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Our Urban Future in a Competitive and Changing Global Environment: Reflections on Sustainable Endeavors in 

Helsinki (IFME Conference – APWA Global Solutions)

Vienna (EURA2012 Conference)Prague Budapest 

Pittsburgh (ITE Conference) Orlando

Bill Burns Ph.D., P.E., AICP

APWA Global Initiatives

Helsinki IFME Conference (APWA Global Initiatives)Vienna EURA 2012 Conference s June 2012

Finland: What came to my mind

Lasse Viren: One of Finland’s greatest Olympic athletes

Statue in front of Olympic Gymnasium Memories of the 1972 Munich Olympics

1952 Olympics

Passport in pouch ‐ hopped on Lufthansa ‐ arrived in Helsinki!

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Helsinki Rail Line ConstructionHelsinki Market

Helsinki

Helsinki Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Exclusive and Separated

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Helsinki UndergroundMaster Plan

Helsinki 2030Helsinki 2013

Helsinki 2030 Helsinki 2030 Helsinki Bicycle Viaduct from New Harbor Development

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APWA Reporter Article September 2012

APWA advocates policies that:create livable communities and 

economic growth on behalf of all levels of government. 

APWA’s public policy objectives are guided by these principles: 

• Support for adequate investment in public infrastructure.

•Respect for local authority.

•Reasonable regulations and protection from unfunded mandates.

•Support for streamlining government oversight.

•Support for sustainability and environmental stewardship.

APWA Advocates Policy Priorities

• Surface Transportation 

• Sustainability, Environmental Protection and Public Health 

• Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure Funding• Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure Funding 

• Comprehensive Stormwater Management and Funding 

• Emergency Management 

Six Priorities to Guide Congress as they develop their next transportation bill

• Establish Accountability for Responsible Investment

• Invest to Compete in the 21st Century

• Invest for Multiple Payoffs in Solving Our Energy, Air Quality, and Climate Challenges

• Reward and Support Smart Local Land Use Planning

• Invest for Public Health and Safety

• Find New Ways to Pay for What We Need

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EURA 2012 ConferenceVienna University of Technology

European Urban Researchers Association EURA 2012 conference Vienna, Austria

“sea of change..” demographic, urbanization, technology, transportation, energy challenge, appropriate regional governance

Livable CityConnected CityEntrepreneurial City 

Global ForcesPopulation growth(Developing v. Developedcountries)

Urbanization trends

Preferences/Cultural shifts

Financial constraints

Envision™ Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System

A joint collaboration between: 

Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design&  Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure

• Quality of Life

• Leadership

R• Resource

• Natural World

• Climate And Risk

World PopulationHabitation Change

World Population Concentration / Fertilization Rates / Developing v. Developed Countries World Economic Concentration

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World PopulationGeographic Change

U.S. Mega Regions: + 3.3 M people/yr (births-deaths = 1.6M + 1.7 M immigration) U.S. Fertility Rate 2.03, greater than all other developed nations

European Mega Regions Globalization / Technology / What is your City / World competition for Creative Talent

Asian Mega Regions / Rate of Urbanization in Developing Countries v. Developed Industrialized Countries

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Vienna to Prague Rail& Prague Tram

Prague to Vienna

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Paha (Prague) Rail Station

Prague

Budapest

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Prague and BudapestManhole Covers

Helsinki and BudapestClocks

Wind Energy ProductionVienna to Bratislava

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Orlando Venues: Creative Village, Citrus Bowl, Church Street, Amway Center Area & Orlando Performing Arts District

Orlando Creative Village

City of OrlandoFire Station One(downtown Orlando)

Bill Burns, City of Orlando

Proposed Vertical Mixed Use Downtown FireStation  (60K SF Public)+ Class A OfficeSpace(150K SF Private)

GreenRoof andSolarThermal

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GreenRoof

Exfiltration System:48” CMP

Green Roof reduced system as impervious areareduced

Larger Building Footprint enabled  due to footing design 

My Region.org - Estimated development patterns 2050

Model of Growth – Traditional Neighborhood Design with Transit Connections v. Status Quoof Suburban Sprawl on Greenfields

Less sprawl = Less Greenfield impacts / more Sustainable (transportation, energy, economic production, …)

John Nolen – Preeminent American PlannerGarden City

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Conceptual Three Construct Study Model

The Policies and Planning of Healthy CommunitiesHealthy Community Ethos‘sAn Examination of the Presumed Relationships between 

Land Use Mix (using Walk Score metric),

Neighborhood Outdoor Public Realm Engagement (Walking and Cycling)

Neighborhood Social Capital

(using Respondent data from Internet Questionnaire)

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Stockholm, Sweden Organization

Avalon Park, Orlando, FloridaThoughtful or Thoughtless Bicycle Facility Design?

Bike Lanes / Two lane posted speed 25mph / Thoughtful?

Bruges, Belgium

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Budapest

HelsinkiVienna, Austria

Vienna, AustriaVienna, Austria

Brussels

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BrusselsThank You!