Chapter 5Chapter 5 11

Chapter 5. The Transportation-Chapter 5. The Transportation-Planning ProcessPlanning Process

1.1. Explain how travel demand modeling fits into the Explain how travel demand modeling fits into the transportation-planning processtransportation-planning process

2.2. Explain how the transportation-planning process is Explain how the transportation-planning process is used to help make public investment decisionsused to help make public investment decisions

3.3. List stakeholders who should be involved in the List stakeholders who should be involved in the planning processplanning process

Chapter objectives covered in CE361: By the end of this chapter the student will be able to:

The majority of Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 will be covered in CEEn 565 Urban Transportation Planning taught by Dr. Schultz. (It will be offered in fall semester every year.) If you are planning to take CEEn 565, keep this textbook. Other topics in the chapter are:

5.2 Brief overview of engineering economics

5.3 Economic evaluation of alternatives

5.4 Ranking transportation alternatives

22Chapter 5Chapter 5

Scenario – SR361 Congestion Scenario – SR361 Congestion Mitigation AlternativesMitigation Alternatives

Developers Developers A by-pass A by-pass alternativealternative

Downtown merchants Downtown merchants Widen SR361 from a two-Widen SR361 from a two-lane to four-lane highwaylane to four-lane highway

Environmental groups Environmental groups A BRT & improved bus A BRT & improved bus routesroutes

Taxpayer watchdog Taxpayer watchdog groups groups Do-nothing Do-nothing

33Chapter 5Chapter 5

““Think about it” in P.5.2: Alternatives are a Think about it” in P.5.2: Alternatives are a Benefit or a Cost to these stakeholders?Benefit or a Cost to these stakeholders?

Alternative Drivers: thru traffic

Drivers: local traffic

Residents along current road

Developers Downtown merchants

Environmental groups

Taxpayers Government agencies

A. By-pass

B. Widening

C. BRT

D. Do nothing

44Chapter 5Chapter 5

Primary purpose of the planning effortPrimary purpose of the planning effort

- To generate information useful to decision makers for the specific types of decisions they are facing. Given that so many agencies and groups are involved with metropolitan-level transportation decision making, a regional perspective is needed on how these activities fit together.

Utah, Wasatch, Summit Counties

MAG’s 2040 Transportation PlanDemand Forecasting

55Chapter 5Chapter 5

It has become “institutionalized,” meaning federal guidelines, regulations, and requirements for local planning are often driving forces behind existing planning methods.

Transportation planning in metropolitan areas is a collaborative process, led by the metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) and other key stakeholders in the regional transportation system. MPOs in our area include the Mountain Land of Governments and the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

Or, non-profit organizations like Envision Utah encourage participation of businesses and residents. MPOs were set up by the ISTEA of 1991 (the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991).

5.1 The transportation-planning process

5.1 The transportation-planning process5.1 The transportation-planning process

66Chapter 5Chapter 5

It is intended to furnish unbiased information about the effects that the proposed transportation project will have on the community and on its expected users.

It is intended to give the appropriate information to those who will be responsible for deciding whether the transportation project should go forward.

77Chapter 5Chapter 5

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21The Transportation Equity Act for the 21stst Century (TEA-21) Century (TEA-21) requires consideration of seven broad areas:requires consideration of seven broad areas:

1. Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area

2. Increase the safety and security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users

3. Increase the accessibility and mobility options available to people and for freight

4. Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, and improve quality of life

5. Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight

6. Promote efficient system management and operation

7. Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system

88Chapter 5Chapter 5

MPO’s 5 core functions in the planning processMPO’s 5 core functions in the planning process

Establish a setting (for fair and Establish a setting (for fair and impartial decision making impartial decision making environment)environment)Evaluate transportation Evaluate transportation alternativesalternativesMaintain a Long-Range Maintain a Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP): Transportation Plan (LRTP): funding over the next 20 years.funding over the next 20 years.Develop a Transportation Develop a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Improvement Program (TIP): To be funded over the next 1- To be funded over the next 1- to 3-year period.to 3-year period.Involve the public in the above Involve the public in the above four core functions.four core functions.

Visit the MAG website.

99Chapter 5Chapter 5

A typical structure for the transportation planning process

“Transportation planning in metropolitan areas is a collaborative process, led by the metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) and other key stakeholders in the regional transportation system.”

1010Chapter 5Chapter 5

5.1.5 Involving the public and others (Stakeholders)

Transportation facilities affect a large number of people. And, obviously, the transportation-planning process is ultimately a public process. Many public hearings and meetings are held before certain alternatives are selected.

An effective early planning strategy is to identify (and notify) all possible “stakeholders.” A stakeholder is a person, a group of persons, a company, or an organization that has a stake in the decisions being made.

“Even where community consensus cannot be reached, a sufficient level of consent to a particular solution means that a satisfactory outcome has been obtained.”

See Table 5.1. for sample stakeholders.

Table 5.1 Stakeholders for Example 5.1Table 5.1 Stakeholders for Example 5.1

1111Chapter 5Chapter 5

Table 5.1 continuedTable 5.1 continued

1212Chapter 5Chapter 5