it. It was a lot cheaper would also allow, if approved by the legis- been such a leader in innovative and new than the Amtrak train or driving yourself. lature, to have a type of congestion pricing policy on a variety of fronts. At first, just a few daring urban adventur- where roadways that are in high demand “The Oregon trail was a long one,” ers took what people began calling the are priced more highly than those that are Whitty says, noting the state’s pioneer his- Chinatown bus, but others followed. Soon not in high demand. tory. “It took six months to get here, and six a lot of people were.

18 futurestructure // How Ideas Drive What we Build Thinking Differently About Transportation

 The Chinatown bus revolutionized inter-city buses by charging much lower rates and operating without bus stations.

Flash forward a few years, and dozens lane” where people pay for less traffic and of companies are offering such service; big a bike lane. It’s a lot to squeeze into an “You can’t international companies such as Megabus existing roadway, but the hope is that these have 22-lane from England are investing in service; and will change the game from the usual one, bus service itself is being revived all over where another lane is built which quickly highways. You the country. Even established companies fills up again. The idea is to alter the can’t just keep like Greyhound are benefiting. How big this dynamics of development not only on the service can grow is debatable. Sidewalks highway but off of it. adding Lanes. can only accommodate so many people, Emily Fishkin, director of infrastructure So you have to and some cities, like Boston, are requiring initiatives with the American Society of companies to use centralized stations. But Civil Engineers (ASCE), says policymakers do something it’s clear that inter-city bus service has been were being pushed by circumstances to different.” revived, and it all began when, out of neces- explore new ways of doing things. Emily Fishkin, Director sity, some people began thinking differently. “You can’t have 22-lane highways,” Fish- of Infrastructure kin says.7 “You can’t just keep adding lanes. Initiatives, ASCE So you have to do something different.” THinking better What’s undeniable is that there has What all of these examples have in been a general trend over the last decade common is that none of them work by to build things smarter, lighter and more simply adding more of what’s already carefully, not only in transportation but for there, which until recently has been this all types of infrastructure. Space is dearer, country’s usual mode of operation, par- and infrastructure must be constructed ticularly with roadways. That’s changing. more carefully. In this type of environ- For instance, Colorado is expanding ment, the soft infrastructure becomes a highway between Boulder and Denver much more important. One can’t simply that attempts to change the usual dynamic build indiscriminately, or throw money on high-traffic roadways, where more at a problem. In transportation, it means lanes are added in response to more traf- looking at alternatives to simply pouring fic. Rather than simply add more lanes, asphalt. It means evaluating how people the Colorado DOT, with support from live, and considering what the objectives the federal government, is adding a BRT are, and whether there are other, better lane, a high-occupancy vehicle lane, a “hot means to get there.

19 BY John Miri Avoiding in Bumps the Optimizing Our Transportation ROad: Systems

20 futurestructure // How ideas drive what we build SHUTTERSTOCK . co m

futurestructure.com 21 Avoiding bumps in the road

All of the wisdom in better management of soft infrastructure will be lost if it isn’t integrated tightly with its companion elements of hard infrastructure (bridges, roads and buildings) and technology (intelligent transportation systems and information technology). FutureStructure requires a tight coupling of all three domains — soft, hard and tech — to deliver real benefits for communities.

Transportation is Energy in Motion other aspects of the system of civic life. will mitigate heavy truck traffic, as well Williamson County, Texas, racked For example, Texas may lead the nation as have positive environmental impact by up a 69 percent increase in its number in innovative and unconventional oil reducing the flaring, or burning of oil and of jobs between 2000 and 2012. That is and gas exploration, but growth in the gas, that sometimes occurs when wells extremely fast growth, even by Texas energy sector isn’t possible without a come in and pipelines are not in place.” standards. With a boost in overall popula- sustainable transportation system. Texas is even negotiating with a private tion to match the job growth,8 civic lead- “Exploitation of shale oil and gas assets sector partner to provide a concession ers were faced with a major challenge: requires a high volume of heavy truck and for a monorail-style system that would The county needed a significant amount equipment traffic, typically on rural roads move truck trailers in an automated fash- of new hard infrastructure, includ- designed and built to handle farm and ion from the Mexican Border to Dallas. ing roads, power, water and schools. ranch traffic. The wear and tear on these “If this innovative project comes to Tony Dale served as mayor pro tem roads has made them less safe and put a fruition it will reduce traffic on the heav- of the city of Cedar Park — one of the strain on the counties typically responsible ily congested I-35 corridor, decrease road fastest-growing municipalities within for the maintenance,” says Dale. To power maintenance costs and increase safety,” Williamson County — and on several future growth, Dale and other transporta- says Dale. “The bottom line is that gov- transportation-related boards at the tion-minded state officials are looking to ernment must not fear innovation and county level. Dale recently completed innovate hard infrastructure in ways that must establish a framework where the his first term representing the area in go beyond simply building more roads. private sector can help solve these prob- the Texas House of Representatives. “As it relates to congestion on high- lems. There will never be enough tax “The Texas State Demographer esti- ways, it is my opinion that computer- money and you can’t pave everything.” mates that the state is currently adding assisted driving could reduce accidents about 1,100 new residents per day,” says and increase travel speeds leading to Technology Makes Hard Rep. Dale.9 “That is creat- multiple benefits for Infrastructure Smarter ing tremendous pressure “The bottom line commuters. It may even Of course, information technology on all types of infrastruc- is that govern- be possible to achieve is playing a large role in modernizing ture to include transporta- ment must not higher, safer speeds transportation. Everything seems to tion as well as water and fear innovation without increasing road be going back to school these days to schools … in addition to and must estab- capacity,” says Dale. In become “smart” — smart roads, smart other basic services.” lish a framework his estimation, pipelines grids, smart traffic systems and even Dale notes that while where the private are also a key part of the entire smart cities. Technology continues the transportation infra- sector can help state’s transportation to be critical to the long-range planning structure is certainly vital solve these infrastructure. “Pipe- of future projects through GIS mapping, to the movement of people problems. There lines are the safest mode sophisticated data mining and statistical around the state, it also will never be of transportation for any analysis. But those high-powered tools supports key industries enough tax money product and specifically are increasingly leaving the engineer’s or and job creation. As such, and you can’t for the hydrocarbons the planner’s office and heading out to he sees transportation and pave everything.” produced in Texas,” he the highways and byways themselves. the built environment as says. “Expedited con- For example, everyone knows that Tony Dale, Member of the Texas

inextricably linked to all House of Representatives struction of pipelines the traffic around the U.S. capital region k idd D avid

22 futurestructure // How ideas drive what we build Los Angeles’ Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control System alerts traffic engineers whenever there are unusual levels of congestion in the city. futurestructure.com 23 Avoiding bumps in the road

is challenging to say the least. A new project under the Commonwealth of Virginia “GEC Megaprojects Program” will add an additional 14 miles of two new lanes in each direction on I-495. These aren’t ordinary lanes, however. The high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes will be free for vehicles that carry three or more people, and tolled for those that don’t. Using a novel intelligent transportation system (ITS), the tolls on the lanes can be changed based on traffic conditions to regulate demand. Higher tolls can be charged during busy times and lower tolls on off hours. The result is smarter management of traffic on the roads.10 The outcome of the I-495 improvements isn’t just convenience for drivers — it’s also positive for the environment as well. Researchers estimate that stop- and-go traffic decreases gas mileage by 40 percent. The ITS will enable lane- specific speeds and active speed management. When commuters maintain a steady rate of speed, their pocketbooks and carbon emissions will benefit. The project is also innovative in its structure as a public-private partnership.11 Within and between communities,  Computer programs keep traffic other forms of transit are also gaining flowing along major corridors in L.A. ground. Los Angeles recently topped

New York City at providing access to k idd D avid public transportation to households without vehicles. According to a Brook- on improving public transportation Julia Burrows, president and executive ings Institution study, 99.1 percent of in L.A. County. “I think there was a director of the Greenwise Joint Ven- L.A. residents in no-car homes had broad appreciation that building more ture in Sacramento, Calif., (a nonprofit ready access to public transit. The high freeways was a source of the problem, organization dedicated to transforming percentage is especially good news not an opportunity for a solution.”14 Sacramento into the greenest region in for low-income households, which The improvements in Los Angeles trans- the country) sees financing as an insepa- rely on the mass transit system.12 portation — and the vision that inspired rable part of the overall task of building This accomplishment came, in part, them — are significant in their scope but prosperous and sustainable communities. as a result of “Measure R,” a 2008 integrated in a way that demonstrates the In fact, finance is one of the most criti- ballot initiative that instituted a half-cent principle of FutureStructure. Los Angeles cal considerations of all civic planning. sales tax that would be used to address has combined what were formally sepa- “The cities that have been success- the county’s transportation needs. Over rate projects — like a 30-year, 1,680-mile ful have not only integrated the differ- its 30-year lifespan, the tax will raise bicycle master plan, a public-private bike ent departments that are in charge of $40 billion for innovative solutions that share program, HOT lanes, congestion transportation, planning, building and will ease congestion. Funds already pricing and a network of 4,398 high-tech utilities, but they have also integrated raised by the measure are going towards networked traffic signals — into an inte- financing,” says Burrows.16 Her own new public transportation infrastruc- grated, well-planned and networked whole experience as the deputy city manager ture, including rail and bus lines.13 in which component parts work together.15 for Roseville, Calif., bears this out: “With “We really had maxed out what the city of Roseville … when we looked could be done with asphalt,” says When the Bill Comes Due at a 1,000-acre development and consid- Denny Zane, executive director of Move Of course, any grand transporta- ered where everything should go, we ran LA. Zane’s organization is focused tion vision has to be paid for somehow. the financing model at the same time.”

24 futurestructure // How ideas drive what we build Los Angeles has combined would charge drivers a vehicle mile- what were formerly age tax (VMT) instead of the tradi- separate projects tional gas tax. The change would both — like a 30-year, eliminate the unpopular gas tax that 1,680-mile bicycle is viewed as increasingly unsustain- master plan, a able for transportation financing public-private needs and it would encourage pur- bike share pro- chasing cars with better MPG, low- gram, HOT lanes, ering fuel emissions. This approach congestion pricing is one way that states are looking and a network of to close the increasing imbalance 4,398 high-tech caused by higher-mileage vehicles.20 networked traffic As an additional option, transporta- signals — into tion financing can come from trust funds an integrated, that tax certain purchases specific to a well-planned and particular industry. For example, people flying commercial planes pay a tax on networked whole in their airline ticket that goes into the which component Aviation Trust Fund, which provides parts work together. grants to airports to cover some of their capital and operating costs, including that of the air traffic control “We really had system.21 Some states may be maxed out what considering tapping the energy could be done sector for a similar infrastruc- with asphalt. I ture fund approach to meet think there growing transportation needs. was a broad Another way policymakers appreciation can fund transportation proj- that building ects and upkeep is through the more freeways use of public-private partner- was a source of ships. In Boston, the Massa- the problem, not chusetts Highway Department States have a particularly vexing an extra 3.5 cents an opportunity (MassHighway) and the Mas- funding challenge when it comes to per gallon to pay for a solution.” sachusetts Executive Office of the gas tax. The U.S. federal gas tax for transportation Denny Zane, Executive Director, Move LA Transportation partnered with hasn’t been raised since 1993, and it projects, taking a private company to perform is assessed on a per-gallon basis. As its total rate to 27 improvements and additions gas mileage has climbed, that means cents per gallon.18 to the Route 3 North highway. vehicles are driving more miles for Even though state gas taxes are seen The involvement of the private sector each gallon of gas they purchase. More as more palatable than federal gas taxes, reduced the project’s delivery time from miles driven means more wear and in general gas taxes are not looked upon an expected nine years to less than tear on the roads, and a growing bud- fondly by taxpayers or policymakers. The four. The agreement required the get gap between revenues and costs. commonwealth of Virginia actually took private sector partner to operate and To help overcome the transportation a new approach when it dropped its 17.5 maintain the road for a 30-year period funding gap, states have taken matters into cent-per-gallon tax on fuel in favor of a before transferring it over to MassHigh- their own hands — which is why eight of new 3.5 percent wholesale tax. While the way — providing an incentive for higher them recently raised their state gas tax, change is not revenue neutral — motorists quality and containment of mainte- effective July 1 of this year (see infographic are expected to pay an average of $15 more nance costs.22 Whatever the funding on page 18). Wyoming added the most at per month — the new structure will auto- strategy, creating funds for transporta- 10 cents per gallon, while Connecticut, matically take account of inflation. That’s tion innovations and maintenance is California, Maryland, Kentucky, Nebraska, something that the old gas tax never did, an ongoing struggle and an increasing Georgia and North Carolina imposed gas remaining fixed all of the last 26 years.19 problem as our nation’s growth rap- tax increases as well, all to help fund their As mentioned previously, the state idly rises — but as evidenced, innova- transportation budgets.17 Maryland added of Oregon recently passed a bill that tive financing models do exist.

futurestructure.com 25 After an energy retrofit, the California DMV now exceeds the 2005 Title 24 energy code by 12.5% and realizes annual energy cost savings of $126,000. Building

BY Jack McGowan & Better Bob Graves Connecting our communities and creating our future with a better built environment

In the city planning and urban simulation video In our first FutureStructure publica- game SimCity, players are tasked with founding and building tion, we introduced the importance of communities while ensuring citizens are happy and budgets viewing the city as a system and as a living are kept in check. Releases of the game throughout the years thing that incorporates and organizes non- have increased complexity of decision-making while making living components in service of its ends. In the depth of the simulation more “real” for the player. this issue, we take that farther and focus on two of the most important parts of any While the extremely popular game has grown, expanded and evolved to fit the city system — transportation and the built sparked the interest of many future urban needs of their citizens. But the problem environment. In the previous two articles planners, it has also likely left many shak- has been that different parts of the city in this issue, we focused on the soft, hard ing their heads once they meet the reality have different needs, oftentimes leav- and technological components of optimiz- of city planning, urban design and infra- ing the overall whole overlooked. Siloed ing our transportation systems. Now it’s structure improvements. If only decisions thinking and overspecialization can lead time to focus on the built environment. could be made regarding the re-routing to mismatched parts — a Frankenstein- When we talk about the built environ- of an interstate or the construction of a type conglomeration of well-intentioned ment, we mean the man-made things community arena with ease and planners projects that simply don’t work together. you see when you walk out of your front could see the immediate impact of that Short-term needs have often come door. It’s all of the artifacts we humans decision and how it affects the city overall. before long-term sustainability and resil- have constructed over time and continue But it’s simply not that easy. iency. And the need for infrastructure to update — our buildings, roads, power Throughout history, cities have has traditionally outpaced the ability plants, parks, reservoirs, airports and

served as hubs of civilization. They have to finance it. more. It’s the places we go and the things Mithun

26 futurestructure // How ideas drive what we build we use to get there. It’s the critical infrastructure that our communities need in place to attract industry and citizens and position the city to thrive economically and socially for years to come.

The Big Picture: Thinking Differently About Building The urbanization of the world is rapidly increasing. One hundred years ago, Phoenix is a leader in exemplary municipal energy management and is recognized for best 2 out of every 10 people lived in a city, but practices in setting goals for reducing energy use in local government operations. One of the city’s sustainability projects, “PHX Renews,” transformed 15 acres of vacant land into sustainable public by 2010 this number had increased to 5 in space for community gardens, outdoor classrooms and public art. 10. It is projected that by 2030, 6 out of 10 facebook/phx renews facebook/phx people will live in a city. Sixty million people become urban residents every year.23 been designed in mind for transporta- from the campus to Denver’s core.” The This type of growth requires innovative tion of the four-wheeled variety. Every overall idea is to move away from the sub- thinking to promote resilient, thriving commercial building was surrounded by urban office-park model of the original communities that are economically sound parking lots and kept firmly separate from campus design to a “highly urban envi- — in short, good places to live for the residential areas — the two linked only by ronment inspired by the nearby urban people who live there. roads and highways. Now, design quality neighborhoods of Lower Downtown.”25 The built environment has an enor- has become the focus for not just better Too often city planning has occurred mous impact on a city’s ability to suc- designed corner street stores, but also for in a vacuum, without taking advantage BY Jack ceed or fail — and what once “worked” a number of large-scale projects the city is of local resource strengths. Building took is often no longer an attractive asset. funding, including a new museum, arena, place one project at a time. But once hard McGowan & No city knows this better than Hous- ballpark, cultural center and parks.24 infrastructure is set in place it dictates Bob Graves ton. Thought of as a city of sprawl, the In Denver, the Auraria West Redevel- how residents connect, or, conversely, are AIA Houston metropolitan area is spread opment is a project designed to revitalize disconnected from each other. Building out and requires an automobile to navi- the downtown area. Through a public- for the future requires a systemic view gate. The city, however, is straying from private partnership, the Community Col- of the entire built environment and how its roots and making moves to become lege of Denver, Metropolitan State College one project will affect the whole. Think- more compact, with options for public of Denver and the University of Colorado ing differently requires building for what transportation and communities made at Denver will share facilities, includ- the populace might need 30 years from for walking and biking. Mixed-use areas, ing a student center, classrooms, faculty now — not only what they need today. part development, part residential, with and student housing, and a large under- For its part, the Metropolitan Washing- shops and restaurants, are taking the ground parking garage. Also included ton Council of Governments is using a tool place of traditional suburban communi- are retail developments and a transfer called State of Place to guide its efforts to ties dotted with homes and nothing else. station for the RTD light rail system that improve the region’s walkability and eco- El Paso, too, is taking a cue from trendy could accommodate a streetcar connect- nomic performance.26 Developed by Mari- cities like Portland and Austin. Drawing ing Auraria to the city’s urban core. With ela Alfonzo, Ph.D., research fellow at NYU- on principles of new urbanism, city offi- work already well underway, the latest Poly, it is a place rating and walkability cials wanted to create more livable com- version of the Auraria Higher Education diagnostic tool munities. The city had been impacted by Center’s master plan calls for “strong that informs  The Auraria West sprawl and infrastructure had traditionally physical and programmatic connections economic Redevelopment is a project designed to revitalize downtown Denver by having the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado at Denver share facilities that include retail develop-

ments and a transfer C dedit station for the RTD lightfuturestructure.com rail system. 27 Building Better America’s Buildings 120 million build- also consume ings consume a 72 percent of huge amount of the nation’s energy, includ- electricity and development, guides investment, aids ing 42 percent 34 percent place branding and enhances communi- of the nation’s of its directly ties. Community members and planners in primary energy. used natural gas. over 95 neighborhoods are making block- by-block assessments of some 250 features “Traditionally, build- within 10 different urban design dimen- ings have been created sions. The tool pulls existing data together by an architect with and gives a profile of what’s working and an idea who then gives what makes the most sense to change. that three-dimensional idea to a mechanical engineer, a structural Drilling Deeper: engineer, a landscape architect, etc. And Integrative Design of Buildings they say, here’s the building, now heat The annual cost to power Important too is the people at the table it, cool it, put a structure around it,” says buildings in the 27 when planning takes place. Gone are the Bob Berkebile, principal at BNIM. United States is days where a master builder strategized, “Integrative design means designing the $400 billion. planned and executed a building, a project building as a whole system and optimizing or even an entire city. In our first Future- it for multiple benefits rather than optimiz- Structure publication, we noted the “prob- ing components of the building or subsys- lem of specialists.” Not that specialists tems of the building for single benefits,” “We now have a way to help government and specific jobs aren’t needed, but that says Amory B. Lovins, chairman and chief prioritize needs and allocate resources their creation has led to a silo of informa- scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute.28 for the physical infrastructure upon tion and the lack of a holistic view. The Integrative design has been used in mul- which everything else depends.”30 Rocky Mountain Institute, an organi- tiple successful institute projects, including zation dedicated to sustainability — the energy efficient retrofit measures for Energy Efficiency particularly in the areas of energy the Empire State Building, which resulted According to the Rocky Mountain and resource efficiency — advo- in a 38 percent energy use reduction with Institute, America’s 120 million build- cates for integrative design an annual cost savings of $4.4 million, and ings consume a huge amount of energy for the built environment. the retrofit of the City and County Build- — 42 percent of the nation’s primary Integrative design starts ing for the city of Indianapolis. There, a energy, 72 percent of its electricity and with getting input earlier diverse group of building industry experts 34 percent of its directly used natural in the building process identified opportunities, barriers and solu- gas. If America’s buildings were a sepa- — including input from tions to achieving significant energy sav- rate country, they would be the third people that would not ings. The research revealed that the since biggest energy user behind China and normally be involved 1959, the city had pumped over 200 gal/ the U.S. The annual cost to power build- until later in a project. min of groundwater from the lower park- ings in the United States is $400 billion The ultimate goal is ing deck due to a high water table, which — as much as we spent on Medicare in to design the building could be used to heat and cool the build- 2009 — and much of that is wasted.31 as a whole system. ing. The city and county recently signed Traditionally, energy use in our an Energy Savings Performance Contract existing buildings has been tremendously (ESPC) for 57 percent energy savings.29 wasteful, but new equipment technology Integrative design Resources are also coming available to and building materials, as well as better was used when imple- help community leaders make decisions designs, improve energy efficiency and menting the energy about their important public assets. One offer huge opportunities to save money, efficient retrofit measures for the Empire such tool, developed by the Institute for reduce impact on the environment and State Building, which Sustainable Infrastructure, is its new rat- drive job creation in virtually every resulted in a 38 ing system called Envision that serves to community across the country. percent energy guide public decisions on what should Phoenix is a leader with exemplary use reduction be built. Envision is designed to cover all municipal energy management and is with an annual cost savings of civil infrastructure from roads, bridges recognized for best practices in setting $4.4 million. and railways to solid waste landfills, goals for reducing energy use in local water supplies, wastewater treatment government operations. The city closely plants, power transmission lines and the monitors energy use and broadly com- public spaces in our cities, towns and municates energy savings results. Mayor local communities. William Bertera, ISI’s Greg Stanton says, “It is the leader- executive director, explains it this way, ship and commitment to sustainability

28 futurestructure // title to come Building Better

— coupled with great implementation interests and improve the community in in the pipeline, with more than 150 — that drives great cities forward.”32 the process.”34 California passed the first trained local contractors ready to After realizing that energy costs are PACE legislation in 2008. Since then, 30 begin work across the city. According the largest budget item after payroll, the other states and the District of Colum- to independent research conducted city evaluated 300 buildings and identi- bia have passed similar enabling laws. by ECONorthwest, every $100 mil- fied and deployed efficiency projects PACE allows property owners to defer lion invested via Clean Energy Sac- that saved it $22.8 million. Phoenix also the upfront costs of their improvements ramento is projected to create 1,500 developed an energy savings reinvest- (which can include HVAC, insulation, jobs, $250 million in economic activ- ment program, completing $4.4 mil- solar, water conservation, etc.) and pay ity and $25 million in tax revenue. lion in efficiency improvements with them back on their property tax bills over PACE monetizes the upgrade process reinvested energy savings. Additionally, a period of up to 20 years. The loan is by mining trapped value in buildings. Mayor Stanton’s signature sustainability attached to the property, rather than tied to Savings, generated by increased efficien- project, “PHX Renews,” was launched in the homeowner. If the property is sold the cies, can be used to upgrade building 2012. The initiative promises to transform debt continues on the tax rolls to be paid components without need for public 15 acres of vacant land into sustainable by the subsequent owners. To date, 180 subsidy and provides a ready avenue public space for community gardens, PACE projects have been completed (43 of to improve a community’s commercial outdoor classrooms and public art. these being government buildings) total- and residential building stock. Deeper Also a leader in energy efficiency, ing over $37 million in funded projects.35 energy retrofits that involve redesigning Hartnell Community College in Cali- fornia has been recognized for its high performance buildings and use of renewable energy sources. It serves as a model of infrastructure design and integration. The college’s most recent solar project is expected to reduce electricity use at its Alisal Campus by more than 90 percent. “This project will help Hartnell College advance a number of our goals, including achieving improved sustainability at all three campuses and setting an example we hope will resonate across the state,” says College President Willard Clark Lewallen.33 “With many of our students looking to pursue careers in the emerging green economy, this project also serves  Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson launches the PACE-backed Clean Energy as an extraordinary learning opportunity Sacramento project that is expected to create 1,500 jobs, $250 million in economic to perform project-based research.” activity and $25 million in tax revenue for every $100 million invested. forbes Paying for Our Building A significant hurdle to overcome Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has major systems from heating and cool- is the upfront costs to upgrade build- been a leading proponent of PACE as a tool ing to the building envelope open up ing efficiency. City leaders are looking to spur economic development and job cre- opportunities to modernize a build- for innovative ways to encourage and ation. In January 2013, in partnership with ing’s appearance while simultaneously incentivize owners to make changes Ygrene Energy, he opened the Sacramento reaping significant energy savings. to their properties. In this vein, a new Clean Energy Center. “Launching Clean Of course, PACE is not the only private sector financing tool is rap- Energy Sacramento is a major milestone in such financing tool available. But its idly coming into use called Property establishing this city as a national leader in rapid spread across the country shows Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). the green economy,” says Johnson.36 “Not the strength of interest by state and Cisco DeVries, president and CEO of only are we making Sacramento a cleaner local governments to access new Renewable Funding, initiated the first and healthier place to live, we’re also put- approaches. Other financing options PACE district in 2008 while chief of staff ting Sacramento’s hard-hit construction include: energy savings performance for the mayor of Berkeley, Calif. “Financ- business back to work and revitalizing contracting, mortgage-back financing doesn’t motivate people to do some- our economy at zero cost to taxpayers.” ing, sustainable energy utilities, state thing,” DeVries adds, “but it’s a way to get Clean Energy Sacramento launched and municipal loan programs, and property owners to engage in their own with $22 million of prequalified projects utility-backed on-bill financing.

futurestructure.com 29 ENERGY, INNOVATED Capitalizing on the Public Sector’s ‘Hidden’ Resources SOLUTION SPOTLIGHT: CHEVRON SPOTLIGHT: SOLUTION

In this period of economic Calif. — have undertaken a wide range term, sustainable projects that will concern and uncertainty, governments of solar, lighting and energy effi ciency benefi t our community for decades fulfi ll a role of increasingly critical import. projects, which are expected to produce to come.” However, the cost of providing public signifi cant returns on investment. For services and carrying out the functions example, Kings County is expected to Local economies benefi t from these of government continue to increase while save $12 million, Lemoore will reduce savings and the “multiplier eff ect” resources available to fulfi ll governmental costs by $45 million and the City of Brea is helps increase tax bases that further mandates and missions can be scarce. expected to reduce its electricity expenses benefi t city and county revenues. by 65 percent. Renewable energy projects also This dilemma’s resolution may be in fi nding provide signifi cant environmental and ‘hidden’ resources and using them wisely, as “The City of Brea’s work with Chevron educational benefi ts by connecting cities, counties and other public institutions Energy Solutions will save millions of students with hands-on demonstration around the country have already done, by taxpayer dollars by cutting our energy of science and math skills. partnering with Chevron Energy Solutions on consumption,” said then-Mayor Roy hundreds of projects. Moore of the project. “[Our project also] In an era of increasing costs and positions Brea as an environmental declining budgets, real solutions are Numerous governments — including Kings leader in the county, and demonstrates being developed and implemented by County, Calif., Lemoore, Calif., and Brea, fi scal responsibility by investing in long- cities and counties across the country. Sponsored Content

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1 Stephanie Pincetl, Paul Bunje, Institute of 22. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal the Environment, UCLA, “Urban Metabolism Highway Administration, “Project Profiles: Studies for the 21 Century Sustainable City.” Route 3 North,” www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/ 2. All information from Stephanie Pincetl from project_profiles/ma_route3.htm. interview conducted on Sept. 19, 2013. 23. World Health Organization, Urban Population 3. All information from Roberta Gratz from Growth, www.who.int/gho/urban_health/situa- email interview. tion_trends/urban_population_growth_text/en/ 4. Fast Company, “Dynamic Duos: Michael 24. Tod Newcombe, “El Paso Teaches New Bloomberg and Janette Sadik-Khan on the Urbanism to Architects, Engineers,” Future of Walking, Biking, and Driving,” Governing, www.governing.com/columns/ www.fastcodesign.com/3016252/new-york- urban-notebook/gov-city-governments-make- city-bloomberg-and-janette-sadik-khan new-urbanism-part-of-work-culture.html 5. Oregon.gov, Innovative Partnerships Program, 25. Alan Prendergast, “Looking to Auraria’s future www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/OIPP/pages/ while studying the lessons of its past,” Denver acknowledgements inn_solarhighway.aspx Westword News, www.westword.com/2013- 6. All information from Jim Whitty interview 02-28/news/auraria-campus-history/2/ Dennis McKenna originated the con- group, Regional Plan Association in New conducted on Aug. 30, 2013. 26. Metropolitan Washington Council of 7. All information from Emily Fishkin from Governments, State of Place Tool, www. cept of FutureStructure and serves as its York, and a columnist on transportation interview conducted on Aug. 28, 2013. mwcog.org/uploads/committee-documents/ “lead developer,” building on nearly three and economic development for Govern- 8. Benjamin Wermund, “As population booms, ZV1dWFlX20120828143028.pdf Williamson County works to bring in 27. All information from Bob Berkebile from decades of research and reporting at the ing magazine. A graduate of Columbia businesses,” Austin American Statesman, interview. intersection of technology and government. University’s Graduate School of Journal- Jan. 4, 2013. 28. Rocky Mountain Institute, Built Environment: 9. All information from Tony Dale from interview Methods, http://www.rmi.org/built_environ- As co-founder and CEO of e.Republic, ism, Marshall’s work has appeared in conducted on Sept. 21, 2013. ment_methods McKenna is the architect of national con- The New York Times, Bloomberg View, 10. Virginia GEC Megaprojects Design-Build, 29. Amory B. Lovins, “Integrative Design: A Northern Virginia, CH2M Hill, 2013. Disruptive Source of Expanding Returns to versations about making government Metropolis Magazine, Planning Maga- 11. Ibid. Investments in Energy Efficiency,” Rocky and communities better: through the zine, The Washington Post, The Boston 12. Matt Sledge, “Los Angeles Public Transit Mountain Institute, 2010 Access Top Among Major Metropolitan Areas, 30. Bob Graves, “Sustainability and websites and pages of Governing, Globe, Slate, Salon, Architecture, Revue Besting Even New York,” Huffington Post Los Our Horizontal Infrastructure,” Governing Government Technology, Public CIO Urbanisme and many other publications. Angeles, Aug. 18, 2013. 31. Rocky Mountain Institute, 13. Ryan Holeywell, “Villaraigosa Leaves Office www.rmi.org/Buildings and Emergency Management; and with Transportation Legacy,” Governing, 32. City of Phoenix, http://phoenix.gov/mayor/ through the work of the Governing Insti- Jack McGowan, CEM is President June 27, 2013. mayorwork/Sustainability/index.html 14. Ibid. 33. “Hartnell College and Chevron Energy tute and Center for Digital Government. of Energy Control Inc. (ECI), an Optera 15. Ibid. Solutions Build a Sustainable Future with Energy Company. He is a Senior 16. All information from Julia Burrows from Monterey County’s Newest Solar Energy interview conducted on Aug. 28, 2013. Project,” www.chevronenergy.com/news_ John Miri is the Editor-in-Chief for the Fellow with the Governing Institute 17. Wenqian Zhu, “Eight States Raise their room/default.asp?pr=pr_20130417.asp Center for Digital Government. As an and a Fellow with the Association of Gas Tax,” CNNMoney, July 2, 2013. 34. All information from Cisco DeVries from 18. Daniel Leaderman, “Maryland fuel tax hike interview conducted on Sept. 4, 2013. agency executive and governor’s appoin- Energy Engineers. McGowan is Chair- took effect Monday,” Gazette.net, June 28, 35. PACENow Market Dashboard, http://pace- tee, Miri led transformational projects that man Emeritus of the U.S. Department 2013. now.org/pace-market-data/ 19. Fredrick Kunkle and Laura Vozzella, “Virginia 36. Clean Energy Sacramento, https://ygrene.us/ reshaped hundreds of online services of Energy GridWise Architecture Council lawmakers approve sweeping transportation ca/sacramento/news and billions of dollars of revenue for the and was Founding Co-Chair of the plan,” The Washington Post, Feb. 23, 2013. 20. Ryan Holeywell, “Oregon to Charge Drivers state of Texas. Since then, he has become Department of Commerce, National by the Mile – Not the Gallon,” Governing, a nationally recognized speaker, author Institute of Standards and Technol- July 15, 2013. 21. Robert W. Poole, Jr., “Funding Important and close advisor to top officials through ogy; Building to Grid Working Group. Transportation Infrastructure in a Fiscally a unique approach that combines the McGowan is an author with 5 books Constrained Environment,” Reason Foundation, January 2013. enthusiastic embrace of new technology on Fairmont Press and Prentice Hall with a steadfast adherence to the found- and over 200 articles published. ing principles of representative govern- Dr. Mark Funkhouser, Director, Governing Institute ment. Miri graduated from Harvard Uni- Bob Graves, M.S., associate director of

Dr. Paul Taylor, Editor-at-Large, Governing versity with an honors degree in Physics. the Governing Institute, is the designated

Marina Leight, Associate Publisher, Infrastructure content curator for the FutureStructure

Jeana Bruce, Director of Custom Media Alex Marshall, a journalist and writer initiative and also a co-founder of

Rebecca Johnson, Editor of Custom Media for a quarter century, is author of the e.Republic, the parent organization

Kelly Martinelli, Chief Design Officer recent book, The Surprising Design of of Governing. As associate director,

Michelle Hamm, Creative Director Market Economies (University of Texas Graves writes, presents, moderates

2012), as well as How Cities Work: and provides advice on FutureStructure Suburbs, Sprawl and The Roads subjects drawing from his more than Not Taken (University of Texas 2000), 25 years of experience working with and Beneath the Metropolis: The Secret private sector companies, nonprofits, Lives of Cities (Carroll & Graf 2006). He and state and local governments. is a Senior Fellow at the urban planning The Governing Institute advances better government by focusing on improved The Center for Digital Government is a national outcomes through research, decision research and advisory institute on information support and executive education to help technology policies and best practices in state To learn more about FutureStructure or how to get public sector leaders govern more effectively. and local government. involved as an underwriter, contact Marina Leight, Associate www.governing.com/gov-institute www.centerdigitalgov.com Publisher, Infrastructure at [email protected].

Both are divisions of e.Republic. futurestructure.com 31 Have you experienced Autodesk lately?

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