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From page 28... ... 28 The case examples included herein present detailed insights on how the value of added highway capacity projects is assessed versus that of other modal projects and strategies along with issues and opportunities at five state DOTs and three MPOs. In addition, examples from two state DOTs that do not conduct assessments of added highway capacity projects against other modal projects and strategies but plan to do so in future corridor/subarea plans and studies and STIPs are presented. Read the entire page →
From page 29... ... Case Examples 29 • North Dakota • Nevada • New Mexico • New York • Oklahoma • Oregon • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Vermont • Virginia • Washington Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic and Statistics Administration, Census Bureau. Read the entire page →
From page 30... ... 30 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies The following MPOs completed the synthesis survey: • Atlanta Regional Commission • Baltimore Metropolitan Council • Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization • Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (Austin, Texas) • East-West Gateway Council of Governments • Greater Bridgeport and Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization • Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization • Metro (Portland, Oregon) Read the entire page →
From page 31... ... Case Examples 31 Alternatives Program. Although State DOT A transportation planners are facing funding restrictions, they "have to make sure they pay for highways" so other sources of State DOT A funding can pay for some of the bicycle and pedestrian work but not all of it. Read the entire page →
From page 32... ... 32 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies include turning lanes, alternative intersections, signal and timing actuation, and reconfiguring interchanges to make them more efficient. Needs There is concern regarding the extent to which certain improvements or projects can be expected to improve or increase reliability, including predictability in travel time. Read the entire page →
From page 33... ... Case Examples 33 Difficulties Funding flexibility is a key challenge because all of the money that State DOT B can access is for highways. Other uses of the funding are constitutionally prohibited. Read the entire page →
From page 34... ... 34 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies requires that State DOT B program its resources to highway construction and maintenance. State funds may not be used for public transportation (rail or bus) Read the entire page →
From page 35... ... Case Examples 35 State DOT C State DOT C assesses added highway capacity projects against other modal projects and strategies in its corridor/subarea plans and studies and STIP, including the following: • Local public transportation, bus and rail; • Commuter public transportation, bus and rail; • Intercity public transportation, bus and rail; • Bicycle lane; • Pedestrian walkway; • Multiuse trail; • Safety; • Operational and management strategies; • Ferry boat; and • Freight rail. State DOT C uses multiple analytical tools (including one for BCA) Read the entire page →
From page 36... ... 36 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies across modes, the more survey data that were available along with the availability of national research on ridership trends for other modes, the greater the ability to analyze a project. Federal Performance Management Requirements State DOT C began using performance management in project selection before MAP-21 was enacted. Read the entire page →
From page 37... ... Case Examples 37 person-hours of delay. All projects are analyzed through this lens. Read the entire page →
From page 38... ... 38 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies based on quantitative analysis tools, acknowledging that professional judgement will always play a critical role in the identification of projects. Difficulties State DOT D is conducting a full reexamination of its entire project selection and development process along with the tools used to evaluate and prioritize candidates. Read the entire page →
From page 39... ... Case Examples 39 State DOT D is incorporating "pause points" during the planning and development of all major projects to determine if there have been any advancements in technology or the introduction of new modal projects and strategies that may result in the added capacity highway project not being the preferred alternative. By articulating this approach at the beginning and building it into the process, State DOT D can incorporate new information and technologies into projects. Read the entire page →
From page 40... ... 40 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies Impetus State DOT E operates in a state known for its commitment to planning, where transportation system-level planning across all modes is conducted at the state, regional, and county levels. State DOT E is committed to identifying the best solutions regardless of mode. Read the entire page →
From page 41... ... Case Examples 41 Needs State DOT E believes that much can be done at the national level in terms of research, including ways to measure and predict outcomes of various modal projects and strategies (including added highway capacity alternatives) to enable improved investment decisions by state DOTs and MPOs. Read the entire page →
From page 42... ... 42 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies Federal Performance Management Requirements State DOT F has a strategic management plan that includes numerous metrics and targets that align with its strategic objectives. Federal performance management requirements are being fully considered, and some of State DOT F's metrics are similar to those for system performance included in federal legislation. Read the entire page →
From page 43... ... Case Examples 43 There is a directive to include bike lanes and pedestrian walkways, including in those rural areas where such facilities make sense and improve safety. It is now State DOT G's policy that other modes will be considered, but the value of this is questionable because State DOT G does not own, maintain, or operate public transportation services and, in many rural areas and expanses, highways are the only reasonable mode because of the distances between locations. Read the entire page →
From page 44... ... 44 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies evaluation and selection. The need to select the best highway projects and make the most out of existing funding is now recognized and accepted. Read the entire page →
From page 45... ... Case Examples 45 MPO 1 MPO 1 assesses added highway capacity projects against a wide array of other modal projects and strategies in its MTP, corridor/subarea plans and studies, and TIP, including the following: • Local public transportation, bus and rail (MTP, corridor/subarea plans and studies, and TIP) ; • Commuter public transportation, bus and rail (MTP, corridor/subarea plans and studies, and TIP) Read the entire page →
From page 46... ... 46 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies Federal Performance Management Requirements MPO 1 established and included several performance measures and associated targets in its most recent MTP that are consistent with federal requirements. In developing the metrics and targets, MPO 1 consulted with FHWA, FTA, the state DOT, and its advisory committees, including the one made up of interested citizens. Read the entire page →
From page 47... ... Case Examples 47 MPO 2 MPO 2 assesses added highway capacity projects against a wide array of other modal projects and strategies in its MTP, corridor/subarea plans and studies, and TIP, including the following: • Local public transportation, bus (MTP and TIP) ; • Local public transportation, rail (MTP) Read the entire page →
From page 48... ... 48 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies Federal Performance Management Requirements MPO 2 has been measuring and monitoring safety performance for many years, and its current measures are similar to the federally required ones. Beyond the effort to meet the reporting components of the federal requirements, there is a concern that the system performance measures may unduly influence project evaluation in a negative way. Read the entire page →
From page 49... ... Case Examples 49 • Multiuse trail (MTP, corridor/subarea plans and studies, and TIP) ; • Safety (MTP, corridor/subarea plans and studies, and TIP) Read the entire page →
From page 50... ... 50 How Transportation Agencies Assess the Value of Added Capacity Highway Projects Versus Other Modal Projects and Strategies Federal Performance Management Requirements The federal performance management requirements are unlikely to change the approach of MPO 3 with respect to its project evaluation processes. MPO 3 believes that this approach and the resulting processes serve the urbanized area well and meet the core elements of PBPP as included in federal legislation. Read the entire page →

From page 28...

... 28 The case examples included herein present detailed insights on how the value of added highway capacity projects is assessed versus that of other modal projects and strategies along with issues and opportunities at five state DOTs and three MPOs. In addition, examples from two state DOTs that do not conduct assessments of added highway capacity projects against other modal projects and strategies but plan to do so in future corridor/subarea plans and studies and STIPs are presented.