Win-Win Transportation Solutions Planning To Help The Economy, Benefit The Environment and Improve Our Communities Todd Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute Presented Sacramento, California 13 June 2012
Win-Win Transportation Solutions
Planning To Help The Economy, Benefit The Environment and Improve Our Communities
Todd Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute
Presented
Sacramento, California 13 June 2012
Creating Paradise
Paradise is not a
distant destination,
it is something we
create in our own
communities.
6/13/2012
Sustainable Planning
Sustainability
emphasizes the
integrated nature of
human activities and
therefore the need to
coordinate planning
among different sectors,
jurisdictions and
groups.
Sustainabile Transportation?
Is a transport system
sustainable if all
vehicles are electric
powered?
Electric Power Does Not:
• Reduce traffic congestion
• Reduce accidents
• Reduce roadway costs
• Reduce parking facility costs
• Reduce vehicle purchase costs
• Improve mobility for non-drivers
• Improve social equity
• Improve public fitness and health
• Reduce sprawl
• Protect threatened habitat
Paradigm Shift
Multi-modal smart growth
• Compact, mixed urban villages.
• Good walking and cycling
conditions.
• Good public transit service.
• Low vehicle traffic speeds.
Automobile-dependent sprawl
• Lower-density, urban fringe
development.
• Poor walking and cycling
conditions.
• Infrequent public transport service.
• High-speed highways.
What is “The” Transportation Problem?
• Traffic congestion?
• Road construction costs?
• Parking congestion or costs?
• Excessive costs to consumers?
• Traffic crashes?
• Lack of mobility for non-drivers?
• Poor freight services?
• Environmental impacts?
• Inadequate physical activity?
• Others?
Current Transport Planning
Current planning tends to be reductionist: each
problem is assigned to a single agency with
narrowly defined responsibilities. For example:
• Transport agencies deal with congestion.
• Environmental agencies deal with pollution.
• Welfare agencies deal with the needs of disadvantaged
people.
• Public health agencies are concerned with community
fitness.
• Etc.
Reductionist Decision-Making
Reductionist planning can
result in public agencies
implementing solutions to
one problem that
exacerbate other problems
facing society, and tends to
undervalue strategies that
provide multiple but modest
benefits.
Win-Win Solutions
Put another way, more
comprehensive
planning helps identify
“Win-Win” strategies:
solutions to one
problem that also help
solve other problems
facing society.
Ask:
“Which congestion-reduction
strategy also reduces
parking costs, saves
consumers money, and
improves mobility options for
non-drivers.”
Comparing Benefits Planning
Objectives
Expand
Roadways
Efficient and Alt.
Fuel Vehicles
Improve Alt. Modes
and Smart Growth
Vehicle Travel Impacts Increased VMT Increased VMT Reduced VMT
Reduce traffic congestion
Improved travel experience
Roadway cost savings
Parking cost savings
Consumer cost savings
Improve mobility options
Improve traffic safety
Energy conservation
Pollution reduction
Land use objectives
Public fitness & health
17
Comparing Costs
Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
During the last century
many transport and land
use development
practices tended to favor
automobile dependency
and sprawl. Many of these
trends are now reversing.
Trends Supporting Multi-Modalism
• Motor vehicle saturation.
• Aging population.
• Rising fuel prices.
• Increased urbanization.
• Increased traffic and parking congestion.
• Rising roadway construction costs and declining economic return from increased roadway capacity.
• Environmental concerns.
• Health Concerns U.S. vehicle travel grew steadily during the
Twentieth Century but stopped about 2003.
U.S. Annual Vehicle Mileage
Average Annual Mileage by Age
(Polzin, Chu and McGuckin 2011)
Housing Demand By Type (Nelson 2006)
The current supply of
large-lot suburban is
approximately adequate
to satisfy demand for
the next two decades.
Most growth will be in
smaller-lot and multi-
family housing.
“Emerging Trends in Real Estate”
“Energy prices and road congestion
accelerate the move back into
metropolitan-area interiors as more
people crave greater convenience in their
lives. They want to live closer to work and
shopping without the hassle of car
dependence… Apartment and townhouse
living looks more attractive, especially to
singles and empty nesters—high utility
bills, gasoline expenses, car payments,
and rising property taxes make suburban-
edge McMansion lifestyles decidedly less
economical.” (Urban Land Institute 2009)
Modal Shifts
25
Small shifts from
automobile to alternative
modes causes large
increases in walking,
cycling and public transit
demand.
For example, a 10-point
shift doubles demand for
alternative modes.
26
Conventional Evaluation
Generally Considered
• Congestion impacts
• Vehicle operating costs
• Per-mile crash impacts
• Per-mile pollution
emissions.
Often Overlooked
• Parking costs
• Total consumer costs
• Downstream congestion
• Crash, energy & pollution
impacts of changes in mileage
• Land use impacts
• Impacts on mobility options for
non-drivers/equity impacts
• Changes in active transport
and related health impacts
Congestion Reduction
• Urban road congestion maintains equilibrium. It gets bad enough to discourage further vehicle trips.
• The quality of travel options affects this point of equilibrium: If alternatives are inferior, few motorists will shift mode and congestion will be severe. If alternatives are attractive, motorists are more likely to shift modes, reducing congestion equilibrium.
• Grade-separated transit tends to reduce congestion on parallel highways. When all impacts are considered it is often the most cost effective congestion reduction strategy.
Parking Cost Savings
Most people have no idea
of the real costs of
providing parking
facilities.
Most vehicles are worth
less than the total value
of parking spaces they
use. The majority of these
costs are subsidized (not
borne directly by users)
Traffic Fatalities
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
Annual Per Capita Transit Passenger-Miles
Tra
ffic
Fa
taliti
es
Pe
r 1
00
,00
0
Re
sid
en
ts
Automobile Dependent
Multi-Modal
Safety Benefits
0
5
10
15
20
25
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Percent of All Trips by Non-Motorized Modes
Tra
ffic
Fata
liti
es P
er
100,0
00
Po
pu
lati
on
Northern EuropeSouthern EuropeUSCanadaAffluent Asian CitiesAustralia
Smart Growth Safety Impacts
What Gets People Moving?
Walking is a natural
and essential
activity. If you ask
sedentary people
what physical
activity they will
most likely to stick
with, walking usually
ranks first.
33
Land Use Impacts On Travel
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
AutoDependent
Mixed Multi-Modal
Av
era
ge
Da
ily M
inu
tes
Urban Index Rating
Automobile
Transit
Walk
Transportation Affordability
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
Per-Capita Annual Transit Passenger-Miles
Tra
ns
pro
t P
ort
ion
of
Ho
us
eh
old
Ex
pe
nd
itu
res
Automobile Dependent
Muti-Modal
Community Economic Impacts
0
5
10
15
20
25
Petroleum General
Automobile
Expenses
General
Consumer
Expenditures
Public Transit
Jo
bs C
reate
d P
er $
1 m
illi
on
Exp
en
dit
ure
• Transport savings and efficiencies (congestion, parking, taxes) increases productivity and competitiveness.
• Reducing vehicle expenditures and expanding transit service increases regional employment and business activity.
• Agglomeration efficiencies.
• Supports strategic land use development objectives.
• Increases affordability, allowing businesses to attract employees in areas with high living costs.
• Changes in household expenditures on vehicles and fuel.
Per Capita GDP and VMT
Productivity tends to
decline with increased
mobility. (Each dot is a
U.S. urban region.)
Bureau of Economic Analysis
and FHWA data
R2 = 0.2923
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000
Per Capita Annual Mileage (2005)
Per
Cap
ita A
nn
ual
GD
P (
2004)
Per Capita GDP and Transit Ridership
R2 = 0.3363
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
$70,000
$80,000
$90,000
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400
Per Capita Annual Transit Passenger-Miles
Per
Cap
ita A
nn
ual
GD
PProductivity tends to
increase with transit
ridership. (Each dot is
a U.S. urban region.)
Bureau of Economic Analysis
and FHWA data
Return on Investment
High quality public transit
typically requires about $268 in
additional subsidies and $104
in additional fares annually per
capita, but provides vehicle,
parking and road cost savings
averaging $1,040 per capita,
plus other savings and benefits:
• Parking cost savings.
• Congestion reductions
• Accident reductions
• Pollution reductions Improved
mobility for non-drivers,
• Improved fitness and health
Equity
A more diverse transportation
systems helps achieve equity
objectives:
• A fair share of public resources for
non-drivers.
• Financial savings to lower-income
people.
• Increased opportunity to people who
are physically, socially or economically
disadvantaged.
Win-Win Transportation Solutions
Market reforms justified on economic principles that help provide various economic, social and environmental benefits.
• Improved travel options.
• Incentives to use travel alternatives.
• Accessible land use.
• Policy and market reforms.
Sustainable Transport Hierarchy
1. Walking
2. Cycling
3. Public Transit
4. Service & Freight
5. Taxi
6. HOV
7. Private Automobile
46
Comprehensive Multi-Modal Planning
• Evaluation and planning based on
accessibility instead of mobility.
• Consider all modes
• Consider all impacts and
objectives
• Least-cost funding (invest in the
most cost effective solution,
considering all impacts and
objectives)
Public Transit Benefit Categories
Improved Transit
Services
Increased Transit
Travel
Reduced Automobile
Travel
Transit-Oriented
Development
• Improved user convenience and comfort
• Improved travel options, particularly for non-drivers
• Improved local property values
• Direct user benefits
• Economic development benefits from increased access to education and employment.
• Increased public fitness and health, since most transit trips include walking and cycling links.
• Reduced traffic congestion
• Road and parking cost savings
• Consumer cost savings
• Reduced crash risk to others
• Air and noise pollution reductions
• Energy conservation
• Economic development benefits
• More livable communities.
• Reduced sprawl (more compact, mixed development) reduces land consumption, reduces costs of providing public services, preserves openspace.
• Improved accessibility, particularly for non-drivers
• Reduced vehicle ownership
49
Conventional Transport Indicators
• Roadway Level-of-Service
(LOS)
• Average traffic speeds.
• Per capita congestion delay.
• Parking occupancy rates.
• Traffic fatalities per billion
vehicle-miles.
• Traffic fatalities per 100,000
population.
50
Multi-Modal LOS (Jacksonville)
Cycling LOS Pedestrian LOS
51
Multi-Modal Prioritization
Cycling Improvements Pedestrian Improvements
53
Innovative Transport Planning
• Complete streets
• Road diets
• Traffic calming
• Context oriented planning
• Mulit-modal planning
• Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
• Non-motorized planning
• Transit-Oriented development
• Parking management
Linking the Centers across US29 by Dan Burden, Walkable & Livable Communities Institute
55
Ped/bike bridge from mall to transit stop/garage
56
Mixed-use redevelopment on mall parking lot
57
Landscaping matures
58
Additional redevelopment
59
Landscaping matures over time
Mobility Management
Improved Transport
Options
Mode Shift
Incentives
Land Use
Management
Policies and
Programs
Alternative Work Schedules
Bicycle Improvements
Bike/Transit Integration
Carsharing
Guaranteed Ride Home
Security Improvements
Park & Ride
Pedestrian Improvements
Ridesharing
Shuttle Services
Improved Taxi Service
Telework
Traffic Calming
Transit Improvements
Bicycle and Pedestrian
Encouragement
Congestion Pricing
Distance-Based Pricing
Commuter Financial
Incentives
Fuel Tax Increases
High Occupant Vehicle
(HOV) Priority
Pay-As-You-Drive
Insurance
Parking Pricing
Road Pricing
Vehicle Use Restrictions
Car-Free Districts
Compact Land Use
Location Efficient
Development
New Urbanism
Smart Growth
Transit Oriented
Development
(TOD)
Street Reclaiming
Access Management
School and Campus
Transport
Management
Commute Trip Reduction
Freight Transport
Management
Marketing Programs
Special Event
Management
Tourist Transport
Management
Transport Market
Reforms
6/13/2012
Mode Shifts
How do we
convince people
who drive luxury
cars to shift mode?
Increasing Transit Mode Share
62
A portion of the population
is transit dependent and
will use transit services
even if poor quality.
As public transit service
quality improves it will
attract an increasing
portion of discretionary
travelers (people who can
travel by automobile).
Attracting Discretionary Riders
• Quality service (convenient, fast,
comfortable).
• Low fares.
• Support (walkable communities, park & ride
facilities, commute trip reduction programs).
• Convenient information.
• Parking pricing or “cash out”.
• Integrated with special events.
• Positive Image.
Transit Station Level-Of-Service
• Clean
• Comfort (seating, temperature, quiet)
• Convenience (real-time user information, easy fare payment)
• Accessible (walkability, bike parking, nearby housing, employment, nearby shops)
• Services (refreshments, periodicals, etc.)
• Security
Ridesharing
Market studies suggest that a third of
suburban automobile commuters would
consider vanpooling, if it had: • Flexibility.
• High Occupant Vehicle priority lanes and parking.
• Financial incentives.
• Integration with public transit.
• Employer support.
Employee Trip Reduction Programs
Employers encourage
employees to walk,
bicycle, carpool, ride
transit and telework
rather than drive to work.
Transportation Management Associations
Transportation Management
Associations (TMAs) are private,
non-profit, member-controlled
organizations that provide
transportation services in a
particular area, such as a
commercial district, mall, medical
center or industrial park.
TMAs provide an institutional
framework for implementing
Mobility Management.
Walking and Cycling Improvements
• More investment in
sidewalks, crosswalks,
paths and bike lanes.
• Improved roadway
shoulders.
• More traffic calming.
• Bicycle parking and
changing facilities.
• Encouragement, education
and enforcement programs.
School & Campus Transport Management
Programs that encourage
parents and students to
use alternative modes to
travel to schools, colleges
and universities.
70
Smart Growth Development
• Compact (density)
• Mixed development (proximity)
• Urban villages
• Connectivity
• Walkability/bikability
• Public transport
• Public realm
• Parking management
Affordable-Accessible Housing
Locate affordable housing in
accessible areas (near services
and jobs, walkable, public
transit).
Diverse, affordable housing
options (secondary suites, rooms
over shops, loft apartments).
Reduced parking requirements.
Reduces property taxes and
utility fees for clustered and infill
housing.
73
Carsharing
Automobile rental
services intended to
substitute for private
vehicle ownership.
Parking Management
• More flexible parking requirements.
• Share parking spaces rather than having assigned spaces.
• Charge users directly for parking, rather than indirectly through taxes and rents.
• Parking Cash Out (Employees who current receive free parking are able to choose a cash benefit or transit subsidy instead.)
6/13/2012
Potential For Change
Some people would
prefer to drive less
and use alternatives
more. Focus on them.
What would help these
people change their
travel behavior?
Supported by Professional Organizations
• Institute of Transportation
Engineers.
• American Planning Association.
• American Farmland Trust.
• Federal, state, regional and
local planning and
transportation agencies.
• International City/County
Management Association
• National Governor’s Association
• Health organizations.
• And much more...
Motorists Benefit Too
More balanced transport policy is no more “anti-car” than a healthy diet is anti-food. Motorists have every reason to support these reforms:
• Reduced traffic and parking congestion.
• Improved safety.
• Improved travel options.
• Reduced chauffeuring burden.
• Often the quickest and most cost effective way to improve driving conditions.
Local Initiatives
• Cool California Challenge
• Bike to Work Week
• Complete Streets Program
• Safe Routes to School
• 350 Sacramento
• …
“Raise My Taxes, Please! Evaluating Household Savings From High Quality Public Transit Service”
“Evaluating Public Transit Benefits and Costs”
“Transportation Cost and Benefit Analysis”
“Parking Management Best Practices”
“The Future Isn’t What It Used To Be”
“Online TDM Encyclopedia”
and more...
www.vtpi.org