Implementing the Results of the Second Strategic Highway Research Program Saving Lives, Reducing Congestion, Improving Quality of Life - Special Report 296 (2009) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
5 Capacity Focus Area
5 Capacity Focus Area
Pages 77-93
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 77... ...
Without changes, additional travel will exacerbate the nation's oil importation problems, increase greenhouse gas emissions, affect wildlife habitats, and disrupt communities. The public will insist on a convincing environmental, economic, and social justification for the investment required to expand highways -- including demonstration that all of the capacity possible has been obtained from existing highways and arterial streets -- and on a heightened level of environmental stewardship by highway agencies.
|
From page 78... ...
Implementation of the results of these efforts will require commitment to change by the nation's departments of transportation Box 5-1 grand rapids, michigan, us-131 s-curve replacement This project is an example of a collaborative decision-making process in which the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) , the Grand Valley Metro Council (a metropolitan planning organization)
|
From page 79... ...
However, the end product of Capacity research will be nothing short of systematic integration around key decision points of practice whose value has been demonstrated in applications over the past 15 to 20 years: providing for interactive public involvement and for consultation among affected agencies; incorporating more environmental work into planning and successfully navigating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and permitting processes; introducing an environmental stewardship culture into transportation agencies; embracing an ecological approach to the environment; seriously looking at improved highway efficiency through operations, telematics, and pricing; communicating the economic benefits of highways in a more compelling and transparent way; and dealing with public– private partnerships.
|
From page 80... ...
Key decision points, therefore, represent only a portion of the overall decision-making Box 5-2 the san antonio kelly parkway An 8.8-mile, four-lane, limited-access parkway was proposed in southwest San Antonio to spur economic redevelopment of the former Kelly Air Force Base by providing access to an inland port and improving linkage of the former base to the regional highway network. Community leaders saw the project as a redevelopment opportunity that would relieve truck congestion and bring economic opportunities to the low-income south side of the city.
|
From page 81... ...
early and ongoing involvement of formal decision makers and individuals with the potential to significantly affect the timely and cost-effective delivery of transportation improvements and (b) a tiered decision-making approach to capacity improvements that encourages binding decisions at the earliest possible point.
|
From page 82... ...
The web-based product is being designed to help practitioners select a strategy for a particular capacity enhancement that will avoid redo loops, successfully hand decisions forward in the process, establish an interactive link between planning and project development, engage the community at the right time, and ensure that the transportation decision-making process includes the larger goals and visions of the region. The intent of the CDMF
|
From page 83... ...
Visioning Input Programming Approve Scope the Determine Adopt Evaluation Long-Range Long-Range Long-Range Assess Long-Range Criteria and Transportation Transportation Transportation Strategies and Transportation Methodology Planning Planning Plan Parameters Scenarios Plan Process and Needs Approve Project Priority List Develop Reach Corridor Planning Define the Develop the Adopt Corridor Consensus Problem Solution Set Corridor Plan on Draft Process Transportation Improvement Program Approve the Transportation Improvement Environmental Program Review or NEPA Determine Scope the Analyze Approve Project Merged with Purpose and Environmental Alternatives Details Permitting Need Process figure 5-1 cdmf entry level. Source: SHRP 2 Project C01, work in progress.
|
From page 84... ...
Although Figure 5-1 provides a concise overview of the CDMF, transportation practitioners will need specific information at each key decision point to consider implementation of the collaborative decision-making process. A CDMF practitioner-level version will provide access to the full extent of information available at each key decision point, including the following: • The purpose and outcome of the key decision point; • Decisions made at each step; • Roles and responsibilities of the formal decision makers; • Roles and relationships of stakeholders and project champions; • Supportive data, tools, and technology; • Related influential processes and subprocesses; • Primary products of this step; • Associated best practices; and • Linkage to other SHRP 2 Capacity research, such as the Performance Measurement Framework and case studies on economic impacts of transportation investments.
|
From page 85... ...
Implementing the CDMF will require a number of elements. A case for change must be made; that is, state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations must recognize that there are problems with the current way in which highways are delivered with respect to the public acceptability of design solutions, excessive delays, and difficulty in achieving consensus and support on community and environmental issues.
|
From page 86... ...
Eco-Logical recommends integrated conservation plans and mitigation activities that transcend individual agency jurisdictional boundaries and encourages an outcome-based ecosystem approach to conservation. Eco-Logical was signed by FHWA and eight other federal agencies with environmental responsibilities that are on the critical path to expansion of highway capacity.
|
From page 87... ...
These improvements will impact sand dune habitat that houses two listed species of concern: the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard and milk vetch. Rather than develop discrete conservation measures for each project, the participating agen cies have developed a mitigation strategy for the five interchange projects that will be carried out as each project goes through the environmental process.
|
From page 88... ...
• Willingness of transportation agencies to embrace a broader role in environmental stewardship. This requires developing a business case for doing more than is strictly required by regulation.
|
From page 89... ...
As in the other areas of Capacity research, a lack of data can also hinder an agency's ability to fully utilize some of the ecological tools produced. Improved Tools for Analysis of Travel Behavior Current travel demand models and static networks are inherently incapable of analyzing the questions being asked today about traveler responses to tolls and congestion, the behavioral impacts of travel time variability, the relationship between transportation and land use, and the air quality and greenhouse gas consequences of capacity-enhancing transportation proposals (TRB 2007; see Box 5-4)
|
From page 90... ...
The results of this work are intended for use in travel demand models. Another project will demonstrate the effects of highway management strategies on sustainable highway throughput in peak conditions.
|
From page 91... ...
Economic Impacts of Highway Investments This theme area addresses analysis of the economic impacts of highway capacity expansion. While techniques and software tools for this task abound, a lack of transparency makes it difficult to communicate results to decision makers and the public (Box 5-5 provides an example of these challenges)
|
From page 92... ...
The project team then developed a spreadsheet tool -- the Highway Bypass Impact model -- that applies this informa tion to help forecast potential economic impacts of planned future bypasses. Cal trans staff will be using the study findings and analysis tool to enhance the ability of local residents and officials to make judgments about likely impacts of proposed projects on their communities.
|
From page 93... ...
Extra effort will be necessary to demonstrate the reasonableness and transparency of the SHRP 2 tools. conclusion SHRP 2 Capacity research represents a bold effort to reimagine the way highway projects are planned and prepared for and to provide innovative tools that support the new approach embodied in the CDMF.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.