Project Proposal: Addressing Alberta's Housing Crisis Through the "Connecting Communities" Initiative
Project scope
Categories
Data analysis Investment Talent recruitment Environmental sustainability Workplace health/wellnessSkills
stakeholder engagement communication presentations sustainable development strategic planning impact assessment influencing skills political sciences policy development environmental impact assessmentsThe "Connecting Communities" initiative by Alberta Regional Rail (ARR) and Integrated Travel & Rail Development (ITRD) presents a unique opportunity to tackle Alberta's housing crisis. This project aims to assess and enhance the socio-economic impact of rail network expansion, focusing on community revitalization, housing affordability, and sustainable development along the Calgary-Edmonton corridor.
Objective:
To explore how the expansion of regional rail services can contribute to resolving Alberta's housing crisis, particularly in underserved areas, and how it can foster balanced regional development.
Scope:
● Community Impact Assessment: Evaluate the potential social benefits of rail expansion, including improved community connectivity and job creation.
● Housing Affordability Analysis: Examine how enhanced rail connectivity could influence housing development and affordability in communities along the corridor.
● Economic Stimulation Study: Analyze the economic implications of rail expansion, including ROI, job creation, and local economic growth.
● Policy Framework Development: Formulate policy recommendations to support equitable rail service expansion with a focus on housing and community development.
● "Rail for All" Strategy Integration: Ensure the project aligns with ARR and ITRD’s "Rail for All" pillars, emphasizing safety, sustainability, practicality, accessibility, and equality.
Project Deliverables:
● A comprehensive report on the socio-economic impacts of rail network expansion on housing and community development.
● A strategic plan detailing how rail expansion can contribute to solving the housing crisis.
● Policy recommendations to support equitable and sustainable community growth through rail infrastructure.
● An action plan for engaging with underserved and indigenous communities.
Benefits of Participation:
● Hands-on experience in a pivotal project addressing a significant societal issue.
● Collaboration with industry experts from ARR and ITRD.
● Opportunity to contribute to meaningful change in Alberta’s transportation and housing sectors.
● Enhancement of research, analysis, and policy development skills.
● Stipend of $1500 CAD upon successful project completion.
Application Process:
Interested candidates should apply through the Riipen platform. Applications must include a cover letter expressing interest in community development and housing affordability, relevant experience or academic background, and a statement on why they are a suitable fit for this project.
Ideal Project Team:
For the "Addressing Alberta's Housing Crisis Through the 'Connecting Communities' Initiative," it is essential to assemble a diverse team of students with complementary skills and backgrounds. Given the project’s multifaceted nature, here are the types of students that would be ideal for a team of 3-4:
- Urban Planning or Geography Student: Focus:
- Assessing community development and spatial planning aspects.
- Skills: Understanding of urban development principles, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and demographic analysis.
- Economics or Business Student:
- Focus: Conducting economic impact analyses and ROI assessments.
- Skills: Proficiency in economic modelling, data analysis, and understanding of market dynamics.
- Public Policy or Political Science Student:
- Focus: Formulating policy recommendations and understanding regulatory environments.
- Skills: Knowledge of policy development processes, stakeholder engagement, and legislative frameworks.
- Environmental Science or Sustainability Student:
- Focus: Evaluating the environmental impact and sustainability aspects of rail expansion.
- Skills: Understanding of environmental assessment methods, sustainability practices, and eco-friendly technologies.
Desirable Qualities Across All Students:
● Strong research and analytical skills.
● Ability to work collaboratively in a team.
● Good communication and presentation skills.
● Interest in community development, housing affordability, and sustainable transportation
● Initiative and creativity in problem-solving.
Additional Considerations:
Forming a team with these diverse skill sets will enable a holistic approach to the project, ensuring that all critical aspects are thoroughly explored and addressed.
● Encouraging applications from students with diverse backgrounds, including those from indigenous communities, to ensure a wide range of perspectives.
● Preference for students with some experience or coursework related to transportation, housing, or community development.
● Openness to students with strong leadership or project management experience, regardless of their major, as these skills will be beneficial for coordinating the project.
Housing affordability impacts and concerns Canadians from coast to coast.
Skyrocketing rents and mortgage payments are impoverishing Canadians from all walks of life.
We are certain that this project will attract input from all walks of life including community leaders, homeless shelters, food bank operators, health care and practitioners.
It is expected data will be absorbed across Canada from institutional, real estate, government, transit and other stakeholder sources.
By capturing and modelling the benefits of improved inter-city mobility, we will be able to prioritize projects and affect housing affordability today - not in the future.
Supported causes
No povertyAbout the company
“Rail for All” Approach
At Integrated Travel, our goal is to promote transportation equity for all individuals. Through our Integrated Travel approach, we strive to offer accessible and affordable transportation options, irrespective of income or background. By fostering connections between communities and promoting sustainability, we aim to create a future where transportation is fair and inclusive for everyone in Alberta.
We have a special focus on serving underserved communities, including indigenous and rural areas. Our dedication to transportation equity extends to these communities as well.
Our “Rail for All” Approach:
We advocate for a practical and equitable approach to addressing transportation and environmental challenges in Alberta through the implementation of Rail for All. Our focus is on utilizing new technologies on existing rail infrastructure, with the goal of promoting sustainability and responsible transportation.
Rail for All refers to the use of sustainable and cost-effective transportation methods that benefit the communities they serve. In the context of regional rail, this means retrofitting rolling stock and locomotives on existing infrastructure to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
While high-speed rail may be exciting and receive media attention, it is not always the most responsible mode of transportation or investment. The construction and maintenance of high-speed rail lines can be extremely expensive, and the economic impacts may not always align with the needs of the communities they serve.
On the other hand, implementing Rail for All through the retrofitting of existing infrastructure is a more cost-effective and responsible option. It still provides a fast mode of transportation that can bring significant benefits to communities and the environment.
Integrated Travel is a not-for-profit organization that advocates for the needs of rail passengers, prioritizing regional concerns over provincial and international boundaries. To drive change, Integrated Travel collaborates with infrastructure and transportation as well as community stakeholders and supporters. stakeholders to strengthen relationships and bring economic, environmental, and equity benefits to all citizens of Alberta. We advocate for regional inter-municipality transportation network that provides seamless, door-to-door connectivity to everyone in the region. We are not a policy organization - we are a collection of professionals who beleive in building prosperity with equality.
Integrated Travel is looking to reestablish safe, reliable, and sustainable passenger rail service in the province. The goal is to increase opportunities and contribute to the health and well-being of people across Alberta.
Integrated Travel believes that a comprehensive passenger rail network, seamlessly connected to other modes of transportation, will yield significant benefits for the region's economy, environment, and more importantly, transportation equity.
Since 2019, Integrated Travel has been actively engaging, educating, and energizing the public, elected officials, businesses, and local leaders. This is accomplished through outreach efforts, Train Treks, presentations for legislators and communities, advocacy work, soliciting support resolutions and letters, publicity initiatives, coalition building, and event planning.
Integrated Travel is a not-for-profit organization that advocates for the needs of rail passengers in Alberta. We prioritize regional concerns and collaborate with infrastructure, transportation, and community stakeholders to bring economic, environmental, and equity benefits to the region. Our goal is to reestablish safe, reliable, and sustainable passenger rail service in the province, contributing to the well-being of people across Alberta. We believe that a comprehensive passenger rail network, connected to other modes of transportation, will have significant positive impacts on the region's economy, environment, and transportation equity. Since 2019, we have actively engaged the public, elected officials, businesses, and local leaders through various initiatives to raise awareness and support for our cause.
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