Careers in Transportation Planning

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What is the role of the transportation planner?

Reference: Institute of Transportation Engineers

2

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, social events, etc, and the mobility needs of an aging population

Old Paradigm - 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 drivenPublic Input Big influence May or may not influence

Priorities and Implementatio

n

Often not specified Specific with costs and funding

Practicality Bold ideas / “just a plan” Engineering feasibilityMajor 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

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

Source: LSL Planning, Inc.

Role of the Transportation Planner

ChoicesPrioritiesDecisions

Environmental

Economic Developm

ent

Land UseTransporta

tion

Outside Agencies/Stakehold

ers

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 ManagementCost 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 roadwayStructures

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 access density from 10-20 access points per mile often results in about a 40% increase in expected crash rates*

Source: FHWA, MDOT Access Management Guidebook

*according to the Michigan Department of Transportation

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)

Designing for:•Character•Users•Land Uses•Multiple Functions•Linking to the past and to the future

CSS Median Cross-Section

Alternative Roadway Cross-Sections

Source: LSL Planning, Inc.

City of San Jose

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An Example of a Successful City

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 Solutions

• Transportation 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, transportation investment can be a catalyst to sound, sustainable growth and development

• Increase property value by improving access and safety

• Balance land use with traveler needs• Examples:

• Convert one-way to two-way• Add on-street parking• Add transit (Bus rapid transit/ streetcar/light rail)

Images Source: City of Birmingham, MI Triangle District Master Plan, LSL Planning,

Inc.

Manage Demand• Manage transportation demand to

influence the intensity, timing and spatial distribution

• Purpose: reduce the impact of traffic or enhance mobility options• 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

Assignment?

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Bagaimana Menurut Saudara dengan Kota Malang?Bagaimana Sebaiknya Kota Malang ke Depan?