TTP220 Transportation Policy and Planning
Spring 2012
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Lectures
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MW 10:00-11:50
2124 Wickson
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Instructors
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Susan Handy
Office: 2130 Wickson Hall
Office hours: MW
2-3:30
e-mail: slhandy@ucdavis.edu
Gian-Claudia Sciara
Office: 2142 Wickson Hall
Office hours: T,Th
10:30AM - 12 Noon
e-mail: sciara@ucdavis.edu
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Course Objectives
Pick up the paper or watch the local news and you're likely
to find a story about transportation problems in Californias metropolitan
regions, most notably the growth in traffic that has outpaced even the growth
in population and the multitude of problems that come with it economic
inefficiencies, poor air quality, other environmental impacts, social
inequities, safety concerns. Although
most people agree on the problems, few agree on the solutions. Proposals include investing in light rail
systems, expanding the freeway system, implementing pricing strategies,
promoting transit-oriented development.
But which of these options or others is likely to be most
effective? How do regions go about
deciding what set strategies to pursue?
How do these decisions and the process by which they are made fit within
the current and historical context of federal transportation policy? These are the issues we'll explore in this
introduction to transportation planning and policy at the regional level.
The objective of the course is to provide students with an
in-depth understanding of the transportation planning process at the regional
level as it is shaped by federal policy.
The course is divided into three sections: context, process, and strategies. In the first section, we will examine the
history of urban transportation, the institutions involved in transportation
planning, and federal transportation policy as it relates to planning at the
regional level. In the second section,
we will review the planning process as carried out by Metropolitan Planning
Organizations, including long-range transportation plans, transportation
improvement programs, air quality conformity, project development, travel
demand modeling, financing, and public involvement. In the final section, we will examine the
evidence on a variety of demand-side strategies for addressing regional
transportation problems, including pricing, transit services, bicycle and
pedestrian programs, and land use policies.
Transportation
planning and policy IN THE NEWS
Census Data Offers Look at Effects of Recession Growth in
outer suburbs has slowed NY Times 4/4/12
After 100 Years, Muni has gotten slower Bay Citizen, in
New York Times, 4/1/12
Obama signs highway extension bill
The Hill 3/30/2012
Hollywood rezoning plan to nudge growth
toward transit, away from auto NYT 3/29/2012
The true cost of unwalkable streets
Atlantic Cities 3/29/2012
When a parking lot is so much more
NYT op-ed 3/25/2012
Recap of 2011 authorization, budget &
appropriation news AASHTO Journal 12/22/2011
Syllabus and Assignments
Syllabus
Paper 1 Topics in
Transportation History
Helpful writing
tips for every stage of the process
Citations Guide
Paper 2 MPO Analysis
Directory of
MPOs
Idea 1: Planning for Accessibility: In
Theory and Practice
Idea 2: Taking
Steps: An Assessment of MPO Support for Bicycling and Walking
Idea 3: Integrating
Sustainability into the Transportation Planning Process
Idea 4: Changes in Technical Aspects in
Response to Changing Goals
Presentation
schedule and outline
Paper 3 and Presentation
Research Brief on Strategy
Example: Research Syntheses, summaries, and briefs from Active Living
Research see especially the one on Active Travel, though this is much longer than yours is
going to be
Example: Individual articles in the Energy
Aware Planning Guide (warning: this is a big file!) less about the
evidence than yours should be
Example: Research
Briefs prepared for the Air Resources Board longer and more technical
than yours should be, and focused on VMT reductions specifically
See schedule below for schedule of
presentations
Draft Schedule of Topics and
Readings
Stay tuned for updates to readings...
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Day
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Date
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Topic
Powerpoint
Notes
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Assigned Readings
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References
Of Interest
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4/2
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Mon
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Overview and
Introduction
Introduction Powerpoint
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§
TRBs Critical Issues in Transportation (2009)
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Highway Blues
Nothing a Little Accessibility Couldnt Cure Access
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Browse Climate Change: Curbing Transportations Contributions
TR News No. 268
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Browse The Road
to Livability AASHTO report
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§
For reference: Summary of
Travel Trends 2009 NHTS
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For reference: US DOT Livability
webpage
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For reference: distraction.gov
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For reference: Federal transport bills locked in partisan
gridlock, The Takeaway 2/16/2011
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4/4
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Wed
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History 1
History 1 Powerpoint
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§
Muller,
Transportation and Urban Form, from The
Geography of Urban Transportation
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Wachs, Autos, Transit, and the Sprawl of Los Angeles:
The 1920s, JAPA, 50(3).
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Jablonski, New York Citys Subway Century, TR News, 242 (Jan/Feb 2006), pp. 5-15
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Geels, F.W.,
2005, 'The
dynamics of transitions in socio-technical systems: A multi-level analysis of
the transition pathway from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles (1860-1930),
' Technology
Analysis & Strategic Management, 17(4), 445-476
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§
Explore this website from the Smithsonian Museum: American
on the Move
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Of interest: Taken for
a Ride on YouTube (Parts 1 and 2 only)
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Of interest: New
Day Films website on Taken for a Ride
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Of interest: Housing+Transporation
Affordability Index
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4/9
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Mon
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History 2
History 2 Powerpoint
Federal
Legislation handout
Memo on topic due
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§
The Interstate Achievement, TR News, especially
pp. 3-9.
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Brown, Morris, and
Taylor, Planning for Cars in Cities, JAPA
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Taylor review
of Taken For a Ride in JAPA
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§
For Reference: Urban Transportation
Planning In The US - A Historical Overview/Nov 1992
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For Reference: More Highway
History from FHWA
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For Reference: Altshuler & Luberoff on Four Eras of Public Investment
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Of interest: FHWA on Designating
the Urban Interstates
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For fun: 1937 GM short Conquering Roads by Jam Handy (no
relation)
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For fun: Disneys 1958 Magic Highway USA
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For fun: In
Pictures: Hitlers Autobahn Dream from BBC news
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4/11
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Wed
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Institutions
Institutions Powerpoint
Explanation of
agencies from Fulton
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§
A Citizen's Guide to Transportation Decision Making
stop at pg. 16
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Handy
and Clifton Chapter intro to land use planning and transportation
planning for public health community; focus on the How it Works and Who
Does What sections (p. 168-171, 176-178, )
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MPO Guidebook
focus on Chapter 1
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For reference: History of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
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For reference: McDowell
& Edner on Federalism, MPOs, & Surface Transport
Policy
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For reference: Transportation Governance & Finance -
A 50 State Review
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Of interest: An
Inherent Bias? Geographic and Racial-Ethnic Patterns of MPO Boards from
the Brookings Institute
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4/16
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Mon
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Federal
Policy
Federal
Policy Powerpoint
SAFETEA-LU
Planning Factors
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"Metro
Power" - article on impact of ISTEA on MPOs
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Congressional
Research Service Report on SAFETEA-LU skim
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Summary of H.R. 7 - House Transp. Bill
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Summary of MAP 21 - Senate Transp. Bill
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CRS Summary on Thomas (skim)
Compare these to:
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Transportation
for Americas Blueprint for federal policy
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AASHTOs Reauthorization Policy Guide
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American Road and Transportation Builder Associations
Reauthorization Proposal
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American
Public Transportation Association Reauthorization Recommendation
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§
For reference: Chapters
4, 5, and 7 of Federal Transportation Policy and the Role of Metropolitan
Planning Organizations in California
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For reference: FHWAs SAFETEA-LU overview
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For reference: SAFETEA-LU
Planning Provisions Workshop from March 2006, help for state DOTs
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Of interest: National
Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission Report skim
Volume I
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For reference: Barbour,
Ch. 5 (p. 69-92) - Metropolitan Growth Planning in California
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Of interest: Brookings Institutes Visioning Transportations Future
SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization and Beyond
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The Senate's highway bill & fiscal implications, Pt. I
and Pt. II - Innovation Briefs 3/16 & 3/20/2012
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4/18
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Wed
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State
Policy
State Policy Powerpoint
Paper 1 due
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§
SB375 Evaluation by Barbour & Deakin
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Smart Mobility 2010: A Call to Action for the New Decade
Introduction plus skim through conclusions
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Skeptic's view: California Dreamin' P. Gordon
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For reference: SB375
Implementation webpage at the California Air Resources Board
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For reference: SB375 Resources Page
at the California Planning & Development Report
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For reference: Lessons
from CA's first SCS (San Diego)
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For reference: Caltrans
Smart Mobility Framework webpage
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For reference: CA Transportation Funding Overview
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4/23
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Mon
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Regional
Planning
LRP powerpoint
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MPO Guidebook
focus on Sections 3.1-3.3
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Transport Policy
paper
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Performance Driven: A New Vision for U.S. Transportation
Policy from the National Transportation Policy Project
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White Paper on
Public Involvement by TRB committee
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§
For reference: US Code Chapter 23 Chapter 1
Subchapter I §134 Metropolitan Planning
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For reference: Public
Involvement Techniques
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For reference: Citizens Handbook on Environmental
Justice
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Of interest: EnvisionUtah
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Of interest: SACOGs Blueprint
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4/25
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Wed
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Forecasting
TDM powerpoint
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A
Transportation Modeling Primer - an overview of transportation modeling,
with a critique
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The Four Step Model - McNally
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Transport policy evaluation in metropolitan areas: The role
of modelling in decision-making - Hatzopoulou and Miller
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For reference: Manual of Regional Transportation Modeling Practice for Air
Quality Analysis - read the introduction
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For more info: "Incorporating
Urban Design Variables in MPOs' Travel Demand Models"
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For more info: "Incorporating
Pedestrian and Bicycle Factors into Regional Transportation Planning Models"
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4/30
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Mon
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Conformity,
et al.
Memo on MPO due
Conformity
powerpoint
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Transportation
Conformity: A Basic Guide for State and Local Officials
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Politics of Controlling Auto Air Pollution - Howitt & Altshuler
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Barbour - Metropolitan
Growth Planning in California - p. 93-99.
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Kahn & Schwartz, Urban Air Pollution Progress Despite Sprawl
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§
For reference: Transportation Conformity Reference Guide
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For reference: Niemeier, Zheng, Kear 2004
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For reference: Modeling Mobile
Source Emissions, National Academy of Sciences
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For reference: Stone et.
al. Is
Compact Growth Good for Air Quality
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Of interest: SACOG Conformity Determination
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5/2
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Wed
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Programming
and Financing
Programming
powerpoint
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§
MPO Briefing
Book - especially Section 1 and sections on air quality, environmental justice,
and financial planning and programming
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Unstable Funding Adversely Impacts Transportation Programs
- Legislative Analyst's Office, 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series
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Metropolitan Transportation Funding - Sciara
& Wachs
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Project Prioritizing Examples...
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For example: SACOGs bike/ped project criteria
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For example: Southwest
Washington Regional Transportation Council - be sure to look at needs
criteria
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For example: Pikes
Peak Region Mobility Plan
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For example: Knoxville
Regional Transportation Planning Organization see process
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Of interest: Local Transportation Sales Taxes:
California's Experiment in Transportation Finance - Crabbe, Hiatt, Poliwka, and Wachs
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Of interest: The Rise of Local Option Transportation
Taxes - Goldman and Wachs
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For reference: FHWA's
Innovative Finance webpage - see the latest issue of Innovative Finance Quarterly
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See also Innovation
Briefs for several articles on Tolling
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5/7
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Mon
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Project
Development
Project
Devt powerpoint
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§
A Citizen's Guide to Transportation Decision Making pp.
17-23
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NEPA case
study
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Of interest: The Grand Parkway
Association
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Of interest: Grand Parkway EIS
critique
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For reference:
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FHWA Project Development webpage
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FHWA Environmental Streamlining/Stewardship
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FHWA
Context-Sensitive Solutions
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Caltrans Context-Sensitive Solutions
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Flexibility in Highway Design
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FHWA Design Guidance on Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian
Travel
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ITEs new report on Context Sensitive Solutions
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5/9
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Wed
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Local
Government Role
Local
Govt powerpoint
Select strategies topics
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§
Handy
and Clifton Chapter intro to land use planning and transportation
planning for public health community; focus on the How it Works and Who
Does What sections
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For fun: City of Davis Capital
Improvement Program
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5/14
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Mon
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MPO
Critique
MPO
Critique powerpoint
Paper 2 due
MPO
presentations
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False Promise of Regional Planning - Gordon
MPOs - An Inherent Bias? - Sanchez
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5/16
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Wed
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MPO
presentations
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5/21
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Mon
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Strategies
Overview
Overview
powerpoint
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§
National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on Americas
Transportation Network
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Longer View: The Road
Less Driven
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§ See
also: Smart Growth and the Transportation-Land Use Connection
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5/23
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Wed
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Work session for research briefs
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In Class Work Session
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5/28
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Mon
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Holiday
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5/30
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Wed
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Presentations
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Land use
and Infrastructure
Smart growth Jeff
Transit-oriented development Yu
Pedestrian infrastructure Alvaro
Traffic calming Garry
Parking pricing Matt
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6/4
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Mon
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Presentations
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Transit +
Commuter rail Sohail
Bus rapid transit Sam
Transit fare strategies Alex
ITS applications in transit Mohammed
Truck-lanes and freight Diem-Thuy
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6/6
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Wed
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Presentations
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Travel
Demand Management
Car sharing Daniel Block
Bike-sharing Daniel Sheeter
Safe routes to school - Alyssa
Social marketing Brigitte
e-activities - Shengmao
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6/8
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Fri
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Final
papers due at 5
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Other
Resources of various stripes
Metropolitan
Planning - hosted by FHWA and FTA
Victoria Transport
Policy Institute try the TDM Encyclopedia
Innovation
Briefs essays on a variety of current transportation issues.
The
Reason Foundation more essays on a variety of current transportation
issues, plus their Surface Transportation Innovations newsletter
Transportation
for America advocates for public transportation and walkable communities
at the national level see their interactive features
TransForm advocates for public transportation and
walkable communities in California
Return to Department of Environmental Science and
Policy
Return to Susan Handy's home page
Last
updated 5/21/12