| OCR Text |
Show Minneapolis' initiatives in the areas of growth management, environmental stewardship and livability both draw from and reflect the personal priorities of the local residents and business leaders. Big initiatives today are not likely to succeed simply because they fall within the purview of a powerful government agency; they require broad public support. The feasible big initiatives presented in this paper have been selected because they are consistent with New Visions planning principles, which have enjoyed strong and growing support among Capital District communities. 4. Commitment to a major initiative is as much related to a subjective rationale as to objective analysis. This does not mean that a decision to reconstruct the Central Artery in Boston or a regional rail system in Raleigh-Durban is unfounded. Rather, it means that regions pursue major initiatives as much because they want to as because they believe the initiative is economically efficient in achieving results. The "look and feel" of the completed project; the desire to make a public statement of the region's priorities; the hope of lasting positive benefits are at least equal to calculations of user savings, transit ridership, emissions reductions or cost effectiveness in the decision process. The subjective rationale for the big ticket items in the Capital District is compelling. 5. Funding is achieved through a combination of local sources and state or federal funds - reflecting a willingness to pay. The funding paradox ("We can't plan something big because we don't have money and we can't get money because we haven't planned anything big") is resolved in successful initiatives by (1) securing local financial support for a popular initiative with public support by promising external funds to vastly subsidize the local cost; and (2) leveraging the local enthusiasm and local funding commitment to obtain external (state or federal) funds from discretionary pots. The question of the willingness to pay for big ticket items has an uncertain answer in the Capital District under existing conditions. Growth pressures brought about by the high growth scenarios may influence the public on this, especially if investments are viewed as tools to manage the growth and protect and enhance community quality. Further, higher growth scenarios may lead to increases in regional transportation revenues, for example, an increase in mortgages related to higher population growth will create more revenue for funding public transit; and higher population growth will result in increasing shares of federal funds. This type of funding increase would present opportunities that would influence the public's thinking. More concentrated development patterns with urban reinvestment would support premium transit service and reduce costs per vehicle mile traveled, creating opportunities for public support of increasing revenue. Finally, forecasts of future levels of State and federal funding are uncertain; but if those funding levels were to increase, the region would be well positioned to take advantage of those funds if a consensus has been developed about the types of big initiatives that should be pursued. The recent state investments and incentives for 18 |
