March 28, 2007
Matt Rosenberg
Welcome to Cascadia Prospectus, the group blog of the Cascadia Center. Here, our group of contributors - Cascadia staff and fellows - will aim for the sweet spot between vision, accountability and investment; providing news, commentary and insight on transportation, trade and technology. Our scope will be worldwide, but with a particular focus on the future of the vital and unique Cascadia region; the states of Washington and Oregon, and the Canadian province of British Columbia.
We'll seek to examine and illuminate best practices and the necessary long-term perspective on transportation planning, funding and governance. We'll also report and comment on regional economic development; energy and environment; the intersections of technology with trade and transportation; and urban planning.
A related part of our mission is to serve as an information clearinghouse. For your convenience, we'll be archiving our blog posts here under various sub-categories which are each easily accessed from a main page hub. We'll also be seeking to build out useful links to research; selected media and blogs; and agencies and institutions. We'll share here what we're learning as Cascadia continues to enagage expert researchers, and organize conferences, such as our May 7 symposium at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, "Jump Start To A Secure, Clean Energy Future."
Your voice is an important ingredient here. Please feel encouraged to add comments to the blog posts, after viewing our comment tips and policy. We also welcome feedback on the blog and story tips; please click on "E-Mail Editor."
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at 12:23 PM
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Matt Rosenberg
CASCADIA CENTER MISSION
The mission of the Discovery Institute's Cascadia Center For Regional Development is to support the development of a balanced, integrated, and expanded transportation system for people and goods in central Puget Sound and the greater Cascadia region of Washington, British Columbia, and Oregon. Such a system will ensure the region's ability to facilitate trade and tourism across a secure border and expand technology and infrastructure for global competitiveness in a manner that promotes livable communities. Since 1993, the work of the Cascadia Center has focused on the United States-Canadian border, the Interstate 5 (Highway 99 in Canada) corridor, and the adjacent Northwest Rail corridor, in addition to inland corridors comprised of Highways 97 and 395 from British Columbia to Oregon.
OUR METHODOLOGY IS STRAIGHTFOWARD AND SIMPLE
- Organize locally in neighborhoods and towns.
- Think long term: 50 years versus the traditional 20-year planning horizon.
- Plan regionally along transportation corridors that unite the Cascadia region, West Coast States, the United States, and Canada.
- Finance nationally and internationally for high-speed passenger rail, freight mobility, and technology projects that require innovative financing.
- Finance innovatively for urban redesign, reduced congestion and increased transportation options.
THE PROJECT OPERATES THROUGH
- Sponsorship and facilitation of regional and cross-border forums that address common challenges.
- Partnerships with federal, state, and regional transportation agencies to improve planning and promote innovative finance, governance, and design options.
- National advocacy for Amtrak reform and high speed passenger rail as well as TEA-21 reauthorization.
- International advocacy for U.S./Canadian border improvements; "Two-Nation Vacation" tourism initiatives and strategic security investments through the International Mobility and Trade Corridors Project (IMTC), CAN/AM Border Trade Alliance; and the development of a West Coast Corridor Coalition.
FUNDING
- The Cascadia Center receives funding from corporations, foundations and a variety of federal and state grants. In 2003, the Center received a major ten-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its work on regional transportation.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at 11:00 AM
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