Sociology Applied in Transportation Planning

Valdosta State UniversitySOCIO 3200

September 18, 2013

Introductions

• Name• Major• Semester Project

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Agenda

• Transportation Planning• Ethical Basis• Legal Basis• Public Participation

Policies• Group Projects

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What is Sociology?

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What is Sociology?

“…to improve people's lives and to resolve social

problems.”

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http://www.edthefed.com/

http://www.ralphmag.org/CX/briefs.html

http://www.postersguide.com/posters/tobacco-ships-in-the-james-river-virginia-colony-1600s-4239782.html

http://explorepahistory.com/displayimage.php?imgId=271

http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/exhibits/1857/after/rail1.htm

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hwy50/

http://www.patricepress.com/books/580.htm

http://newmobilityagenda.blogspot.com/2010/07/honk-city-of-future-have-stupid-weekend.html

FHWA and Google Earth

http://http://www.rampantscotland.com/let060218.htm

What is Transportation Planning?

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What is Transportation Planning?

Transportation planning has been a rational model of defining goals, identifying problems, generating

alternatives, evaluating alternatives, and developing implementation plans.

However, planners are increasingly expected to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach, for example, the use

of behavioral psychology to persuade drivers to abandon their automobiles and use other forms of transport instead. The role of the transport planner is shifting from a technical

analysis to planning for sustainable and resilient economies, environments and societies.

17Source: paraphrased from Wikipedia: Transportation Planning; FHWA INVEST

Transportation Planning Process

Continuous

ComprehensiveCooperative

Continuous

Goals

Alternatives

Evaluation

Projects, Programs,

Policies

Project Develop

ment

Systems Operations

Performance

Monitoring

Comprehensive

Transportation PlanLand UseHealt

hFreig

ht

Bicycles

Pedestrians

Safety

Public Transit

Railroads

Shipping Ports

Financial Sustainability

Operations and Maintenance

SecurityAir Quality

Environmental

Mitigation

Public Involvement

Aviation

Coordinated

Regional Transportation Plan

State

LocalFederal

Ethical Issues in Planning

• American Planning Association– American Institute of Certified Planners • Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

• Overall Responsibility to the Public– Conscious of the rights of others– Seek social justice– Interrelatedness of decisions– Opportunity for impact– Long-range consequences of present actions

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What is Sociology?

“…to improve people's lives and to resolve social

problems.”

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Planning Ethics and Sociology

• As a planner what ethical issues are faced that can impact peoples lives?

• As a planner what ethical issues are faced that attempt to resolve social problems?

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Legal Basis of Sociology in Planning

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964– “No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of

race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.”

• Other laws– 23 USC 324, Sex Discrimination– Age Discrimination Act of 1975– Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

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What is Environmental Justice?

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Legal Basis of Sociology in Planning

• Executive Orders– EO 12898 – Environmental Justice• “[address] as appropriate, disproportionately high and

adverse human health or environmental effects of…programs, policies and activities on minority and low-income populations.”

– EO 13166 – Limited-English Proficiency• “persons with limited English proficiency can

meaningfully access…services”

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The Law and Sociology

• How do planners address legal issues that impact peoples lives?

• How do planners resolve social problems using the previously described laws?

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Public Participation Policies

• VLMPO Public Participation Plan– Required by federal law– “defines the process or framework for providing

citizens, affected public agencies and other associated stakeholders with reasonable opportunities to be involved in the metropolitan transportation planning process.”

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PPP Strategies

• What can the VLMPO do to resolve social issues through these strategies?

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PPP Strategies

• Raise public awareness and understanding of the transportation planning process including the functions, responsibilities and programs of the MPO and identify how interested citizens can become involved.

• Provide the public and others with early, ongoing and meaningful opportunities for involvement in the transportation planning process.

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PPP Strategies

• Maintain timely contact with key stakeholders and the public throughout the transportation planning process.

• Identify, involve and mitigate impacts on traditionally underserved communities (those communities with high concentrations of minority, low-income, elderly or disabled populations) in the transportation planning process.

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Social Media

• How has Social Media changed society? – Public Outreach?– Engagement?

• Is this good or bad?• Is it meaningful?

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Sociology in Planning

• Environmental Justice Analysis– Census Data– Equality in distribution of projects/funding

throughout the community– Meeting the needs of the entire community

• Mitigation Actions– Improve peoples lives, resolve social issues– Lessen any negative impacts– Promote positive impacts

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Sociology in Planning

35https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=uHMsJjJrMxqUJM&tbnid=NWr0lDVwU7ymMM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancercare.on.ca%2Ftoolbox%2Fpfac%2Fcommunicate%2Fexperience%2F&ei=RjEvUrrRFdfe4AOhjYDIDw&bvm=bv.51773540,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNEp9y6COLghvHGI23u_-AYAjaPW_g&ust=1378910839012727

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Sociology in Planning

• West Hill Avenue Overpass• Food Deserts• Student Education in Lowndes County• Exercise Deserts• Public Transportation in Valdosta/Lowndes

County

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Corey Hull, AICPValdosta-Lowndes

Metropolitan Planning OrganizationSouthern Georgia Regional Commission

chull@sgrc.us229-333-5277

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Online Resources

www.sgrc.us/transportation

www.facebook.com/valdostalowndesmpo

www.youtube.com/vlmpo

www.twitter.com/vlmpo

www.instagram.com/vlmpo

www.pinterest.com/vlmpo

www.slideshare.net/vlmpo

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