Transportation Planning

Multi-modal Planning

moving people, raw materials, and goods to where they need to go most efficiently and considering all modes of transportation

MPOs, COGs, and RPCs Commonalities

• federally-designated planning agency for urbanized areas of more than 50,000 population

• governed by board of local electeds and agency/modal reps

• subject to federal requirements (3-C planning process): continuing, cooperative, comprehensive

• may have authority to plan and regulate local land use

Local Governments Roles

• provide local funding for projects

• develop local transportation priorities and plans

• engage in regional and state trans planning

• identify impacts of new development

Transit Agencies and Expressway/Port/Airport Authorities Roles

• operate public transportation options

• receive subsidies and generate revenue

• develop system plans

• implement and construct projects

• coordinate on regional planning activities

History of Federal Legislation

• 1916 federal-aid road act: first federal highway funding

• 1921 federal-aid highway act: developed national highway system

• 1956 federal-aid highway act: established interstate highway system (41,000 miles)

• 1962 highway act: established MPOs and 3-Cs of federal requirements (continuing, comprehensive, cooperative)

• 1973 highway act: highway safety improvement program (HSIP) and funding for mass transit projects

• 1991 intermodal surface transportation efficiency act (ISTEA): transportation enhancements (TE) program, congestion mitigation and air quality (CMAQ) program, social equity

• 1998 transportation equity act for the 21st century (TEA-21): congestion management system (CMS) and earmarks

• 2005 safe accountable, flexible, efficient transportation equity act; a legacy for users (SAFETEA-LU): established safe routes to school program

• 2012 moving ahead for progress in the 21st century (MAP-21): 2-year reauthorization 52.5 billion/yr, eliminated earmarks, consolidated programs, established use of performance measures

• 2015 fixing americas surface transportation (FAST) act: 5-yr reauthorization 56.2 billion/yr, continues MAP-21 provisions

Federal Transportation Funding Sources

highway trust fund

general fund

State Transportation Funding Sources

highway trust fund

general fund

bonds

Local Transportation Funding Sources

local option fuel and sales tax

impact/mobility fees

general fund

bonds

transit fare box revenue

MPO Board Composition

• local governments

• transit operators

• state departments of transportation

• expressway, aviation, and port authorities

• other transportation providers (ex: school boards)

MPO Responsibilities

• plans: long range transportation plan (LRTP) aka metropolitan transportation plan (MTP), transportation improvement program (TIP), unified planning work program (UPWP), congestion management process (CMP)

• title iv

• public involvement

• transit planning

• bicycle and pedestrian planning

• regional coordination

• air quality planning/conformity

• environmental reviews (NEPA), including water issues

• travel demand forecasting/modeling

• performance-based planning

Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

strategic, multi-decade planning documents that guide transportation investments, prioritize projects, and integrate multiple travel modes to meet current and future needs.

20-year minimum

must include a financial plan

4-Step Travel Demand Forecasting/Modeling

trip generation: estimates the number of trips generated by diff types of land use

trip distribution: estimates where the generated trips will go

mode split: estimates which trips will use automobile and which will use other modes

trip assignment: assigns trips by each mode to the roadway network

What MPOs Do Not Do

• maintenance of roadway systems

• operations

• construction

• design

Level of Service (LOS): Roadways

LOS A-F/capacity analysis

LOS A: free flow with low volumes and high speeds

LOS F: operating speeds are stop and go. stoppages disrupt the traffic flow so that the volume carried by the roadway falls below its capacity. without the stoppages, the volume of traffic on the roadway would be higher and it would reach capacity

Traffic Impact Analysis

understanding the demands placed on the community’s transportation network by development

goals:

• forecast additional traffic associated with new development

• determine the improvements that are necessary to accommodate the new development

• assist communities in land use decision making

Traffic Calming Measures

• speed humps (Not speed bump)

• speed tables

• raised crosswalks

• rumble strips

• roundabouts

• street closures

• diverters

• bulbs, neckdowns, chicanes

• speed monitors

• neighborhood traffic management

Woonerf/Living Streets/Shared Streets

• pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles have the same rights to the road

• there are gateways to announce that you’ve entered

• curves to slow traffic

• no curbs

• intermittent parking

Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

• pedestrian friendly streets

• parking within, above or behind structures

• mixed land used

• high densities

• street connectivity

• key strategy for achieving energy efficiency in urban planning

• reduces miles traveled by encouraging walking, biking, and using public transit

• reduces urban sprawl by concentrating development near transit hubs

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

• also known as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction strategies

• least amount of capital required

• examples: telecommuting/teleworking, 4-day work week, ridesharing, transit, bicycling, walking

Transportation Control Measures (TCM)

• specified in clean air act

• intended to reduce emissions in non-conformity areas

• similar to transportation demand management (TDM)

• low amount of capital required

• examples: improved public transit, traffic flow improvements and high occupancy vehicle lanes, shared ride services, ped/bicycle facilities, flexible work schedules

Transportation System Management (TSM)

• more capital required but less than traditional capacity projects (ex: roadway widening)

• improves operational efficiency

• data collection necessary to monitor system performance

• examples: signal timing optimization, vehicle detectors, central system, turning lanes, pavement striping, special events management strategies

Functional Classification

• arterials

  • interstates

  • freeways

  • principal arterials

  • minor arterials

• collector roads

• local roads

Boulevard/Parkway

a wide urban street with tree-lined sidewalks and often multiple lanes of both fast- and slow-moving traffic

Parking Cashout

employer-sponsored program that allows employees to opt out of having a parking space and receive payment

often seen in california

Walk Score

websites assess walkability of a location with number of nearby amenities being the leading predictor or whether people walk

walk score lists businesses, parks, theaters, schools, and other common destinations

mission is to promote walkable neighborhoods with walkability and transportation costs being key part of choosing where to live

Road Diet/Lane Reduction

a technique in transportation planning whereby the number of travel lanes and/or effective width of the road is reduced in order to achieve systemic improvements

Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

a type of service that, thru joint digital channel, enables user to plan, book and pay for multiple types of mobility services.

can book all necessary bookings for a trip (train, bus, taxi)

offer travelers mobility solutions based on their travel needs