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A cameraman, an MIT scientist, and an award-winning TV news director/producer from Boston have been soaking up Portland for the past few days. They’ve interviewed everyone from TriMet GM Fred Hansen to PSU professor Ethan Seltzer.
They’re here for a project spearheaded by MIT research scientist Tom Piper (photo below). Piper works in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning and he has embarked on an ambitious project that he says is, “about building better cities, faster than would happen otherwise.”
With a partnership from several media partners — including Boston’s ABC-TV station, Boston.com, and Boston’s NPR affiliate — Piper is traveling the globe to collect stories and examples of how five cities (Portland, Boston, Dublin, Vancouver BC, and Seoul) are innovating for a better future.
Tom Piper.
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Piper is interested in how these cities have gained a “competitive edge” by connecting three core variables; Talent, Opportunity, and Place (which he points out forms the acronym TOP).
The multi-year project will result in a new, user-generated content website that will allow residents of these cities to share photos, articles, resources and ideas about what works, and what doesn’t in topics like urban planning and design and building a successful transportation network (that includes bicycle facilities of course).
Another outcome of their visit to Portland will be a TV series to be called The Competitive Edge. The shows will air this Fall on Chronicle, an award-winning news magazine program that airs on Boston’s ABC station.
Yesterday, I met Piper and the crew. Producer/director of Chronicle, Ted Reinstein (pictured above with cameraman) and I had a great discussion about Portland’s bicycle politics, facilities and culture.
Reinstein’s expertise, combined with Piper’s passion and knowledge for building better cities should result in a successful project. I look forward to keeping track of their progress. I’ll let you know when the Portland show airs.