Transportation Planning 101

A Brief Tutorial“…it is the ease of access to other people and facilities that determines the success of a transportation system, rather than a means or speed of transport. It is relatively easy to increase the speed at which people move around, much harder to introduce changes that enable us to spend less time gaining access to the facilities that we need.”

-Reid Ewing

Questions we have…

Two Categories

A) Broad Framework Questions What role does transportation play in the region? How does transportation interrelate with land use, the

economy and the environment? What strategies are available to address transportation

issues and needs? How do broader issues and opportunities affect local

planning and decision-making? (e.g. peak oil, global warming, technology, demographic trends, etc.)

Questions we have…

B) Local Process Questions How does transportation planning happen in our

region now? What tools do agency staff people use to plan and

prioritize changes to the system?

What Role does Transportation Play in Our Region?

Provides access to: Work Play School Goods Services

Fundamental component of our economy, society and culture whether it impacts us positively or negatively

How does Transportation interrelate with Land Use, the Economy and the Environment?

Integrally: Transportation is a foundation for success

and viability of each component Transportation creates impacts to each

component

Land Use Measures

Dem

and

Managem

ent Sys

tem

Impr

ovem

ents Mile Tax

Compact Development

Transit

& Hwy

Hybrids 1&2

(Tra

nspo

rtat

ion

Inve

stm

ents

)

(Market S

trategies)

(Land Use Policy)

What strategies are available to address transportation issues and needs? Policy Components

Included in TransPlan and RTP Development(2) Goals:

#1: Integrated Transportation and Land Use System#2: Transportation System Characteristics:

Balanced, Accessible, Efficient, Safe, Interconnected, Environmentally responsible, Supportive of responsible and sustainable development, Responsive to community needs and neighborhood impacts, Economically viable and financially stable

(7) Objectives(37) Policies

Local grass roots initiative for changeand re-development

How do broader issues affect local planning and decision making?

Global Warming Peak Oil Technology Demographic Trends

Affects the way in which we approach decisions over time Current approach is: Identify and focus on what we can at a regional level Follow or monitor those key issues that could affect our ability to

achieve our desired outcomes Reassess expectations and uncertainties on a regular basis Develop strategies to adapt to identified changes

How does transportation planning happen in our region now?

Local Planning: MPO, MPC, MPC CAC, Local Agencies and Governments

What tools do agency staff people use to plan and prioritize changes to the system?

Analytical Tools Available Data Tools to extrapolate information from data,

e.g., regional transportation forecasting model Process Tools

Public outreach and involvement efforts at many levels

Re-evaluation of planning decisions on regular basis

compare

Real World

Model

(understanding of realworld,

structured bymathematics

andconstrained byavailability ofreliable data

andestimable

relationships)

Policy Actions Results

Input Output

Vision

decide

revise

Other info and realities

Additional Resources

www.lcog.orgTransPlanRegional Transportation Planwww.nysmpos.org/sci/colloquy/gw.friends.org/resources/lutraq.html