PODCAR CITIES TURN TO THE AIRFRONT
The 8th Podcar City conference will be September
3-5 where breakthroughs in airport district planning are being made around
Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport and adjacent suburbs: Sigtuna and Upplands Vasby.
Private developers and municipal officials want world-class,
sustainable development. With the Institute of Sustainable Transportation, they
are detailing out PRT as a brilliant way of achieving that. There have been
uncoordinated studies in the past. This is now all coming together, this time
under the leadership of Magnus Hunhammar. Sweden is breaking new ground.
In the US, airport officials seldom collaborate with the
cities and towns, suburban incorporated and not, especially when complaints
about noise, fumes and traffic are so common. In Sweden, civic discussions are
generally lively and informed, based on deep Scandinavian traditions of
environmental stewardship, love of nature and appreciation of excellence in
design.
PCC7 in Arlington VA last fall centerted on national policies
and politics. This fall PCC8 will deal largely with Arlanda issues, comparing
them to other airports where airfront PRT has been or is being explored and
taking the discussion a big Swedish step forward, A podcar station mockup
visible from the airport’s main entrance, is already starting a lively
conversation.
