Reports and Publications

The South Florida Community Satisfaction Survey Creating Resilient Transportation Systems
March, 2022

In five neighborhoods in Palm Beach County, a survey asked whether residents were satisfied with their housing, neighborhood, and the broader region, which factors contribute to their quality of life, and whether urban form, proximity to amenities, and demographic factors influence the differences in quality of life and neighborhood satisfaction. The research results may help public policymakers and urban planners formulate the best strategies to enhance the quality of life for the residents.

Read the Report

 

 

Creating Resilient Transportation Systems Creating Resilient Transportation Systems
February 18, 2022

Creating Resilient Transportation Systems: Policy, Planning and Implementation demonstrates how the transportation sector is a leading producer of carbon emissions that result in climate change and extreme weather disruptions and disasters. In the book, Renne, Wolshon, Murray-Tuite, Pande and Kim demonstrate how to minimize the transportation impacts associated with these urban disasters, with an ultimate goal of returning them to at least status quo in the shortest feasible time. 

Preview Chapter 1 Here | Full Book

 

 

Adaptation Urbanism and Resilient Communities adaption urbanism
May 2021

Transforming Streets to Address Climate Change by Billy Fields and John Renne will be released by Taylor & Francis  and is now available for pre-order .The book outlines adaptation urbanism as a theoretical framework for evaluating resilience projects in cities and relates it to pressing contemporary policy issues associated with urban climate change mitigation and adaptation. Preview Chapter 1 here.

 

 

Hawaii Visualizing SLR Report hawaii
December 2020

Transportation planners in coastal communities are increasingly considering future hazards and risks of sea-level rise (SLR), which are communicated in public meetings via PowerPoint presentations with charts as well as two-dimensional (2D) maps that visualize information using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies. This research explores which immersive technologies (ie. augmented reality and virtual reality) can be deployed in the public to engage with community members regarding long-range transportation planning considerations. Read more.

 


sea level rise
South Florida and Sea Level Rise Report
June 2020

We explore the twin challenges of climate change threats (ie. SLR) and South Florida’s prospects for establishing formal institutions capable of dealing with these threats (regional planning/governing bodies). Read report.

 


COVID-19: Disaster Readiness and Resilience  of Older Adults in Southeast Florida
COVID-19: Disaster Readiness and Resilience of Older Adults in Southeast Florida
2019 - 2020

Abacoa Research funded by the MacArthur Foundation. Research by Alka Sapat, PhD, School of Public Administration; Diana Mitsova, PhD, School of Urban and Regional Planning; and Hailey Vaughn, Graduate Student, School of Urban and Regional Planning led to the report on COVID-19: Disaster Readiness and Resilience. The project focuses on levels of disaster readiness and resilience among elderly residents in Southeast Florida and an analysis of the factors that affect these levels, including demographic and neighborhood characteristics. Read report.

 

m Visualizing Sea-Level Impacts for Transportation Planning
December 2019

Local leaders have historically communicated sea-level rise to communities by presenting two-dimensional maps, charts and photos; however, three-dimensional, immersive technologies offer new ways to convey complex concepts related to urban planning. Using a quasi-experimental design, the FAU team measured the degree to which virtual reality (VR) technologies improve (or impede) constituents’ absorption of information regarding sea-level rise risks in their communities. The project has the potential to significantly impact how sea-level rise risk information is communicated to the public in coastal areas such as Fort Lauderdale, Florida and elsewhere.  Read More.

 

Mobility to Accessibility From Mobility to Accessibility: Transforming Urban Transportation and Land-Use Planning

November 15, 2019

In From Mobility to Accessibility, an expert team of researchers flips the tables on the standard models for evaluating regional transportation performance. Jonathan Levine, Joe Grengs, and Louis A. Merlin argue for an "accessibility shift" whereby transportation planning, and the transportation dimensions of land-use planning, would be based on people's ability to reach destinations, rather than on their ability to travel fast. Preview Chapter 1 here.

 

 

business SFTOD: Potential for Infill Development along the Tri-Rail Coastal Link Corridor  June 2019

Business Plan for a South Florida Transit-Oriented Development Fund:  Potential for Infill Development along the Tri-Rail Coastal Link Corridor - As part of a study on South Florida Transit-Oriented Development (SFTOD), CUES prepared two reports for the South Florida Regional Planning Council in partnership with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (operating Tri-Rail). For more information, please  contact Dr. John Renne . Read More.

 

w SFTOD: Evaluation of Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in Potential Tri-Rail Coastal Link Station Areas  June 2019

South Florida Transit-Oriented Development:
Evaluation of Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in Potential Tri-Rail Coastal Link Station Areas - As part of a study on South Florida Transit-Oriented Development (SFTOD), CUES prepared two reports for the South Florida Regional Planning Council in partnership with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (operating Tri-Rail). For more information, please  contact Dr. Fred Bloetscher . Read More.

 

 

cities The opportunities and tensions of historic preservation and transit oriented development (TOD)  Cities 2019

The article examines two research questions concerning historic preservation and TOD. First, what are the opportunities for and challenges to developing TODs in historic areas? Second, what tools have been useful to preservationists, planners, developers, and communities for preserving historic buildings in TOD locations? Includes case studies in six communities nationally. (Article link broken:   https://www.sciencedirect.com/user/error/ATP-2?pii=S0264275117315068)

 

 

Geospatial Applications for Climate Adaptation Planning Geospatial Applications for Climate Adaptation Planning
December 13, 2018

Geospatial Applications for Climate Adaptation Planning presents an overview of the range of strategies, tools, and techniques that must be used to assess myriad overlapping vulnerabilities and to formulate appropriate climate-relevant solutions at multiple scales and in varying contexts. Organized into four sections, the book includes 15 chapters. Each chapter is grounded in the literature and presents case studies designed by the authors, as well as many examples from a diverse international group of scholars and entities in the public and private sectors. Preview Chapter 1 here.

 

protec Risk and Economic Development in the Provision of Public Infrastructure  Journal of Environmental Protection  2018

In established or stable communities, the replacement of existing infrastructure, where it is no longer economical to operate, is deteriorated to a point where replacement is more cost effective than repairs due to wear, neglect or environmental conditions, or where the infrastructure no longer serves its intended purpose or meets regulatory standards, must be pursued. As a result, many established utilities have capital plans that contain many such replacement projects. The question is how much investment should be made.  Read the article.

 

 

policing Policing and Society  An International Journal of Research and Policy  2018

Despondent officer narratives and the ‘post- Ferguson’ effect: exploring law enforcement perspectives and strategies in a southern American state. Read More.

 

 

 

 

transpo Transport Policy -  Accessibility analysis for transportation projects and plans  2018

From the perspective of speed, these roadway investments are working; but from the perspective of how many useful destinations can be reached, this study of San Antonio finds that typical radial highway investments may not offer any net benefits. Read More.

 

 

 

 

infill Influence of Infill Development on Travel Behavior  2018

This study examines the influence of a large-scale, infill development, Atlantic Station, which opened in 2005 just west of Midtown Atlanta. The study uses propensity scores and differences-in-differences research designs to identify how travel patterns changed for new residents and for existing residents of the area around Atlantic Station. Read More.

 

 

 

research Research in Transportation Economics  Editorial  2018

As cities continue to grapple with the expansion of rail systems, finding alternative methods such as value capture and private sources for rail, economic development and the location of firms and households, and the impacts of infill development, these papers provide scholars, public and private sector professionals with evidence to guide practice and future research. Read More.

 

 

 

 

wpb The State of Downtown West Palm Beach 2018

With research by CUES director and associate professor Dr. John L. Renne and graduate research assistant Amanda Kerns, this report examines population characteristics, provides a market analysis, walkability and placemaking ratings, and a comparison of Downtown West Palm Beach to 46 other downtowns across the United States. Read More.


 

 

abacoa Abacoa Spring Training Survey Report  2017

In March 2017, the Abacoa Partnership for Community (APC), with assistance from the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions, conducted an intercept survey of people in Downtown Abacoa before and after spring training games. The goal of the survey was to determine more about attendees of spring training baseball games, their impact on the local economy, and their opinions. Read More.

 

 

 

martrec2 Transit-Oriented Development and Ports:  National Analysis across the United States and a Case Study of New Orleans
2017

Planning for freight and passenger transportation systems has largely been uncoordinated, and integrating TOD into the mix makes the process even more complex, but it is vital. The study examines the extent that freight and passenger transportation planning overlap within the context of transit-oriented developments (TODs) near ports. This study also includes a case study of New Orleans. Read More.

 

 

evac Evacuation Preparedness Poster  presented at Florida APA Annual Conference - September 2017

Historically, vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by ineffective evacuation planning. The Evacuation Preparedness Rating System includes five dimensions to assess the evacuation plans of the 50 largest US cities. View Poster.

 

 

trip Palm Beach County Internal Trip Capture Study  For Mixed Use Developments  2017

Accurately estimating the proportion of trips captured internally by MXDs is vitally important if communities are to accurately assess their traffic impacts and “reward” such projects through lower exactions and development fees or expedited project approvals. Read More.

 

 

 

 

 

public Journal of Public Transportation  Comparing Automated Shared Taxis and Conventional Bus Transit for a Small City  2017

This study compared two hypothetical automated vehicle transit scenarios with the current bus transit system for serving the transit passengers of Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a typical fall weekday in 2013. Read More.

 

 

 

 

fau The FAU Incubator for Sustainable & Resilient Communities
Final Report  July 2017

The FAU Incubator for Sustainable & Resilient Communities is a community engagement activity designed to foster coastal resilience and livable communities in South Florida.  The cities of Hollywood and West Palm Beach participated in the inaugural FAU Incubator on April 25-26, 2017. Read More.

 

 

 

housing Housing Policy Debate  Make Rail (and Transit-Oriented Development) Great Again  April 2017

This article examines the experiment of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, and lessons from Australia, London, Denver (Colorado), and Florida aimed at fostering new models of private financing of rail infrastructure, which include transit-oriented development (TOD).  Make Rail (and Transit-Oriented Development) Great Again

 



 

land Research in Transportation Economics  - Transportation & Land Development: A Global View  December 2016

The production of this issue of Research in Transportation Economics  was a partnership with the Transportation Research Board  (TRB) of the National Academies' Standing Committee on Transportation and Land Development (ADD30). The articles are global in scope and include studies from Canada, China, Peru, Thailand and  the United States.  Read More. And Read: Transit commuting, the network accessibility effect, and the built environment in station areas across the United States

 

transport Transport Policy -  Project-level accessibility analysis for land-use planning  September 2016

This article proposes an elasticity-based metric of accessibility that can enable project-level evaluation of land-development projects as an accessibility-based alternative to traffic-impact analysis. Read More.

 

 

 

 

 

Housing Housing Policy Debate  - Special Issue: Location Affordability
2016

Background, Outline, Emerging Themes, and  Implications for Housing and Transportation Policy  Read the editorial The Cost and Affordability Paradox of Transit-  Oriented Development: A Comparison of Housing  and Transportation Costs Across Transit-Oriented  Development, Hybrid and Transit-Adjacent  Development Station Typologies. Read More.

 



 

eco Socio-Economic Community Profile  for Abacoa, Florida
2016

This analysis examines specific demographic, transit, and economic data in order to gain insight to the current socio-economic characteristics of Abacoa residents. Read More.

 

 

 

 

 

euro European Financial Review article by John Renne
August 2016

Changing Preferences for Transportation and Transit-Oriented Communities Signal a Gradual Move to a Post-Oil Based Society. Read More.

 



 

abacoa-jupiter Abacoa (Jupiter, FL)   Florida Green Building Coalition -  Land Development Certification Report  2013

Located in Jupiter, Florida, Abacoa is a 2,055-acre master planned, mixed-use community based on the concepts and principles of Traditional Neighborhood Development.
FAU professors and graduate students worked closely with the Abacoa Partnership for Community (APC) to apply for certification from the Florida Green Building Coalition.  Read More.

 

 

 

geog Journal of Transport Geography  Book Review of "Rail and the City: Shrinking Our Carbon Footprint While Reimagining Urban Space" 2014

The writing of this book is accessible and examples are useful to any  students, local communities or sponsors of projects. Read Book Review.

 

 

 

 

house Housing Policy Debate  How Affordable is HUD Affordable Housing?  2016

This article assesses the affordability of U.S. Department of Housing and  Urban Development (HUD) rental assistance properties from the perspective  of transportation costs. Read More.

 

 

 

 

 

historic Guide to Facilitate Historic Preservation through TOD
2016

This guidebook aims to help you better understand the TOD–historic  preservation interaction. It also aims to help you understand the tensions and opportunities of this interaction, and provides tools to coordinate both. Read Guide.