How to align comprehensive city plans with zoning ordinances to achieve development goals and manage future development.

Understanding the effect of flooding on Great Lakes cities and identify strategies to manage the problem of urban flooding. The effects of urban flooding—sewer backups, basement seepage, property damage, and street ponding—collectively cause millions of dollars of damage each year, the survey encourages collaboration among utilities and municipalities, partners and investors in Great Lakes cities.

Unchecked water loss within water supply systems is a public concern: it wastes public money, hinders the economy, and risks long-term water scarcity. Previous studies and surveys about water loss demonstrate the long-held belief that maintaining robust water service infrastructure is key to an efficient and sustainable water system. This survey report constitutes a first step, by providing a baseline of current water loss practices and policies among water supply utilities that can be used to support collaboration in developing strategies for improvement. This report also acts as a case study in data collection and benchmarking that can be used to develop water loss control solutions and improve public reporting.

Fort Wayne was not alone in emphasizing auto travel for the past half century. But as Fort Wayne competes in the 21st Century economy and as household change in size and composition, Fort Wayne needs to offer a broader range of choices for travel and for living locally. The Housing + Transportation Affordability Index is a new tool for illustrating how different housing locations result in different household transportation budgets. It clearly shows that Fort Wayne is at a disadvantage in competing with other regions, because so much discretionary income is tied up in housing and transportation costs. Housing is generally affordable in the region, but transportation costs are unusually high.

Crumbling water infrastructure leads to nearly six billion gallons of expensive, treated water lost every day in America. Leaky, aging pipes and outdated systems are wasting an estimated 14 to 18 percent of our nation’s daily water use. Water loss from failing infrastructure, faulty metering, and flat-out theft costs money, and can mean lost revenue for utilities and higher rates for water users. With increasing demand, maintenance and energy costs within the water industry, rates are already rising. Between 1996 and 2010, the cost of water services in the US rose by nearly 90 percent. Given this increase it is essential that we quickly adopt effective water loss control practices.

Identifying hidden assets in the urban neighborhoods and ways in which water resource investments can achieve multiple benefits.

Reconnecting Fort Wayne: Transportation is a six part report designed to promote sustainable transportation planning in Fort Wayne. The first five reports, published in December of 2007, are innovative approaches or tools for analyzing current conditions and offering more transportation choice and lower household transportation cost. This report explores how the city of Fort Wayne could increase transportation equity by including streetcars in their transit-oriented development (TOD) plan.

Advantages and benefits of student transit programs.

This report provides an overview of how car sharing works and how it can benefit Fort Wayne, as well as start-up strategies and recommendations for next steps based on the specific opportunities available in Fort Wayne.

Establishing measureable goals for the city’s energy service is a critical step towards defining a sustainable energy plan. In order to establish realistic and achievable goals, it is necessary to define indicators and identify performance standards. This report outlines ways to establish performance benchmarks for system reliability and for energy consumption.