[sustran] VTPI Fall Newsletter

Todd Litman litman at vtpi.org
Thu Dec 14 23:13:33 JST 2000


			    -----------
			     VTPI NEWS
			    -----------
		Victoria Transport Policy Institute
		  "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"

		 ------------------------------------
		      Fall 2000    Vol. 3, No. 3
		  ----------------------------------		  
The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research
organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation
problems. The VTPI website has many resources addressing a wide range of
transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also provides consulting services.

  			  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VTPI ONLINE TDM ENCYCLOPEDIA
============================
Our "Online TDM Encyclopedia" is now posted at http://www.vtpi.org/tdm. It
is significantly upgraded from previous draft editions. The official
release will occur in the next few weeks. 

This is a unique and comprehensive resource for Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) planning and analysis. It is a practical tool for
identifying and evaluating innovative solutions to transportation problems.

The Encyclopedia provides the following information on more than
three-dozen TDM strategies:

·	A description.
·	How the strategy can be implemented.
·	Travel impacts.
·	Benefits and costs.
·	Equity impacts.
·	Applications (where it is most appropriate).
·	Stakeholders.
·	Barriers to implementation.
·	Best practices
·	Case studies.
·	References and resources (many accessible directly through the Internet).

Each strategy is evaluated in terms of its ability to help achieve various
objectives, including congestion reduction, road and parking facility
savings, consumer savings and choice, road safety, environmental
protection, efficient land use, community livability, and five equity
objectives. 

The Encyclopedia also has general information about TDM planning and
evaluation, information on transportation price elasticities, how land use
impacts travel behavior, equity analysis, an extensive bibliography, and
much more. New information is added regularly, and several additional
chapters are under development.

You Can Help
------------
The Encyclopedia is an ongoing project. Please review any chapter dealing
with a TDM subject you are familiar with, and send us your comments and
suggestions for improvement. Also, please let other transportation
professionals know about the Encyclopedia.

Thanks to the many colleagues who have already helped with this project!

			  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEW REPORTS
===========
The following new documents are now posted at our website:
http://www.vtpi.org.

*  "An Economic Evaluation of Smart Growth and TDM: Social Welfare and
Equity Impacts of Efforts to Reduce Sprawl and Automobile Dependency"
(currently in draft form).
This paper evaluates transportation and land use policies (Sprawl, Smart
Growth, Automobile Dependency and Transportation Demand Management) with
respect to economic criteria, including consumer choice, efficiency,
equity, competition, and government neutrality. This analysis indicates
that existing market distortions contribute to automobile dependency and
sprawl. This suggests that in a more efficient and neutral market,
consumers would choose to drive less than they do now, and be better off
overall as a result. The analysis indicates that Smart Growth and TDM can
help correct market distortions, thereby increasing social welfare and
equity. The paper evaluates specific criticisms of Smart Growth and TDM,
including claims that such policy reforms are ineffective, harmful to
consumers, increase traffic congestion and air pollution, require wasteful
transit investments, increase regulatory burdens, and reduce affordability
and opportunity. 

*  "Estimation Of Generated Traffic By New Developments: Current Practice
And Possible Improvements Based On Bangkok Experience" by Shihana Sulaiha
Mohamed and Kazunori Hokao (posted with permission.)
This paper reviews current methods used to estimate generated traffic
caused by new developments such as housing, shopping centres, conventional
centres, hospitals, etc. It describes three case studies in Bangkok. It
critiques current traffic generation prediction models that are based on
standard ITE methods and data, and recommends better approaches that take
into account additional demographic, economic and geographic factors. It
indicates that these improved practices are particularly important for use
in developing countries. 

*  "Response to Mark Delucchi's "Should We Try to Get the Prices Right?",
with Allen Greenburg
Mark Delucchi's article "Should We Try to Get the Prices Right?" (Access,
Number 16, Spring 2000) provides useful insights concerning the role of
price reforms in addressing transportation problems. We agree with many
points he raises. However, we believe that Delucchi is overly pessimistic
about the desirability and feasibility of transportation price reforms. We
believe that there are many opportunities to correct transportation market
distortions in ways that achieve a combination of economic, social and
environmental objectives. We disagree with some specific assumptions,
claims and conclusions in Delucchi's article.

* "How Canadian Climate Change Emission Reduction Analysis Undervalues TDM"
The report "Transportation and Climate Change: Options for Action"
summarizes Canadian government research to evaluate transportation emission
reduction options. The methodology that was used has significant errors
that tend to undervalue transportation demand management.

1)	It assumes that any reduction in automobile travel represents a cost to
consumers, even if travel reductions result from positive incentives such
as improved travel choices or financial rewards for the use of alternative
modes.

2)	It ignores additional benefits from strategies that reduce total vehicle
traffic, and additional costs from strategies that increase vehicle
traffic. The analysis does not take into account impacts on traffic
congestion, road and parking facility costs, consumer costs, and total
crash rates (the report discusses per-kilometer crash rates, but not the
effects of changes in total vehicle use). 

3)	It assumes that reductions in vehicle use have negative effects on
productivity and employment. 

This paper discusses these problems, and shows how they undervalued
distance-based vehicle insurance and registration fees as an emission
reduction strategy.

* "Why ICBC Should Offer Distance-Based Pricing"
There is a better way to price vehicle insurance that benefits consumers,
increases road safety, and reduces traffic problems. It's called
"Distance-Based" or "Pay-As-You-Drive" insurance pricing. This article
describes how distance-base pricing works. It argues that the Insurance
Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) should complete its research on this
concept and implement a pilot project to test its feasibility. Although
directed at ICBC, similar arguments apply in other insurance markets.

* "Distance-Based Vehicle Insurance Feasibility, Costs and Benefits; 
Comprehensive Technical Report"
This is a detailed study of the benefits, costs, equity impacts and
feasibility of distance-based insurance pricing. It includes claim/ mileage
data showing a strong relationship between insurance claims and annual
vehicle mileage, indicating that insurance pricing must be distance-based
to accurately represent crash risk and claim costs. The paper evaluates
different distance-based pricing options. It discusses how each would
impact vehicle travel, crash rates, consumer costs, vehicle affordability,
congestion, emissions, and equity objectives. It examines implementation
requirements, including mileage data collection using annual odometer
audits. This research indicates that distance-based insurance is justified
on several grounds; could provide significant economic, social and
environmental benefits; is technically feasible; and there is strong
consumer demand for this price option.

*  "Transportation Land Valuation; Evaluating Policies and Practices that
Affect the Amount of Land Devoted to Transportation Facilities"
This is the first-year report of a three-year project that explores the
relationships between transportation, land use and taxation. It
investigates how current land tax and regulatory practices affect the
amount of land devoted to roads and parking facilities, and how this
affects transport patterns. The study will develop ways to measure the
amount of land devoted to transport facilities, examine how this varies
under different circumstances, estimate the value of this resource,
evaluate how tax and regulatory policies treat this land, and analyze
whether current practices are optimal in terms of various economic and
social objectives.

* "The Potential for Further Changes to the Personal Taxation Regime to
Encourage Modal Shift", by The Open University/WS Atkins/Napier University
(posted with permission).
This is a preliminary report on UK research that evaluates tax reforms to
encourage more sustainable commuting. It includes a review of current tax
policies related to commuting benefits, and analysis of various
alternatives. The analysis indicates that targeted tax policies can
encourage more efficient commuting and help achieve sustainable
transportation objectives.

"Divorce Your Car" Book Review
The new book, "Divorce Your Car" by Katie Alvord argues that our
relationship with automobiles requires intensive therapy. Like other
self-help guides, it helps readers understand the dynamics of their
unhealthy affiliations. Some motorists may find that it provides the
encouragement they need to dump their attractive, but sometimes abusive,
mechanical partners.

"Wheel Life Columns"
"Wheel Life" is a weekly newspaper column written by VTPI staff Todd Litman
and Suzanne Kort and published in the Victoria Times Colonist. Recent
columns are now posted at the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition website:
http://www.gvcc.bc.ca.


PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE
The following articles were published in peer-reviewed journals.

"Transportation Market Reforms for Sustainability," Transportation Research
Record 1702, Transportation Research Board (www.nationalacademies.org),
2000, pp. 11-20. This paper describes possible market reforms to encourage
more efficient and equitable transportation. It summarizes our research for
the report "Road Relief; Tax and Pricing Shifts for a Fairer, Cleaner, and
Less Congested Transportation System in Washington State."

"Evaluating Carsharing Benefits," Transportation Research Record 1702,
Transportation Research Board (www.nationalacademies.org), 2000, pp. 31-35.
This paper describes our research on carsharing impacts.


			  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OTHER NEWS:
===========

BC VEHICLE EMISSION REDUCTION OPTIONS
-------------------------------------
VTPI participated in development and review of the discussion paper,
"Options to Reduce Light Duty Vehicle Emission in British Columbia." It is
available at http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/tbs/emissions.htm. This paper
evaluates 22 emission-reduction options, including feebates, fuel
efficiency standards, distance-based vehicle insurance, and fuel tax
increases. This has generated considerable discussion concerning the merits
of these options in the BC press.


TAX EXEMPT TRANSIT PASSES
-------------------------
Employer Provided Tax-Exempt Transit Benefits means that employers can
provide income tax exempt transit benefits to their employees. This is
allowed in the U.S., but not in Canada. A report submitted to the Canadian
House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance examines the benefits that
would result (based in part on research preformed three years ago by VTPI).
It is available at:
English: http://www.cutaactu.on.ca/HofC2000.pdf
French: http://www.cutaactu.on.ca/CdesC2000.pdf


CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
-------------------------------------
VTPI director Todd Litman has been appointed a boardmember of the Canadian
Centre for Sustainable Transportation. The Centre's mission is to provide
leadership in achieving sustainable transportation in Canada. It is
currently involved in a number of research and education projects,
including a workshop to develop a long-term Canadian Sustainable
Transportation Action Agenda (Moving Canada's Transportation Towards
Sustainability: the Post-Kyoto Challenge), to be held Tuesday, February 6,
2001 in Vancouver, BC. For information see http://www.cstctd.org.


BACK TO SCHOOL 
--------------
Along with his 8- and 11-year-old children, VTPI director Todd Litman has
returned to school. Starting this term he was accepted as a PhD candidate
at the University of Victoria Department of Geography. His dissertation
will explore how current transportation and land use policy affects the
amount of land devoted to transportation facilities (particularly roads and
parking), and whether such policies are economically and socially optimal.
The "Transportation Land Valuation" paper described above reports on the
first year's research.

PRESENTING AT TRB
-----------------
Todd Litman will present the following papers at the Transportation
Research Board 80th Annual Meeting in January. For more information visit
http://nationalacademies.org/trb/meeting.

"You CAN Get There From Here; Evaluating Transportation Choice," Session
334, Recent Research on Transportation Choice and Access, sponsored by
Committee on Social and Economic Factors, Wednesday, January 10, 8:00-9:30,
Hilton, Lincoln West Room.

"Overview of Walkability Evaluation," Session 385, Walkability Research:
Audits, Indicators, and Level of Service, Sponsored by Committee on
Pedestrians and Committee on Highway Capacity and Quality of Service
Wednesday, January 10, 2:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m., Shoreham, Diplomat.

			  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please let us know if you have comments or questions about any information
in this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our mailing
list. And please pass this newsletter on to others who may find it useful.



Sincerely,

Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
E-mail:  litman at vtpi.org
Website: http://www.vtpi.org



More information about the Sustran-discuss mailing list