[sustran] VTPI NEWS - Spring 2010
Todd Alexander Litman
litman at vtpi.org
Tue May 11 00:26:10 JST 2010
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VTPI NEWS
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Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
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Spring 2010 Vol. 13, No. 2
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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
====================
"Affordable-Accessible Housing In A Dynamic City: Why and How To
Increase Affordable Housing Development In Accessible Locations"
(http://www.vtpi.org/aff_acc_hou.pdf )
This report describes how to create more affordable-accessible
housing, which refers to lower priced homes located in areas where
common services and activities are easy to access without requiring
an automobile. This helps achieve numerous economic, social and
environmental objectives. Demand for affordable-accessible housing is
growing, but many current policies discourage such development,
leading to a growing shortage in many communities, particularly in
growing cities. More than two dozen policy and planning reforms
described in this report can increase affordable-accessible housing
development.
* * * * *
UPDATED DOCUMENTS
===================
"Are Vehicle Travel Reduction Targets Justified? Evaluating Mobility
Management Policy Objectives Such As Targets To Reduce VMT And
Increase Use Of Alternative Modes" (http://www.vtpi.org/vmt_red.pdf )
This report investigates whether transportation policies should
include mobility management objectives, such as targets to reduce
vehicle travel and encourage use of alternative modes. It evaluates
the justificatons and criticisms of such targets. Mobility management
can provide many benefits, and specific policy objectives provide
guidance for strategic planning.
* * * * *
PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE
=====================
"The Role of Integrated Planning in Developing Sustainable
Transportation Strategies"
(http://cte.ncsu.edu/CTE/Education/TRB-Workshop-Lane-2010.asp), TRB
Annual Meeting, Workshop, 14 January 2010
This workshop presented information on best practices for developing
more integrated transportation planning.
Recent Planetizen Blogs (http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ):
"New USDOT Report Identifies Win-Win Transportation Emission
Reduction Strategies"
"Healthy Community Planning - What's It Worth?"
"Way-To-Go Vancouver Olympics - Lessons For Transport Planners"
"Parking Policy Reform More Important Than LEED Certification"
* * * * *
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
======================
Todd Litman participated in a two-day conference sponsored by the
U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, GA to help guide
development of a North American version of the HEAT Model
(http://euro.who.int/transport/policy/20081219_1 ). This will provide
science-based estimates of the lives saved and monetized benefits of
increased walking and cycling activity. Several leading researchers
on this subject from around the world attended.
VTPI Executive Director Todd Litman was appointed to the US Green
Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org ) Location & Planning
Technical Advisory Group (LP TAG) which develops specific
requirements for LEED requirements and credits related to location,
accessibility, walkability, parking and transport management.
CONSULTING
===========
The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is financially supported by
consulting and speaking engagements
(http://www.vtpi.org/documents/consulting.php ). Please consider us
is you ever need assistance with innovative transportation policy
research, analysis, program development or public presentations.
UPCOMING EVENTS
=================
"Benefit/Cost Analysis for Transportation Infrastructure: A
Practitioners Workshop" (http://tti.tamu.edu/conferences/benefit_cost10 ).
Monday 17 May 2010, US DOT, Washington, DC. The workshop will be
broadcast live via the internet and presentations will be available
after the workshop.
This workshop provides an overview of benefit/cost analysis and
explores ways to incorporate a broader range of impacts and
objectives, including economic development, safety, livable
communities, and environmental sustainability. Todd Litman will
present information on evaluating social objectives.
"ADB Transport Forum: Changing Course - Pathways to Sustainable
Transport"
(http://www.adb.org/documents/events/2010/transport-forum/default.asp )
Manila, Philippines, 25-27 May 2010
The three day Asia Development Bank (ADB) Transport Forum, featuring
the world's leading transport experts, will provide a unique forum
for discussing and debating some of the most crucial issues facing
transport in Asia. Todd Litman will give a presentation, 'New
Integrated Approach to Evaluation of Transport Projects' based on his
report, "Comprehensive Transport Planning Framework"
(http://www.vtpi.org/comprehensive.pdf )
"TRB Environment and Energy Research Conference: Better Delivery of
Better Transportation Solutions"
(http://cte.ncsu.edu/CTE/EEConference/index.asp )
6-10 June 2010, Raleigh, North Carolina
This conference will discuss ways to improve transportation planning
through better integration of environmental (human and natural)
impacts and objectives. It brings together more than a dozen
Transportation Research Board (TRB) Energy and Environmental
committees and the AASHTO Standing Committee on the Environment. Todd
Litman will give presentations on 'Livability: What Is It and How Do
You Measure It?' and 'Comprehensive Transportation Planning:
Practical Tools for Considering All Impacts'
* * * * *
USEFUL RESOURCES
=================
"Mobility and Transport For Our Tomorrow Roads" by Pasquale Colonna,
Europeanroads Review 14, Spring, pp. 44-53; at www.vtpi.org/colonna.pdf.
"Google Maps Adding Bike Directions"
(http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10466313-265.html )
Google Maps is starting to provide biking directions. Google Maps
users looking for directions between two points will have the option
of selecting "bicycling" in addition to walking, driving, and public
transportation options when customizing their trip guidance.
"Updating the 'Granny Cart'"
(http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2010/04/16/updating-the-granny-cart
), by Alan Durning
This charming blog discusses the growing utility of handcarts and
wheeled luggage for urban transportation, and features to consider
when selecting a cart for personal use.
"GreenTRIP" (www.transformca.org/GreenTRIP )
GreenTRIP is a Traffic Reduction + Innovative Parking certification
program for new residential and mixed use developments. It expands
the definition of green building to include accessibility impacts
(how people travel to and from the building, and park their vehicles
there) and rewards projects that reduce traffic and greenhouse gas
emissions. This typically includes features such as an accessible and
multi-modal location (near shops and other services, good
neighborhood walkability, near public transit), unbundled parking
(parking spaces rented separately from building space), carshare
services, discounted public transit passes, and affordable housing.
Certified projects receive a Project Evaluation Report which
describes the project location, details and inventories how the
project meets GreenTRIP standards.
"Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context-Sensitive
Approach, An ITE Recommended Practice "
(http://www.ite.org/bookstore/RP036.pdf )
This report by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and Congress
for New Urbanism provides detailed guidance for applying Context
Sensitive Design principles to create more walkable urban roadways.
It includes discussion of context oriented design, walkability and
multi-modalism, and specific information on pedestrian and bicycle
facility design, optimal lane width and geometry, bicycle lanes,
accommodating transit, stormwater management, traffic calming, crosswalks,
"Mixed-Income Transit-Oriented Development Action Guide"
(http://www.mitod.org ), by the Center for Transit-Oriented
Development, is a comprehensive website providing information on ways
to create mixed-income housing in transit-oriented development, in
order to create more affordable-accessible housing.
"U.S. Parking Policies: An Overview of Management Strategies,
Institute for Transportation and Development Policy"
(http://www.itdp.org/documents/ITDP_US_Parking_Report.pdf )
This report by Rachel Weinberger, John Kaehny and Matthew Rufo
identifies core sustainable parking principles and illustrates how
smarter parking management can benefit consumers and businesses in
time and money savings, while also leading to more livable,
attractive communities.
"New York Sustainable Streets Index"
(www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/ssi.shtml )
The New York City Department of Transportation's Sustainable Streets
Index allows the agency to implement more performance-driven
transportation policy, geared toward achieving the sustainability,
mobility, infrastructure and quality of life goals. It includes a
section on "project indicators", which evaluates various types of
impacts. The 2009 report includes case studies of street redesigns
and bus improvements across the city:
"Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health
Through Design" (http://ddcftp.nyc.gov/adg/downloads/adguidelines.pdf ).
This publication by the New York City Department of Design +
Construction provides information for planners and designers about
opportunities to increase daily physical activity. Implemented over a
broad range of urban and architectural projects these measures can
contribute significantly toward bringing about healthier lifestyles
in our communities. A number of the strategies in these guidelines
can also reduce energy use in buildings and transportation, thereby
benefiting the environment.
"Cycling in New York: Innovative Policies at the Urban Frontier,"
World Transport Policy and Practice, Vol. 16, summer 2010, forthcoming.
(http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/CyclingNY.pdf )
This paper by John Pucher, Lewis Thorwaldson, Ralph Buehler, and Nick
Klein evaluates recent improvements in cycling conditions, increases
in cycling activity, and reductions in cycling crash rates; and
discusses additional actions cities can take to better support urban cycling.
"New York City's Green Dividend"
(http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc_greendividend_april2010.pdf ).
This study by economist Joe Cortright evaluates New York City's Green
Dividend, the economic benefits that result from more efficient
transportation. It estimates that City residents save $19 billion
annually in auto-related expenses. These savings leave residents with
more purchasing power, which stimulates the city's economy.
"New York City's Congestion Pricing Experience and Implications for
Road Pricing Acceptance in the United States"
(www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/schaller_paper_2010trb.pdf )
This paper by Bruce Schaller analyzes how the 2007 congestion pricing
proposal gained widespread public support but was ultimately blocked
in the State Legislature. It assesses the implications of New York's
experience for pursuing congestion pricing and mileage-based taxes in
the United States.
"Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions"
(http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/32000/32700/32779/DOT_Climate_Change_Report_-_April_2010_-_Volume_1_and_2.pdf
)
This USDOT study, mandated by the Energy Independence and Security
Act, evaluates potentially viable strategies to reduce transportation
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It examines strategies' potential
impacts on air quality, petroleum savings, transportation goals,
costs, and various co-benefits. Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD) vehicle
insurance fares particularly well in both total emission reductions
and cost effectiveness. Also see the Secretary of Transportation's
blog:
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/04/on-earth-day-reminders-of-dots-role-in-reducing-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html#more
and Todd Litman's Planetizen blog, "New USDOT Report Identifies
Win-Win Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies"
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/44048 )
"Road Work Ahead: Holding Government Accountable for Fixing America's
Crumbling Roads and Bridges"
(http://www.uspirg.org/home/reports/report-archives/transportation/transportation2/road-work-ahead-holding-government-accountable-for-fixing-americas-crumbling-roads-and-bridges
)
This report by Travis Madsen, Benjamin Davis and Phineas Baxandall,
investigates current and future roadway maintenance and repair
conditions based on various statistics. It investigates planning
biases that favor highway capacity expansion at the expense of repair
and maintenance. It recommends 'fix-it first' policy reforms.
"Effects of Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform"
(http://www.globalsubsidies.org/en/research/economic-social-and-environmental-effects
), by Jennifer Ellis.
This paper summarizes modeling studies that analyzed economic and
environmental impacts of fuel subsidies. It describes research needs
but concludes there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate significant
environmental and economic benefits of phasing out fossil-fuel subsidies.
"EIA Energy Subsidy Estimates: A Review of Assumptions and Omissions"
(http://earthtrack.net/files/uploaded_files/EIA%20subsidy%20review%20final_17Mar10.pdf
)
This study investigates U.S. federal tracking of energy subsidies. In
addition to evaluating the research approach used by the US Energy
Information Administration (EIA), it assesses how key assumptions and
omissions in EIA's work resulted in a substantial undercounting of
federal energy subsidies and an inaccurate portrayal of subsidy
distribution across fuels.
"IMF Note - Petroleum Product Subsidies: Costly, Inequitable, and
Rising" (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/spn/2010/spn1005.pdf )
Petroleum product subsidies have again started to rise with the
rebound in international prices. This note reviews recent
developments in subsidy levels and argues that it is necessary to
reform the policy framework for setting petroleum product prices in
order to reduce the fiscal burden of these subsidies and to address
climate change. In 2003, global consumer subsidies for petroleum
products totaled nearly $60 billion.
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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