[sustran] VTPI Newsletter: 2010 TRB Special

[Todd Alexander Litman]

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              VTPI NEWS
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         Victoria Transport Policy Institute
            "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
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             January 2010 TRB Special
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The 89th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting takes 
place next week, 10-14 January 2010 in Washington, D.C. 
(http://www.trb.org/AnnualMeeting2010/Public/AnnualMeeting2010.aspx 
). The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is involved in TRB in 
several ways. Below are highlights.


Sustainable Transportation Indicators Subcommittee (ADD40-1)
Monday, 11 January 2010, 8:00AM- 9:45AM; Hilton, Kalorama
Agenda at: 
http://pressamp.trb.org/conferenceinteractiveprogram/EventDetails.aspx?ID=16224&Email=
This Subcommittee is working to develop appropriate performance 
indicators for evaluating transport system sustainability. VTPI 
Executive Director Todd Litman chairs this Subcommittee.


"Is VMT A Good Or A Bad?"
Transportation Economics Committee
Tuesday, 12 January 2010, 8:00AM- 9:45AM; Hilton
Todd Litman will give a brief (5-minute) presentation on recent 
research concerning transportation economic development impacts 
(http://www.vtpi.org/econ_dev.pdf ). The research indicates that in 
industrialized countries, per capita GDP tends to increase with:
* Higher fuel prices
* Higher per capita public transit ridership
* Higher land use density
* Lower per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
* Lower per capita lane-miles

This indicates that policy and planning reforms which improve 
transport options (better walking, cycling, public transit, etc.), 
more efficiently price vehicle travel (better road, parking, 
insurance and fuel pricing), and create more accessible, multi-modal, 
smart growth communities tend to increase economic productivity in 
addition to their social and environmental benefits.


"Sustainable Transportation Indicator Data Quality and Availability"
(http://www.vtpi.org\sustain\TRB_2010_STI_Data.pdf)
Poster Session 437: Coming to Grips with Sustainability: Framework Approach
Tuesday, 12 January 2010, 9:30AM- 12:00PM; Hilton, International Center
This paper investigates the quality and availability of data required 
for sustainable transportation indicators. It finds that much of the 
information required is already collected, but inconsistencies in 
definitions and collection methods, a lack of disaggregation to 
appropriate geographic scales, and difficulties accessing data reduce 
the utility of this information. With relatively little incremental 
costs, transportation professional organizations could improve the 
quality of transportation-related statistics to facilitate 
transportation research, policy analysis and planning.


"Are Vehicle Travel Reduction Targets Justified?" 
(http://www.vtpi.org/vmt_red.pdf )
Panel (Debate) Session 499: Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduction Targets: 
Will This Strategy Get the Desired Results?
Tuesday, 12 January 2010, 1:30PM- 3:15PM; Hilton, International West
Several current and proposed transportation policies include targets 
for reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Proponents and opponents 
will debate the benefits, drawbacks, and viability of VMT reduction targets.

Proponents:
Todd Litman - Victoria Transport Policy Institute
Patricia L. Mokhtarian - University of California, Davis

Opponents:
Alan E. Pisarski - Consultant
Samuel Staley - Reason Foundation


"Comprehensive Transport Planning: Best Practices in Planning for 
Sustainable Development" (http://www.vtpi.org/comprehensive.pdf )
Workshop 717: Role of Integrated Planning in Developing Sustainable 
Transportation Strategies
Thursday, 14 January 2010, 8:00AM- 12:00PM, Hilton
Workshop Description: While most transportation professionals 
intuitively understand that transportation is a means to many ends 
rather than an end in itself, transportation planning processes are 
often driven by a narrow perspective derived exclusively from within 
the transportation industry. This workshop will address the role of 
integrated planning in developing sustainable transportation 
strategies. 
(http://pressamp.trb.org/conferenceinteractiveprogram/PresentationDetails.aspx?ID=36751&Email= 
)



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"