Coalition for Livable Communities

Poplar Southern Railroad Corridor

Day after day thousands of people in Memphis and Shelby County adjust their lives and schedules to accommodate the trains that run along Poplar, Southern, Park, and Poplar Pike. The Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is holding a series of public meetings to discuss how the Norfolk Southern Railroad affects our communities. The limits of the study are from East Parkway to the easternmost MPO study limits in Fayette County–approximately 25 miles. The study area will be divided into four sub-areas, and there will be a meeting regarding each sub-area. People who live, work or frequently travel in the areas of interest are invited to attend.

The purpose of the Poplar Southern Corridor Study is to identify and analyze the major north/south arterial roadway crossings to determine the most logical and cost effective solutions for minimizing the negative impacts and maximizing the positive impacts of the railroad. 

“Currently about 35 to 40 trains travel that route every day” explains Paul Morris, MPO’s principal planner.  “We need to know how the public feels about our railroads. So if you are having significant transportation problems at certain railroad crossings this is your chance to tell the people who can do something about it.”

During these meetings the public will be asked to:

•         Identify the pros and cons of railroad crossings along the study route. 

•         Share how it affects their daily travel routine

•         Voice their opinion about how they would like railroad crossings improved to increase the ease of travel in the city and county.

 

The four public meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. and end by 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Sub-Area 1 from East Parkway to Cherry Road (South Memphis, The Beltline, Orange Mound, University of Memphis)

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Holiday Inn Hotel (University of Memphis)

3700 Central Ave    Memphis,TN 38111                       

Sub-Area 2 from Cherry Road to I-240 (East Memphis)

Thursday, June 25, 2009

White Station Church of Christ

1106 Colonial Rd    Memphis, TN 38117               

Sub-Area 3 from I-240 to the Germantown/Collierville City Limits

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Germantown City Hall

930 Germantown Rd.    Germantown, TN 38138

Sub-Area 4 from the Germantown/Collierville City Limits to the easternmost MPO study limits (Includes Piperton, TN and Rossville, TN)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Lucius E. & Elsie C. Burch, Jr. Library

501 Poplar View Pkwy    Collierville, TN 38017

Check for project updates, study area maps, meeting announcements and general project information at www.poplarsoutherncorridorstudy.com. For additional information, please contact Paul Morris at the Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization at (901) 379-7840.

USGBC Memphis' upcoming events

Interested in GREEN BUILDING? The Memphis chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) is hosting a bunch of upcoming educational events in Memphis to turn you into a green building expert on LEED standards! Here is the schedule:

Tour Doug Thorton's Office - the region's first LEED Gold certified project.

Where: 342 West Valley St, Hernando MS

When: June 16 5:30-7pm

Upcoming educational sessions that may also be of interest. There are sessions on LEED Project Costs and Returns July 31, LEED for General Contractors and Construction Managers July 31, and Green Building Operations and Maintenence Oct 23. Details and registration information can be found at www.greenbuild365.org.

Don't miss the next Green Drinks:

Come join other individuals interested in sustainable design and operations for networking and good cheer.

Where: CBRE Office, 2620 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Memphis 38118

When: June 11 6-8pm

The CBRE Memphis office was designed and built in 60 days and contains a host of environmentally friendly products and design elements.

REMINDER: Changing Directions - May 14 - RSVP Now!

In case you have not already, please RSVP for Changing Directions, a grassroots conversation about creating a vision for transportation in our communities.

The Coalition for Livable Communities is partnering with Transportation for America to gather community feedback in anticipation of the Re-authorization of the Transportation Bill. We need your input!

When: Thursday May 14, 5:30pm
Where: 1548 Poplar Avenue, 38104 Memphis Leadership Foundation building

**FREE**PLEASE RSVP** to Sarah at 725-8370 or sarah@livablememphis.org

Refreshments will be generously provided by the Chickasaw Group of the Sierra Club and Citizens for Transportation Reform.

See you there!

Stabilizing Our Neighborhoods - May 28

The Memphis Branch of the  Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis is hosting Stabilizing Our Neighborhoods - A Walk of Faith on May 28 to address faith-based community development. The faith-based community plays a vital role in strengthening our communities. Learn how national faith-based community developers are addressing the challenges of neighborhood stabilization.

Download a registration form or register online. Call 901-579-4102 for more information.

Wolf River Conservancy Brewery Tour

The first Wolf River Conservancy Meet-and-Greet will be a tour of the Ghost River Brewery.

When: Wednesday May 20 5pm-7pm (tour begins promptly at 5:30)
Where: Ghost River Brewery 827 S. Main Street (near Crump)

It is FREE, but reservations are appreciated. Call 452-6500 or email the WRC to RSVP.

The Ghost River Brewery generously supports the WRC by donating a portion of the proceeds of every barrel sold to help sustain our Wolf River land conservation and stewardship programs.

ULI hosts Decade of Lost Growth

On Thursday May 7th, Doug Poutasse, Executive Director of the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries, will share how we got here, where we stand, and what may come next at the ULI Memphis District's Decade of Lost Growth.

Green Drinks - May 14th

Just in case transportation visioning is not really your thing  . . . here is another option for Thursday May 14th. Better yet - do both! Contribute your ideas about the re-authorization of the Transportation Bill at our Changing Directions event and then head over to the Memphis Chapter of the USGBC's Green Drinks:

CLC partners with T4America to address upcoming Transportation Bill

Transportation For America is gearing up for Congress' upcoming re-authorization of the National Transportation Program by asking local partners - us - to host community conversations about what we want our new transportation system to look like.

Please join the CLC and T4America for Changing Direction; a neighborhood discussion about shaping the future of America's transportation system . . . neighbor to neighbor, town to town.

Let's create a vision for Memphis. Bring your ideas!

When: Thursday May 14, 5:30pm
Where: 1548 Poplar Avenue, 38104 Memphis Leadership Foundation building

**FREE**PLEASE RSVP** to Sarah at 725-8370 or sarah@livablememphis.org
Refreshments will be provided, of course!

Print a flyer and hang it up!

CommUnity at Snowden School

Celebrate and learn about Snowden School on May 9th. CommUnity includes a health fair, bouncers and face painting for kids, food, drawings for GREAT prizes, activities booths sponsored by neighborhood businesses and churches, and a tent for Snowden Alumni, music, and tours of the school.

Download CommUnity@Snowden Flyer here.

PIZZA WITH PLANNERS - The Unified Development Code - April 23

Please join us for our next session of Pizza With Planners: A Citizen's Guide to How Your City Works. This next session is on the Unified Development Code and how it will provide tools for neighborhoods to become more livable.

Please note that this (and future sessions) will be held at the Hooks Public Library.

RSVP to Sarah via email or phone 901-725-8370. See you there!