[sustran] VTPI Newsletter - Autumn 2009

[Todd Alexander Litman]

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              VTPI NEWS
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         Victoria Transport Policy Institute
            "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
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             Autumn 2009    Vol. 12, No. 4
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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.
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NEW DOCUMENTS
==============

"Where We Want To Be: Household Location Preferences And Their 
Implications For Smart Growth,"(http://www.vtpi.org/sgcp.pdf ).
This paper investigates consumer housing preferences and their 
implications for future urban development patterns. Market research 
indicates that households increasingly prefer smart growth features 
such as location accessibility (indicated by shorter commutes), land 
use mix (indicated by nearby shops and services), and transportation 
diversity (indicated by good walking conditions and public transit 
services), and many will choose small-lots and attached homes that 
offer these features over large-lot sprawl homes that do not. The 
current stock of large-lot housing should be adequate for decades, 
but the supply of small-lot and attached housing will need to 
approximately double by 2025 to meet consumer demands.


"Evaluating Transit-Oriented Development Using a Sustainability 
Framework: Lessons from Perth's Network City," 
(www.vtpi.org/renne_tod.pdf ), by Professor John Renne.
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is compact, mixed-use development 
that facilitates walking, bicycling, and use of public transport 
through its urban design. This chapter from the book 'Planning 
Sustainable Communities,' presents a method to evaluate TOD 
sustainability based on outcomes, including travel behaviour, local 
economic development, natural environment, built environment, social 
environment and policy context. The study applies this analysis 
framework to five rail transit precincts in Perth, Western Australia 
to test the feasibility of data collection and analysis.


"Who Is Really Paying For Your Parking Space? Estimating The Marginal 
Implicit Value Of Off-Street Parking Spaces For Condominiums In 
Central Edmonton," (www.vtpi.org/jung_parking.pdf ), by Owen Jung.
This master's thesis (economics) uses hedonic pricing to estimate the 
marginal effect of each additional structured parking space on 
condominium prices in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. The analysis 
indicates that the value of a parking space is statistically 
significant but substantially less than the typical cost of supplying 
such spaces. The results suggest that retail prices do not fully 
reflect the parking costs. This adversely affects housing 
affordability because developers must charge more per unit, and to 
the degree that the additional parking costs cannot be recovered by 
higher prices, are likely to provide less housing, leading to a 
higher market-clearing price, particularly in lower price ranges.


"Making the Most of Models: Using Models To Develop More Effective 
Transport Policies And Strategies" 
(http://www.vtpi.org/FerWig_Modelling.pdf ) by Peter Furnish and Don Wignall
This paper discusses how simplified transport models in evaluating 
transportation policies and programs. An example of a simplified 
model is described to illustrate the use of this type of modelling 
for policy and strategy development purposes.

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PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE
===================

"Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy: Recommendations and 
Research" (188-page report) and "The Transportation Prescription: 
Bold New Ideas for Healthy, Equitable Transportation Reform in 
America" (36-page summary report) by PolicyLink and the Prevention 
Institute Convergence Partnership 
(http://www.convergencepartnership.org/transportationhealthandequity )
These publications, written by leading academics and advocates, 
discuss key issues related to health, equity and transportation. They 
identify specific transportation policies and programs that can 
improve public health and quality of life, particularly for 
vulnerable communities. Includes an introduction by Representative 
Jim Oberstar, Chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee.


'Mobility as a Positional Good: Implications for Transport Policy and 
Planning,' by Todd Litman, in "Car Troubles: Critical Studies of 
Automobility and Auto-Mobility" (Jim Conley and Arlene Tigar McLaren 
eds), Ashgate (http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754677727 ). 
Introduction at 
http://www.ashgate.com/pdf/SamplePages/Car_Troubles_Intro.pdf . 
Chapter summarized in http://www.vtpi.org/prestige.pdf .
This book, with chapters written by various researchers, uses social 
theory, specific case studies and policy analysis to examine issues 
related to automobility.


"Parking Solutions: Essential Info Packet, Planning Advisory Service" 
(http://www.planning.org/pas/infopackets ), published by the American 
Planning Association's Planning Advisory Service. Includes papers by 
various authors including Todd Litman if VTPI. These packets include:
    * 'Parking Solutions' (130 pages): six documents that describe 
modern approaches to parking management.
    * 'Shared Parking" (133 pages): more than thirty documents 
concerning shared parking, parking in-lieu fees, parking requirement 
reductions and exemptions, and downtown district special parking requirements.
    * 'Green Parking Lot Design" (66 pages): three documents that 
describe ways to improve parking lot environmental performance 
including landscaping, stormwater management and reduced heat island effects.
    * 'Permeable Pavement and Bicycle Parking' (38 pages): five 
documents concerning the use of permeable parking lot pavement 
materials and five documents concerning bicycle parking requirements 
and design.

"Investment Of Commonwealth And State Funds In Public Passenger 
Transport," 31 July 2009, Rural And Regional Affairs And Transport 
References Committee, Australian Senate; at 
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/rrat_ctte/public_transport/report/report.pdf. 
Todd Litman's comments are at 
www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/S12320.pdf .
This study identified various benefits of public transportation and 
recommended various reforms to increase the value of transit investments.


'Creating Safe and Healthy Communities,' by Todd Litman, in 
"Environments: A Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies," 
(http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/research/environments/index.html ), Vol. 
35, No. 3, pp. 21-43.


'Integrated University Parking & Access Management Programs' by 
Dennis Burns and Todd Litman, in "Parking Management - Planning, 
Design and Operations" (Volume 3 in the Parking 101 Series, 2009), 
International Parking Institute 
(http://www.new.parking.org/products/parking-management-pdo ).


Recent Planetizen Blogs (http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ):
"Rea Vaya ('We are Moving') In South Africa" 
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/41414 )
"Sidewalk Design Vehicle" (http://www.planetizen.com/node/41262 )
"Universal Design - Accommodating Everybody" 
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/41097 )
"Home Location Preferences And Their Implications For Smart Growth" 
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/40461 )
"Moving Cooler Report: Solutions and Criticisms" 
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/39945)

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BEEN THERE - DONE THAT
=======================
Below are a few recent presentations by VTPI:

"Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow: Implications of Population Aging 
on Transportation and Community Planning" presented at, Exploring 
Age-Friendly Environments, Winnipeg, Canada.

"Capacity Building for Young Professionals," professional development 
classes in Argentina. This enjoyable visit to Buenos Aries involved 
teaching transportation and land use planning principles to a class 
of smart, enthusiastic young professionals. Muchas gracias to my hosts!

"Sustainable Transport Performance Indicators," presented at Toward 
Sustainable Transport System for Green Growth in the North Pacific, 
sponsored by the East-West Center and Korean Transport Institute, 
Honolulu, Hawaii.

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UPCOMING EVENTS
=================

"Where We Want To Be: Home Location Preferences And Their 
Implications For New Urbanism," to be presented at The Congress for 
the New Urbanism's 2009 Transportation Summit 
(http://www.cnu.org/transportation2009 ) to be held in Portland, 
Oregon, 4-6 November 2009.
This Summit will advance new ideas for creating compact, walkable 
communities that provide residents a high quality of life while 
preserving the natural environment. It brings together 150 to 200 
expert engineers, planners, public officials and design professionals 
to present ideas and work toward reforming transportation standards 
that obstruct urbanism.


"Bicycle Friendly Planning," to be presented at the International 
Cycling Symposium for Gumi, South Korea, 18 November 2009.


"Transportation and Health: The Evidence and the Opportunities," to 
be presented at the American Public Health Association 137th Annual 
Meeting, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 10:30 AM, in Philadelphia, 
PA. 
(<http://apha.confex.com/apha/137am/webprogram/Session27792.html>http://apha.confex.com/apha/137am/webprogram/Session27792.html 
).


"The VMT Reduction Target Debate: Will This Get Us Where We Want to 
Go?" (P10-0710)
Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, 10-14 January 2010, 
Washington DC (http://www.trb.org ).
This session will debate the role of VMT reduction targets to help 
achieve climate change emission reductions and other planning objectives .
    Todd Alexander Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Canada
    Marlon G. Boarnet, University of California, Irvine
In opposition to the use of VMT Reduction Targets as an effective GHG 
reduction strategy: (P10-0723)
    Alan E. Pisarski, Consultant
    Samuel Staley, Reason Foundation

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USEFUL RESOURCES
=================

"Economic Impact Of Public Transportation Investment," American 
Public Transportation Association 
(http://www.apta.com/resources/reportsandpublications/Documents/economic_impact_of_public_transportation_investment.pdf 
). This report describes methods for evaluating the economic 
development benefits of investments in public transportation.

"Non-Toll Pricing: A Primer," 
(http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08044/cp_prim6_00.htm ). 
This short document by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration 
describes various innovative pricing reforms, including efficient 
insurance and parking pricing.

"What Policies Are Effective At Reducing Carbon Emissions From 
Surface Passenger Transport? A Review Of Interventions To Encourage 
Behaviroual And Technological Change," 
(http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/ResearchProgrammes/TechnologyandPolicyAssessment/0904TransportReport.aspx 
) by the UK Energy Research Centre.

"On-Street Parking Management and Pricing Study" 
(http://www.sfcta.org/content/view/303/149 ).
This study by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority 
reviews the city's existing on-street parking management programs, 
considers innovative strategies and technologies for improved parking 
management, and discusses residential parking management issues, 
including the use of parking revenues to support neighborhood 
transportation enhancements. It includes several peer city parking 
management case studies. It provides recommendations for 
comprehensive neighborhood parking management to improve parking 
conditions and support policy goals.

"Walkability and Health; BC Sprawl Report 2009," 
(http://www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/Portals/0/Downloads/sgbc-sprawlreport-2009.pdf 
).
This study by Ray Tomalty and Murtaza Haider evaluates how community 
design factors (land use density and mix, street connectivity, 
sidewalk supply, street widths, block lengths, etc.) and a subjective 
walkability index rating (based on residents' evaluation of various 
factors) affect walking and biking activity, and health outcomes 
(hypertension and diabetes). The analysis reveals a statistically 
significant association between improved walkability and more walking 
and cycling activity, lower body mass index (BMI), and lower 
hypertension. The study also includes case studies which identified 
policy changes likely to improve health in specific communities.

"Moving Cooler: Transportation Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas 
Emissions," (http://www.movingcooler.info ).
This report, sponsored by a number of major transportation, business 
and environmental organizations evaluates several dozen climate 
change emission reduction strategies, including their emission 
reductions, implementation costs, impacts on vehicle costs, and 
equity impacts. It estimates the emissions that could be reduced 
under a range of assumptions about how they are implemented.

"Real Transportation Solutions for Greenhouse Gas Emissions 
Reductions" (http://www.transportation1.org/RealSolutions/index.html ).
This report by the American Association of State Highway 
Transportation Officials identifies various ways to reduce 
transportation climate change emissions.

"A Conceptual Framework For The Reform Of Taxes Related To Roads And 
Transport" 
(http://apo.org.au/research/conceptual-framework-reform-taxes-related-roads-and-transport 
), School of Economics and Finance, La Trobe University for the 
'Australia's Future Tax System' review by Treasury, Canberra.
This report examines how transport services in Australia should be 
priced and transportation facilities funded. It discusses various 
economic principles related to efficient prices and taxes, estimates 
various transportation-related external costs (road and parking 
facilities, congestion, accidents, energy consumption and pollution), 
evaluates current pricing efficiency and recommends various reforms 
to help achieve transportation planning objectives.

"Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Home Values in U.S. Cities" 
(http://www.ceosforcities.org/files/WalkingTheWalk_CEOsforCities1.pdf ).
This study by Joe Cortright of CEOs for Cities evaluates the effects 
of walkability on housing prices using the used Walkscore 
(www.walkscore.com) and 95,000 real estate transactions, controlling 
for house (size, number of bedrooms and baths, age) and neighborhood 
characteristics (proximity to the CBD, income, and accessibility to 
jobs). It found that, each walkscore point increase was associated 
with a $700 to $3000 increase in home values, after controlling for 
other observable factors, so for example, shifting from a 50th to a 
75th percentile walkscore typically increases a house's value $4,000 
to $34,000, depending on the market.

"Are TODs Over-Parked?" (http://www.uctc.net/papers/882.pdf ).
This study by Robert Cervero, Arlie Adkins, and Cathleen Sullivan 
investigated the degree to which residential developments near urban 
rail stations are "over-parked," that is, more parking is provided 
than needed. It found the mean parking supply of 1.57 spaces per unit 
was 31% higher than the 1.2 spaces recommended in ITE Parking 
Generation, and 37% higher than the weighted-average peak demand of 
1.15 parked cars per unit at 31 residential projects near BART rail 
stations. The analysis indicates that increased parking supply tends 
to increase vehicle ownership: an increase of 0.5 spaces per unit is 
associated with a 0.11 additional cars parked per unit at the peak. 
Parking demand tends to decline with improved pedestrian access to 
stations and improved transit service frequency.

"Applying Health Impact Assessment To Land Transport Planning" 
(http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/research/reports/375.pdf ).
This report by the NZ Transport Agency describes Health Impact 
Assessment (HIA), a process to inform decision makers about the 
likely positive and negative effects of a proposal on public health 
and on health inequalities in order to avoid unintended consequences 
and to make informed decisions. This report recommends transport 
policy and planning practices to protect and promote public health.

"Transportation Demand Management: A Small and Mid-Size Communities 
Toolkit" 
(http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/programs/documents/FBC_TDM_toolkit_web.pdf ).
This toolkit provides guidance on implementing TDM programs and 
strategies in smaller and medium-size communities. It includes an 
introduction to transportation demand management (TDM) and what it 
takes to implement a TDM strategy. There are 10 TDM case studies of 
small and mid-size communities. The toolkit shows how to start a TDM 
initiative and how to turn it into a comprehensive program, offering 
helpful resources.

Co-Benefits Asia Hub Website 
(http://www.observatory.ph/co-benefits_asia ) provides information on 
climate change emission reduction strategies that provide additional 
benefits related to environment (e.g. air quality management, health, 
agriculture, forestry and biodiversity), energy (e.g. renewable 
energy, alternative fuels and energy efficiency) and economics (e.g. 
long-term economic sustainability, industry competitiveness, income 
distribution).

"Getting More with Less: Managing Residential Parking in Urban 
Developments with Carsharing and Unbundling" 
(http://www.citycarshare.org/download/CityCarShare2009BestPracticesReport.pdf 
).
This new report describes examples of residential developments that 
rely on unbundled parking and on-site carshare services to 
significantly reduce parking requirements. Provides guidance to 
developers and planners on applying these strategies.

"CityTalent: Keeping Young Professionals (and their kids) in Cities," 
(http://www.ceosforcities.org/files/CEOs_CityTalent_Kids.pdf )
This new report by CEOs for Cities helps urban leaders understand, 
support and scale the behaviors of multi-generation urban families. 
Researchers studied parent concerns of safety, space and schools 
developing concepts to counter them through density, public space and 
using the city as a classroom.

"The Challenge of Sustainable Mobility in Urban Planning and 
Development in Oslo" 
(http://www.toi.no/getfile.php/Publikasjoner/T%D8I%20rapporter/2009/1024-2009/1024-2009-nett.pdf 
)
This report provides detailed analysis of transportation and land use 
development trends in Oslo, Norway. It indicates that smart growth 
policies and investments in alternative modes (particularly high 
quality public transit) can reduce per capita vehicle travel and 
energy consumption. It discusses this decoupling of economic 
development and VMT.



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"