[sustran] VTPI Newsletter - Summer 2011

[Todd Alexander Litman]

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             VTPI NEWS
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        Victoria Transport Policy Institute
           "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
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            Summer 2011    Vol. 11, 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.
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NEW VTPI DOCUMENTS
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"Smart Congestion Relief: Comprehensive Analysis Of Traffic Congestion Costs and Congestion Reduction Benefits" (http://www.vtpi.org/cong_relief.pdf )
This report critically evaluates the methods used to measure traffic congestion impacts. Current methods tend to exaggerate congestion costs and roadway expansion benefits. This study develops a more comprehensive evaluation framework which is applied to four congestion reduction strategies: unpriced roadway expansion, improving alternative modes, pricing reforms, and smart growth land use policies. The results indicate that highway expansion often provides less overall benefit than alternative congestion reduction policies. Comprehensive evaluation can identify more efficient and equitable congestion solutions. It is important that decision makers understand the omissions and biases in current evaluation methods. 

"Affordable-Accessible Housing Photo Essay" (http://www.vtpi.org/aff_acc_photo.pdf )
This photo essay illustrates various types of affordable-accessible housing (affordable housing suitable for compact development). It highlights specific design features that can make such housing more acceptable to neighbors. It is an appendix to the report, "Affordable-Accessible Housing In A Dynamic City: Why and How To Support Development of More Affordable Housing In Accessible Locations" (http://www.vtpi.org/aff_acc_hou.pdf).

"Planners’ Guide To Victoria: Highlights For Urban Exploration And Discovery" (http://www.vtpi.org/vic_pg.pdf )
This short guide describes general attributes that make urban areas successful, and ways these are expressed in Victoria, British Columbia.

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UPDATED DOCUMENTS
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Below are a few of many recently updated VTPI documents:

"The Future Isn’t What It Used To Be: Changing Trends And Their Implications For Transport Planning" (http://www.vtpi.org/future.pdf ).
This report examines demographic, economic and market trends that affect travel demand (the amount and type of travel people will choose), and their implications for transport planning. Per capita vehicle ownership and mileage have peaked in the U.S., while demand for alternatives such as walking, cycling, public transit and telework is increasing. This indicates that future transport demand will be increasingly diverse. Transport planning can reflect these shifts by increasing support for alternative modes.

"Safe Travels: Evaluating Mobility Management Traffic Safety Impacts" (http://www.vtpi.org/safetrav.pdf )
This report investigates the relationships between mobility (the amount people travel) and crash risk, and the safety impacts of mobility management strategies that change the ways and the amount people travel. Evidence summarized in this report indicates that per capita traffic crash rates tend to increase with per capita vehicle travel, and mobility management strategies can provide significant safety benefits. Conventional traffic risk analysis understates many of these impacts. 

"Changing Vehicle Travel Price Sensitivities: The Rebounding Rebound Effect" (www.vtpi.org/VMT_Elasticities.pdf ).
This report discusses the concepts of price elasticities and rebound effects, reviews information on vehicle travel and fuel price elasticities, examines evidence of changing price elasticities, and discusses policy implications. Recent evidence suggests that transport is becoming more price sensitive, which indicates that pricing reforms are likely to be more effective and provide greater benefits than previous projections indicated.

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PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE
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“Bias Begets Dependency: Conventional Planning Favors Automobile Travel” (http://cpm.dgtlpub.com/2011/2011-08-31/home.php ), Canadian Property Management, July/Aug 2011, pp. 30-32 (click on arrows in upper right corner to reach page 30). 
This article, coauthored with Marc Brenman, describes how current planning biases tend to favor automobile travel over more affordable modes, which is inefficient and inequitable. It is based on our report, "A New Social Equity Agenda For Sustainable Transportation" (http://www.vtpi.org/equityagenda.pdf )

"Foot Traffic Key To Smarter, Healthier Towns," (http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110717/GREEN01/107170304/Planner-Foot-traffic-key-smarter-healthier-towns ), Burlington Free Press, 17 July 2011.

"How Young Is Too Young To Bike With Your Kid? " (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/young-children/children-trends/how-young-is-too-young-to-bike-with-your-kid/article2113366 ), Globe and Mail, 29 July 2011

This column Neil Peirce, "Fighting Traffic Deaths: Incomplete Without Smart Growth" (http://citiwire.net/post/2881 ) is based on my Planetizen blog, "Integrated Planning for Community Health and Safety" (http://www.planetizen.com/node/50571 )

This column by Ed Dolan, "Fuel Taxes vs Fuel Economy: Are Stricter Fuel Economy Standards a Good Idea?" (http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Fuel-Taxes-vs-Fuel-Economy-Are-Stricter-Fuel-Economy-Standards-a-Good-Idea.html ), and "The Rebounding Rebound Effect" (http://cleanenergywonk.com/2011/06/14/the-rebounding-rebound-effect-how-to-dodge-jevons-paradox ) are based on our research on increasing transport price elasticities (www.vtpi.org/VMT_Elasticities.pdf ). 

Recent Planetizen Blogs (http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394  <http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394> ):
"Integrated Planning for Community Health and Safety <http://www.planetizen.com/node/50571> "
"Land Use Impacts On Travel: Current State of Knowledge <http://www.planetizen.com/node/50451> "
"An Inaccurate Attack On Smart Growth <http://www.planetizen.com/node/49772> "

New Geography Comments (http://www.newgeography.com/users/todd-litman ).

Let’s be friends.  Todd Litman regularly posts on his Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=550795001 ). Befriend him now!
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VTPI Action Team
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The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is developing a list of experts who can volunteer to work on Victoria Transport Policy Institute projects. This will typically involve 10-40 hours of work on a particular research project. We need experts in: technical writing, research, transport and land use policy analysis, economic evaluation and website development. If you are interested and qualified, please send a short description of your interests, abilities and availability to: info at vtpi.org. 
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BEEN THERE – DONE THAT
======================

Presented "Evaluating Sustainable Economic Development for Transport Planning" at the Transportation Research Board Summer Meeting , 11 July 2011.

Presented, "The Economic Impacts of Walking and Bicycling Facilities: Why it makes economic sense to invest in them" at a ITE meeting, Montpelier, Vermont, 15 July 2011
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UPCOMING EVENTS WITH VTPI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TODD LITMAN
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“Healthy and Equitable Transport Planning" the closing session Keynote Address at the Towards Carfree Cities International Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, (http://www.worldcarfree.net/conference) 9 Friday September. 

"Sustainable Transportation Principles and Planning Practices Presentation" at the Conference On Sustainable Mobility - From Plan To Reality (http://www.transportsviables.org/stca/programmation-2011/mardi-20-septembre ) organized by Acces Transports Viables in Quebec City, 20 September 2011.

“What's It Worth? Comprehensive Evaluation of Walking Benefits Workshop" (Session 203) at Walk 21: the 12th International Conference on Walking and Liveable Communities (http://www.walk21.com/vancouver ), on Monday, 3 October 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Note to out-of-region attendees: please consider visiting Victoria before or after the Conference. For information see our new report, "Planners’ Guide To Victoria: Highlights For Urban Exploration And Discovery" (http://www.vtpi.org/vic_pg.pdf ) or contact us at info at vtpi.org .

IN MEMORIAM
============
Lee Schipper (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/LeonJSchipper)
“We were all his students – In Memory of Lee Schipper” (http://www.ccap.org/blog/?p=88 )

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

"Co-benefit Approaches: Building Sustainable Transport Infrastructure" (http://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/topic/asianfocus201107.html ) 
This interview with Sophie Punte, Executive Director of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) discusses current efforts to apply co-benefit analysis to transport decision-making. In 2010 various Asian governments and international organisations established the Asian Co-benefits Partnership (http://www.iges.or.jp/en/cp/co-benefits.html ). Also see “Win-Win Transportation Solutions” (http://www.vtpi.org/winwin.pdf )

"Repair Priorities: Transportation Spending Strategies To Save Taxpayer Dollars And Improve Roads" (http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/repair-priorities.pdf ), for Smart Growth America (www.smartgrowthamerica.org) and Taxpayers for Common Sense (www.taxpayer.net).
This report recommends that, as roadway systems mature and age it is rational to invest less in roadway expansion and more in operations and maintenance.  

"Vilnius, Lithuania Cracks Down Heavily On Parking Violators" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-fWN0FmcIU&feature=player_embedded ). This video shows Vilnius Mayor Arturas Zuokas driving a military vehicle over and wrecking a Mercedes car illegally parked on a cycle lane to encourage motorists to observe regulations. The mayor then helps clean up the mess and departs by bicycle.

"Car Crazy: Lee Schipper on the Perils of Asia’s Hyper-Motorization" (http://worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/car-crazy-lee-schipper-on-the-perils-of-asia%E2%80%99s-hyper-motorization ). This column by the late Professor Lee Schipper discusses the impacts that excessive automobile dependence impose on rapidly developing countries in Asia.

"Transportation Planning for Sustainability Guidebook" (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate/resources.htm#sustain <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate/resources.htm>  ).
This Federal Highway Administration guidebook describes various practices, analytical tools, and supporting data being used in the US and internationally to incorporate sustainability concepts in transportation decision making. 

"Statewide Scenarios Report: Vision California - Charting Our Future" (http://www.visioncalifornia.org/Vision%20California%20-%20Charting%20Our%20Future%20-%20Report%20-%20March%202011.pdf ).
This document describes the “Urban Footprint” map-based model and the “Rapid Fire” spreadsheet-based tool, that can be used to evaluate potential growth scenarios to help guide state infrastructure investments.

"Making The Case For Investment In The Walking Environment" (http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/makingthecase ). 
This report discusses the value of pedestrian facility investments. It describes various types of pedestrian improvements; their impacts on travel activity and local environmental quality; the health, social, environmental and economic benefits that can result; methods for measuring these benefits; and several examples and case studies.

"Fairness in a Car Dependent Society" (http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/fairness-in-a-car-dependent-society.html ).
This report by the U.K. Sustainable Development Commission analyzes the social costs of car dependency, and provides strategies to ensure that transport policy decisions are fair to everybody, not just motorists. 

"How Affordable is Transportation? An Accessibility-Based Evaluation" (http://www.cts.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchReports/reportdetail.html?id=2024 ).
This study developed a transportation affordability analysis framework that accounts for the different demands and abilities of various demographic and geographic groups. This analysis indicates that some disadvantaged groups, such as lower-income working parents, have relatively low auto ownership rate but have high mobility needs, particularly in auto-oriented locations. It recommends a combination of reduced automobile dependence and targeted subsidies for automobile access.

"Where We Need to Go: A Civil Rights Roadmap for Transportation Equity" (http://www.protectcivilrights.org/pdf/docs/transportation/52846576-Where-We-Need-to-Go-A-Civil-Rights-Roadmap-for-Transportation-Equity.pdf ).
This report investigates transportation policy social equity and civil rights impacts. It argues that affordable and reliable transport is essential to achieving social equity objectives such as poverty reduction, economic opportunity and healthcare access, that motor vehicle traffic imposes significant risks to vulnerable communities, and that, current transport planning tends to overlook many of these impacts, resulting in excessive costs and inadequate support to vulnerable populations. 

"Equity of Evolving Transportation Finance Mechanisms" Special Report 303, Transportation Research Board (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr303.pdf ).
This major new study assesses transportation finance equity impacts. It defines various types of equity impacts, discusses evaluation methods, and describes examples of their application. It indicates ways to address equity concerns and objectives in transport pricing and tax design. 

"Recapturing Global Leadership in Bus Rapid Transit: A Survey of Select U.S. Cities" (http://www.itdp.org/documents/20110526ITDP_USBRT_Report-HR.pdf ). 
This report by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy describes a rating system which can be used to evaluate current and planned bus rapid transit (BRT) projects. It describes best international practices for BRT development and discusses their application in North America.

"A Parking Utilization Survey of Transit-Oriented Development Residential Properties in Santa Clara County" (http://www.sjsu.edu/urbanplanning/docs/VTA-TODParkingSurveyReport-VolI.pdf ).
This report by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and researchers at San José State University’s measured the parking utilization for residents of 12 Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) near rail stations. The study found that many of these properties are “over‐parked” (they have more spaces than needed). 

"Municipal Infrastructure Planning and Cost Model User’s Manual" (http://www.governor.state.ut.us/planning/mipcom.htm ).
This easy-to-use spreadsheet model developed by the Utah’s Governor’s Office estimates infrastructure construction and operation for new development. It indicates substantial savings from more compact development, so impact fees should typically be 20% lower for infill development.

"Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation: Transport Sector" (http://tech-action.org/Guidebooks/TNAhandbook_Transport.pdf ).
This Guidebook sponsored by the United Nations Environmental Program is intended to help developing country governments, transport planners, and stakeholders working on transport sector climate change emission reduction plans. 

"How We Travel: A Sustainable National Program for Travel Data" (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr304.pdf ), Special Report 304, Transportation Research Board.
This study assesses the current state of travel data, including a review of transportation-related data collected by federal, state, and local government agencies and private organizations. It describes the various uses of this information and problems from inadequate data, and estimates collection costs. It recommends the organization of a National Travel Data Program to collect an integrated set of essential transport statistics. 

"Using National Household Travel Survey Data for Transportation Decision Making" (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/conferences/2011/NHTS1/program.pdf )
This conference agenda includes hyperlinks to presentations. The overview presentation (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/conferences/2011/NHTS1/Polzin2.pdf ) summarizes key trends, including substantial declines in vehicle travel by younger residents compared with those same age groups eight years prior.

"Guide To Sustainable Transportation Performance Measures" (http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/Sustainable_Transpo_Performance.pdf ). 
This new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidebook describes sustainable transportation performance measures (indicators) suitable for local, regional and state planning. It discusses the application of sustainability indicators in transportation decision-making, and provides specific examples of how metropolitan planning organizations have used such indicators for various types of strategic and project planning, investment decisions, and performance evaluation. 

"Green Freight Transport" (www.slocat.net/content-stream/254) by the Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) discusses various sustainable freight transport policies.

"Are Taxes On Carsharing Too High? A Review Of The Public Benefits And Tax Burden Of An Expanding Transportation Sector" (http://las.depaul.edu/chaddick/docs/Docs/DePaul_University_Study_on_Taxation_of_C.pdf ).
This study evaluates the impact of taxes levied on rental vehicles and therefore carsharing. It concludes that carsharing provides substantial benefits, that taxes are substantially higher on carsharing than other forms of consumer transport, and that this reduces carshare development and increases automobile use. These findings justify tax policy reforms. 

"Impact of Carsharing on Household Vehicle Holdings: Results from North American Shared-Use Vehicle Survey" (http://tsrc.berkeley.edu/NewsandEvents/Impact_of_Carsharing_on_Household.pdf ). 
This paper summarizes a survey of North American carshare service members. The results show that members significantly reduce their vehicle ownership, on average from 0.47 to 0.24 vehicles per household, providing substantial reductions in vehicle use. 

"Road To Recovery: Transforming America’s Transportation" (http://carnegieendowment.org/2011/07/11/road-to-recovery-transforming-america-s-transportation/3e1h ).
This major study finds that US surface transport system costs, including deferred maintenance, total $175 billion annually more than user fee revenues, and discusses various economic and environmental problems that result. It recommends a 5% upstream (at production or importation) oil tax, plus a special tax that maintains minimum retail prices when oil prices decline to avoid price spikes and crashes. It also recommends transport planning and investment reforms to create a more efficient transport system.

"Transportation and Health: Policy Interventions for Safer, Healthier People and Communities" (http://www.prevent.org/Additional-Pages/Transportation-and-Health.aspx ). 
This comprehensive study by the Partnership for Prevention examines transport policies that can improve public health by reducing vehicle emissions and crashes, and increasing physical activity.

"The Health Risks And Benefits Of Cycling In Urban Environments Compared With Car Use: Health Impact Assessment Study" (http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d4521.full ).
This study published in the British Medical Journal quantifies the overall health impacts caused by shifts from urban driving to urban cycling, including increases in accident risk, air pollution exposure and improved public fitness. In a case study it concludes that the health benefit/risk ratio is 77 (77 years of life saved for each year lost). This does not account for the additional health benefits from reduced accident risk to other road users or reduced air pollution emissions to city residents.

"The State Smart Transportation Initiative" (http://www.ssti.us ) works with state and local policymakers to promote practices that advance environmental sustainability and equitable economic development, while maintaining high standards of governmental efficiency and transparency. SSTI serves as a community of practice where participating agencies can learn together and share experiences as they implement innovative ST policies.
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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 email list. And please pass this newsletter on to others who may find it useful.


Sincerely,
Todd Litman
Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org <http://www.vtpi.org/> )
litman at vtpi.org
facebook.com/todd.litman
Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA
“Efficiency - Equity - Clarity”