Spring/Summer 2011
| Message from the President: ”Building Bridges” was the theme of the WTS Annual Conference in May. With so many modes of transportation available in the Bay Area, San Francisco was the ideal location for a multi-modal transportation conference. At the Annual Awards Banquet, Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, unveiled a joint USDOT/WTS Initiative to encourage more young women to enter the fields of science and engineering.Locally, under the direction of our Vice President Tracey Harty, we are working to build a mentoring program for K-12, Higher Education and Emerging Leaders within our Northern Utah Chapter. Kim Clark and Teri Newell are working on K-12, but Tracey needs committee members to help her develop our other areas. If you are interested in working with girls and young women on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities that help to build strong technical skills, please contact Tracey at 801-487-4800 or tharty@ppbh.com.
Congratulations to Teri Newell, Project Director, Mountain View Corridor, Utah Department of Transportation, who was recognized by Utah Business magazine as one of their 2011 “30 Women to Watch.” Teri was one of the founding members of our Northern Utah Chapter and is now working on mentoring opportunities for girls and young women. Teri is an innovator and leader at UDOT who is well respected in our transportation community. The Northern Utah Chapter has many opportunities for skill building and networking in the transportation industry. Over the next month, I am going to be calling individual members to thank them for their time and commitment to our Chapter, but to also offer a chance to serve. I’ll look forward to talking with you soon. Best, Helen |
Fall 2010
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members and Future Members:
It is a very exciting time to be in Utah. With the recent award of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Grant, the Salt Lake Valley will be front and center in the nation, with some of our finest minds collaborating to create a more sustainable community. The grant, awarded to the Consortium of Salt Lake County, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Envision Utah, University of Utah, UTA, and UDOT, will develop practical strategies and implementable solutions to benefit long-term quality of life. Transportation is key in this equation, and the WTS community of transportation planners and engineers will be in a supporting role to implement this long-term vision. To sharpen the tools as we move into this new paradigm, below is a list of recommended reading (by me…), to keep the brain moving.
The Rise of the Creative Class
What will make cities successful in the future? In this book, Richard Florida describes the ‘creative class’, and the ability of this class to make or break the success of the future city.
Growing Cooler
Make the link between our development and transportation choices, and the health of our planet by reading this academic approach to quantifying our actions.
The Atlantic – The Future of the City
My personal favorite, and a must read! The Atlantic Monthly has published a series of articles, some on-line, some published in their monthly magazine, about the future of the American City. Transportation is highlighted in several of these issues. Two particularly great articles I recommend for your reading list are: Car Talk addressing downtown parking (http://www.theatlantic.com/special-report/the-future-of-the-city/archive/2010/05/car-talk/56983/), and Here Comes the Neighborhood addressing the relationship between developers and transit (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/06/here-comes-the-neighborhood/8093/).
The 85% Solution
For those of you who attended the leadership seminar in May, 2010 you are familiar with the accountability approach taken by Linda Galindo. The book is an inspiring approach to being successful in your work environment.
A Whole New Mind
Right-brainers, with their compassion and creativity, will rule the next decade and beyond. Do you know what you are? This is forward-thinking book by Daniel Pink that will get you thinking about what work looks like in 10 years.
Asphalt Nation
One hundred years of automobile dominance – how did we get here? How can we change it? Though depressing at times, this is a good account of how our communities have been shaped by the car over time.
Robin Hutcheson, President, Northern Utah Chapter
FALL WORKSHOP: ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNITY LIVABILITY
The WTS Northern Utah Chapter held the Annual Fall Workshop on September 23, 2010. The workshop focused on Active Transportation and Community Livability. There was great attendance at the workshop this year. The morning key note speaker was Maged Senbel, Ph.D., School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia. Maged discussed “A strategy for compact urban development in Salt Lake City”. Maged believes that while the need for greater housing options is common to most cities, the path to compact, mixed-use, walkable communities varies radically from place to place. Maged provided a comparison of the planning practices in Salt Lake City with those of Vancouver. In Vancouver they have focused on developing “Complete Communities”. These communities are full of diverse housing options which include a variety of densities. There are also a variety of amenities within walking distance of the housing. One reason to focus on the development of compact communities is to increase air quality. Compact communities can help reduce the number of automobile trips made daily, which in turn leads to an increase in air quality.
Also during the morning session we had three panelists speak to the group about Active Transportation, Walkability and Economic Benefits. The first panelist was Brett Mclff, Physical Activity Coordinator for the Utah Department of Health. Brett spoke about the clear impact active transportation has on health and how the steps to promote it can make a significant difference in the health of a community.
The second panelist was Barbara Brown, Ph. D., Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah. Barbara spoke about how new urbanist community designs can support greater transit use, walking and community use and psychological bonds to neighborhood. Barbara discussed the study completed with elementary aged students, where walkable environments were shown to produce more measured physical activity. Barbara spoke specifically about the Daybreak Community in South Jordan, where in her test group; each of the elementary aged students monitored achieved their weekly exercise allotments by simply walking to and from school each day.
The third panelist was Brigham Mellor, Research Manager, Economic Development Corporation of Utah who discussed how active transportation supports community livability through affordable transportation options, improvement air quality, individual health and increased vibrancy of the community. Brigham indicated that community livability can benefit the local economy by attracting and retaining businesses.
The lunch keynote speaker was Reid Ewing, Ph.D., City and Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah. Dr. Ewing discussed the interaction among land use, transportation, energy consumption and climate changes. He reviewed recent research on the role of the built environment in promoting walking and transit use.
This was a successful and educating workshop. The past two fall workshops have been very informative. Make sure and watch for the workshop topic next fall.
- Lori Labrum, Communications Committee
SUMMER SOCIAL ONCE AGAIN A FAVORITE EVENT
Thirty-six WTS members and friends headed up City Creek Canyon Aug. 4 to enjoy an evening of great food and conversation, in spite of a little rain and wind. The social committee set up games like badminton, and added to the festivities with a drawing for prizes, including a gift certificate to Nordstrom.
“I loved being reminded about the place so close to SLC that still has beautiful scenery and sense of wildness,” said Lani Eggertsen-Goff, NEPA transportation lead at Jacobs. “I think we should do more WTS events outside!”
The folks at Majestic Grill cooked dinner on site, preparing steak, chicken and salmon, as well as delicious summer salads.
Summer 2010
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members and Future Members,
In May, my husband and I took a long trip to China. Our primary purpose for the trip was to visit a friend who moved to Shanghai and also to do a bicycle tour in south part of the country. For good measure, we added a few days in Tokyo on the way there and the obligatory visit to the nation’s capital in Beijing. It was in Beijing that I learned the most about transportation and urban planning in a rapidly modernizing country.
China is a few decades behind the United States in car ownership. Imagine the 1950s when car ownership became accessible for many Americans, and the interstate system boomed as a result. Now triple that population, double the spending power, and that is China. While there I read in a newspaper article that a successful dealership in Beijing sold 30,000 vehicles in the last month alone, primarily to upwardly mobile women with an unprecedented level of independence. The result of all these purchases: clogged arteries and freeways devoted to auto, and dense smog. In some instances, especially in Beijing, bikeways once used solely by bikes are now used as another general purpose lane and often are full of parked cars. Many roadways throughout the city of Beijing have been widened to the degree that pedestrians can no longer cross at-grade, resulting in a network of underground tunnels. This removal of pedestrians from the street ‘deadens’ the city, as the primary icon at street level is the auto.
In Shanghai, we wandered the new Pudong City, across the river from traditional Shanghai, which did not exist 10 years ago. Massive skyscrapers are served by wide streets and multi-lane traffic circles with the anticipation of even more car traffic. Traveling by bicycle throughout the city, we were both exhilarated and terrified at the same time as we traveled in a free-for-all of cars, motorbikes and bicycles. Bikes are still important in this city.
In the rural areas of China, the scene is much different. We traveled by bicycle through rice paddies, over picturesque green mountains and to small villages without the typical modernities found in Chinese cities. In these remote areas car mania has not yet taken hold, and farmers still value the water buffalo over the gasoline-powered machine. In the southern city of Yangshuo, chaos took on new meaning as we navigated our bikes through cars, trucks and motorbikes in any lane of choosing, in all directions of travel within a single lane.
My account would not be complete without providing the stark contrast of our time in Japan. Organized, tidy, efficient — these are the hallmarks of the Tokyo transportation system. We traveled the metro every day to reach all corners of the city. We gave ourselves the true Japanese experience of riding the Metro at morning rush hour, squeezing into hordes of men in black pin-stripe suits and being pushed into metro cars by the authorities on the platforms with white gloves. We walked with confidence through some of the largest intersections in the world, with the assurance that cars obey the signals (not true in China), and pedestrians have the right-of-way.
My visit to three of the world’s largest cities gave me new perspective on transportation planning in the United States:
1) We are in the process of coming full circle. We have recognized our auto dependence and are taking steps to rebalance the modes.
2) Though we may not be moving as fast as one would hope, we are improving our infrastructure for alternative modes. My time in China taught me that it can work in reverse, which is something I had not considered before.
3) We are cognizant of the effects of the auto, which is not where we were 50 years ago, and not where every nation is today.
For some excellent summer reading, I highly recommend the book The Concrete Dragon: China’s Urban Revolution and What it Means for the World. Julie Bjornstad gave me this book before I left. It will open your eyes to the China that awaits the world.
Robin Hutcheson, WTS Northern Utah Chapter President
On June 22, Eric McCulley of SWCA Environmental Consultants gave a guided, behind-the-scenes tour of the Legacy Parkway Preserve. It was a beautiful sunny morning for a stroll across the preserve to learn more about this unique program and to do a little bird watching. Several different types of birds were observed, pickle grass was sampled, and Eric, the site manager of the Preserve, provided lots of interesting information regarding the wetland mitigation program.I’m so glad I went to the WTS International Annual Conference held recently in Washington, D.C. As is typical, I looked forward to getting out of town but then worried about all that I would miss at home and at work. On the way to the hotel, another young women had the same lost look in her eyes as we wondered which way to turn coming out of the Metro station. A knowing smile and a similar relaxed professional style brought us together to walk the short distance to the hotel together–I knew I’d be comfortable in the midst of this crowd. It didn’t take long to embrace the atmosphere and engage in the conference.
Author Linda Galindo signs her book for WTS Northern Utah chapter members attending her lecture in May.
“I received great feedback on the event,” said WTS programs chair Laynee Jones. “Those who attended said they learned a lot from Linda on personal accountability and how to define success for yourself. Several attendees requested extra copies of her book.”
Admission to the lunchtime event included soup and salad, as well as a copy of Galindo’s newest book, “The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success—No Nonsense, No Excuses,” which she signed afterwards for those interested.
Author Linda Galindo signs her book for WTS Northern Utah chapter members attending her lecture in May.
For more information on Galindo’s accountability training for leaders, visit lindagalindo.com
We are growing, and we need your participation. We currently have openings on two committees.
This committee is responsible for nominating new board members and carrying out the annual chapter elections, under the direction of the Immediate Past President.
This committee is responsible for supporting the mission and objectives of the WTS Foundation (WTSF), under the direction of the Vice President. WTSF is the scholarship arm of the national organization and local chapter.Please let Robin Hutcheson know if you are interested in participating in either of these meaningful opportunities for chapter contributions. Contact Robin at 801.463.7600 or r.hutcheson@fehrandpeers.com.
Spring 2010
The Northern Utah Chapter put a call out to its membership — help us name our quarterly chapter newsletter. In addition to bragging rights, the member(s) who submitted the winning name would receive a Gastronomy gift card. Heather McLaughlin-Kolb and Lani Eggertson-Goff, both of Parsons Brinkerhoff, answered the call and teamed up to submit the winning name, as you may have noticed on this newsletter’s masthead. The new name: Impetus, meaning the force that makes something happen. Nearly two-dozen names were submitted in the contest that ran in early March.
Message from the President
Dear 
Members and Future Members,
At its 2009 Annual Conference in Seattle, the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) announced the creation of the WTS Foundation to build upon the success of its scholarship program and expand the opportunities to promote education, research and workforce development. At our annual Gala, the Board of Directors of the WTS Northern Utah Chapter announced its entry into the WTS International Foundation, which allows us to now raise money specifically for the purpose of providing scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in the transportation field.
WTS Foundation (WTSF) supports WTS in its endeavors to advance women in transportation through contributions that invest in scholarships to women seeking transportation-related graduate and undergraduate degrees. Additionally, the foundation provides and promotes educational opportunities and professional development for women in the transportation industry. WTSF also seeks to initiate, sponsor and publish research related to this mission. During its 15-year history, WTS Scholarship, the predecessor to the Foundation, raised more than $2 million and disbursed more than $900,000 in scholarship funds. We are proud to be able to offer this scholarship opportunity to the future transportation professionals in our community.
In the coming months we will be sharing more information about our scholarship programs. As always, we welcome your feedback.
Robin Hutcheson
WTS Northern Utah Chapter President
At its February retreat, the WTS Northern Utah Chapter Board of Directors voted to proceed with creation of a local scholarship fund to assist women studying in a transportation-related field, such as transportation engineering, planning, business management, finance or logistics.
The Board kicked off the fund with several directors writing checks that evening. The board of nine have all since made initial donations to establish the account.
- Rachel McQuillen writes the first check to start the Chapter scholarship fund.
“One of WTS’ primary goals is to financially support women seeking degrees in transportation-related careers,” said Helen Peters, chapter vice chair. “We’re looking forward to offering scholarships to students entering higher education or returning to school to build upon their skills.”
Donations to the fund are tax-deductible and do not support chapter events or operations. Payments go to the WTS Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, but will be given to locally through a competitive selection process.
The chapter is forming a scholarship committee to oversee the award process. For more information on contributing to the fund or participating on the scholarship committee, contact Helen Peters at (801) 307.3400 helen@interplanco.com.
Annual Gala Hailed a Success by Attendees
More than 100 attendees, including transportation industry leaders, chapter members and sponsors, came together on March 15, 2010, to celebrate the WTS Northern Utah Chapter’s annual gala and to celebrate the chapter’s successful first year. Thank you to attendees, sponsors, speakers, the chapter programming committee and everyone who came together to make the event happen. The event, held at Cucina Nassi in Salt Lake City, included a social hour and speeches by three transportation leaders.
James Corless, director of Transportation for America, headlined the event. Corless spoke on the future of transportation in the United States, and what efforts must be made now to ensure continued investment in our infrastructure and growth into other viable transportation options.
Ralph Jackson, deputy chief, major program development from the Utah Transit Authority, and Carlos Braceras, deputy executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation, both spoke on transportation projects in the works — both in the study and construction phases — throughout Utah.
“The turnout for the event was phenomenal, and the program provided attendees with information on relevant, timely topics,” said Chapter President Robin Hutcheson. “The gala was a wonderful opportunity to share with our members the momentum we have going into 2010, which is guaranteed to be just as or even more successful than our inaugural year.”
Another highlight of the evening was the announcement of continuing and new sponsors — the 2010 sponsor roster is filled with more sponsors than ever. More than $20,000 was committed to the chapter, which will go to fund events, educational programs and other chapter endeavors throughout the year.
The Chapter also announced upcoming events, including a leadership skills seminar in May, a summer social in July, a “Publics and Your Project” event in September, and a legislative update in November. Information on these events will be posted closer to the event dates. Visit the chapter Web site, http://www.WTSUtah.org, for up-to-date event information.
Photos from the event can be viewed here.
In the afternoon on February 25, the WTS Northern Utah Chapter met at the UTA FrontRunner Headquarters andshuttled over to the Warm Springs Facility to get an insider’s view of commuter rail maintenance and operationsfacility. Read more > View tour photos >
The latest solicitation for 2010 sponsorship of the WTS Northern Utah Chapter resulted in a major outpouring of support for the chapter’s efforts. More than $20,000 was committed to assist in the chapter’s ambition to deliver diverse programming, valuable networking opportunities and collaborative dialogue focused on transportation in Utah.
“We were pleased with the founding sponsorship support last year and are very excited about the turnout this year,” said Georgia Sullivan, WTS Northern Utah sponsorship director.
Twenty-four corporations committed to cash donations this year, an increase of six sponsors over last year with nearly all founding partners renewing their memberships.
“Obviously, companies see the value of our mission and the success of our first year’s programs,” said Sullivan. “Our goal this year is to provide even more opportunities for networking and discussion.”
In February, WTS Northern Utah Chapter membership director Mardi Pearson distributed a survey to the chapter to learn how members feel about the local organization. When asked “Would you recommend WTS to a friend or associate?,” 100 percent of the 54 respondents replied with “Yes.”
“I’m certainly thrilled to see this kind of endorsement for our group,” said Pearson. “And all of the feedback in the survey is being looked at by the Board so we can make adjustments in pricing and programming.”
Members also overwhelmingly—more than 90 percent— listed “networking opportunities” as the number one reason for joining the group. They cited professional development (83%), discussion forums (82%) and social events (64%) as their top interests in the WTS.
Past newsletter links:
WTS Northern Utah January 2010 Newsletter
WTS Northern Utah May 2009 Newsletter
| Last edited by traceyharty on September 27, 2010 at 3:39 pm |
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