Nashua Regional Planning Commission’s Post

Over €16.7M for roads, cycleways and greenways in Cavan

Over €16.7M for roads, cycleways and greenways in Cavan

How can cities and towns accelerate locally driven housing solutions? National League of Cities and the American Planning Association have released a new resource designed to support communities in navigating their housing supply challenges. Read: Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook - National League of Cities (nlc.org)

The ShapingSEQ 2023 Update presents a renewed vision for South East Queensland’s future, championing urban development alongside critical infrastructure projects. With implications for landowners, developers, local governments, and the community alike we summarise what you need to know in this short guide: https://lnkd.in/gHuZXWYA

Interestingly on East-West Rail there's a discussion group/similar facilitated in early February and we have not even been invited. Our focus is Bedford-East Coast Main Line (ECML) at Tempsford. We want East of Bedford via St John's believing it not to be a panacea, but a least costly, most flat landed and simple to reinstate a railway tahn Northern Route E or avoiding Bedford altogether at Wixams for example. If you support our stance, please either join BRTA https://lnkd.in/d7ARn7y  or encourage supporters to join our free email loop via richard.erta@gmail.com We are in transition from ERTA to BRTA but some technical aspects are to take longer than simple name changes, so please bear with us and do not get confused. Our public transport is under attack and in some disarray and things can either spiral up positively or spiral down to closure or irrelevance. It is a value-priority choice. There is no money, yet HS2 goes on guzzling public money and £27 billion new roads budget was found whereas (environmental alarm bells!) the Rail Reopenings Fund was set at a mere £500 million, is that fair or what the country needs (land take)? Everyone has cars, but we do need more choice. Take A428/A1 Black Cat-Caxton Cambridge dualling for example... where will the traffic go on reaching urban interfaces which are congested a lot of the time? Town and City Centres like Bedford and Cambridge lack the capacity of road space, being a built environment, to cater for the inevitable increases in traffic the wider road-space will engender. So without a rail alternative, it will be pollution and mayhem and that has a cost to it. I wish the council was working closer with me as an observer-advisor who has been on East-West Rail since 1986! Oxford-Milton Keynes is reaching end game, Bedford-Cambridge needs sorting to continue the works necessary to get it done in a timely manner. I feel some works could be combined with other rails upgrades as per the 4-tracking at Addenbrookes/Cambridge South Station which East-West Rail services are due to call en-route to Cambridge City and onwards to Norwich and Ipswich respectively and vice versa. That is why to benefit, it must call at Bedford urban interface, not orbit the town. Reversal at Bedford Midland with a single through track for more freight from east-north and vice versa and west-north as well, is also needed. Can it be done on existing tracks? That is the question. Can a Northampton-Bedford Thameslink (new-build) arm be done with existing tracks too? That is what should also be being studied alongside new stations north of Bedford beit Oakley, Sharnbrook and a new all stations service Watford-Bedford semi-fast and Bedford-Leicester/Corby all under the wires. #rail #railways #transport #infrastructure #trains #stations #lines #dft #networkrail #government #bedford #environment #publictransport

Thanks GHD, Maurice and Brad for hosting a really good event, and to the Panel members for asking important questions about ACT New Zealand policy. We agreed that a change of government shouldn't mean a rupture in the pipeline of work. So what are we to do about it? ACT has plans to embed 30yr local and regional infrastructure plans which cannot be undone by future governments. A switch from fuel tax/ RUCs to electronic road pricing means that revenue can be allocated to the regions which have measured the highest need for maintenance and growth, instead of hoping that Waka Kotahi and the Minister agree with regional priorities. Half the revenue collected from 15% GST on building and construction should be returned to the council which signed off the consents, to provide cashflow for further borrowing to fund 3 waters and other infrastructure. Plenty more at https://lnkd.in/gj_PZ4qX and https://lnkd.in/gcMNkKK5

Public engagement in transportation projects has continuously evolved and is vital to ensuring that projects meet their goals and benefit everyone. Chhavi Dhingra, Senior Public Engagement Manager, discusses the importance of public engagement involvement and how WSB can support your community. https://lnkd.in/gC-SSRik

“You’ve got it bad” for W.e Are Planning. These are our “confessions”! We are a SAM/CAGE registered identity, DBE, SBE, women owned company. W.e.’s “(My) way” is strategic consulting for community infrastructure. Our current projects include: -multi purposing a storm canal project as a funding strategy, -biosolids composting facility compliance, communication, and business development plan, - grant planning for an airport, - multi - use trail planning/grants, - material logistics, -rail siding for private industry, - public policy planning, - and one pilot state program for public works and utility that includes TDM analysis with ROW exchange W.e’s “been there… done it” in the industry for 20 years (same as Confessions) We are always pushing the limits to keep projects moving forward…

The Shrewsbury North West Relief Road has been given the go-ahead at yesterday’s planning committee. The NWRR will provide a huge boost for Shropshire’s economy, making Shropshire businesses more accessible. It is key piece of national and regional transport infrastructure, completes a ring around Shrewsbury that’s been unfinished for 30 years, while also supporting a key international road link with Ireland.  By reducing traffic in Shrewsbury town centre it will also help improve air quality. Other environmental benefits include reduced journey times, fewer jams on the A5 around Shrewsbury, alongside the creation of a new network of cycle routes and footpath  We believe it will free up road space and take traffic out of Shrewsbury town centre and encourage people out of their cars to walk and cycle in the town, making this a much more attractive place for residents, businesses and visitors. It will also improve safety in many Shropshire villages currently blighted by traffic rat runs trying to bypass the long loop around Shrewsbury created by the incomplete ring road. It is estimated that 85% of aggregates used in schemes such as this come from Shropshire. Once construction begins, it means that not only will we use local materials, we will also use local people to build it, creating employment and investing in people skills.  Find out more: https://orlo.uk/v9ugC

Interesting options for urban mobility....