Monthly Forum: Urban Planning Strategies that Work

The NYC metro area makes urban planning decisions, like congestion pricing, that we feel will improve the environment. Sometimes, however, the environment teaches us a lesson that drives urban planning practices in a completely different direction, like our Superstorm Sandy recovery response. This forum is designed to cover both ends of the spectrum. Our speakers will talk about recent transportation policy, such as congestion pricing, and theoretical ones, like free MTA bus fares. We’ll also discuss community resilience planning, including FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, the Hunters Point North Community Resiliency Plan, and the Clean Energy Master Plan that is in the works.

Date: May 21st, 2025

Time: 6:30PM (doors open at 6:15PM!)

Location: Hafele Showroom, 20 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

Doors open at 6:15 and refreshments will be served.

Speakers include:

Charles Komanoff, the “re-founder” of the bicycling-advocacy organization Transportation Alternatives and a spearhead of the anti-traffic-violence guerrilla group Right Of Way, was a mainstay of the campaign to bring congestion pricing to New York. State officials relied on his “Balanced Transportation Analyzer” Excel spreadsheet to frame the legislation authorizing congestion pricing that was enacted into law in 2019. His work includes books (Power Plant Cost Escalation, Killed By Automobile, The Bicycle Blueprint), scholarly articles and journalism. An honors graduate of Harvard and married parent of two grown sons, Charles lives in lower Manhattan. Web site: www.komanoff.net.

Andrew Buck, AICP, is an experienced professional with over a decade of experience providing planning and design expertise to public and private organizations. At VHB, Andrew is working across markets to provide planning and design, environmental, transportation planning, and land development services. His innovative approach includes integrating data, geospatial systems, and smart technology in the planning and design process. Andrew is an accredited professional by the American Planning Association and an active member of the organization’s National and New York Metro Chapters. He holds a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University.

Helen Chananie

Senior Policy Advisor, Resilience and Strategic Planning at NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice

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