what is the role of the transportation planner? an overview of transportation opportunities for all...
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• What is the role of the transportation planner?
• An overview of transportation opportunities for all planners
• Employment outlook for urban and regional planners
Careers in Transportation Planning
What is the Role of a Transportation Planner?
Transportation planners work to improve the quality of life of the communities they serve by developing sustainable solutions to issues such as urban sprawl, traffic congestion, air pollution, access to jobs, and the mobility needs of an aging population
2
Long Range Transportation Models
Local Future Land Use Plans
Employment & Household Projections Projected
Deficiencies (congestion) and Alternatives Analysis
Recommended Changes – typically to add capacity
•Assumes future land use is valid
•Assumes community will develop per its plan
Source: Washtenaw Area Transportation Study (WATS), LSL Planning, Inc.
Comparison of the Planning Processes
Land Use TransportationGoals Qualitative and competing Quantitative (Performance
Measures)
Scope Short term (5-15 years) Long term (30 years)
Data Mild influence Data driven
Public Input Big influence May or may not influence
Priorities and Implementation
Often not specified Specific with costs and funding
Practicality Bold ideas / “just a plan” Engineering feasibility
Major Difference:• Transportation based on planned Land
Use• Land Use has limited consideration of
transportation
A New Paradigm
Link land use with transportation: Land use arrangement to reduce
peak hour auto trips Site design to support
bicycling/walking/transit Combine land-use planning with
transportation planning (regional, community, and site specific)
Increased cooperation among all parties involved in land use and transportation
Operate in limited funding environment by planning practical (and affordable) and sustainable solutions to meet our transportation system needs
Photo: LSL Planning, Inc.
Role of the Transportation Planner “Bridge the gap” Educate parties in
an understandable way
Focus on long term
Advocate for underserved groups
Environmental justice
Use transportation to improve community sustainability
ChoicesPrioritiesDecisions
Environmental
Economic Developme
nt
Land UseTransportati
on
Outside Agencies/
Stakeholders
Public
Source: LSL Planning, Inc.
Public Involvement
Facilitate, educate to gather meaningful input
Brochures Open house Public workshops Advisory
committees “Road show” Visualization/
simulation
Photos: Courtesy of LSL Planning, Inc.
A transportation planner does . . . Long range plans Corridor
simulation models Flexible
design/street widths/road diets (traffic calming/CSS)
Non-motorized plans & walkable design
Demand management
Transit oriented land use and design
Access management
Overlay zones Form-based codes Transportation to
support economic development
Corridor Planning
Identify the function and character of major streets
Traffic operations (Level of Service)
Accommodate all users
Access system Road and
streetscape design (Context Sensitive Solutions)
Bluffton, SC
Portage, MI
Source: LSL Planning, Inc.
Access Management
Cost effective traffic management methods to:
Promote the flow of traffic Improve safety of pedestrians &
vehicles Improve aesthetics of roadway
areas…by managing the location, quantity,
type & design of access to a roadway
Structures
Parking Area
Front Access Road
Thru Traffic Lanes
Rear Access Road
Shared Access Road
Consolidated Signs
Landscaping
Structures
Sources: Photo and Cover, MDOT Access Management Guidebook.
Graphic, LSL Planning, Inc.
Benefit: Safety
Access management can help reduce injuries and property damage due to crashes
Doubling of accessdensity from 10-20 access points per mile often results in about a 40% increase in expected
crash rates**according to the Michigan Department of Transportation
Source: FHWA, MDOT Access Management Guidebook
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)Designing for:
CharacterUsersLand UsesMultiple FunctionsLinking to the past and to the future
CSS Median Cross-Section
Alternative Roadway Cross-Sections
Source: LSL Planning, Inc.
San Jose, California
Existing conditions
San Jose, California
Mixed-use development at sidewalk
San Jose, California
Street trees; medians and pedestrian refuges; crosswalks
San Jose, California
Live-work housing; mixed-use building
San Jose, California
Bus lane
San Jose, California
Rapid transit lane demarcated in red
Promote Effective SolutionsTransportation planners can promote effective solutions such as roundabouts, ITS, creative interchange design, multi-modal streets and traffic calming measures.
This includes both technical analysis and building support from other professionals, the public, and decision makers.
A multimedia demonstration from the City of Sammamish, WA official website.
Photo: LSL Planning, Inc.
Road Diets
Reducing # of traffic lanes to provide left turn, transit, or bike lane
Consider: Function & environment Traffic volumes (consider
for 8,500 – 24,000 vpd) Peak hour volumes &
Level of Service Crash types, pedestrian,
bike, & transit activity Impact on parallel roads
After
Before
Washtenaw County Access Management Plan:
One-Way 3-to-2 Road Diet ConceptSource: LSL Planning, Inc.
Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
Moderate to higher density
Within an easy walk A mix of uses Designed for the
pedestrian New construction or
redevelopment Increases transit
ridership Strong benefits
Using Transportation as a Catalyst
Rather than respond to land use, trans-portation investment can be a catalyst to sound, sustainable growth and develop-ment
Increase property value by improving access and safety
Balance land use with traveler needs
Examples:Convert one-way to two-wayAdd on-street parkingAdd transit (Bus rapid transit/ streetcar/light rail)
Images Source: City of Birmingham, MI Triangle District Master Plan, LSL Planning, Inc.
Manage Demand
Transportation planners also help manage transportation demand by taking any action or set of actions intended to influence the intensity, timing and spatial distribution of demand for the purpose of reducing the impact of traffic or enhancing mobility options by
• Offering commuters one or more alternative transportation modes and/or services
• Providing incentives to travel on these modes or at non-congested hours, or
• Providing opportunities to better link or "chain" trips together, and/or incorporating growth management or traffic impact policies into local development decisions. Photo with permission from VPSI
Employment OutlookJob OutlookEarnings
Outlook for Transportation Planners
Employment Outlook
Urban and regional planners held about 38,400 jobs in 2008.
About 66 percent were employed by local governments.
Companies: architectural,
engineering, and related services,
management, scientific, and technical consulting services
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos057.htm#outlook
Job Outlook
Faster than average employment growth
Employment of urban and regional planners is expected to grow 19 percent from 2008 to 2018
Most new jobs will be in affluent, rapidly expanding communities.
Job prospects will be best for those with a master's degree
Bachelor's degree holders with additional skills in GIS or mapping may find entry level positions, but advancement opportunities are limited.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos057.htm#outlook
Earnings
Median annual wages of urban and regional planners were $59,810 in May 2008.
The middle 50 percent earned between $47,050 and $75,630.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $91,520.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos057.htm#outlook
Acknowledgements
ITE Transportation Planning Council thanks the following individuals for contributing material for this PowerPoint presentation
Brad Strader, AICP, PTP, LSL Planning, Inc.
Lucy Gibson, Smart Mobility UrbanAdvantage
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