Considering the weather conditions in the winter in Ohio, almost all construction is done during the summertime, when its warm and sunny so construction workers don’t have to worry about snow, ice, windchills, and freezing temperatures. But the railroad construction being done lately in northern Trumbull county, located in Northeast Ohio, has been posing problems for residents and emergency crews.

Several roads have been shut down where railroad crossings are located, and while residents look at it as a major inconvenience, another worry is if there is an emergency somewhere medics will not be able to arrive in time.

According to Major Harold Firster of the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office, “It’s very frustrating when you can’t get to the citizenry of the county.”

This past Wednesday, Trumbull County deputies had much difficulty arriving at a scene in the area after an emergency call had been made as four of the main routes in the area have been closed of for railroad repairs.

Bill Spithaler, a local resident that lives on Davis Peck Road, has concern for his community during this time:

“The fire departments and the sheriff’s department, nobody knew all these crossings were closed to where they have access. It’s an inconvenience for residents, but for the EMS it could be a major life-threatening ordeal for somebody that needed services.”

Major Firster believes that the announcement of all the closures taking place in the area were not made aware to the proper channels. “With multiple agencies trying to report this problem, it never really filtered down to the 911 center or the Sheriff’s office,” Firster said.

Norfolk Southern, who is doing all the repairs, usually let local residents know when, where, and for how long they will be doing work, but many have been left unaware posing problems such as getting held up in traffic or being late for work. Fortunately for the community, Firster is taking action and has contacted Norfolk Southern and the Department of Homeland Security and has been able to come to an agreement for emergency vehicles before the construction is completed. The agreement entails that all emergency vehicles will now be allowed in what was before restricted areas even for them, and that they are allowed to cross railroad tracks, including passing through the roads that have been closed off to local residents.

“Of the nine crossings that were closed, four of them are either open, or able to be crossed at this time,” Firster said. The other remaining five will be open soon.

Construction should be wrapped up in the next few days and all will resume back to normal in the community, in addition to new and improved streets and railroad crossings.

The article Construction Posing Problems for Residents and Emergency Vehicles appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Singapore, Republic of Singapore — The development of sustainable urban infrastructure is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. With more than half of the global population already squeezed into cities that, collectively, make up less than two percent of the planet’s land cover(1), the pressure now being placed on urban infrastructure is unprecedented. This worldwide demand for infrastructure is expected to require the investment of tens of trillions of dollars over the next four decades in order to create and maintain sustainable and highly-liveable urban areas that balance the needs of the population, the economy and the environment.

To that end, KPMG’s Global Infrastructure Practice is pleased to announce the much-anticipated second edition of the Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition – a high-profile report showcasing 100 of the most innovative and inspiring urban infrastructure projects from around the world. Released at the World Cities Summit in Singapore, this edition provides insight into the infrastructure projects that make great cities, with a particular focus on the innovations that make them ‘Cities of the Future’ – places where people want to live and do business.

“Existing urban infrastructure is in urgent need of revitalization, and demands for new infrastructure have skyrocketed to meet the basic needs of growing populations. The world’s cities are already home to more than half the world’s population, and that number is expected to jump by more than three billion by 2050,” said Nick Chism, KPMG’s Global Head of Infrastructure. “The World Cities Edition looks specifically at the challenges faced by cities around the world and features 100 innovative projects that can inspire readers to conceive, finance and develop infrastructure projects that make a positive difference to the cities we live in.”

From managing exploding urban population growth to updating aging infrastructure or effectively managing a declining population and tax base, each region of the world faces major infrastructure challenges that must be met in order to ensure the economic health of the region.

“Cities are playing an ever more important part in their country’s economy. However, current global economic conditions and austerity measures have resulted in a need to identify innovative infrastructure solutions to deliver the required investments,” said James Stewart, KPMG’s Chairman of Global Infrastructure. “Strategic city infrastructure projects are delivering economic renewal by connecting communities and increasing jobs while delivering tangible long-term impacts and growth. But the importance of investing in sound, smart infrastructure cannot be overstated.”

Image Courtesy of  Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com

The article The Cities of the Future, A Global Challenge appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.