Transportation—Moving Toward Enhanced Mobility

Transportation—Moving Toward Enhanced Mobility

Michael D. Meyer, P.E., Professor

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

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MARTA System plus….

Freeing the Freeways

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“Free the Freeway”

Transportation Solutions for A New Century :

2025 RTP

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE RTP TO THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) AND AIR QUALITY STANDARDS?A TIP is a short-range program which identifies the highest priority projects in a conforming RTP and advances them for implementation. ARC annually develops a TIP which covers the next three fiscal years. An FY 2003-2005 TIP was developed in conjunction with the 2025 RTP Update.

Conformity is an analytical process which metropolitan areas such as Atlanta must perform to guarantee that long-range plans (RTP) and short-range implementation programs (TIP) are consistent with air quality goals outlined in the State Implementation Plan (SIP), developed by Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In simple terms, achieving conformity means that transportation projects, programs and plans will not cause or contribute to new violations of air quality standards or work against the achievement of those air quality standards. Without a conformity determination, the only transportation projects which can proceed are those classified as exempt, such as safety improvements, selected transit projects and bicycle / pedestrian facilities.

Phone: 404.463.3100 TTY: 404.463.3272 Fax: 404.463.3254 Email: [email protected] Web: www.atlantaregional.com

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WHO DEVELOPS THE RTP?The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is responsible for development of the RTP for a ten county region, as shown in the map below, in cooperation with municipal, county and state agencies, public transit operators, other stakeholder groups and the general public. Once adopted by the ARC Board, projects contained in an RTP can only move forward pending receipt of a conformity determination by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). A conformity determination ensures that the plan meets air quality goals, is financially balanced and represents a reasonable and feasible approach to addressing regional mobility needs.

I’VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION LAWSUITS RECENTLY…WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN TO THE PLANNING PROCESS?

WHAT IS THE RTP?The 2025 RTP Update identifies over 2,100 transportation projects totaling approximately $39.8 billion to be funded in the ten-county Atlanta region between now and the year 2025.

The RTP is a balanced plan of projects such as bridges, bicycle paths, sidewalks, transit services, roadway upgrades, safety improvements, transportation demand management initiatives and emission reduction strategies.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE NORTHERN ARC?On July 5, 2002, Governor Roy Barnes temporarily suspended all official action on the Northern Arc until stronger ethics legislation can be passed by the Georgia Legislature. As a result, the FY 2003-2005 TIP does not include any additional funds for the project. The project is classified as “Active”, meaning funds have been spent on the project in prior years, but there no new funds allocated in the TIP. The Northern Arc remains in the 2025 RTP, however.

On Wednesday, August 21, 2002, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued a stay on the Attainment State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP defines Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEB) for NOx and VOC pollutants and is one of the criteria upon which USDOT makes conformity determinations on the RTP and TIP.

ARC anticipated the possibility of a stay being granted and developed the RTP so that conformity could be demonstrated against budgets contained in both the Attainment SIP and the older Rate of Progress (ROP) plan. With the stay in place, the currently effective MVEBs revert to those defined in the ROP plan. The stay will have no impact on the TIP and RTP comment and adoption schedule.

Another legal issue ARC is monitoring closely involves the Northern Arc Task Force’s challenge of the Governor’s Transportation Choices Initiative. The group contends that the proposed bonding mechanism violates the State Constitution. The Superior Court of Fulton County ruled in favor of the State on September 12, 2002, but an appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court is likely. At this point, it is not possible to know the final outcome of the challenge or what impact a reversal of the lower court’s decision would have on the TIP and RTP.

RTP2025 Regional Transportation Plan Update (2002 Update)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Mobility 2030

Setting the Direction for Regional Transportation

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Important to note that all of these major initiatives had some form of

dedicated funding attached to them

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What’s next? 2030 RTP

Other Regions

MOBILITY 2030 VISION

REGIONAL TRENDS THROUGH 2030: HOW ARE WE GROWING AND CHANGING?

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES: PAYING OUR WAY

LAND USE-TRANSPORTATION CONNECTION: WE MUST GROW SMARTER

SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT: MORE TRAVEL CHOICES

SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT: MAKING BETTER USE OF WHAT WE HAVE

DEMAND MANAGEMENT: TAKING PRESSURE OFF THE SYSTEM

San Diego

Seattle

Dallas-Ft. Worth

http://www.dfwinfo.com/trans/mtp/current/mob2025update_executivesummary.pdf

Denver

Binding agreement to guide growth

Agree to establish growth boundaries

Comprehensive plans that are consistentwith each other and with the region

Linked to zoning, regulations, and codes

73% of region’s population

So, what is transportation

planning?

….a process of continually examining the

transportation challenges facing a region, and of

identifying a plan of action to improve transportation

system performance

So, what are the transportation challenges

(and/or problems)?It all depends on who is defining “challenges”

Congestion/delay/it takes a long time to “get there”

Translating Crash Statistics into Local Terms

Georgia Crime – Crash Clock (2002)

• 1 murder every 16.8 hours • 1 fatality every 5.7 hours

1 aggravated assault every 84 minutes

1 injury every 4 minutes

1 violent crime every 15 minutes

1 property damage crash every 2.2 minutes

1 crash every 1.6 minutes 1 property crime every 1.7 minutes

Safety Costs versus Congestion Costs, Atlanta Region, 2001

Congestion Cost: $2.021 billion

Safety Cost: $3.314 billion

• Inadequate transportation options

• Poor land use/transportation linkage

• Inefficient pricing of a scarce resource

• Poor policy guidance on both land use and transportation decisions

• Lack of funding….and willingness to provide funding

Guess what?

Mobility Mobility andand

Accessibility Accessibility



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Intelligent Transportation Systems

Transit Facilities and Services

Intermodal Facilities and Services

Traffic Engineering

Highway Capacity

Bike/Walkways

System Operations



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Phasing/Adequacy

Density

Mixed Use

Urban Design




Traffic Engineering

Highway Capacity

Bike/Walkways

System Operations

Growth Management



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Planning & Zoning

Phasing/Adequacy

Density

Mixed Use

Urban Design




Traffic Engineering

Highway Capacity

Bike/Walkways

Alternative Work Schedules

Alternative Modes

AlternativeWork Locations

Employer SupportPrograms

Financial Incentives and Disincentives

Pricing

System Operations

Growth Management

….a process of continually examining the

transportation challenges facing a region, and of

identifying a plan of action to improve transportation

system performance

How are projects selected for the regional transportation plan and the TIP?

“Plan and associated TIP will be developed by prioritizing transportation strategies based on three areas of priority

Managing, optimizing and operating the current transportation system

Implementing overall demand management programs

Expanding the regional system where appropriate”

The challenge facing the Atlanta region is not a deficiency of ideas…..

….but rather the lack of institutional and funding capability that can deal with regional problems!

Regional Transit Institutional Analysis

Transit Planning Board (TPB)

Transit Services Board (TSB)

Transit Planning Board

• Commissioner of 10 largest metro counties

• Atlanta Mayor

• Chairmen, GDOT Board

• Chairman, GRTA Board

• MARTA board chairman

• Three representatives appointed by Governor

Transit Planning BoardAct as an advocate at the federal level for the provision of additional regional transit funding resources.

Oversee integration of fares, marketing and customer information across the region.

Work with individual operators and oversee the implementation of transit service to improve regional service coordination.

Develop and evaluate a Regional Transit Plan including a comprehensive financial plan that identifies needed local, state and federal resources.

Measure system performance.

Propose and make recommendations to the State for additional transit funding, once a comprehensive financial plan is complete.

In the event that a new regional transit funding mechanism is approved, the TPB would develop a recommendation for the long term TSB.

Transit Services Board Distribute new regional transit funds (both capital and operating) to the transit providers based on its designated criteria.

Oversee the financial and operational performance of the transit providers.

Identify and implement the preferred operational and financial arrangements for major new transit services in the region as well as potential changes to existing service provision arrangements.

How do the players work together in the

transportation planning process?

Anyone who wants to be can be involved, however….. there are some who wield greater authority and influence than others because of:

a) Enabling legislation

b) Position held within governance structure

c) Knowing how to “work the system”

d) Holding the purse strings

For Example…..

Atlanta Partnership for Regional Livability

Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Casey Foundation Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) Community Foundation of Atlanta Data and Policy Analysis (DAPA) Enterprise FoundationFannie Mae Federal Home Loan Bank Georgia Conservancy Georgia Institute of Technology School of Planning Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association (GAHB) Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (MACOC) Regional Business Coalition (RBC) Turner Foundation United Way of Atlanta Urban Land Institute – Atlanta District Council (ULI) U S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Motivation for Collaboration• We will all “gain”…win-win (and I’d like to think this is what it is all about)

• It is the right thing to do

• Crisis or threat, e.g., Olympics, 9/11

• I will “gain” on this decision

• I will get a future bargaining chip

• An “ambassador” or peer convinces me based on experience

• We’re told to do it (e.g., blame the feds)

$$Funding$$

Mobility 2030 plan faces a $3.9 billion deficit…. a result of costs

increasing 25% and revenues decreasing 6.5%.

Georgia Gasoline Tax is Lowest in USC

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Additional Federal Tax = 18.4 cents per gallon

Additional Federal Tax = 18.4 cents per gallon

Trend in Gasoline Tax in Georgia andNeighboring States

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South CarolinaAlabama

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And if one looks into the future, with alternative fueled vehicles and greater gas mileage per vehicle, the gas tax might not be a stable source of funds for building, operating and preserving the transportation system.

I predict that, in the future, the states and regions with the most

stable and reliable financing of their transportation system will have a

“menu” of funding sources

Most Common State-levelDedicated Funding Sources

Transit• Retail sales• Personal income• Real property• Motor fuels:

– Gallonage tax– Sales tax

• General fund• Transportation trust fund

Highway• Motor fuels• Bonding against gas tax

revenues• Future federal funds:

Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles (GARVEEs)

• Toll roads

More Innovative Sources

• Public/private funding

– Public Private Initiatives (PPIs)

• HOT lanes

• State infrastructure bank

What is needed is either a statewide increase in transportation revenues (all ships rise with the tide)….OR

authorization for metropolitan areas to develop a strategy for regional

transportation finance

Regional Funding Strategies

• Seattle• San Francisco• Los Angeles• Tri-State (NY-NJ-CT)• Portland• Twin Cities• Kansas City, MO• Vancouver, BC

Seattle---RTIDRegional Transportation

Investment District

• Sales Tax of 0.1% to 0.5%,

• Vehicle License Fee of $1 to $100,

• Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) of 0.1% to 0.3%,

• Local Option Gas Tax 0 to 2.8¢ per gallon

• Tolls on specific roads or bridges

We need a regionally-based funding source that is:

--multimodal--equitable--indexed to inflationary trends--operations- and capital-oriented--shared by state and locals--targeted on critical bottlenecks

Our outreach efforts as part of the NSAS/GA 400 study

indicated public support for funding strategies where users

pay for the benefits received

King for the Day

Focus on regional strategic systems

Priority to HOV system

Managed lanes (pricing)

Corridor approach

Best practices and tools for land use

Freight mobility

AND MOST OF ALL – Regional $$

Documents

Transportation—Moving Toward Enhanced Mobility