Public Transportation and Social Sustainability: Investigating the Use of Indicators to Evaluate Social Sustainability in Public Transportation Systems

59 pagesFor the last 30 years, countries across the world have grappled with how to advance people’s quality of life given increasing risks to daily life posed by a changing climate. Among our understanding of the drivers of climate change, the transportation sector in particular exists as a primary source of greenhouse gas emissions and must be reformed to achieve a sustainable society. In recent years, a renewed interest in promoting sustainable transportation has driven sizeable government expenditures, notably as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in the United States. Recognizing the urgency with which large sums of public funds are allocated toward transforming the U.S. transportation system, it is important to possess a means of evaluating if such investments produce the desired outcomes. This project examines one component of sustainability evaluation in the context of public transportation systems. Public transportation is an essential service for millions of individuals on a daily basis to access employment, education, healthcare, basic amenities, and social interactions. However, in striving to make transportation systems sustainable, policymakers and researchers alike often focus their attention on the environmental and economic aspects of sustainability. The social aspect of sustainability and how to evaluate it is much less researched. I examine the literature published about social sustainability and the proposed approaches to assessing it in public transportation systems. Using a mixed-methods approach, I employ a science mapping analysis to build a visualization of different indicators meant to measure characteristics of social sustainability within public transportation. From this map, I perform a content analysis to distinguish indicators that are clear in their prescribed measurement and analyze the structure of how indicators relate to themes. This analysis assesses how useful current evaluation methods for identifying social sustainability in systems are for today’s transit providers and researchers. Based on the analysis, I find that social sustainability is especially complex, compromised of over a dozen themes that each possess a number of associated indicators. Although some indicators prescribe a clear measurement, many others lack specificity in what the indicator measures or how to carry out that measurement and can vary in meaning based on the geographic scale selected for assessment. Furthermore, existing models evaluating social sustainability in transportation often fail to assess aspects of the transportation system that most affect vulnerable populations, including people living with disabilities. From these findings, I argue that a comprehensive review of existing indicators to provide clear measurements and develop new indicators to account for gaps in assessment of social sustainability is needed to give policymakers and researchers a functional tool for ensuring that sustainability plans address each of the major pillars: environmental, economic, and social. Ensuring balance between these priorities will ensure large investments to reform public transportation systems do not achieve sustainability through environmental and economic objectives at the expense of social outcomes

The University of Massachusetts Medical School Child Trauma Training Center (UMMS-CTTC) [English and Spanish versions]

A Spanish translation of this publication is available to download under Additional Files below. The UMMS Child Trauma Training Center mission is to improve the identification of trauma and increase trauma-sensitive care and access to evidence-based trauma-focused treatment for at-risk and underserved populations in Central and Western Massachusetts, including court-involved youth and military families, ages 6 to 18 years

Physical and Chemical Treatments for Bacterial Biofilms

Physical and chemical treatments have been investigated for the treatment to remove biofilms. This thesis examines the problem of the removal and prevention of biofilms by: (i) using a water jet to determine biofilm stability and (ii) testing the effect of β-phenylethylamine (PEA) on growth and biofilm amounts. Three dimensional structures of biofilms vary in different genetic backgrounds of E. coli, we wanted to see whether changes in structures were paralleled by differences in stability of the biofilm. The water jet apparatus was used to test biofilm stability of E. coli mutants. Alteration of the cell surface structures was detrimental to biofilm stability, while alterations in metabolism had less effect on stability. PEA (0 to 50 mg/mL) was applied to bacterial strains to see the effects on growth and biofilm amounts. PEA had an inhibitory effect on growth and biofilm amounts of some bacterial strains tested

Coming through : A novel

251 p. ; 22 cm

Planning For a Vibrant Future: Land Use and Economic Development in Troutdale

121 pagesUO graduate students collaborated in four research groups to propose amendments to the Goal 2 and 9 chapters of the city of Troutdale Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Students employed a variety of methods to inform their research, including: * Comparisons of Troutdale’s Comprehensive Plan to other relevant planning resources (e.g., Metro 2040 Regional Growth Framework) * Review of relavent case studies * Literature review of mixed-use zoning and economic development trends * Collecting and analyzing U.S. Census data * Drawing on local resources, including previous public outreach efforts and conversations with City planning staff The mixed-use research groups emphasized how a mixed-use zoning designation in the Town Center could help the City both develop the area commercially and accommodate housing needs. According to students’ research, approaching mixed-use zoning through the “fine-grained” approach can reduce the cost of land, increase the number of destinations along a street, and help diversify the local economy. The result can lower barriers of entry to investors and entrepreneurs, thereby cultivating a more resilient economy and vibrant community. Recognizing the needs of the Town Center districts, the second mixed- use group envisioned three new zones. Along Historic Columbia River Highway, a Downtown Mixed Use (MU-1) zone would emphasize commercial development, with residential uses complementing the area. Where the Halsey neighborhood and land along SW 257th Drive are located, a General Mixed Use (MU-2) zone prioritizes residential land use complemented with commercial uses. Students reasoned that these zoning designations can preserve the existing character of the downtown (the MU-1 zone) while meeting residents’ expectations for developing vacant land (foundations of the MU-2 zone). Lastly, an Urban Mixed Use (MU-3) zone would accommodate the unique opportunities afforded by the undeveloped Confluence Site adjacent to downtown. The two economic development groups drew on similar themes and identified the emerging trends communities are using to boost their local economies. Emphasizing the risks posed by climate change, each group recommended that Troutdale prioritize a commitment to creating “green collar jobs” in its local economy. Operating an energy-efficient and less wasteful economy can support residents’ quality of life in the decades to come. In addition, each group presented a unique approach for supporting an emerging micro-retail environment and taking advantage of Troutdale’s available industrial land. One approach emphasized “industrial clustering” or the effort to encourage related businesses in a supply chain to locate near each other. Highlighting the increasing need for data processing capacity, students outlined how Troutdale could leverage its competitive advantages in available industrial land and support emerging micro-retail businesses to take advantage of the benefits data centers provide a 21st century economy