CONNECTING THE DOTS: L INKING PLANNING AND OPERATIONS FOR

BET TER TRANSPORTATION OUTCOMES

J a m i e C o c h r a n , A I C PG r e s h a m , S m i t h , a n d P a r t n e r s

N o v e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 2

“We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”

John W. Gardner

- Voter distrust/disinterest/hostility/apathy

- Lack of public awareness of the value of planning

- Continuous pressure to “do more with less”

- Lack of willingness or patience with creative problem-solving

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.

- Abraham Lincoln

Planning for Operations

Using the planning process to identify, consider, and use transportation operations solutions that

could be overlooked in favor of larger, more expensive capital investment projects to obtain

desirable mobility outcomes.

Similar Worlds of Planning and Operations

Planning System Operations(all the other stuff, i.e. design, construction, etc.)

- Must work continuously with multiple parties

- Requires creative problem-solving and consensus-building

- Reflects the inter-relatedness of technical issues

- Involved in in both short- and long-range activities

- Must work with very active constituencies

Key Ways to Link Planning and Operations

• Actively Engage in the Transportation Planning Process

• Share Data • Choose Performance Measures• Work Together on Congestion

Management • Share Funding and Other Resources• Work Out Institutional Arrangements• Serve on Project Teams Together

– Corridor Plans– ITS– Management and Operations– Safety

Not A New Idea

Fashion Circa 1962 Fashion Circa 2011

Linking Planning and Operations Has A Long History

1934 – First HighwayInventories Completed

1950 – First Highway CapacityManual Published

Linking Planning and Operations…

1959– BPR Sponsors Study of Wisconsin Avenue in Washington, D.C. to Demonstrate Value of Coordinated Traffic Management Methods in a Corridor

Linking Planning and Operations…

1962 Federal-Aid Highway Act: First Required Analysis of Travel Patterns and Traffic Control

Linking Planning and Operations…

1968- Federal-Aid Highway Act – Creates TOPICS Program(Traffic Operations Program to Improve Capacity and Safety)

Over 160 Cities Participate

In 1973, Program was Merged into the Federal Aid Urban System

Average new car costwas about $ 2,800

Cost of one gallon ofgas was 31 cents

Linking Planning and Operations…

1974 – Federal Service and Methods Demonstration Program – Federal Funds for Shifting to Shorter-Term, Low-Capital Improvements

Later known as “Transportation System Management (TSM)”

“Transportation Systems Management and Operations” activities include:

Traffic detection and surveillance Corridor management Freeway management Arterial management Work zone management Emergency management Traveler information services Congestion pricing Parking management Automated enforcement Traffic control Commercial vehicle operations Freight management Coordination of highway, rail, transit, bicycle and pedestrian operations

MAP-21:

Requires a report to the U.S. Congress on each State and MPO related to their achieving their established performance targets

- Safety

- Infrastructure Condition

- System Reliability

- Freight Movement and Economic Vitality

- Environmental Sustainability

- Project Delivery and Innovation

MAP 21: National Transportation Goals

Convene a Quarterly Local TransportationRoundtable (GDOT District County, Municipalities, Transit Provider(s), etc.

- Identify New Data- Discuss Partnerships- Create “Lunch and Learn” Opportunities- Invite Planners and Engineers

Include Management/Operations Experts in Your Planning “Brainstorming Sessions”

Schedule “Road Shows” to Look at Problems/Issues in the Field Together

Helpful Hints for Small and Medium-Sized MPOs

ARCBICYCLE/

PEDESTRIANTASK FORCE

GDOT

TRANSIT OPERATIONS SUBCOMM.

SRTA

FREIGHTADVISORY

TASK FORCE

GRTA

MGMT AND OPERATIONSSUBCOMM.

EXAMPLE: LARGE MPO APPROACH TO LINKING PLANNING AND OPERATIONS (ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION)

TECHNICAL COORDINATING

COMMITTEE

METRO ATLANTA

TIME TASK FORCE

REG’LTRAFFIC

OPERATIONSTASK FORCE

Part of ARC Organization- Human Services Transportation Plan- Regional ITS Architecture- Planning Partner Across Region

Bicycle/Pedestrian Task Force - Formed in 1993- Created as a TCC subcommittee - 2007 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan- Complete Streets Program- Safe Routes to School

Management and Operations Subcommittee of TCC- Congestion Management Process (CMP)- Crash Profiles and Safety Plan- Multimodal Corridor Studies- Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan

Metro Atlanta TIME Task Force(Traffic Incident Management Enhancement)- Nearly 80 public and private

sector members- 13-member Board of Directors- 2011 GA Traffic Incident

Management Guidance- Open Roads Policy- Towing Recovery Incentive

Program (TRIP)

Regional Traffic Operations Task Force- Regional Traffic Operations Program (RTOPs)

SRTA- I-85 HOV to HOT Conversion Project- Peach Pass- Managed Lane System Plan

Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan:Sample Typical Section Sample for Urban Thoroughfare

Bring equal focus to planning and transportation system operations

STRATEGY ACTION

Think about maintaining momentum – celebrate victories with public and private partners!

Tap into a wide array of planning and operations talents and expertise across institutions and economic sectors –“more is more”

Complement and not duplicate state-level efforts with regional initiatives and vice versa

Make conscious choices to involve professionals who can see the ultimate goal

Learn MPO-speak and DOT-speak and be multi-lingual.

From Strategy to Action

How will we know if we are making progress?

Does the mix of funded projects include affordable, effective transportation operations solutions that are

supported by the public?

Are we “moving the needle” in improving crash histories, traffic flow, and clearing incidents in

the short- and long-term?

Are we talking to each other?

The End Result: Bett er Transportati on Outcomes

F o r M o r e I n f o r m a ti o n :

J a m i e C o c h r a n , A I C PS e n i o r V i c e P r e s i d e n t o f Tr a n s p o r t a ti o n P l a n n i n g

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A l p h a r e tt a , G e o r g i a 3 0 0 7 5P h o n e : 4 0 4 - 9 0 9 - 2 3 3 1

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