Roundabouts: A Study in Green

The purpose of this project was to provide insight on the subject of the implementation of roundabouts as an alternative to traditional intersections. Specifically, this project focuses primarily on intersection improvement projects performed by the City of Green, a municipality local to Akron, Ohio. The report discusses many of the considerations that contributed to roundabout conversion being established as the preferred improvement for the State Route 619-Pickle Rd and State Route 619-Myersville Rd intersections located within the City of Green, along with additional details pertaining to these two public projects (completed in 2018 and 2019 respectively). The intent of this research is that it be an instructive resource for developing a more comprehensive understanding of the thought processes associated with intersection improvement via roundabout conversion

U.S. Route 1: Catalyst of Maine Corridor Community Planning & Preservation

Highways are not generally thought of as historic resources or as particularly beautiful infrastructure. However, since the 1926 U. S. Numbered Highway System and the 1956 Interstate Highway System, highways have played a huge roll in the planning and preservation of our urban environment. These impacts are generally analyzed through the lens of interstate highways and large cities like Boston and Los Angeles, but what about how state highways affect mid-sized and smaller cities and towns? In order to tackle this underexplored relationship, this thesis looks at three small cities located within a 100-mile stretch of Route 1 in Maine. The central question is: will a close examination of the relationship of three towns (Bath, Belfast, and Ellsworth) to Route 1 reveal a pattern of planning and preservation? Further, what will this pattern look like and where else could it be found? Auxiliary questions include: is there a set of abstract rules of town center structure in relation to Route 1? What factors contributed to Route 1’s path and how has it changed? Did towns and counties have agency in Route 1’s placement? Have communities in close proximity to Route 1 had opportunities to influence the governance and impact of the highway? How have legislative and physical actions in connection to the highway directly affected town planning and development? To answer these questions, this thesis utilizes a mixed-method research design incorporating grounded theory, content analysis, documentary analysis, and critical visual analysis techniques. This thesis is not meant to prove definitively that highways always inspire planning and preservation action. However, it does show that highways can influence planning and preservation, and that this influence is often neglected in both planning and preservation literature, especially in regards to small- and mid-size cities and towns. This thesis demonstrates that highways should be considered historic infrastructure and can be integral in forming not only a municipality’s identity, but also its planning and preservation practices

Shared-Use Bus Priority Lanes On City Streets: Case Studies in Design and Management, MTI Report 11-10

This report examines the policies and strategies governing the design and, especially, operations of bus lanes in major congested urban centers. It focuses on bus lanes that operate in mixed traffic conditions; the study does not examine practices concerning bus priority lanes on urban highways or freeways. Four key questions addressed in the paper are: How do the many public agencies within any city region that share authority over different aspects of the bus lanes coordinate their work in designing, operating, and enforcing the lanes? What is the physical design of the lanes? What is the scope of the priority use granted to buses? When is bus priority in effect, and what other users may share the lanes during these times? How are the lanes enforced? To answer these questions, the study developed detailed cases on the bus lane development and management strategies in seven cities that currently have shared-use bus priority lanes: Los Angeles, London, New York City, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, and Sydney. Through the case studies, the paper examines the range of practices in use, thus providing planners and decision makers with an awareness of the wide variety of design and operational options available to them. In addition, the report highlights innovative practices that contribute to bus lanes’ success, where the research findings make this possible, such as mechanisms for integrating or jointly managing bus lane planning and operations across agencies

10 steps to a digital practice in the cloud : new levels of CPA firm workflow efficiency

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aicpa_guides/2718/thumbnail.jp

A Historic Waterfront Revitalisation Project in Tanjung Emas, Johor

This project addresses the importance of public open spaces in supporting the revitalisation of historic waterfront development along Tanjung Emas, Muar, Johor. At the domestic level, this place is popular as it attracts many visitors, particularly on weekends. Its location in the Royal Town of Bandar Maharani; thus, it plays an essential role in creating a catalyst for a sharp image of urban design elements. The distribution of many historical buildings such as Masjid Sultan Abu Bakar, Muar High School, and Muar District Court, reflecting the influence of colonial architecture adds to its colourful and vibrant image of an old town. Hence, the proposals which mainly cover the public open spaces along Tanjung Emas are expected to revitalise the image of Bandar Maharani. The projects involve mainly the uplifting the facilities of the children playground, provision of the water fountain, open theatre, pavilion, and floating café

Neo traditional boutique hotel

Tourism cities are facing massive emergence of new tourism enterprises that continuously catering the changing needs and lifestyles of tourists and local communities. Hospitality industry plays a major role in ‘branding’ tourism cities However, the current issue on overdevelopment of tourism accommodations with similar branding approach are causing many cities in the world losing their creativeness (Chang and Teo, 2008). The similar issue also occurred in Malaysia especially in Melaka city where thousands of hotels emerged around the cities without having creative branding style (Hall, 2000). Therefore, the need of themed boutique hotels is vital to attract local and international tourists to Melaka city. Consequently, a Neo Traditional Boutique Hotel was proposed which have not more than 10 rooms, maximum of 2-storey height with other supporting facilities. The Boutique hotel was proposed to be located at Jalan Klebang Besar near Bert’s garden restaurant

A Comparative Analysis of High-Speed Rail Station Development into Destination and Multi-Use Facilities: The Case of San Jose Diridon

As a burgeoning literature on high-speed rail development indicates, good station-area planning is a very important prerequisite for the eventual successful operation of a high-speed rail station; it can also trigger opportunities for economic development in the station area and the station-city. At the same time, “on the ground” experiences from international examples of high-speed rail stations can provide valuable lessons for the California high-speed rail system in general, and the San Jose Diridon station in particular. This study identifies and draws lessons from European HSR stations that share similarities across several criteria with the San Jose area context. From an initial consideration of twenty European HSR stations, the researchers chose five stations for in depth case studies: Euralille and Lyon Part Dieu in France, Rotterdam Centraal and Utrecht Centraal in the Netherlands, and Torino Porta Susa in Italy. Additionally, the study drew information from relevant local actors and stakeholders to better tailor recommendations to the particular California context.Through the undertaking of different research tasks–literature review, case studies of European railway stations, survey of existing station plans and other planning documents for the Diridon station, station area analysis, and interviews with station area planners and designers–the study compiles timely recommendations for the successful planning of the Diridon station and other stations along the California high-speed rail corridor