This publication is a handbook designed to be a resource for State DOTs and MPOs engaged in performance-based planning and programming to integrate greenhouse gas performance measures into transportation decisionmaking. It discusses key approaches for integrating GHG emissions into a PBPP approach, considerations for selecting an appropriate GHG performance measure, and using GHG performance measures to support investment choices and to enhance decisionmaking.
Livability
Repair Priorities 2014 (Smart Growth America and Taxpayers for Common Sense, 2014)
How much would your state need to repair its roads? Most likely the answer to that question is “a lot.” In some cases, state DOTs could spend their entire annual budget on repair and maintenance and still have work left to do. So why are many states making the problem even worse by continuing to spend scarce transportation dollars expanding their road networks? This report, and update of the Repair Priorities 2011, includes ideas for how DOT officials as well as state and federal policymakers can prioritize repair spending, and help drivers and taxpayers at the same time.
APTA 2013 Ridership Report (American Public Transportation Association, 2014)
In 2013 Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation, which is the highest annual public transit ridership number in 57 years, according to a report released today by the American Public Transportation Association. This was the eighth year in a row that more than 10 billion trips were taken on public transportation systems nationwide. While driving miles were essentially flat or down, public transportation use in 2013 increased by 1.1 percent.
Lifting the Veil on Bicycle & Pedestrian Spending (Advocacy Advance, 2014)
This report benchmarked planned bicycling and walking project spending in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and breaks down how state Departments of Transportation can become more transparent and responsive to community needs. Both stand-alone bicycle-pedestrian projects and also road projects that have a bicycle-pedestrian accommodation or component were included.
Effectiveness of a Safe Routes to School Program in Preventing School-Aged Pedestrian Injury (DiMaggio and Li, PEDIATRICS, 2014)
This study provides important evidence to support the effectiveness of Safe Routes to School programs in New York City. The program is intended to “improve safety on walking and bicycling routes to school and to encourage children and families to travel between home and school using these modes.” While studies have looked at behaviors and attitudes toward journey to school transportation, few have examined whether SRTS programs are effective in reducing pedestrian injury.
Civil rights guidance and equity analysis methods for regional transportation plans: a critical review of literature and practice (Journal of Transportation Geography, 2013)
In this critical review, the authors examine the law, regulatory guidance, academic research, and agency practice pertinent to equity analysis of MPO regional transportation plans. They find that equity recommendations are extensive but generally lack specificity and are rarely enforceable. The current methodology is not appropriate for the analysis of transportation investment benefits. Newer travel demand modeling paradigms are capable of sidestepping methodological problems, and legacy models can be adapted and improved.
Philadelphia Complete Streets Design Handbook (Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities, 2013)
The Philadelphia Complete Streets Design Handbook has ideas to make local streets accommodate all users. It includes checklists at the end for different components of the street. The city intends to update it as comments come in and the document is used by planners and city staff.
Perceptions of Bicycle-Friendly Policy Impacts on Accessibility to Transit Services: The First and Last Mile Bridge (Mineta Transportation Institute, 2014)
The coordination of bicycle and transit mode has been presumed to enlarge the transit catchment area, however, geographic changes in the size of catchment areas have not been effectively documented. This research concludes that transit catchment areas are complex for those that integrate the two modes, and policy-makers may wish the further strengthen bicycle-transit integration through the implementation of a set of proactive measures.
Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan (Hawaii Department of Transportation, 2013)
HDOT’s Pedestrian Master Plan provides a comprehensive approach to improving pedestrian safety, evaluates ways to enhance mobility for pedestrians, and helps build a more multi-modal transportation system across Hawaii. HDOT’s plan also prioritizes various pedestrian projects for improvement, identifies and promotes the Complete Streets vision for Hawaii, and meets federal requirements for multimodal planning.
The Economic Benefits of Sustainable Streets (New York City DOT, 2013)
NYCDOT has been a leader in transforming urban streets to improve the environment for pedestrians and bicyclists. But when they tried to evaluate the impact of street design improvements on neighborhood economies, they found no well-established, objective methodologies. Therefore, they set out to develop a new metric. Working with its consultant, DOT evaluated a number of potential measures of local economic vitality and found retail sales – specifically reported sales for street-level retail and restaurant/ food service businesses – to provide the most direct and reliable indicator of the health of local businesses. These results provide convincing evidence that improved accessibility and a more welcoming street environment created by these projects generate increases in retail sales in the project areas.