U of A To Host Urban Policy Forum

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-Opposing views of current urban growth policies will be presented by two nationally known transportation experts in an upcoming forum sponsored by the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Brian Bochner and Wendell Cox will discuss "Smart Growth and New Urbanism" at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, in Room 282 of Bell Engineering Center on the University of Arkansas campus.

The term "smart growth" refers broadly to land use policies intended to prevent what proponents consider undesirable side effects of urban growth.

Bochner, speaking "for" smart growth policies, has recently joined Texas Transportation Institute as senior research engineer, following a 30-year career with Parsons Transportation Group/Barton-Aschman. He is a former national president of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and is currently leading an ITE task force on smart growth.

Cox, speaking "against" smart growth policies, is principal of Wendell Cox Consultancy, an international consulting firm specializing in demographics and public policy, especially urban and transport policies. He served three terms on the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and was appointed in 1999 to the Amtrak Reform Council by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Melissa Tooley, director, Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center, (479) 575-3203, mst1@engr.uark.edu

J.L. Gattis, associate professor, Department of Civil Engineering, (479) 575-7586, jgattis@engr.uark.edu