Transcript Slide 1

Best Practices for Technical
Delivery of Transportation
Planning Studies:
Project Overview and Findings
David Kriger, iTRANS Consulting Inc.
Urban Transportation Council
TAC Spring Technical Meetings
6 April 2008
Outline of Presentation
Introduction
Study process
Findings (profile)
Best Practices
Development of Guidelines
Next steps
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Acknowledgements
TAC – TP&R SC
Katarina Cvetkovic (Project Manager) - TAC
Project Steering Committee (PSC):
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David Durant (Chair) – Region of Waterloo, ON
Jaime Boan – City of Surrey, BC
James Der – AIT
Tom Eichenbaum / Kerry Davren – City of Burlington, ON
Wayne Gienow / Miranda Carlberg – Sask MHI
Murray McLeod / Brian Lakeman – Region of Peel, ON
Carol Hébert / Paul-André Roy – Ville de Gatineau, QC
Pierre Tremblay - MTQ
Dr. J. Allen Stewart (advisor) – Royal Military College
Study financial sponsors:
– PSC + Infrastructure Canada’s Knowledge-building,
Outreach and Awareness program
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Introduction
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Introduction
Object is to provide a ‘best practices’
guide for technical aspects of
transportation planning:
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Identify planning needs (current + emerging)
Identify analytical methods (tools / models)
Evaluate tools (model software)
Identify supporting data
Prepare database (‘pull-out’ guide)
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Small / Medium Communities
Focus on transportation planning needs
for small- and medium-sized
communities:
– Stand-alone municipalities
– Municipalities within larger regions
Population 10,000 - 250,000
Many different organizations have
responsibility
Findings are also applicable to planning
for larger communities
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Technical Aspects
Best practices:
– Applied innovation
– Practices proven successful
Models:
– Forecast traffic, ridership, freight flows, …
– Can be ‘one-line’ analysis
Data: used to calibrate and validate
models, or as input to model forecasts
Outputs used as basis for needs
identification, revenues, GHG, …
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Long-range Transportation Plan
Identifies needs for multi-modal
transportation infrastructure or services
Horizon can be 10+ years
Identifies priorities and costs
11 types identified:
– Some types mandated; others as needed
– Names, context vary by Province / Territory
Emerging needs also considered:
– Sustainable transportation
– New funding programs (e.g., transit)
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Types of LRTPs
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Transportation master plans or strategies
Sub-area or neighbourhood transportation
plans
3. Corridor planning studies
4. Transportation capital programmes / budgets
5. Development Charge studies
6. Transit service or operational plans
7. Policy or research / background studies (e.g.
funding)
8. Travel demand management studies
9. Air quality / congestion management studies
10. Freight plans / strategies
11. Environmental assessment / functional plans
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Study Process
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Study Process
Several components to study:
– Literature review
– Online survey of practitioners
– Review of current / emerging issues and
best practices
– Contact with TRB ADA30 (US)
– Model software evaluation
Development of pull-out Best Practices
Guide
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Online Survey
E/F survey sent to 400+ agencies
Total of 53 complete responses (+6
partial responses):
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7 Provincial / Territorial MoTs
8 regional municipalities
4 municipalities > 250,000 population
10 municipalities 100,000 – 250,000 pop
9 municipalities 50,000 – 100,000 pop
12 municipalities < 50,000 pop
3 transit operators
Represents 10 provinces and territories
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Findings
(profile)
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Pervasive Lack of Resources
Report of Sufficient / Insufficient Resources by Organization Type and Size
Transit Agencies
Reported Sufficient Resources
Reported Insufficient Resources
Regional Municipalities
Province/Territory
Over 250,000
100,000 to 250,000
50,000 to 100,000
Under 50,000
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Number of Responses
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Most – but not all – use Model/Analysis
65% used travel demand models:
– Use oriented towards larger organizations
– Some smaller communities had access to
models of others
18% used trend analysis
Computer-based tools available
Data may be a constraint to use
Organization type, size influence:
– Who owns forecasting model
– Who uses model regularly
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Transportation Analytical Methods
Challenges include:
– Lack of funding
– Lack of expertise
– Lack of resources
Communities need:
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Regular traffic count programs
Modelling at more detail at local level
New software or upgrades
Training
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Transportation Data
Basics are covered (road inventory,
counts, population) but coverage of
anything beyond varies
Challenges and opportunities:
– Ability to integrate GPS, GIS and other
technology
– Privacy / confidentiality issues
– Managing data volume and usefulness
– Increased efficiency in data sharing and
purchasing
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Interface with Other Applications
Applications of planning data:
– Use data as often / in as many ways as possible
– Partnerships and financing
– Addition of transportation planning data to
performance measurement toolbox
– Use in land use planning; economic analyses (e.g.,
development charge studies); energy, sustainability
and environmental analyses
Transportation planning partnerships:
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Academic and research organizations
Regional and provincial bodies
Other municipalities – both locally and nationally
Outside agencies (e.g., health) and consultants
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Preparedness for the Future
Emerging / growing issues (sustainability,
environment, increased interest in transit…)
Key challenges / factors for success:
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Staff resources
Good data
Data sharing and cooperation
Appropriate tools and data
Funding
Political and community support
Overall transportation planning strategy with regular
updates and regular, complete data collection
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Best Practices
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1. Modelling Approach
Ensure analytical capability matches needs:
– Ability to model peak hours and (as required) transit are
important
– Implies use of four-step modelling approach
– Could use 24-hour model and simple factors (peak,
transit), but complex problems or changing situation
require appropriate analytical capability for response
– Activity-based modelling and other new developments
have potential, but we’re not there yet
Trend analysis can be used in slow-growing,
stable communities
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1. Modelling Approach
External, through and bypass demand important
for smaller communities:
– Models focus on ‘urban’ travel – need add-on
– Simulate as function of economic growth,
percentage of through trips from counts
Truck models also can be important (add-on)
GIS are widely used  available platform:
– Many data are stored on GIS
– Models are still standalone tools and most are not
well integrated
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2. Data Collection
US National Household Travel Survey, Journey to
Work and Commodity Flow Surveys provide
national coverage for passenger and goods
Stated preference surveys quantify how travellers
/ shippers would behave in a new situation (tolls,
RT; but also TDM)
– Complement OD (revealed preference) surveys, for
which a basic need still exists
Use of electronic technologies is growing and
offers significant opportunities at low unit cost:
– GPS, roadside detectors, …
– GoogleEarth, etc.
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3. Transferability of Data and Rates
Focus on ‘basic’ data; budgetary constraints are
common to US communities as well
Research addresses methods to share data:
– Develop statistically-reliable methods for importing rates
from other communities
– Use NHTS to estimate travel behaviour by household for
small- / medium-sized communities
Could Census Place of Residence / Place of Work
by Mode serve as a base for Canada? (with some
additions)
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4. Simplified Approach (1)
TMIP and TTI (1999) developed a series of guides
for small- / medium-sized communities:
– Addressed financial planning, land use planning, freight
planning, forecasting (determined by funding
requirements)
– Maximized use of existing resources (data, local experts,
borrowed information, …)
– Provided options – e.g., with model or without model
– Explained terms for multiple audiences
Can draw from this and other US guides, but legal
/ funding contexts are not always applicable or do
not exist in Canada
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5. Simplified Approach (2)
NCHRP Guidebook for Freight Policy, Planning and
Programming in Small- and Medium-Sized
Metropolitan Areas (2007)
– Regional freight profile (infrastructure, generators,
demand)
– Freight needs and deficiencies (congestion, accident
locations, geometric constraints, …)
– Long range plan for freight (integrate into overall long
range transportation plan)
General model: focus on specifics; be practical
Can be quantitative or qualitative
Designed to optimize existing resources; can
collect more data
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6. Evaluation
Indicators / evaluation measures should:
– Provide clear direction or purpose
– Be based on a simple set of metrics
– Provide routine, readable reports
Need to consider:
– Accessibility / mobility
– Economic development
– Environmental and resource conservation /
sustainability principles
– Safety
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6. Performance Indicators and
Evaluation Measures
Accessibility/Mobility
– Bicycle Facilities, HOV lanes, Average Travel Time, Average
Trip Length, Overall mode split, Total Travel Time, Delay
per VKT, Lost time due to congestion
Reliability
– LOS (Intersection, movement), v/c ratio, Travel Speed
Economic Development
– Economic cost of accidents, User Cost Distance
Safety
– Number of accidents per year, Number of accidents per
capita, Number of accidents per VKT, Average response
time for emergency services
Social and Environmental Sustainability
– Sidewalk coverage, Overall mode split, Fuel usage, GHG or
Air Contaminant Emissions, Traffic noise exposure, Relative
growth in traffic volumes
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Guidelines
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Best Practices Guide
Intended to be guide for smalland medium-sized municipalities
Three steps:
1. Organize 11 study types: cannot
categorize models and data unless the
different types of plans are organized
2. Identify triggers  identifies LRTP type
3. Given an application (LRTP type), what
tools, methods and data are needed?
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Transportation Planning Studies
Community Plan / Official Plan
Transportation Master Plans or Strategies
Transportation Capital
Programmes / Budgets
Development Charge
Studies
Policy or Research /
Background Studies
Travel Demand
Management Studies
Transit Service or
Operational Plans
Sub-Area or
Neighbourhood
Transportation Plans
Air Quality / Congestion
Management Studies
Freight / Goods
Movement Plans or
Strategies
Corridor Planning
Studies
EA / Functional Plans
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Transportation Planning Studies
Can follow “top down” or “bottom up” approach
May be motivated by specific problem or challenge –
“Triggers”
Sample Trigger:
Change in Regional Infrastructure
(e.g. new highway bypass, new
rail line)
INTENSITY
Does the change
impact goods
movement?
DATA REQUIREMENTS
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Guidelines for the Selection of
Analytical Tools
Guidelines to select tools type
based on:
– Size of population
– Transportation plan types
– Approach to analytical tool
– Urban context (stand-alone or as part
of larger region)
– Approach
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Guidelines for Addressing Data
Needs for Analysis
Data sources and type of data
required identified based on:
– Size of population
– Urban context
– Transportation plan types
– Approach
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Next Steps
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Next Steps
Finalize report, guidelines
Report will be published on TAC website
TAC presentations: Fall 2008
Opportunities for:
– TAC fall 2008 workshop
– Cross-Canada training / dissemination
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For more information:
David Durant, Region of Waterloo
(Steering Committee chair) –
[email protected]
David Kriger, iTRANS (consultant) [email protected]
Thank you!
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