[sustran] VTPI News - Spring 2009
Todd Alexander Litman
litman at vtpi.org
Thu Jun 11 11:11:01 JST 2009
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VTPI NEWS
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Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
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Spring 2009 Vol. 12, No. 2
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The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research
organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to
transportation problems. The VTPI website (http://www.vtpi.org ) has
many resources addressing a wide range of transport planning and
policy issues. VTPI also provides consulting services.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW DOCUMENTS
==============
"Cycling for a Few or for Everyone: The Importance of Social Justice
in Cycling Policy" (http://www.vtpi.org/pucher_buehler_cycling.pdf )
By John Pucher and Ralph Buehler, posted with permission.
This article discusses the importance of designing cycling programs
and facilities to accommodate the varying abilities and preferences
of a broad spectrum of the population. This is one of several
articles on sustainable transport in the May 2009 issue of "World
Transport Policy & Practice" (http://www.eco-logica.co.uk/pdf/wtpp15.1.pdf ).
"The Value Capture Approach To Stimulating Transit Oriented
Development And Financing Transit Station Area Improvements"
(http://www.vtpi.org/gihing_tod.pdf)
By Thomas A. Gihring, posted with permission
This paper examines the proposition that a land value property tax is
an effective method to promote transit oriented development (TOD) and
raise revenue to finance public improvements within urban rail
transit station areas. A case study of a proposed TOD special
assessment district in Seattle demonstrates how changing the general
property tax to a land value tax (LVT) would provide incentives to
utilize sites more intensively. The paper discusses various value
capture mechanisms, and offers two possible land value capture
methods to support public bond financing.
"Arapahoe County Parking Utilization Study Concerning Residential
Transit Oriented Development" (http://www.vtpi.org/topp_parking.pdf )
By Christopher A. Topp, posted with permission.
This study surveyed Denver, Colorado transit-oriented developments
concerning factors such as vehicle ownership, travel options, parking
space utilization rates, and residents' community design preferences.
Finds relatively low parking facility occupancy rates in multi-modal
areas suggesting that current supply and minimum parking regulations
are much higher than optimal. Identifies various factors that affect
parking demand including location, income and transit service
quality. Discusses current parking planning practices and the costs
of excess parking supply. Recommends reforms.
"A Review of 'On the Social Desirability of Urban Rail Systems' by C.
Winston and V. Maheshrib" (http://www.vtpi.org/goddard.pdf ), by
Haynes Goddard, posted with permission.
This paper evaluates analysis by Clifford Winston and Vikram Maheshri
which attempted to use benefit-cost analysis to make a definitive
statement about the social desirability of urban rail transit in the
United States. Their argument is deficient on several elementary
analytic and statistical grounds: They underestimate total benefits,
and therefore net benefits, and their failure to examine the
suitability of their data and to pay attention to the usual caveats
associated with benefit-cost analysis further undermines their assertions.
"2009 Transit Performance Spreadsheet" (http://www.vtpi.org/Transit2009.xls )
This spreadsheet contains a wealth of transportation system
performance data for U.S. cities, and a variety of analysis
concerning the relationships between public transportation travel and
outcomes such as vehicle travel, mode split, congestion delays,
traffic fatalities, and consumer transportation expenditures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE
===================
Tara Laan, Todd Litman and Ronald Steenblik (2008), "Biofuels: At
What Cost? Government Support For Ethanol And Biodiesel In Canada,"
(http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2009/biofuels_subsidies_canada.pdf ),
published by the Global Subsidies Initiative (www.globalsubsidies.org).
This study estimates Canadian federal and provincial government
spending to support liquid biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) and
evaluates the cost effectiveness of those expenditures. Estimates
that total transfers to biofuels approach C$ 1 billion for the
2006-08 period. Concludes that costs per unit of fossil energy or GHG
avoided are much higher than alternatives.
Letter to the Editor, ITE Journal
(http://www.vtpi.org/ITE_letter_may2009.pdf ) By Todd Litman.
This letter responds to the January 2009 article "The Nexus of
Energy, Environment and the Economy: A Win, Win, Win Opportunity," by
Alan Pisarski, which argued that transportation energy conservation
and emission reduction efforts should focus on increasing fuel
efficiency rather than reducing vehicle travel.
Planetizen Blogs (http://www.planetizen.com ):
"Comprehensive Evaluation of Transit Oriented Development
Benefits" (http://www.planetizen.com/node/39133 )
"The Automobile Industry and National Economic Development"
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/39070 )
"Travel Demands Are A-Changing: So Should Our Spending"
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/38283 )
National Journal Blog
"Should Fuel Taxes Pay For Alternative Transportation"
(http://transportation.nationaljournal.com/2009/05/should-fuel-taxes-pay-for-alte.php
)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pay-As-You-Drive Vehicle Insurance
==================================
Several new developments are building support for Pay-As-You-Drive
vehicle insurance (http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm79.htm ). Send an email
to info at vtpi.org if you would like to receive occasional updates on
PAYD issues.
MileMeter (www.milemeter.com)
MileMeter is a private insurance company now sells PAYD insurance
policies in Texas. Policies are purchased by the Internet. Motorists
report their odometer reading at the beginning of the policy term and
purchase a certain number of kilometers. Reported mileage is
cross-referenced with odometer readings from vehicle emission,
maintenance, and registration databases nationwide to insurance accuracy.
Real Insurance PAYD (www.payasyoudrive.com.au)
Real Insurance now sells PAYD vehicle insurance in Australia.
Motorists report their odometer reading at the beginning of the
policy term and purchase a certain number of kilometers. Any unused
kilometers are either refunded if motorists cancel or don't renew
(upon verification of vehicle odometers if requested by the company)
or carried over to the next policy. If kilometers exceed prepayment
the policy only provides basic coverage (liability, fire and theft).
This program was awarded Australia's Cheapest Car Insurance award by
'Money Magazine.' The Magazine said, "In these tough times consumers
need to reduce costs wherever they can and shopping around for car
insurance is a must. Money Magazine is pleased to be able to
recognise and reward the best products and services, particularly at
a time where it's so critical for consumers to rein in their spending."
PAYD in State Emission Reduction Plans
(http://www.newamerica.net/files/State%20Climate%20Policy%20Tracker%205-4-09.xls
)
Of 33 state climate action plans evaluated by the New America
Foundation Climate Policy Program, twelve include PAYD as a
transportation emission reduction strategy, as summarized in. These
states include: AZ, CA, CO, MD, ME, MN, NH, NM, NC, RI, VA, and VT.
The degree of emphasis and support for PAYD varies. For example, the
Rhode Island plan, while endorsing the importance of the strategy,
explicitly says that the state will likely wait for other states to
figure out how to promote PAYD insurance before it does so. Justin
Horner of the National Resources Defense Council described this
analysis in the following blog:
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jhorner/thirteen_states_say_ok_lets_ha.html
Ceres Insurance Program Supports PAYD (http://www.ceres.org/insurance )
Ceres (a national coalition of investors, environmental groups and
other public interest organizations working to address sustainability
challenges) is supporting PAYD insurance pricing as part of its
insurance sector risk reduction program. Ceres held a workshop,
"Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance Innovation for Transportation Efficiency"
at its April conference in San Francisco, and is supporting ongoing
research to support PAYD pricing.
UPCOMING EVENTS
=================
2009 Joint Summer Meeting, "Forging Ahead in Uncertain Times," July
19-22 in Seattle, Washington
(http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=ed57e411-12a8-456d-bfba-8f8b3b33b851
). Todd Litman will be attending.
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IN THE NEWS
=================
"Transportation Study That Rated N.S. Highly Was Flawed - Expert,"
The Chronicle Herald (http://www.apta.ca/webcura/files/1174.pdf )
which describes our critique of the Fraser Institute's transportation
studies. Also see the Clark Williams-Derry blog on the subject
(<http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2008/11/06/dont-like-reality-ignore-it>http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2008/11/06/dont-like-reality-ignore-it
)
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USEFUL RESOURCES
=================
Andrea Broaddus, Todd Litman and Gopinath Menon (2009), "Training
Document On "Transportation Demand Management," Sustainable Urban
Transport Project
(http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=413 )
This 118 page document describes effective ways to manage demand and
create a resilient and efficient transport system.
John Pucher and Ralph Buehler (2009), "Sustainable Transport that
Works: Lessons from Germany," World Transport Policy and Practice,
Vol. 15, No. 1, May 2009, pp. 13-46
(http://www.eco-logica.co.uk/pdf/wtpp15.1.pdf ). This article
evaluates transportation patterns in Germany. Germans walk, bike, and
take public transport for 41% of their daily trips, four times more
than in the USA. This paper examines the policy and planning
practices that have contributed to this diversity and efficiency.
Three excellent new documents from the Project for Public Spaces
(http://www.pps.org):
"A Citizen's Guide to Better Streets"
(http://www.pps.org/pdf/bookstore/How_to_Engage_Your_Transportation_Agency_AARP.pdf
).
"Streets As Places: Using Streets To Rebuild Communities"
(http://www.pps.org/pdf/bookstore/Using_Streets_to_Rebuild_Communities.pdf )
"The Quiet Revolution in Transportation Planning: How Great
Corridors Make Great Communities,"
(http://www.pps.org/pdf/bookstore/Great_Corridors_Great_Communities.pdf.
Donald Shoup (2008), "The Politics and Economics of Parking On
Campus"
(<http://shoup.bol.ucla.edu/PoliticsAndEconomicsOfCampusParking.pdf>http://shoup.bol.ucla.edu/PoliticsAndEconomicsOfCampusParking.pdf).
More great information and witty observations concerning parking and politics.
"How Much Can We Slow VMT Growth? The Potential Savings of
Implementing Best Practice Everywhere"
(http://www.ccap.org/docs/resources/460/How%20much%20can%20we%20slow%20VMT%20growth%20May%202008.pdf
)
This summarizes a study of the potential travel and emission
reductions of various mobility management strategies. It concludes
that aggressive implementation of such strategies could reasonably
achieve a 21% reduction from baseline VMT by 2030 and a 29% reduction by 2050.
"Residential Garage Conversions" (www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pl/hcd/ADU/adu.html)
Santa Cruz, CA has a special program to encourage development of
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs, also known as mother-in-law or granny
units), which often consist of converted or expanded garages, to
increase housing affordability and urban infill. The city has
ordinances, design guidelines and information materials for such conversions.
"Integrated Approach to Planning"
(http://www.transit.govt.nz/planning/iap.jsp) is a collaborative
program between New Zealand transport sector agencies and Ministry
for Environment to identify gaps and barriers to achieving better
integration, both within and between transport and land-use planning,
to help improve transport system sustainability. The project includes
research to evaluate current planning practices and recommend
improvements for more integrated planning.
"Mixed-Income Housing TOD Action Guide,"
(http://reconnectingamerica.org/public/display_asset/090304mitodag0109
) by the Center for Transit Oriented Development (CTOD) for
Reconnecting America. This guide is designed to help community
advocates, practitioners, intermediaries, and jurisdictions in their
efforts to foster mixed-income transit oriented development.
"Household Auto Greenhouse Gas Emissions: New Maps Show that Urban
Living Helps Curb Global Warming" (http://htaindex.cnt.org )
New research by the Center for Neighborhood Technology compares
greenhouse gas emissions of household vehicle travel in 55 U.S.
metropolitan areas. These emissions tend to decline significantly (as
much as 70%) with smart growth transportation and land use
development patterns. Additional information at
http://www.cnt.org/news/2009/05/27/new-maps-show-that-urban-living-helps-curb-global-warming
and
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/f-kaid-benfield/village-green-dramatic-ne_b_208035.html
"Urban Transportation Emissions Calculator"
(http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/prog/2/UTEC-CETU/menu.aspx?lang=eng )
is a user-friendly, Internet-based tool developed by Transport Canada
that estimates greenhouse gas and criteria air contaminant emissions
from urban transportation. It can be used in a wide variety of
contexts involving different vehicle types (e.g., cars, commercial
trucks, buses, light rail), fuel technologies (e.g., gasoline,
diesel, hybrid, ethanol, biodiesel, etc.), and planning horizons (2006-2031).
Sincerely,
Todd Alexander Litman
Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)
litman at vtpi.org
Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
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