[sustran] VTPI Newsletter - Summer 2010
Todd Alexander Litman
litman at vtpi.org
Fri Aug 20 07:16:49 JST 2010
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VTPI NEWS
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Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
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Summer 2010 Vol. 13, No. 3
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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 VTPI DOCUMENTS
====================
"Changing Vehicle Travel Price Sensitivities: The
Rebounding Rebound Effect" (http://www.vtpi.org/VMT_Elasticities.pdf )
This paper, submitted for presentation at the
Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting,
summarizes recent findings concerning
transportation price sensitivities. Some studies
found that fuel and vehicle travel price
elasticities declined significantly between 1960
and 2000, but recent research suggests that price
sensitivities have returned to more normal
levels, indicating that the rebound effect is
rebounding. This suggests that mobility
management strategies provide greater benefits
than many current energy conservation evaluation models indicate.
"Sustainability and Livability: Summary of
Definitions, Goals, Objectives and Performance
Indicators" (http://www.vtpi.org/sus_liv.pdf )
This short report summarizes basic definitions
and concepts for sustainable and livable transportation planning.
* * * * *
UPDATED DOCUMENTS
=================
"Evaluating Rail Transit Criticism" (http://www.vtpi.org/railcrit.pdf )
This report evaluates criticism of rail transit
systems, including a recent paper by Wendell Cox,
'Washingtons War on Cars and the Suburbs.' It
examines claims that rail transit is ineffective
at increasing public transit ridership,that rail
transit investments are not cost effective, and
that transit is an outdated mode of
transportation. It finds that critics often
misrepresent issues and use biased and inaccurate analysis.
* * * * *
PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE
===================
"Evaluating Public Transportation Health
Benefits"
(http://www.apta.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/2010/Pages/100811_Public%20Health%20Benefits.aspx
), written by VTPI for the American Public Transportation Association.
This report investigates ways that public
transportation affects human health, and
practical methods for considering these impacts
in policy and planning decisions. This research
indicates that public transit improvements and
more transit oriented development can provide
large but often overlooked health benefits.
People who live or work in communities with high
quality transit tend to drive significantly less
and rely more on alternative modes (walking,
cycling and public transit) than they otherwise
would, which reduces per capita traffic crash and
pollution emission rates, increases physical
fitness, and improves access to medical care and
healthy food. These impacts are significant in
magnitude compared with other planning objectives
but are often overlooked or undervalued in conventional planning.
Recent Planetizen Blogs (http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ):
* * * * *
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
====================
"Benefit/Cost Analysis for Transportation
Infrastructure: A Practitioners Workshop,"
sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Transportation, held 17 May 2010 in Washington
DC. Presentation slides are available at
http://tti.tamu.edu/conferences/benefit_cost10/program
"Changing Course for the Transport Sector" ADB
Transport Forum, Manila, 25-27 May 2010
(http://www.adb.org/documents/events/2010/transport-forum/default.asp
). Ministers, industry decision-makers,
researchers and representatives of civil society
from more than 30 countries participated in this event.
"Environment and Energy Research Conference"
(http://cte.ncsu.edu/CTE/EEConference/index.asp )
Transportation Research Board Conference, 6-10
June 2010, Raleigh, North Carolina.
* * * * *
UPCOMING EVENTS
=================
"Indicators for Sustainable Transport Policy
Making and Performance Evaluation," keynote
presentation at 'A New Decade in Sustainable
Transport: Fifth Regional EST Forum in Asia'
United Nations Center for Regional Development
(http://www.uncrd.or.jp/env/5th-regional-est-forum/doc/programme.pdf
), 24 August 2010, Bangkok.
"Economic Impacts of Transportation
Enhancements," at the National Transportation
Enhancements Clearinghouse Workshop
(http://www.enhancements.org/seminar/seminarfy10.asp
), 16-17 September 2010, Chattanooga, held in
conjunction with ProBike/ProWalk
(http://www.bikewalk.org/2010conference/index.php )
"Win-Win Emission Reductions" at the Vancouver
Island Air & Waste Management Association
(http://www.pnwis.org/Ch_VI/monthlyluncheon.htm )
Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 11:30 - 13:10,
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Cedar+Hill+Golf+Course,+Victoria,+BC&sll=48.456758,-123.357153&sspn=0.025501,0.054846&ie=UTF8&hq=Cedar+Hill+Golf+Course,&hnear=Victoria,+BC,+Canada&ll=48.45431,-123.359385&spn=0.025502,0.054846&z=14>Cedar
Hill Golf Course Victoria, B.C.
"Livable Communities, Housing and Health -
Toolbox Session" at 'Railvolution 2010' (http://www.railvolution.com ).
This workshop will identify ways that transit
oriented development and more
affordable-accessible housing can help achieve
public health and social equity objectives.
* * * * *
USEFUL RESOURCES
=================
"Transit Score"
(http://www.walkscore.com/transit-score.php )
measures how well a location is served by public
transit based on the distance to the nearest
transit stop and the quality of transit service.
This is used to calculate a score between 0
100, similar to Walk Score (http://www.walkscore.com )
"Framework for Measuring Sustainable Regional
Development for the Twin Cities
Region"(www.cts.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchReports/pdfdownload.pl?id=1328 ).
This major study by the University of Minnesota
developed a framework for evaluating sustainable
development in the Twin Cities metropolitan
region. The proposed framework includes a set of
six sustainability principles, and 38 indicators,
each with specific definitions of how it can be
measured and suitable data sources. This is one
of the best framework of its kind.
"Time Lost by Driving Fast in the United States"
(http://mdm.sagepub.com/content/early/2010/03/29/0272989X09357476 )
This study by Professors Donald A. Redelmeier and
Ahmed M. Bayoumi indicates that that in the U.S.,
one hour spent driving was associated with
approximately 20 minutes reduction in life
expectancy due to crash risk. For the average
driver, each one kilometer per hour (0.6-mph)
increase in driving speed yielded a 26-second
increase in total expected lost time because the
savings from reduced travel time were more than
offset by time lost to increased crashes.
"P-A-Y-D: As easy to support as 1 - 2 - 3"
(http://www.paydpilot.ca ) . This website and
video by Cliff Caprani of Sha-na-key films
introduces the concept of Pay-As-You-Drive
vehicle insurance and advocates its implementation in British Columbia.
"Relative Costs And Benefits Of Modal Transport
Solutions"
(http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/research/reports/393/docs/393.pdf )
This report provides guidance to local
authorities about the costs and benefits of
transport modes. It provides estimates of vehicle
costs, infrastructure, travel time, accidents,
health impacts, and pollution costs. It also
discusses related urban transport planning
issues, including travel demand, relationships
between land use and transport, and road space
and traffic management. A selection of case
studies provides specific illustrations of these issues.
"Shared Path Widths"
(http://viastrada.co.nz/pub/shared-path-widths ).
This poster provides practical guidance on the
design and management of non-motorized facilities.
A wonderful 1906 film of a trolley trip along
Market Street in San Francisco
(<http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k>www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k)
and a 1908 film of a trolley trip through
Barcelona, Spain
(<http://www.flixxy.com/barcelona-spain-1908.htm>www.flixxy.com/barcelona-spain-1908.htm)
show the use of urban streets a century ago.
"Data & Capacity Needs for Transportation NAMAs:
Report 1, Data Availability"
(http://www.ccap.org/docs/resources/925/CCAP_Transport_NAMA_Data_Availability.pdf
).
This is the first in a series of research reports
by Cambridge Systematics and the Center for Clean
Air Policy, assessing data and capacity needs for
developing, implementing and evaluating
successful transportation Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs).
"Reducing Carbon Emissions from Transport
Projects"
(http://www.adb.org/evaluation/reports/ekb-carbon-emissions-transport.asp )
This report identifies ways the Asian Development
Bank can assistance developing member countries
in creating more sustainable transport systems.
It describes models for evaluating how specific
transport policy decisions affect energy
consumption and pollution emissions. This
analysis considers the generated traffic impacts,
the cobenefits of demand management and other indirect impacts.
"Choosing Where We Live: Attracting Residents to
Transit-Oriented Neighborhoods; A Briefing Book
for City Planners and Managers"
(http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/smart_growth/tod/5-10/Briefing_Book-Choosing_Where_We_Live.pdf
)
This report identifies various housing market
segments and describes ways to make transit
oriented development more attractive in response
to their specific needs and preferences. It
includes recommendations for improving walking
and cycling condition, transit service quality,
neighborhood livability (quiet, cleanliness and
safety), school quality and accessibility,
parking management, and urban housing affordability.
"Promoting Livable Communities: Examining The
Internal Revenue Code And Reforming Its Influence
On The Built Environment"
(http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab083048.pdf ).
This report by Smart Growth America and the
American Institute of Architects reviews federal
tax code features that affect community
development patterns. It recommends specific
policy reforms to better support livable
community development, including clearer
definitions regarding livable community features,
changes to federal tax codes, legal provisions to
develop livable community tax districts, and
federal policies that encourage development of more affordable housing.
"The Hidden Health Costs of Transportation:
Backgrounder"
(http://www.apha.org/NR/rdonlyres/B96B32A2-FA00-4D79-99AB-F0446C63B254/0/TheHiddenHealthCostsofTransportationBackgrounder.pdf
)
This report by the American Public Health
Association identifies various ways that
transportation systems affect public health,
including physical activity, safety, air quality,
affordability and equity. It describes methods
for quantifying and monetizing these impacts and
recommends specific policy and planning reforms
to create more balanced transportation systems that support health objectives.
"Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A
Context Sensitive Approach, Recommended Practice" (http://www.ite.org/css )
This free new report by the Institute of
Transportation Engineers provides practical
guidance on the application of Context Sensitive
Solutions to create roadways that better
integrate diverse planning objectives and meet community needs.
"Growing GreenLITES" (http://www.nysdot.gov/programs/greenlites )
Greenlites (Green Leadership In Transportation
Environmental Sustainability) by the New York
State Department of Transportation promotes more
sustainable and livable transport planning. It
uses a detailed spreadsheet that rates individual
projects according to various objectives and impacts.
"Vision California - Charting Our Future" (http://www.visioncalifornia.org )
Vision California uses the new 'Rapid Fire Model'
spreadsheet tool to evaluate regional and
statewide land use and transportation scenario
impacts on vehicle travel, pollution emissions,
water use, building energy use, transportation
fuel use, land consumption, and public infrastructure costs.
"Canadian Guidelines for the Measurement of
Transportation Demand Management Initiatives"
(http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/programs/environment-urban-guidelines-practitioners-tdmguide2009-menu-1657.htm
).
This guidebook is designed to help organizations
implementing TDM strategies to evaluate progress
toward established objectives.
"TDM Supportive Guidelines For Development
Approvals: A Handbook For Practitioners"
(http://www.actcanada.com/actcanada/en/tdmsupportiveguidlines1.aspx )
This report provides recommendations for planners
to better incorporate Transportation Demand
Management strategies into land development.
"ITDP in South Africa" (http://vimeo.com/13170113 ).
This video by Brian McAllister describes the
success of the Institute for Transportation and
Development Policy (ITDP) in Africa, particularly
the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. Also see http://vimeo.com/tag:itdp
"Equity Analysis of Land Use and Transport Plans
Using an Integrated Spatial Model"
(http://www.transweb.sjsu.edu/MTIportal/research/publications/documents/Equity%20Analysis%20of%20Land%20Use%20(with%20Covers).pdf
)
This study used the PECAS Activity Allocation
Module to evaluate the equity effects of land use
and transport policies intended to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The results show that a
more compact urban form designed around transit
stations can reduce travel costs, labor costs,
and housing costs by increasing accessibility,
which can lead to substantial net benefits for
various industries and lower income households.
"The Role of Land Use in Reducing VMT and GHG
Emissions: A Critique of TRB Special Report 298"
(http://www.calthorpe.com/files/TRB-NAS%20Report%20298%20Critique.pdf ).
This short report provides additional information
on the effects that smart growth land use polices
can have in achieving VMT and GHG reduction
targets. It critiques the assumptions and
modeling methods used in the TRB report, and
investigates consumer demand for more accessible,
multi-modal residential locations.
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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