[sustran] VTPI News, Fall 2012

Todd Alexander Litman litman at vtpi.org
Tue Dec 11 10:20:51 JST 2012


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             VTPI NEWS

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              Victoria Transport Policy Institute

              "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"

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              Fall 2012    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> 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

====================

"Evaluating Complete Streets: The Value of Designing Roads For Diverse
Modes, Users and Activities" (http://www.vtpi.org/compstr.pdf )

'Complete streets' refers to roads designed to accommodate diverse modes,
users and activities including walking, cycling, public transit, automobile,
nearby businesses and residents. Such street design helps create more
multi-modal transport systems and more livable communities. This report
discusses reasons to implement complete streets and how it relates to other
planning innovations. Complete streets can provide many direct and indirect
benefits including improved accessibility for non-drivers, user savings and
affordability, energy conservation and emission reductions, improved
community livability, improved public fitness and health, and support for
strategic development objectives such as urban redevelopment and reduced
sprawl. 

 

"Safer Than You Think! Revising the Transit Safety Narrative"
(http://www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf )

Public transportation is a very safe mode of travel, and total per capita
traffic casualties tend to decline as public transit ridership increases in
a community. However, many people have the misimpression that transit is
dangerous, and so are reluctant to use it or support transit service
expansion in their communities. Various factors contribute to this transit
dread (excessive and irrational fear), including conventional traffic safety
messages, heavy media coverage of transit-related crashes and crimes, and
the nature of public transit, which requires travel with strangers in
confined spaces. There is much that public transit agencies can do to change
the narrative to emphasize the overall safety of public transit travel,
improve passengers' sense of security, and provide better guidance
concerning how passengers and communities can enhance transit safety and
security.

 

"Local Funding Options for Public Transportation"
(http://www.vtpi.org/tranfund.pdf )

This paper summarizes results of a study that identified and evaluated
potential local funding options to help finance public transit improvements.
It evaluates eighteen options according to eight criteria. This is a
somewhat larger set of funding options and more detailed and systematic
evaluation process than most previous studies of this type. This research
discovered no new options that are particularly cost effective and easy to
implement; each option has disadvantages and constraints. As a result, the
overall conclusion of this study is that a variety of funding options should
be used to help finance public transit improvements to insure stability and
distribute costs broadly.

 

"Toward More Comprehensive and Multi-modal Transport Evaluation"
(http://www.vtpi.org/comp_evaluation.pdf )

This report critically evaluates conventional transport policy and project
evaluation practices and describes ways to make them more comprehensive and
multi-modal. The conventional transport planning paradigm is mobility-based,
it assumes that the planning objective is to maximize travel speed and
distance, and evaluates transport system performance based primarily on
automobile travel conditions. A new paradigm recognizes that mobility is
seldom an end in itself; the ultimate goal of most transport activity is
accessibility, which refers to people's overall ability to reach desired
services and activities. This new paradigm expands the range of objectives,
impacts and options considered in the planning process. It recognizes
additional costs from increased motorized transportation and more benefits
from walking, cycling and public transport. More comprehensive and
multi-modal planning is particularly important in large growing cities where
increased motor vehicle traffic imposes particularly large costs, and in
developing countries where a major portion of households cannot afford cars.

          *    *    *    *    *

 

UPDATED DOCUMENTS

=================

Below are recently updated VTPI documents.

 

"Smart Congestion Relief: Comprehensive Analysis Of Traffic Congestion Costs
and Congestion Reduction Benefits" (http://www.vtpi.org/cong_relief.pdf )

This report examines the methods used to evaluate traffic congestion costs
and the benefits of various congestion reduction strategies. It describes
various biases in current congestion evaluation practices. It develops a
more comprehensive framework for evaluating congestion reduction strategies.
It is important that decision makers understand the omissions and biases in
current evaluation methods.

 

"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 investigates how demographic and economic trends will affect
future transport demands (the amount and type of travel people would
choose), and their implications. Motor vehicle travel grew steadily during
the Twentieth Century but has started to peak in most developed countries.
Aging population, rising fuel prices, increasing urbanization, improving
travel options, increasing health and environmental concerns, and changing
consumer preferences are reducing demand for automobile travel and
increasing demand for alternatives. This paper discusses ways that transport
policies and planning practices can respond to these changing demands.

                 *    *    *    *    *

 

PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE

=================== 

"Reducing Carbon Emissions through TDM Strategies - A Review of
International Examples" (
<http://tdm-beijing.org/files/International_Review_Executive_Summary.pdf>
http://tdm-beijing.org/files/International_Review_Executive_Summary.pdf )
for Transport Demand Management in Beijing. This report discusses promising
TDM options for Chinese cities. It describes international examples of
effective transport policy reforms used in London, Singapore, New York,
Berlin, Seoul, San Francisco and other cities.

 

"Current Mobility Trends - Implications for Sustainability"
(http://www.vtpi.org/Keep_Moving_Litman.pdf ) chapter in Keep Moving,
Towards Sustainable Mobility, for the European Environmental and Sustainable
Development Advisory Councils (EEAC) and the Dutch Council for the
Environment and Infrastructure (Rli).

 

"Comprehensive Evaluation of Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction
Policies" (http://www.vtpi.org/comp_em_eval.pdf ) will be published in
Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice.

This article uses a comprehensive framework for evaluating various
transportation energy conservation and emission reduction strategies. 

 

"You Pay the Toll. Where Should That Money Go? " ( <http://nyti.ms/UNZlfN>
http://nyti.ms/UNZlfN ), New York Times Room For Debate. 

 

Recent Planetizen Blogs ( <http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394>
http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ):

'Toward Comprehensive and Multi-Modal Performance Evaluation'
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/59466 ) 

'Greetings from Manila' (http://www.planetizen.com/node/59172 )

'Share Your Ideas for Evaluating Transport System Performance'
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/58924 )

'Toward More Comprehensive Understanding of Traffic Congestion'
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/58429 )

 

Let's be friends.  Todd Litman regularly posts on his Facebook page (
<http://www.facebook.com/todd.litman> http://www.facebook.com/todd.litman).
Befriend him now!

                 *    *    *    *    *

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

==================

The Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
(http://www.trb.org/AnnualMeeting2013/AnnualMeeting2013.aspx ) takes place
January 13-17 in Washington DC. Below are sessions and committee meeting
were Todd Litman will present.

 


Session

Session Title

Date

Time

Hotel/Room


296

Revenue and Finance Showcase

Mon 1/14/2013

10:45am-12:30pm

Hilton, International Center


352

Innovative Approaches and Case Studies in Transit Management and Performance

Mon 1/14/2013

2:00pm- 3:45pm

Hilton, International Center


458

Valuing Transportation-Related Data

Mon 1/14/2013

7:30pm- 9:30pm

Hilton, International West


 

Sustainable Transportation Indicators Subcommittee, ADD40(1)

Tue 1/15/2013

12:15pm- 1:15pm

Hilton, Columbia Hall 4


798

Transport Data Program Development: International Best Practices, Part 1
(Part 2, Session 824)

Wed 1/16/2013

2:30pm- 4:00pm

Hilton, International West


824

Transport Data Program Development: International Best Practices, Part 2
(Part 1, Session 798)

Wed 1/16/2013

4:30pm- 6:00pm

Hilton, International West

                 *    *    *    *    *

 

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

========================

Discussion of how transport policy affects art and beauty, presented at the
' Flesh and Concrete' art exhibition in Mexico City:

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykcgVOfwHcI&feature=plcp>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykcgVOfwHcI&feature=plcp

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3jwxSQV-4Y&feature=plcp>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3jwxSQV-4Y&feature=plcp

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd3rcLb3tRQ&feature=plcp>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd3rcLb3tRQ&feature=plcp

 

 

USEFUL RESOURCES

=================

"Integrating Transportation Demand Management Into the Planning and
Development Process: A Reference for Cities"
(http://www.icommutesd.com/documents/TDMStudy_May2012_webversion_000.pdf ).
This guide offers policy makers, planners, traffic engineers, and land
development proposal reviewers appropriate case studies and resources for
integrating TDM throughout the various land development stages from
long-range planning to site development, and recommendations for managing,
monitoring, and evaluating TDM program effectiveness. 

 

"The Environmental Paradox of Cities: Getting Around Dubai"
(http://www.vtpi.org/Kelbaugh_Dubai.pdf )

This editorial by Professor Douglas Kelbaugh discusses the environmental
paradox of cities: when humans inhabit dense urban space they decrease their
global environmental impacts but increase their local environmental impacts.
It uses the rapid development in Dubai to illustrate ways to maximize urban
planning benefits.

 

"National Urban Street Design Guide"
(http://nacto.org/urbanstreetdesignguide-overview )

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Urban
Street Design Guide describes the design principles and strategies that can
be used to achieve diverse uses within and adjacent to public streets,
including walking, cycling, public transit travel, parking, recreation,
business activities and living. It is based on the fundamental idea that
streets are spaces for people as well as vehicle traffic corridors. The
guide provides specific recommendations.

 

"Steps to a Walkable Community: A Guide for Citizens, Planners, and
Engineers" (http://americawalks.org/walksteps )

This comprehensive guide discusses the benefits of more walkable communities
and describes numerous strategies that can help create more walkable
communities, including both time-tested and innovative techniques that are
realistic and achievable. 

 

"Do Not Adapt to Air Pollution - Clean Air Asia launches Hairy Nose
Campaign" (www.cleanairasia.org/hairynose ). This humorous campaign inspires
urban residents to take action for healthier air.

 

"Are We There Yet?" (http://reconnectingamerica.org/arewethereyet/home.php
). This new report by Reconnecting America describes why and how to create
more complete communities where everybody, including non-drivers, has
convenient access to services and activities. It defines and discusses
various accessibility indicators and defines "Opportunity Areas," based on
whether a neighborhood achieves walkability and density thresholds needed
for a complete, multi-modal community.

 

"Adolescent Mobility Health Consortium" (https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/amc )

New Zealand researchers have introduced the concept of 'adolescent mobility
health' which bridges health, safety and sustainable mobility issues by
creating communities where young people drive less and rely more on active
and public transport. 

Slide show at
http://epomm.eu/ecomm2012/E15_PK_EU-Projekte/E15_6_Weiss,%20Ward_Adolescent%
20mobility%20health.pdf 

 

"Online Complete Streets Design Tool"
(http://usdm.upc.gov.ae/usdm_online_tool/USDM_Online_Tool.html ).

This unique resource provides designers, planners, decision makers tools for
visualizing complete streets. Although originally developed for use in Abu
Dhabi, it is suitable for use in any city.

 

"The Planning Checklist for Cycling"
(https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/bike-futures/94793 ) is designed
to help suburbs improve cycling conditions. It enables planners to make sure
new sub-divisions meet current planning and engineering requirements.

 

"City Cycling" ( <http://citycyclingbook.wordpress.com/>
http://citycyclingbook.wordpress.com ). This new book edited by professors
John Pucher and Ralph Buehler  offers a guide to this urban cycling
renaissance. It reports on cycling trends in cities around the world, and
offers information on such topics as cycling safety, and cycling
infrastructure provisions including bikeways and bike parking.

 

"Measuring the Street: New Metrics for 21st Century Streets" (
<http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2012-10-measuring-the-street.pdf>
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2012-10-measuring-the-street.pdf )

This report discusses key approaches to street design projects, and how
results can be measured against goals for safety, serving all users and
creating great public spaces while also maintaining the flow of traffic. 

 

"Impact of Baby Boomers on U.S. Travel, 1969-2009"
(http://www.aarp.org/research/ppi/liv-com2/policy/transportation/articles/im
pact-of-baby-boomers-on-us-travel-1969-2009-AARP-ppi-liv-com.html ). This
new report by Nancy McGuckin and Jana Lynott for the American Association of
Retired Persons examines how demographic trends affect travel demands. This
analysis explains why vehicle travel grew rapidly during the 1980-2000, and
peaked about 2006.

 

"Expanded Transportation Performance Measures to Supplement Level of Service
for Growth Management and Transportation Impact Analysis"
(http://www.dot.state.fl.us/research-center/Completed_Proj/Summary_PL/FDOT_B
DK77_977-14_rpt.pdf ). 

This report by the Florida Department of Transportation discusses methods
for evaluating transport system performance, describes current trends toward
more comprehensive and multi-modal indicators, and provides a framework for
selecting performance measures that are consistent with a community's
strategic goals.

 

"Pedestrian Safety, Urban Space and Health"
(http://www.oecd.org/bookshop?9789282103654 ). 

This new report by the International Transport Forum describes why and how
to improve walking conditions and create more liveable cities. It identifies
12 government actions to support walking.

 

"Losing Ground: The Struggle of Moderate-Income Households to Afford the
Rising Costs of Housing and Transportation"
(https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/472161-losing-ground.html ). This
new report by the Center for Housing Policy uses newly available data to
evaluate the housing and transportation cost burdens of moderate income
households. It identifies where households bear excessive costs. 

 

"Montana Complete Streets Toolkit For Cities, Small Towns and Tribal
Communities"
(http://www.mtnapa.org/images/Montana%20Complete%20Streets%20Toolkit-August_
23_small.pdf )

This toolkit provides guidance to help communities improve healthy and safe
transportation options by improving walking and cycling conditions.

 

"Reinventing Parking"
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reinventing-Parking/135540786504306 ) by
Professor Paul Barter share timely ideas on ways to reform parking policies
and planning practices.

 

"MetroMile" (http://www.metromile.com) began offering pay-per-mile auto
insurance in the state of Oregon. It offers motorists a new opportunity to
save money by reducing their vehicle travel. MetroMile is targeted at people
who drive less than 10,000 miles per year. 

 

"Bicycling Means Business: The Economic Benefits of Bicycling
Infrastructure"
(http://www.advocacyadvance.org/site_images/content/Final_Econ_Update(small)
.pdf )

This report discusses the economic benefits of improving cycling conditions,
discusses the cost effectiveness of investments, and identifies the cost
savings associated with a mode shift from car to bicycle. It concludes that
bicycle improvements are often cost effective investments.

 

"The Correlates of House Price Changes with Geography, Density, Design and
Use: Evidence from Philadelphia"
(http://www.cnu.org/sites/www.cnu.org/files/finalcnu_phila_report.pdf )

This study indicates that during the 2007-2012 period houses located in more
accessible and multi-modal neighborhoods exhibited greater price stability
than those located in lower-density, automobile-dependent suburbs. 

 

"Consumer Behavior And Travel Mode Choices"
(http://kellyjclifton.com/Research/EconImpactsofBicycling/OTRECReport-ConsBe
havTravelChoices_Nov2012.pdf ). This study by the Oregon Transportation
Research and Education Consortium indicates that shoppers who arrive by
walking, cycling or public transport tend to spend less per trip but make
more trips per month and so spend more in total than automobile shoppers. 

 

"Accessibility Analysis And Transport Planning: Challenges for Europe and
North America" ( <http://www.e-elgar.com/bookentry_main.lasso?id=14718>
http://www.e-elgar.com/bookentry_main.lasso?id=14718 )
This unique and fascinating new book introduces new accessibility approaches
to transport planning across Europe and the United States.

"Livability Literature Review: A Synthesis Of Current Practice"
(http://narc.org/wp-content/uploads/Livability-Report-FINAL.pdf ). 

This literature review examines ways to define and evaluate livability and
sustainability, and how they relate to various current planning concepts
including smart growth, complete streets, lifelong communities, safe routes
to schools, context sensitive solutions/design, new urbanism,
transit-oriented development and placemaking. It provides a foundation for
applying more comprehensive community planning, including more accessible
development and multi-modal transport planning.

 

"New Zealand Transportation Agency Post Implementation Reviews"
(http://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning/monitoring/audits/pir.html ) 

This study describes post implementation reviews (PIRs) which evaluate how
well transport projects actually achieved their projected goals. 

                 *    *    *    *    *

 

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 ( <http://www.vtpi.org/> www.vtpi.org)
 <mailto:litman at 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"



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