Metropolitan Transportation PlansBest Practices

Michigan Transportation Planning Association35th Annual Conference

July 14, 2011Flint, MI

Jim Thorne, FHWA Resource Center

Outline

What do we expect from long range transportation plans?

What are the requirements?

Some recognized Best Practices

Let’s Talk

What do we expect from our long range transportation planning efforts?

What do we expect from our long range transportation planning efforts?• Regional consensus on priority projects.• Projects that shape transportation and economic

investments and help establish regional development form.

• Range of other recommendations (policies, guidelines, studies, ?)

• Developed through collaborative, community based process.

• Consideration of range of issues and interactions.• Set vision and goals for what region hopes to achieve

within next 20 years (or more).

What is Required of MTP/LRP/LRTP

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The Three C’s

A Continuing, Cooperative, and

Comprehensive multimodal

transportation planning process . . .

•States ways the region plans to invest in the transportation system

•Includes both long-range and short-range program strategies/actions

•Develops an integrated intermodal transportation system

•Facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods.

The Transportation Plan

The Transportation Plan

• At least a 20-year horizon at time of adoption• An update every 5 years – 4 years for non-

attainment and maintenance areas• Multi-modal• Covers capital improvements and operations• Contains an environmental discussion• Fiscal constraint – Year of Expenditure (YOE) $• Early and continuous public involvement• Consideration of the 8 Planning Factors• Conformity with air quality requirements

Some specifics from the regulation (23CFR450.322)

• Short and long-term strategies - integrated multimodal transportation system • Facilitate the safe, efficient movement of people and goods • Forecast transportation demand over period of the plan • Existing and proposed transportation facilities - integrated system.• Operational and management strategies to improve performance • Consider Congestion Management Process results (TMAs)• Assess capital investments and other measures needed to maintain and make

the most efficient use of the existing transportation system • In air quality NA/M areas, the design concept and scope descriptions of all

existing and proposed facilities to permit conformity determinations. • Potential environmental mitigation activities and potential areas• Pedestrian and bicycle facilities• Transportation and transit enhancement activities • Financial plan demonstrates consistency of proposed transportation

investments with available and forecasted sources of revenue, using (YOE) $

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SAFETEA-LU Planning Factors

Economic vitality of the region Safety of the transportation system Security of the transportation system Accessibility and mobility options Environmental protection, energy conservation,

and quality of life Integration and connectivity of the system Efficient system management and operations System preservation

What’s a Best Practice?

A method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark.

A superior method or innovative practice that contributes to the improved performance of an organization, usually recognized as "best" by other peer organizations. It implies accumulating and applying knowledge about what is working and not working in different situations and contexts.

A working method, or set of working methods, which is officially accepted as being the best to use in a particular business or industry, usually described formally and in detail.

So how would you go about identifying best practices for long range transportation plans.

Seriously, what would you do?

What are some Cited Best Practices

U.S. DOT Planning Excellence AwardsAMPO AwardsAPA AwardsCertification Review CommendationsA Michigan EffortWander around the Web

2010 Planning Excellence, LRP RelatedCapital District Transportation Committee Albany, New YorkImplementing the Regional Plan: The Community and

Transportation Linkage Planning ProgramCategory: Transportation and Land Use Integration

Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization, WyomingTransportation Safety Management PlanCategory: Safety Planning

Minnesota Department of TransportationMinnesota Comprehensive Freight and Passenger Rail PlanCategories: Freight Planning, Planning Leadership, and Public Involvement

and Outreach

2008 Planning Excellence, LRP Related

City of Charlotte, North CarolinaCity of Charlotte Transportation Action Plan

Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho

Communities in Motion: Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan 2030

Pikes Peak Area Council of GovernmentsMoving Forward, Pikes Peak Area 2035 Regional

Transportation Plan

2006 Planning Excellence, LRP Related

Chatham Urban Transportation Study, Savannah, GAConnecting Savannah: Moving People-Making Neighborhoods

Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization, WY

PlanCheyenne

Denver Regional Council of GovernmentsMetro Vision 2030 Planning and Implementation Program

Maricopa Association of GovernmentsArea Regional Transportation Plan

Metropolitan Transportation CommissionMobility for the Next Generation: Transportation 2030 Plan

for the San Francisco Bay Area

Minnesota Department of TransportationMinnesota Performance-based Statewide and District

Transportation Plans and Minnesota Statewide Freight Plan

2006 Planning Excellence, LRP Related

AMPO MTP Related Awards• Transportation 2040 Plan, Seattle, WA, 2010• Pathways 2030, Flagstaff, AZ, 2009• Envision Missoula, Missoula, MT, 2009• MTP 2035, Sacramento, CA, 2008• Environmental Mitigation, SEMCOG, 2007• Transportation 2030 - Placemaking for

Prosperity, Binghamton, NY, 2006

APA Planning Awards

Our Regions Plan Southwestern Pennsylvania CommissionPublic Outreach 2008

The Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)Atlanta Regional CommissionImplementation 2009

Practices that get Recognized(Certification Reviews)

Scenario Planning or Visioning efforts. Land use and transportation integration. Address environmental mitigation, consultation, safety,

security, freight, and operations. Project selection and prioritization methods. Goals and objectives connected to selected strategies. Performances measures. Public engagement methods and results. Improved technical methods. Planning and Environmental Linkages efforts.

Literature Review of LRTP for Development of the Flint-Genesee County 2035 LRTP

What Notable MTP Examples Have You Seen?

What was the best part of your most recent MTP effort?

What would you do different in your next Plan?

What part of MTP’s do you think is most overlooked?

Or the biggest opportunity for improvement?

Searching the Web

SHRP2: Collaborative Decision Making

TCAPP Transportation for Communities – Advancing Projects through Partnerships

Long Range Planning• Binghamton: Community Vision based on Scenario

Planning• Maricopa: Balancing Regional Needs through

Consensus

Integrated Planning• Maricopa Regional Transportation Plan• Wasatch Front Region Regional Transportation Plan

www.transportationforcommunities.com

PSRC Vision 2040Topic Summaries

PSRC Brochure

PSRC Map/Poster

MARC Website

Transportation Outlook 2040 GoalsMid American Regional Council

Accessibility - Maximize mobility and access to opportunity for all area residents

Climate Change & Energy Use** - Decrease the use of fossil fuels through reduced travel demand, technology advancements and a transition to renewable energy sources

Economic Vitality - Support an innovative, competitive 21st-century economy

Environment - Protect and restore our region's natural resources (land, water and air) through proactive environmental stewardship

Place Making** - Coordinate transportation and land-use planning as means to create quality places in existing and developing areas, and strengthen the quality of the region

Public Health** - Facilitate healthy, active living

Safety & Security - Improve safety and security for all transportation users

System Condition - Ensure transportation system is maintained in good condition

System Performance** - Manage the system to achieve reliable and efficient performance

 **New plan goals for Transportation Outlook 2040

MARC: Performance Measures & Progress Report

Freight

Notable Example: Philadelphia/Trenton MPO (DVRPC)

GMTF identifies projects already included in Plan and TIP that benefit freight

Works with local governments and DOT to review/resolve smaller scale problems identified by shippers and carriers

Involved in private sector industry groupsGoods Movement Task Force—co-chaired by MPO and DOTGMTF identifies freight projects to improve access to the port,

eliminate bottlenecks, improve rail-highway grade crossingsFreight Day event highlights and quantifies activity Use CMAQ funds for freight rail projects

• Interactive Plans & (S)TIPs• YouTube• Social Networking• Online Surveys

Web-based Techniques

Web-Based GIS Transportation Plans & TIPs

Atlanta’s 2030 Long-Range Plan

Denver Rapid Transit District

YouTube

Chicago MPO on Facebook

Social Networking

Washington DOT on Twitter

Maryland DOT Online Survey in collaboration with Library Systems

Online Surveys

Revenues: Notable Practices (Process)

Florida DOT: • Twice yearly revenue estimating conferences with

MPOs and variety of FL state agencies www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/policy/pdfs/revhandbk.pdf

MTC: • Collaborative process to review revenue sources,

estimates and supporting assumptions through Partnership Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Includes counties, cities, transit operators, Caltrans, FHWA and FTA

Revenues: Notable Practices (Documentation)Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)

PennDOT Resource

Characteristics of Successful LRPs

Create Local/Regional Ownership Emphasize Planning, not Programming Collaborate with Other Stakeholders Support Other Relevant Plans Articulate Clear Goals and Objectives Address Quality of Life Issues Maintain an Open and Transparent Process Capitalize on the Experience of Others

Developing Regional Long Range Plans, PennDOT

Consider Multiple Futures (Scenario Planning) Develop an Evaluation Framework Employ Strong Technical Analyses Link Solution Prioritization to Goals,

Objectives, and Policies Support a Multi-modal and Intermodal Future Integrate Land Use and Transportation Distribute Investments Equitably

(Environmental Justice) Organize Solutions in a Relevant Format

Characteristics of Successful LRPs

Developing Regional Long Range Plans, PennDOT

Structure the Plan to be Relevant to Local Issues

Include an Implementation Plan Be Creative

Characteristics of Successful LRPs

Developing Regional Long Range Plans, PennDOT

Freight

Operations

Environment

Environmental Mitigation in Transportation PlanningCase Studies in Meeting SAFETEA-LU Section 6001 Requirements

Guidance on Using Corridor and Subarea Planning to Inform NEPAFederal Highway AdministrationApril 5, 2011

A Guide to Measuring Progress in Linking Transportation Planning and Environmental AnalysisDecember 2009

Safety

Planning.dot.gov

Any Final MTP Thoughts?

RecommendationsSuggestionsCautionsOpportunitiesChallengesBits of WisdomInsightsExamplesResourcesBest Practices

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and

work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die.”

Daniel Burnham, architect and planner, 1901

Planning

Transportation Planning Process

EnvironmentalQuality

Economic Development

Mobility and Accessibility

VisionGoals and Objectives

PerformanceMeasures

Long- Range Plan

Implementation of Strategies

Short- (3-5 year) Range Program

AlternativeImprovement

Strategies

Data Analysis Methods

Other Sources for Project

Ideas

SystemOperations

Evaluation

PoliciesOperations strategiesInfrastructure projectsStudiesRegulationsEducation and awarenessEnforcementFinancing strategiesPartnershipsCollaborative undertakings