Quit Ignoring Intermodal
Our Sears vacuum cleaner, made by Panasonic in Japan a decade ago, quit working recently.  Replacing the original "Made-in-Japan" relay with a part now made in Indonesia fixed the problem.  It's not just America that is outsourcing its manufacturing.  Manufacturing worldwide has morphed into production sharing where companies assemble and sell products made from subassemblies sourced around the world.  Your community's intermodal terminals (where trucks are loaded onto railroad flatcars) are the critical entry point into these global supply chains.
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Rail a Key Factor in Walkable Urban Places
A gap is developing between the two types of metropolitan areas in the trend toward walkable urbanism:  those benefiting from the trend and those unable to take advantage of the trend or out of position in some way, according to the Brookings Institution.  New York City and its area had the highest number of walkable urban places in the survey, most of which are neighborhoods in Manhattan.  But the Washington region, with 20 walkable places, outranked New York on certain measures, and the study indicates it could serve as a national model.

Washington's success with walkability is attributed to several factors, including the demographics of the local population.  The key factor, however, is the success of the 31-year-old Metro rail system that has transformed the region, shaping development and making the walkable urban model more viable.

But this is not just an issue for the largest cities, because walkable areas include the downtown present in your town as well.  And transit-oriented development doesn't have to mean you have a large subway system.  Orlando, Florida, Kansas City, Missouri, and Columbus, Ohio are also recognized in the study, none of which have any urban rail.  Call us to find out more about how trends in rail and transportation impact your downtown.