Infrastructure 2011. Infrastructure 2011: A Strategic Priority, produced in collaboration with Ernst & Young, was released in mid-May at ULI’s Real Estate Summit at the Spring Council Forum in Phoenix and has generated lots of media attention since its release. The report has been written up in over 130 news stories, and received coverage in the Washington Post A-section, as well as in The Hill, Politico, C-SPAN, and other important media outlets. The Infrastructurist has even launched a contest to name the 2012 report.

Infrastructure 2011’s core message—that the United States needs to strategically invest in infrastructure despite challenging economic times—is striking a chord at infrastructure programs being held at ULI district councils across the country in the weeks since the report’s release. In their remarks, ULI presenters are sharing report highlights that include projects and innovations from the 20 metro areas profiled in the report. Recent programs have been held in New York City, Oklahoma City, Detroit, and elsewhere, providing an opportunity for local experts and officials to benchmark their efforts against other cities and share updates on important local projects.

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ULI Chicago’s Infrastructure Game Changers. What are the infrastructure game changers in your community? ULI Chicago’s Infrastructure Game Changers is a national model for identifying significant infrastructure projects and their potential influence on land use and economic development. ULI Chicago developed and tested the Infrastructure Game Changers process via two studies within the Greater Chicago region.

Regional Infrastructure in Northeastern Illinois: Infrastructure’s Role in Maintaining Greater Chicago’s Competitive Edge identifies nine regionally significant infrastructure projects in the seven counties of Northeastern Illinois and explains how they could influence land use and affect economic development. The Lakeshore Industrial Heritage Corridor: Infrastructure’s Role in Revitalizing Lake Michigan’s South Shore Communities looks at infrastructure and development in the border region of Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

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ULI Seattle Champions Coordinating Bus Rapid Transit and Land Use. ULI Seattle recently released a new report that looks at how bus rapid transit (BRT) can be an organizing catalyst for compact development along commercial arterials. The report documents the findings of The Bus Rapid Transit and Land Use Initiative, a partnership among ULI Seattle, King County Metro Transit, the city of Seattle, the city of Shoreline, and the ULI/Curtis Regional Infrastructure Project. Three overarching themes emerged that can be widely applied to BRT on commercial arterials: focus on corridors, develop champions, and promote community value.

More information on Developing the Next Frontier: Capitalizing on Bus Rapid Transit to Build Community

Transportation Panels at Spring Meeting. ULI convened transit and transportation experts for ULI’s Real Estate Summit at the Spring Council Forum in May to discuss recent trends in transportation policy and finance, the chances of a new federal transportation bill before 2012 (not high), and the shift toward private sector actors and developers playing a much larger role in financing, building, and operating transit lines. Read more about transportation trends and transit finance partnerships, including efforts underway in Dallas and Los Angeles, at Urban Land online.