Post-Disaster Relocation of Urban Coastal Communities in the Philippines

This paper examines the super typhoon Haiyan disaster as a case study that demonstrates the full complexity of multidimensional challenges, vulnerabilities, and adaptation needs of urban coastal communities at high risk of future impacts. Anchored on the Coastal Relocation Potential framework developed by Bukvic, Smith, and Zhang (2015), this qualitative research gathered data using a combination of desk research and field works in three urban coastal villages of Tacloban City highly devastated by Haiyan. Results showed that residents in urban coastal communities consider the following factors in deciding to relocate or not: a) household level socio-economic factors, b) psychosocial and physical impacts, c) post-disaster recovery concerns, and d) relocation assistance support needs. The study argues that policy-makers need proper planning, participatory consultation and great consideration to the socio-economic impacts it will cause to coastal dwellers, majority of which is urban-poor families.

Strategies to Improve or Optimize Practices for Acquisition of Real Property

Inefficiencies in the process of acquiring and managing real property have a significant impact on transportation agencies' ability to develop and deliver projects effectively. Acquisition of real property is frequently on the critical path of those projects. Delays in acquiring real property are one of the main reasons for project delays and cost overruns. Federal and state agencies are interested in developing strategies for streamlining practices for acquisition of real property. In 2010, NCHRP sponsored a research study to develop improved, integrated real property procedures and business practices within the process of transportation project development and delivery, as well as to develop recommendations for best practices in property management. This paper presents some of the results of that effort and focuses on the improvement and optimization of the current state of practice in acquiring real property by negotiation and condemnation. The analysis resulted in the following research products: (a) an integrated model of the process of transportation project development and delivery, (b) a model for real property acquisition and relocation assistance in accordance with 42 USC 4601 et seq. (not constrained by regulatory encumbrances), and (c) a discussion of issues and challenges affecting project development and delivery that typically involve real property components as well as strategies for addressing those issues and challenges. The discussion includes an analysis of 20 negotiation and condemnation issues and challenges that practitioners identified via a national survey and follow-up interviews as well as 20 corresponding strategies for improvement or optimization.

Impact of 65-mph Speed Limit on Iowa’s Rural Interstate Highways: Integrated Bayesian Forecasting and Dynamic Modeling Approach

In 1987, a provision of the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act allowed states to raise speed limits on rural Interstates to 65 mph (104.6 km/h). By 1995, nearly all states had done so. Several studies have investigated the safety impacts of these increases. Methodologies varied from analysis of variance to simple before and after comparison and have included time series procedures, with and without intervention variables. In general, these studies have produced contradictory findings. An integrated Bayesian forecasting and dynamic modeling approach used to determine the impact of the increased speed limit on rural Interstates of Iowa is reported. The approach is used to verify that raising the speed limit to 65 mph (104.6 km/h) led to an increase in fatal accidents on rural Interstates of Iowa. Comparison of fatal accident data on rural Interstates of Iowa and New Jersey yields similar results. Although this conclusion was anticipated, the study further demonstrates that a Bayesian/dynamic approach is more robust than the standard time series model.

Snakes and Ladders: Relocation and the Dual Career Couple

The dual career couple is a contemporary and growing phenomenon in western industrialised nations. There are numerous human resource management issues associated with the dual career couple. The focus of this paper is on just one of these issues — employee relocation. The research reported here found that dual career employees are concerned about their partner's career prospects and unless current career levels can be maintained for the trailing partner, organisations may experience relocation resistance. Of specific interest in the Australian context is that organisations with operations in country areas may be particularly affected, since country areas are less likely to offer desirable career opportunities for trailing partners. Further, organisational mobility expectations frequently force couples to decide which partner's career will take precedence. Historically it has been the male partner's career, even in dual career relationships. The findings from this study suggest that such decisions are becoming more complex, with couples placing greater emphasis on economic and quality of life concerns. Traditionally, organisations have relied on employee mobility as a career development strategy. However, greater emphasis on long-term human resource planning is advocated to facilitate career development strategies which are less reliant on geographical relocation. Further, if organisations are to retain their dual career employees, relocation assistance packages may need re-assessment to reflect the needs of those employees who are unwilling to sacrifice their partners' careers for the sake of their own.

Snakes and Ladders: Relocation and the Dual Career Couple

The dual career couple is a contemporary and growing phenomenon in western industrialised nations. There are numerous human resource management issues associated with the dual career couple. The focus of this paper is on just one of these issues — employee relocation. The research reported here found that dual career employees are concerned about their partner's career prospects and unless current career levels can be maintained for the trailing partner, organisations may experience relocation resistance. Of specific interest in the Australian context is that organisations with operations in country areas may be particularly affected, since country areas are less likely to offer desirable career opportunities for trailing partners. Further, organisational mobility expectations frequently force couples to decide which partner's career will take precedence. Historically it has been the male partner's career, even in dual career relationships. The findings from this study suggest that such decisions are becoming more complex, with couples placing greater emphasis on economic and quality of life concerns. Traditionally, organisations have relied on employee mobility as a career development strategy. However, greater emphasis on long-term human resource planning is advocated to facilitate career development strategies which are less reliant on geographical relocation. Further, if organisations are to retain their dual career employees, relocation assistance packages may need re-assessment to reflect the needs of those employees who are unwilling to sacrifice their partners' careers for the sake of their own.

The 55 Miles Per Hour Maximum Speed Limit

The first significant reduction in three decades in the number of highway deaths was noted in this country when the 55 miles per hour (mph) national speed limit became law in 1973. Where this speed limit is still in force, the reduction in automobile deaths and injuries has been maintained. In 1987, however, Congress passed the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act. One of the provisions of this act was to allow states to raise the speed limit on most rural interstate highways to 65 mph. Because the average highway speed routinely exceeds the prevailing legal limit by at least several miles per hour, the higher speed limit has markedly increased the proportion of traffic traveling at very high speeds. In 1988, 3 times as many vehicles were exceeding 70 mph and 11 times as many vehicles were traveling at speeds greater than 80 mph as in 1986 when the 55 mph speed limit prevailed. These higher speeds have been accompanied by appreciable increases in automobile crash deaths and injuries. The relationship of automobile mortality and morbidity to the speed limit is well documented. The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses a return to the national maximum speed limit of 55 mph as an effective method of lowering the incidence of automobile deaths and injuries. Pediatricians should make every effort to support this form of injury prevention by personal example, education of pediatric patients and their parents, and legislative advocacy.