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• 1. [Article] Proceedings of a Workshop on Interactive Graphics for Transportation Planners

  The workshop attracted transportation planners from transit and regional planning agencies, consulting firms, and local governments. It explored the use of interactive graphics coupled with multi-modal ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Proceedings of a Workshop on Interactive Graphics for Transportation Planners Author: Dueker, Kenneth, Roberts, Ross Year: 1984 The workshop attracted transportation planners from transit and regional planning agencies, consulting firms, and local governments. It explored the use of interactive graphics coupled with multi-modal transportation planning. Several key aspects of the use of interactive graphics were explored in panel discussions and demonstration workshop sessions. These aspects included the evolution of interactive graphics technology, the structured application of this technology in implementation, the operational environment, impacts on planning agencies and future applications of this technology. The demonstration of applications was made possible by use of Metro's EMME/2 system. Metro is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Portland area. Metro is the first planning jurisdiction in the United States to use EMME/2, so Metro's experience with the implementation of the system is particularly valuable. After acquiring the Urban Transportation Planning System (UTPS) in 1977, Metro began to look for new technology to better serve their regional transportation planning needs. In 1983, Metro acquired the EMME/2 system. Metro personnel who have used the system on a day-to-day basis have valuable insight into the functional aspects of this new technology. Title: Proceedings of a Workshop on Interactive Graphics for Transportation Planners Author: Dueker, Kenneth, Roberts, Ross Year: 1984 The workshop attracted transportation planners from transit and regional planning agencies, consulting firms, and local governments. It explored the use of interactive graphics coupled with multi-modal transportation planning. Several key aspects of the use of interactive graphics were explored in panel discussions and demonstration workshop sessions. These aspects included the evolution of interactive graphics technology, the structured application of this technology in implementation, the operational environment, impacts on planning agencies and future applications of this technology. The demonstration of applications was made possible by use of Metro's EMME/2 system. Metro is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Portland area. Metro is the first planning jurisdiction in the United States to use EMME/2, so Metro's experience with the implementation of the system is particularly valuable. After acquiring the Urban Transportation Planning System (UTPS) in 1977, Metro began to look for new technology to better serve their regional transportation planning needs. In 1983, Metro acquired the EMME/2 system. Metro personnel who have used the system on a day-to-day basis have valuable insight into the functional aspects of this new technology. Close

• 2. [Article] Metro 2040 Framework Update, Fall 1996/Winter 1997

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Metro 2040 Framework Update, Fall 1996/Winter 1997 Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 1997 Title: Metro 2040 Framework Update, Fall 1996/Winter 1997 Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 1997 Close

• 3. [Article] Metro 2040 Framework Update, Fall 1995/Winter 1996

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Metro 2040 Framework Update, Fall 1995/Winter 1996 Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 1996 Title: Metro 2040 Framework Update, Fall 1995/Winter 1996 Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 1996 Close

• 4. [Article] Dynamic Assignment Models and their Application in the Portland Metro Region

  Metro's Research and Modeling Services Program is responsible for the development, maintenance, and application of travel demand models for application in long-range planning efforts in the Portland metropolitan ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Dynamic Assignment Models and their Application in the Portland Metro Region Author: Bosa, Peter G. Year: 2017 Metro's Research and Modeling Services Program is responsible for the development, maintenance, and application of travel demand models for application in long-range planning efforts in the Portland metropolitan region. Representation of traffic—both vehicular and transit—plays an integral role in the travel demand modeling process. Complex software is required to assign vehicles and transit users to transportation networks to determine viable options available to travelers, costs associated with those options, and sets of routes by which travelers might navigate their trips. Metro's current static assignment model has traditionally sufficed for use with Metro's four-step travel demand model. However, static assignments have well-documented limitations that preclude the ability of the analyst to answer complex policy questions, especially those related to greenhouse gas emissions, congestion, and transportation network reliability. In addition, static assignments cannot fulfill a need for small-duration travel time increments required by the next generation activity-based models. The shortcomings of the static assignment necessitates Metro’s development and application of regional dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) models. The resolution of these models allows for continuous modeling of traffic over an analysis period, which allows the analyst to capture temporally-based traffic events such as the building and dissipation of queues, measurement of the duration of congestion, and high fidelity speed profiles for use in emissions analysis. This presentation will focus on why Metro has developed a DTA, how DTA compares with other models—specifically macro-scale static assignments and micro-simulations—and how DTA has been applied in Metro's modeling process. Title: Dynamic Assignment Models and their Application in the Portland Metro Region Author: Bosa, Peter G. Year: 2017 Metro's Research and Modeling Services Program is responsible for the development, maintenance, and application of travel demand models for application in long-range planning efforts in the Portland metropolitan region. Representation of traffic—both vehicular and transit—plays an integral role in the travel demand modeling process. Complex software is required to assign vehicles and transit users to transportation networks to determine viable options available to travelers, costs associated with those options, and sets of routes by which travelers might navigate their trips. Metro's current static assignment model has traditionally sufficed for use with Metro's four-step travel demand model. However, static assignments have well-documented limitations that preclude the ability of the analyst to answer complex policy questions, especially those related to greenhouse gas emissions, congestion, and transportation network reliability. In addition, static assignments cannot fulfill a need for small-duration travel time increments required by the next generation activity-based models. The shortcomings of the static assignment necessitates Metro’s development and application of regional dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) models. The resolution of these models allows for continuous modeling of traffic over an analysis period, which allows the analyst to capture temporally-based traffic events such as the building and dissipation of queues, measurement of the duration of congestion, and high fidelity speed profiles for use in emissions analysis. This presentation will focus on why Metro has developed a DTA, how DTA compares with other models—specifically macro-scale static assignments and micro-simulations—and how DTA has been applied in Metro's modeling process. Close

• 5. [Article] Design of a Dynamic Activity Travel Modeling System for Metro

  Trip-based models are no longer adequate for some of the more complex questions. They fail to account for time of day sensitivity, dynamic congestion effects, variable pricing and tolls, and the reliability ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Design of a Dynamic Activity Travel Modeling System for Metro Author: Gliebe, John Year: 2011 Trip-based models are no longer adequate for some of the more complex questions. They fail to account for time of day sensitivity, dynamic congestion effects, variable pricing and tolls, and the reliability of both highways and transit. Existing activity/tour-based models lack the enhanced temporal element provided by a more dynamic, activity-based microsimulation. DASH is the next-generation model being developed by the Metro Research Center. Title: Design of a Dynamic Activity Travel Modeling System for Metro Author: Gliebe, John Year: 2011 Trip-based models are no longer adequate for some of the more complex questions. They fail to account for time of day sensitivity, dynamic congestion effects, variable pricing and tolls, and the reliability of both highways and transit. Existing activity/tour-based models lack the enhanced temporal element provided by a more dynamic, activity-based microsimulation. DASH is the next-generation model being developed by the Metro Research Center. Close

• 6. [Article] Annual Metro Regional Trail Count and Why Local Extrapolation Factors Matter

  Metro, Portland's regional governing agency, conducts annual two-hour counts along its regional trail every September. This upcoming fall (2017) will be the 10th year that the counts have been held, which ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Annual Metro Regional Trail Count and Why Local Extrapolation Factors Matter Author: Gibson, Geoff Year: 2017 Metro, Portland's regional governing agency, conducts annual two-hour counts along its regional trail every September. This upcoming fall (2017) will be the 10th year that the counts have been held, which means we at Metro can finally start seeing noticeable, long-lasting trends in the regional trail network. Perhaps more importantly, we are seeing how these data have directly impacted investments in future trail, bicycle, and pedestrian projects. This seminar will cover the history of the program, details of how it's conducted and why it's conducted that way, how data are used (including an inside look at future iterations of Metro's interactive trail count map), and why creating local extrapolation factors for adjusting to annual traffic is so important. Title: Annual Metro Regional Trail Count and Why Local Extrapolation Factors Matter Author: Gibson, Geoff Year: 2017 Metro, Portland's regional governing agency, conducts annual two-hour counts along its regional trail every September. This upcoming fall (2017) will be the 10th year that the counts have been held, which means we at Metro can finally start seeing noticeable, long-lasting trends in the regional trail network. Perhaps more importantly, we are seeing how these data have directly impacted investments in future trail, bicycle, and pedestrian projects. This seminar will cover the history of the program, details of how it's conducted and why it's conducted that way, how data are used (including an inside look at future iterations of Metro's interactive trail count map), and why creating local extrapolation factors for adjusting to annual traffic is so important. Close

• 7. [Article] 2000 Regional Transportation Plan

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: 2000 Regional Transportation Plan Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 2000 Title: 2000 Regional Transportation Plan Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 2000 Close

• 8. [Article] The Portland Region: How are We Doing? Highlights of the Region

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Portland Region: How are We Doing? Highlights of the Region Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 2003 Title: The Portland Region: How are We Doing? Highlights of the Region Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 2003 Close

• 9. [Article] Implementing the Regional Transportation Plan: Evaluating Traffic Congestion

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Implementing the Regional Transportation Plan: Evaluating Traffic Congestion Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 2001 Title: Implementing the Regional Transportation Plan: Evaluating Traffic Congestion Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 2001 Close

• 10. [Article] Request for Qualifications: Region 2040: Transportation and Land Use Concepts: Phase 1

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Request for Qualifications: Region 2040: Transportation and Land Use Concepts: Phase 1 Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 1991 Title: Request for Qualifications: Region 2040: Transportation and Land Use Concepts: Phase 1 Author: Metro (Or.) Year: 1991 Close

• 11. [Article] Periodic Atlas of the Metroscape: Seeing the Past in the Present - A Snapshot of the Relationship between Urban Growth and Transportation

  With this edition of the periodic atlas, we explore the waves of growth and changes in urban form that have occurred over the last century in Metro's tri-county region using historic maps and the year-built ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Periodic Atlas of the Metroscape: Seeing the Past in the Present - A Snapshot of the Relationship between Urban Growth and Transportation Author: Merrick, Meg Year: 2011 With this edition of the periodic atlas, we explore the waves of growth and changes in urban form that have occurred over the last century in Metro's tri-county region using historic maps and the year-built information provided by Metro's Regional Land Information System (RLIS) for tax lots. Title: Periodic Atlas of the Metroscape: Seeing the Past in the Present - A Snapshot of the Relationship between Urban Growth and Transportation Author: Merrick, Meg Year: 2011 With this edition of the periodic atlas, we explore the waves of growth and changes in urban form that have occurred over the last century in Metro's tri-county region using historic maps and the year-built information provided by Metro's Regional Land Information System (RLIS) for tax lots. Close

• 12. [Article] DASH: The Portland Region's Next-Generation Activity-Based Model

  DASH is the next generation activity based model being developed by the Metro Research Center. Upon completion, it will be one of the most advanced in the nation. This model will be used extensively in ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: DASH: The Portland Region's Next-Generation Activity-Based Model Author: Walker, Richard Year: 2015 DASH is the next generation activity based model being developed by the Metro Research Center. Upon completion, it will be one of the most advanced in the nation. This model will be used extensively in estimating the activity and travel response of individuals to policies and infrastructure investments. Compared to past models, it will include enhanced consideration of the socio-economic roles of individuals, discrete temporal dynamics, and intra-household dependencies. Title: DASH: The Portland Region's Next-Generation Activity-Based Model Author: Walker, Richard Year: 2015 DASH is the next generation activity based model being developed by the Metro Research Center. Upon completion, it will be one of the most advanced in the nation. This model will be used extensively in estimating the activity and travel response of individuals to policies and infrastructure investments. Compared to past models, it will include enhanced consideration of the socio-economic roles of individuals, discrete temporal dynamics, and intra-household dependencies. Close

• 13. [Article] Overlooked Destinations: Suburban Nodes, Centers, and Trips to Strips

  This study looks at travel to typical suburban commercial strips by residents living within one-third of a mile of the strip by focusing on six sites – four in the Portland, OR., metro area and two in ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Overlooked Destinations: Suburban Nodes, Centers, and Trips to Strips Author: Larco, Nico, Parker, Robert Year: 2013 This study looks at travel to typical suburban commercial strips by residents living within one-third of a mile of the strip by focusing on six sites – four in the Portland, OR., metro area and two in the Atlanta, GA., metro area. The study mapped pedsheds around the commercial strips in these sites and found significant increases in network extents when formal and informal pedestrian paths were added to street centerline data. Informal networks such as goat paths through vacant land and cuts in fences were widespread and suggest a pent-up demand for route directness. Travel surveys of residents found significant amounts of walking and biking in these areas – just over one-third of all trips to the commercial strip – with travel distance and walking along or across arterials affecting mode choice. This suggests network extent and connectivity to be a critical factor in increasing walking and biking in these suburban areas. Resident motivations behind mode choice included convenience (which mode is easiest); cost (active travel is less expensive than auto travel); and culture (a pattern of driving or active travel, regardless of ease or cost). There was little variation across sites, suggesting that this level of active travel and the motivations behind it are fairly consistent, with a few variations, across income and geography. Title: Overlooked Destinations: Suburban Nodes, Centers, and Trips to Strips Author: Larco, Nico, Parker, Robert Year: 2013 This study looks at travel to typical suburban commercial strips by residents living within one-third of a mile of the strip by focusing on six sites – four in the Portland, OR., metro area and two in the Atlanta, GA., metro area. The study mapped pedsheds around the commercial strips in these sites and found significant increases in network extents when formal and informal pedestrian paths were added to street centerline data. Informal networks such as goat paths through vacant land and cuts in fences were widespread and suggest a pent-up demand for route directness. Travel surveys of residents found significant amounts of walking and biking in these areas – just over one-third of all trips to the commercial strip – with travel distance and walking along or across arterials affecting mode choice. This suggests network extent and connectivity to be a critical factor in increasing walking and biking in these suburban areas. Resident motivations behind mode choice included convenience (which mode is easiest); cost (active travel is less expensive than auto travel); and culture (a pattern of driving or active travel, regardless of ease or cost). There was little variation across sites, suggesting that this level of active travel and the motivations behind it are fairly consistent, with a few variations, across income and geography. Close

• 14. [Article] Behavior-Based Freight Modeling at Metro

  Chris Johnson and Bud Reiff will present on a behavior-based freight model being used at Oregon Metro. This model will replace Metro’s current truck model with a hybrid freight model that both represents ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Behavior-Based Freight Modeling at Metro Author: Johnson, Chris, Reiff, Bud Year: 2017 Chris Johnson and Bud Reiff will present on a behavior-based freight model being used at Oregon Metro. This model will replace Metro’s current truck model with a hybrid freight model that both represents multi-modal freight flows through elements of national and regional supply chains and simulates the movement of individual trucks and shipments on local networks. Model estimation and calibration will also require collection of behavioral data from shippers and receivers representing a wide range of industries, common and contract freight carriers, business that operate non-freight commercial vehicles, warehouse managers, and logistics agents. Key project objectives: Develop tools to enable a more comprehensive analysis of infrastructure needs and policy choices pertaining to the movements of goods. Develop more detailed network assignments by truck type, which support regional environmental analysis, as well as local traffic operations and engineering analysis. Develop freight forecasts that are responsive to changes in economic forecasts, changing growth rates among industrial sectors, and changing rates of economic exchange and commodity flows between sectors. Replace trip-based truck model with more realistic tour-based model. Title: Behavior-Based Freight Modeling at Metro Author: Johnson, Chris, Reiff, Bud Year: 2017 Chris Johnson and Bud Reiff will present on a behavior-based freight model being used at Oregon Metro. This model will replace Metro’s current truck model with a hybrid freight model that both represents multi-modal freight flows through elements of national and regional supply chains and simulates the movement of individual trucks and shipments on local networks. Model estimation and calibration will also require collection of behavioral data from shippers and receivers representing a wide range of industries, common and contract freight carriers, business that operate non-freight commercial vehicles, warehouse managers, and logistics agents. Key project objectives: Develop tools to enable a more comprehensive analysis of infrastructure needs and policy choices pertaining to the movements of goods. Develop more detailed network assignments by truck type, which support regional environmental analysis, as well as local traffic operations and engineering analysis. Develop freight forecasts that are responsive to changes in economic forecasts, changing growth rates among industrial sectors, and changing rates of economic exchange and commodity flows between sectors. Replace trip-based truck model with more realistic tour-based model. Close

• 15. [Article] The Development of Low-/No-Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in the Portland Metro Region: A Roadmap

  The shift from combustion engines to low- and no-emission electric vehicles is underway and gaining momentum. During the last year, Oregon has become an active player in the electric vehicle arena, with ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Development of Low-/No-Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in the Portland Metro Region: A Roadmap Author: MacArthur, John, Murchie, Peter, Beard, George Year: 2014 The shift from combustion engines to low- and no-emission electric vehicles is underway and gaining momentum. During the last year, Oregon has become an active player in the electric vehicle arena, with a number of promising relationships and activities in the early stages of formalization. With additional thought, effort and strategy Oregon can seize the opportunity to become the national leader in the adoption and incorporation of new vehicle platforms and mobility strategies into the fabric of urban life and the built environment. Oregon is currently actively engaged in relationships with international automotive companies and local businesses and utilities interested in being part of the "Portland Experiment." This proposal seeks funding to support the creation of a comprehensive roadmap for the development of low/no emission vehicle infrastructure in the Portland Metro region. The roadmap will guide research, education, partnership initiatives, and community engagement activities at Portland State University (PSU) and the Portland Metro region. The project will build momentum on a number of efforts currently underway including the Governor's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Working Group, Oregon Department of Transportation's Office of Innovative Partnerships & Alternative Funding activities, and local utility and international automotive industry interest in Portland and other national efforts through the U.S. Department of Transportation. This roadmap will truly have a multi-disciplinary, multi-partner, and multi-campus focus and outcomes. The roadmap will focus on developing a unifying strategy, plan, knowledge base for low and no-emission vehicles, alternative fuels infrastructure and other sustainable mobility innovations. The specific research objectives for this project are to: 1) Strengthening and broadening strategic partnerships that will provide financial and other continuing research, education, and community engagement opportunities in electric vehicle infrastructure. 2) Develop a strategic roadmap for Portland to achieve a plug-in readiness in the next two years. 3) Develop a comprehensive research agenda, to evaluate wide array of research and testing needs for the Region. 4) Coordinate with national efforts through the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Project Get Ready, sharing knowledge with other participating Project Get Ready cities and other Oregon cities. This project will be a joint effort between OTREC and the Hatfield School of Government through the National Policy Consensus Center's (NPCC) Oregon Solutions program and the Executive Leadership Institute. Methods include a thorough literature review (print and web); an inventory of state, local agencies and municipalities actions; interviews with key partners; and a consensus building initiative. NPCC's Oregon Solutions program will use its expertise and experience in collaborative governance practices to provide the convening and facilitation system support to bring diverse stakeholders to the table to inform, develop and initiate the implementation of the roadmap. Oregon Solutions staff will engage in information collection, interviews and other efforts to assess the interests and resources of the project partners, refine the vision, and design and support the collaborative convening for the project. This includes developing agendas, products and materials and providing facilitation, note taking and post meeting follow up leading to a declaration of cooperation that will codify the individual and group commitments, roles and responsibilities for implementing the roadmap. Title: The Development of Low-/No-Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in the Portland Metro Region: A Roadmap Author: MacArthur, John, Murchie, Peter, Beard, George Year: 2014 The shift from combustion engines to low- and no-emission electric vehicles is underway and gaining momentum. During the last year, Oregon has become an active player in the electric vehicle arena, with a number of promising relationships and activities in the early stages of formalization. With additional thought, effort and strategy Oregon can seize the opportunity to become the national leader in the adoption and incorporation of new vehicle platforms and mobility strategies into the fabric of urban life and the built environment. Oregon is currently actively engaged in relationships with international automotive companies and local businesses and utilities interested in being part of the "Portland Experiment." This proposal seeks funding to support the creation of a comprehensive roadmap for the development of low/no emission vehicle infrastructure in the Portland Metro region. The roadmap will guide research, education, partnership initiatives, and community engagement activities at Portland State University (PSU) and the Portland Metro region. The project will build momentum on a number of efforts currently underway including the Governor's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Working Group, Oregon Department of Transportation's Office of Innovative Partnerships & Alternative Funding activities, and local utility and international automotive industry interest in Portland and other national efforts through the U.S. Department of Transportation. This roadmap will truly have a multi-disciplinary, multi-partner, and multi-campus focus and outcomes. The roadmap will focus on developing a unifying strategy, plan, knowledge base for low and no-emission vehicles, alternative fuels infrastructure and other sustainable mobility innovations. The specific research objectives for this project are to: 1) Strengthening and broadening strategic partnerships that will provide financial and other continuing research, education, and community engagement opportunities in electric vehicle infrastructure. 2) Develop a strategic roadmap for Portland to achieve a plug-in readiness in the next two years. 3) Develop a comprehensive research agenda, to evaluate wide array of research and testing needs for the Region. 4) Coordinate with national efforts through the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Project Get Ready, sharing knowledge with other participating Project Get Ready cities and other Oregon cities. This project will be a joint effort between OTREC and the Hatfield School of Government through the National Policy Consensus Center's (NPCC) Oregon Solutions program and the Executive Leadership Institute. Methods include a thorough literature review (print and web); an inventory of state, local agencies and municipalities actions; interviews with key partners; and a consensus building initiative. NPCC's Oregon Solutions program will use its expertise and experience in collaborative governance practices to provide the convening and facilitation system support to bring diverse stakeholders to the table to inform, develop and initiate the implementation of the roadmap. Oregon Solutions staff will engage in information collection, interviews and other efforts to assess the interests and resources of the project partners, refine the vision, and design and support the collaborative convening for the project. This includes developing agendas, products and materials and providing facilitation, note taking and post meeting follow up leading to a declaration of cooperation that will codify the individual and group commitments, roles and responsibilities for implementing the roadmap. Close

• 16. [Article] 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Update: A New Look at Transportation - Background Information and Proposed Work Plan for Public Participation

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Update: A New Look at Transportation - Background Information and Proposed Work Plan for Public Participation Author: ECO Northwest, Ltd. Year: 2006 Title: 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Update: A New Look at Transportation - Background Information and Proposed Work Plan for Public Participation Author: ECO Northwest, Ltd. Year: 2006 Close

• 17. [Article] Interview with Jim Middaugh, Metro, 2011 (audio)

  Interview of Jim Middaugh by Teddy Messan on February 25th, 2011. The interview index is available for download.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Interview with Jim Middaugh, Metro, 2011 (audio) Author: Middaugh, Jim Year: 2011 Interview of Jim Middaugh by Teddy Messan on February 25th, 2011. The interview index is available for download. Title: Interview with Jim Middaugh, Metro, 2011 (audio) Author: Middaugh, Jim Year: 2011 Interview of Jim Middaugh by Teddy Messan on February 25th, 2011. The interview index is available for download. Close

• 18. [Article] Travel and Transit Use at Portland Area Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs)

  In recent years there has been a growing interest in using land use planning to reduce reliance on the automobile long-term, through ideas such as smart growth, New Urbanism, pedestrian pockets, and transit-oriented ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Travel and Transit Use at Portland Area Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) Author: Dill, Jennifer Year: 2006 In recent years there has been a growing interest in using land use planning to reduce reliance on the automobile long-term, through ideas such as smart growth, New Urbanism, pedestrian pockets, and transit-oriented development (TODs). Many growing regions throughout the United States, are turning to these concepts to address problems of traffic congestion and suburban sprawl. However, the effectiveness of such policies in reducing automobile travel and improving livability is largely unknown. Portland was one of the early adopters and is often pointed to as a model for other regions. The Region's 2040 Growth Concept, adopted by the Metro regional government, includes many smart growth concepts. Metro uses a number of programs and policies to implement the 2040 Growth Concept, including subsidies to transit-oriented developments. This research surveyed residents of TODs in the Portland area to help answer the following questions: Do residents of transit-oriented developments (TODs) drive vehicles less, use transit more, and/or walk and bicycle more than residents of other neighborhoods? To what extent can TODs increase transit ridership? How do the features of the TOD influence travel choices? Do the features of TODs induce people to change their travel behavior? Alternatively, are people who move to these neighborhoods already active transit users, walkers, or cyclists, i.e. they are seeking an environment in which to practice their preferred travel behaviors? These questions are key to understanding the cause-effect relationship between the built environment and travel behavior. How do people's attitudes towards travel and their neighborhood influence travel behavior? Title: Travel and Transit Use at Portland Area Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) Author: Dill, Jennifer Year: 2006 In recent years there has been a growing interest in using land use planning to reduce reliance on the automobile long-term, through ideas such as smart growth, New Urbanism, pedestrian pockets, and transit-oriented development (TODs). Many growing regions throughout the United States, are turning to these concepts to address problems of traffic congestion and suburban sprawl. However, the effectiveness of such policies in reducing automobile travel and improving livability is largely unknown. Portland was one of the early adopters and is often pointed to as a model for other regions. The Region's 2040 Growth Concept, adopted by the Metro regional government, includes many smart growth concepts. Metro uses a number of programs and policies to implement the 2040 Growth Concept, including subsidies to transit-oriented developments. This research surveyed residents of TODs in the Portland area to help answer the following questions: Do residents of transit-oriented developments (TODs) drive vehicles less, use transit more, and/or walk and bicycle more than residents of other neighborhoods? To what extent can TODs increase transit ridership? How do the features of the TOD influence travel choices? Do the features of TODs induce people to change their travel behavior? Alternatively, are people who move to these neighborhoods already active transit users, walkers, or cyclists, i.e. they are seeking an environment in which to practice their preferred travel behaviors? These questions are key to understanding the cause-effect relationship between the built environment and travel behavior. How do people's attitudes towards travel and their neighborhood influence travel behavior? Close

• 19. [Article] Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Community Needs Assessment

  Dependence on fossil fuels, climate change, and degraded air quality are forcing the auto industry and consumers to seek alternative solutions to the current transportation system. Significant technical ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Community Needs Assessment Author: Parker, Robert, Brode, Juli, Rowell, John Year: 2012 Dependence on fossil fuels, climate change, and degraded air quality are forcing the auto industry and consumers to seek alternative solutions to the current transportation system. Significant technical breakthroughs are allowing automakers to develop electric vehicles (EVs) that transcend some of the key barriers that limited them historically. Plug in electric vehicles entered the Oregon marketplace in early 2011. A range of reports suggest the demand for EVs will grow rapidly once affordable highway speed vehicles become available. ODOT identified the lack of a reliable network of electric vehicle service equipment (e.g., charging stations) that increases the range of these vehicles as the biggest barrier to widespread adoption of EV technology. The demand for charging stations is expected to grow quickly as ODOT forecasts that EVs may account up to 20% of the new vehicles sold on Oregon within a decade. This project included the following elements: (1) a literature review on EV technology and development strategies; (2) a local demand assessment; (3) assessment of power load implications for local utilities based on local demand and different charging station scenarios; (4) charging station siting implications, including required infrastructure; (5) potential locations for charging infrastructure in Eugene-Springfield metro area; (6) development of materials and outreach strategies to raise public awareness of EVs; and (7) product designs for EV charging stations. This project directly supports OTREC’s objectives for educational proposals. CPW’s transportation focused service learning class in collaboration with Design Bridge (1) increased the transportation element of an existing class, and (2) provided opportunities for students to integrate transportation into architectural design, thereby promoting learning across disciplines in the transportation field. Title: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Community Needs Assessment Author: Parker, Robert, Brode, Juli, Rowell, John Year: 2012 Dependence on fossil fuels, climate change, and degraded air quality are forcing the auto industry and consumers to seek alternative solutions to the current transportation system. Significant technical breakthroughs are allowing automakers to develop electric vehicles (EVs) that transcend some of the key barriers that limited them historically. Plug in electric vehicles entered the Oregon marketplace in early 2011. A range of reports suggest the demand for EVs will grow rapidly once affordable highway speed vehicles become available. ODOT identified the lack of a reliable network of electric vehicle service equipment (e.g., charging stations) that increases the range of these vehicles as the biggest barrier to widespread adoption of EV technology. The demand for charging stations is expected to grow quickly as ODOT forecasts that EVs may account up to 20% of the new vehicles sold on Oregon within a decade. This project included the following elements: (1) a literature review on EV technology and development strategies; (2) a local demand assessment; (3) assessment of power load implications for local utilities based on local demand and different charging station scenarios; (4) charging station siting implications, including required infrastructure; (5) potential locations for charging infrastructure in Eugene-Springfield metro area; (6) development of materials and outreach strategies to raise public awareness of EVs; and (7) product designs for EV charging stations. This project directly supports OTREC’s objectives for educational proposals. CPW’s transportation focused service learning class in collaboration with Design Bridge (1) increased the transportation element of an existing class, and (2) provided opportunities for students to integrate transportation into architectural design, thereby promoting learning across disciplines in the transportation field. Close

• 20. [Article] Age-Related Shifts in Housing and Transportation Demand : A Multidisciplinary Study Conducted for Metro by Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs, Final Report

  Understanding where middle-aged and older adults live, where they are moving, how they get around, and the factors influencing these decisions is essential for planning for the future. To gain an understanding ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Age-Related Shifts in Housing and Transportation Demand : A Multidisciplinary Study Conducted for Metro by Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs, Final Report Author: Neal, Margaret B., Chapman, Nancy J., Dill, Jennifer, Sharkova, Irina V., DeLaTorre, Alan Kenneth, Sullivan, Kathleen A., Kanai, Tomoko, Martin, Sheila A. Year: 2006 Understanding where middle-aged and older adults live, where they are moving, how they get around, and the factors influencing these decisions is essential for planning for the future. To gain an understanding of the impact of age-related shifts on housing and transportation demand, Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs, via its Institute on Aging, was contracted to conduct a review of the literature and to analyze existing key local and national data sources. A multidisciplinary team of faculty and graduate students was assembled and performed the work in the summer of 2006. The literature reviewed and the analyses presented here are intended to inform Metro's Regional Forecast and modeling assumptions and to stimulate policy discussions pertaining to managing the region's land supply and investing in transportation infrastructure. Title: Age-Related Shifts in Housing and Transportation Demand : A Multidisciplinary Study Conducted for Metro by Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs, Final Report Author: Neal, Margaret B., Chapman, Nancy J., Dill, Jennifer, Sharkova, Irina V., DeLaTorre, Alan Kenneth, Sullivan, Kathleen A., Kanai, Tomoko, Martin, Sheila A. Year: 2006 Understanding where middle-aged and older adults live, where they are moving, how they get around, and the factors influencing these decisions is essential for planning for the future. To gain an understanding of the impact of age-related shifts on housing and transportation demand, Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs, via its Institute on Aging, was contracted to conduct a review of the literature and to analyze existing key local and national data sources. A multidisciplinary team of faculty and graduate students was assembled and performed the work in the summer of 2006. The literature reviewed and the analyses presented here are intended to inform Metro's Regional Forecast and modeling assumptions and to stimulate policy discussions pertaining to managing the region's land supply and investing in transportation infrastructure. Close

• 21. [Article] The Impact of EMME-2 on Urban Transportation Planning: A Portland Case Study

  The impact of interactive graphics and an improved multimodal transportation planning software package on the urban t ransportation planning process and organization responsible for the planning is assessed. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Impact of EMME-2 on Urban Transportation Planning: A Portland Case Study Author: Dueker, Kenneth, Rao, Rishinath L., Cotugno, Andy, Lawton, Keith, Walker, Richard Year: 1985 The impact of interactive graphics and an improved multimodal transportation planning software package on the urban t ransportation planning process and organization responsible for the planning is assessed. The focus is on the results of applying the new technology, which allows the planning organization to increase capacity to conceptualize and evaluate alternative courses of action. This emphases on the results of planning raises the likelihood of changes in the way transportation decision making occurs. An advanced interactive graphics system for urban transportation planning process was adopted by the Metropolitan Service District (METRO) of Portland, Oregon, a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). In September 1983, METRO's Transportation Planning Department acquired a state-of-the-a rt software program called EMME/2 (a bilingual acronym for Multimodal Equlibrium) which runs on a super microcomputer. EMME/2 is an interactive graphic method for highway and transit planning. This program aids transportation planning by graphically plotting, in a map format, detailed inforrmation a bout travel flows. It provides graphic display quickly to aid in the interpretation of heretofore voluminous amounts of difficult to assimilate data. The new system is saving time and cost, but more importantly it is improving analysis by allowing more opportunity to interact with the results of analysis . It is also changing the character of work. The quicker turnaround time for analysis has created a demand for short-range studies, i.e . more traffic management applications. Finally, interorganizational impacts are occurring. Other agencies in the region are becoming active users of the system. Title: The Impact of EMME-2 on Urban Transportation Planning: A Portland Case Study Author: Dueker, Kenneth, Rao, Rishinath L., Cotugno, Andy, Lawton, Keith, Walker, Richard Year: 1985 The impact of interactive graphics and an improved multimodal transportation planning software package on the urban t ransportation planning process and organization responsible for the planning is assessed. The focus is on the results of applying the new technology, which allows the planning organization to increase capacity to conceptualize and evaluate alternative courses of action. This emphases on the results of planning raises the likelihood of changes in the way transportation decision making occurs. An advanced interactive graphics system for urban transportation planning process was adopted by the Metropolitan Service District (METRO) of Portland, Oregon, a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). In September 1983, METRO's Transportation Planning Department acquired a state-of-the-a rt software program called EMME/2 (a bilingual acronym for Multimodal Equlibrium) which runs on a super microcomputer. EMME/2 is an interactive graphic method for highway and transit planning. This program aids transportation planning by graphically plotting, in a map format, detailed inforrmation a bout travel flows. It provides graphic display quickly to aid in the interpretation of heretofore voluminous amounts of difficult to assimilate data. The new system is saving time and cost, but more importantly it is improving analysis by allowing more opportunity to interact with the results of analysis . It is also changing the character of work. The quicker turnaround time for analysis has created a demand for short-range studies, i.e . more traffic management applications. Finally, interorganizational impacts are occurring. Other agencies in the region are becoming active users of the system. Close

• 22. [Article] 2014 Transit Oriented Developments Survey

  This report presents results from surveys of residents at several transit-oriented developments (TODs) in Portland, Hillsboro, Tigard, and unincorporated Clackamas County. The research complements our ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: 2014 Transit Oriented Developments Survey Author: Dill, Jennifer, McNeil, Nathan Year: 2015 This report presents results from surveys of residents at several transit-oriented developments (TODs) in Portland, Hillsboro, Tigard, and unincorporated Clackamas County. The research complements our previous survey work for Metro done at eight TODs in 2010 and 11 TODs in 2007. Title: 2014 Transit Oriented Developments Survey Author: Dill, Jennifer, McNeil, Nathan Year: 2015 This report presents results from surveys of residents at several transit-oriented developments (TODs) in Portland, Hillsboro, Tigard, and unincorporated Clackamas County. The research complements our previous survey work for Metro done at eight TODs in 2010 and 11 TODs in 2007. Close

• 23. [Article] Using Empirical (real-world) Transportation Data to Extend Travel Demand Model Capabilities

  Real-world traffic trends observed in PORTAL and INRIX traffic data are used to expand the performance measures that can be obtained from Portland Metro's travel demand model to include the number of hours ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Using Empirical (real-world) Transportation Data to Extend Travel Demand Model Capabilities Author: Mauch, Michael Year: 2013 Real-world traffic trends observed in PORTAL and INRIX traffic data are used to expand the performance measures that can be obtained from Portland Metro's travel demand model to include the number of hours of congestion that can be expected during a typical weekday and travel time reliability measures for congested freeway corridors. Title: Using Empirical (real-world) Transportation Data to Extend Travel Demand Model Capabilities Author: Mauch, Michael Year: 2013 Real-world traffic trends observed in PORTAL and INRIX traffic data are used to expand the performance measures that can be obtained from Portland Metro's travel demand model to include the number of hours of congestion that can be expected during a typical weekday and travel time reliability measures for congested freeway corridors. Close

• 24. [Article] Piloting Portland's MultiModal Arterial Performance System

  Shaun will present on the recently completed pilot demonstration of multimodal arterial performance measures for the Portland metro region, as part of the larger regional concept of operations. Treatments ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Piloting Portland's MultiModal Arterial Performance System Author: Quayle, Shaun Year: 2013 Shaun will present on the recently completed pilot demonstration of multimodal arterial performance measures for the Portland metro region, as part of the larger regional concept of operations. Treatments include a permanent bike count station on the Springwater Trail, permanent truck classification stations, Bluetooth travel time stations, as well as leveraging existing transit and signal controller data to paint a picture of the collective modal transportation system. Title: Piloting Portland's MultiModal Arterial Performance System Author: Quayle, Shaun Year: 2013 Shaun will present on the recently completed pilot demonstration of multimodal arterial performance measures for the Portland metro region, as part of the larger regional concept of operations. Treatments include a permanent bike count station on the Springwater Trail, permanent truck classification stations, Bluetooth travel time stations, as well as leveraging existing transit and signal controller data to paint a picture of the collective modal transportation system. Close

• 25. [Article] Measuring What We Value: Using Performance Measures to Achieve Goals

  Performance measures are commonly used in transportation planning, but how effectively are public agencies using them, and to what ends? Metro, ODOT and many cities use performance measures to evaluate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Measuring What We Value: Using Performance Measures to Achieve Goals Author: Rall, Chris Year: 2016 Performance measures are commonly used in transportation planning, but how effectively are public agencies using them, and to what ends? Metro, ODOT and many cities use performance measures to evaluate investment choices and monitor progress. Drawing from Transportation for America’s report Measuring What We Value, and some of the most cutting edge examples of performance-based planning around the nation, Chris' presentation will step back to consider what makes a performance-based planning approach effective at achieving an agency’s goals. Title: Measuring What We Value: Using Performance Measures to Achieve Goals Author: Rall, Chris Year: 2016 Performance measures are commonly used in transportation planning, but how effectively are public agencies using them, and to what ends? Metro, ODOT and many cities use performance measures to evaluate investment choices and monitor progress. Drawing from Transportation for America’s report Measuring What We Value, and some of the most cutting edge examples of performance-based planning around the nation, Chris' presentation will step back to consider what makes a performance-based planning approach effective at achieving an agency’s goals. Close

• 26. [Article] Trail Planning & Community Service Curriculum

  The objective of this project was to develop a new trail planning curriculum and conduct a regional trail research project in the Portland metropolitan area. The curriculum was created for a community ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Trail Planning & Community Service Curriculum Author: Weigand, Lynn Year: 2010 The objective of this project was to develop a new trail planning curriculum and conduct a regional trail research project in the Portland metropolitan area. The curriculum was created for a community service-based, University Capstone course at Portland State University (PSU), with Metro (regional government) as the community course partner. Project goals included: Expanding opportunities for undergraduate students to study trail design and planning for transportation and recreational walking and bicycling; Providing practical application of knowledge to a trail planning project through research and data collection on trail use; Raising awareness of bicycle and pedestrian travel among students in disciplines other than planning and engineering; Fostering continuing involvement and interest in regional bicycle and pedestrian travel and trail development; Conducting research on the amount and type of use of identified regional trails to demonstrate their value in the regional transportation network; and Providing a model for trail planning and research curriculum. Title: Trail Planning & Community Service Curriculum Author: Weigand, Lynn Year: 2010 The objective of this project was to develop a new trail planning curriculum and conduct a regional trail research project in the Portland metropolitan area. The curriculum was created for a community service-based, University Capstone course at Portland State University (PSU), with Metro (regional government) as the community course partner. Project goals included: Expanding opportunities for undergraduate students to study trail design and planning for transportation and recreational walking and bicycling; Providing practical application of knowledge to a trail planning project through research and data collection on trail use; Raising awareness of bicycle and pedestrian travel among students in disciplines other than planning and engineering; Fostering continuing involvement and interest in regional bicycle and pedestrian travel and trail development; Conducting research on the amount and type of use of identified regional trails to demonstrate their value in the regional transportation network; and Providing a model for trail planning and research curriculum. Close

• 27. [Article] Three Bridges

  In the last decade, three important new bridges in the Portland area were the subject of intense discussion and analysis: the Tilikum Crossing, the Sellwood Bridge and the Columbia River Crossing. One ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Three Bridges Author: Liberty, Robert Year: 2015 In the last decade, three important new bridges in the Portland area were the subject of intense discussion and analysis: the Tilikum Crossing, the Sellwood Bridge and the Columbia River Crossing. One of those bridges is completed, the second is under construction and the third one was canceled. As a Metro Councilor, Robert Liberty was involved in the decision making process for all three projects. The way in which those projects were analyzed and presented to the public revealed to him a great deal about the many weaknesses in the way we make major transportation investment decisions. Those insights are the topic of his seminar presentation. Title: Three Bridges Author: Liberty, Robert Year: 2015 In the last decade, three important new bridges in the Portland area were the subject of intense discussion and analysis: the Tilikum Crossing, the Sellwood Bridge and the Columbia River Crossing. One of those bridges is completed, the second is under construction and the third one was canceled. As a Metro Councilor, Robert Liberty was involved in the decision making process for all three projects. The way in which those projects were analyzed and presented to the public revealed to him a great deal about the many weaknesses in the way we make major transportation investment decisions. Those insights are the topic of his seminar presentation. Close

• 28. [Article] Webinar: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool

  Why model pedestrians? A new predictive tool for estimating pedestrian demand has potential applications for improving walkability. By forecasting the number, location and characteristics of walking trips, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Webinar: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool Author: Clifton, Kelly Year: 2016 Why model pedestrians? A new predictive tool for estimating pedestrian demand has potential applications for improving walkability. By forecasting the number, location and characteristics of walking trips, this tool allows for policy-sensitive mode shifts away from automobile travel. There is growing support to improve the quality of the walking environment and make investments to promote pedestrian travel. Despite this interest and need, current forecasting tools, particularly regional travel demand models, often fall short. To address this gap, Oregon Metro and NITC researcher Kelly Clifton worked together to develop this pedestrian demand estimation tool which can allow planners to allocate infrastructure based on pedestrian demand in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The tool is also designed to be replicable, so that other metropolitan areas can adapt the model to begin estimating pedestrian demand in their cities. This webinar will provide an overview of how the tool functions as well as a framework for applying this method in other cities. Title: Webinar: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool Author: Clifton, Kelly Year: 2016 Why model pedestrians? A new predictive tool for estimating pedestrian demand has potential applications for improving walkability. By forecasting the number, location and characteristics of walking trips, this tool allows for policy-sensitive mode shifts away from automobile travel. There is growing support to improve the quality of the walking environment and make investments to promote pedestrian travel. Despite this interest and need, current forecasting tools, particularly regional travel demand models, often fall short. To address this gap, Oregon Metro and NITC researcher Kelly Clifton worked together to develop this pedestrian demand estimation tool which can allow planners to allocate infrastructure based on pedestrian demand in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The tool is also designed to be replicable, so that other metropolitan areas can adapt the model to begin estimating pedestrian demand in their cities. This webinar will provide an overview of how the tool functions as well as a framework for applying this method in other cities. Close

• 29. [Article] Webinar: Investigations in Transportation: Partnering Industry Professionals and Elementary Teachers in a STEM Unit of Study

  Investigations in Transportation was an elementary school partnership and curriculum development project, engaging STEM professionals in school-based design projects. Fifth-grade students in two Oregon ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Webinar: Investigations in Transportation: Partnering Industry Professionals and Elementary Teachers in a STEM Unit of Study Author: Biskupic Knight, Carol Year: 2016 Investigations in Transportation was an elementary school partnership and curriculum development project, engaging STEM professionals in school-based design projects. Fifth-grade students in two Oregon communities teamed up with transportation professionals from ODOT to redesign their school parking lots, resulting in better traffic flow and increased capacity. The immersive learning experience received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students, teachers and administrators. This webinar will demonstrate how the Portland Metro STEM Partnership was facilitated to bring transportation education into elementary school classrooms, offering students unparalleled access to STEM professionals working in their communities and to real-world applications of engineering principles. Title: Webinar: Investigations in Transportation: Partnering Industry Professionals and Elementary Teachers in a STEM Unit of Study Author: Biskupic Knight, Carol Year: 2016 Investigations in Transportation was an elementary school partnership and curriculum development project, engaging STEM professionals in school-based design projects. Fifth-grade students in two Oregon communities teamed up with transportation professionals from ODOT to redesign their school parking lots, resulting in better traffic flow and increased capacity. The immersive learning experience received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students, teachers and administrators. This webinar will demonstrate how the Portland Metro STEM Partnership was facilitated to bring transportation education into elementary school classrooms, offering students unparalleled access to STEM professionals working in their communities and to real-world applications of engineering principles. Close

• 30. [Article] Building Planner Commitment: Are California’s SB 375 and Oregon’s SB 1059 Models for Climate-Change Mitigation?

  California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375) and the Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative (SB 1059) have made them the first states in the nation to try and reduce greenhouse ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Building Planner Commitment: Are California’s SB 375 and Oregon’s SB 1059 Models for Climate-Change Mitigation? Author: Bartholomew, Keith, Proffitt, David Year: 2017 California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375) and the Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative (SB 1059) have made them the first states in the nation to try and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the transportation-planning process. Evaluating how these pioneering laws have changed local planning processes – as well as plans themselves – in each state provides insight into the laws’ effectiveness at changing development patterns in a way that reduces GHG emissions, without waiting decades to see the effects in the built environment. Both states’ laws require metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and the municipalities that comprise them to plan development scenarios that reduce per capita GHG emissions from private automobiles. The emissions-reductions targets for each metro are determined through negotiation with state agencies and are updated periodically. Planning researchers (Burby et al., 1997) categorize laws like these as state planning mandates because they require local-level governments to incorporate state-specified goals into their plans. A host of empirical studies (Berke & French, 1994; Bunnell & Jepson, 2011; Burby & Dalton, 1994; Burby & May, 1998; Burby, 2005; Burby et al., 1993; Dalton & Burby, 1994; Hoch, 2007; May, 1993) suggest that the structure of state planning mandates, particularly the way their “carrots” and “sticks” encourage full adoption of the mandate’s goals and objectives or allow for just minimal compliance, are key to their success in changing development patterns. This is because greater planner commitment tends to result in higher-quality local plans and better plan implementation (Alterman & Hill, 1978; Berke & French, 1994; Berke & Godschalk, 2009; Berke, 1996; Brody & Highfield, 2005; Brody, 2003; Laurian et al., 2004; Talen, 1996), effectively acting as a multiplier that increases the plan’s influence on the built environment and other development outcomes. Therefore, we believe that evaluating the degree to which state planning mandates in California and Oregon have changed local planning documents and practices is the best available indicator of how the mandates will influence development patterns in the future. Furthermore, tracing how the mandates affect decisions made by local planners informs the suitability of California and Oregon’s planning mandates to serve as a model for policy in other states, or at the national or international scale. This study fits the NITC themes of taking long-term action on transportation emissions and climate change and integrating multimodal transportation and land use. We employ content analysis to evaluate SB 375 and SB 1059’s influence on regional transportation plans (RTPs) produced by MPOs. Conducting content analyses of RTPs approved before and after the planning mandates took effect will produce scores that allow us to compare how much the plans have changed due to the laws. It will also allow us to group MPOs based on their performance and identify characteristics of the metro areas they represent that predict their scores. For instance, some RTPs may shift from a weak focus on emissions reduction to a strong focus, while others may have a strong focus both before and after the planning mandates took effect. Building case studies in this way will allow us to ascertain which aspects of the laws are working as intended and which are not, and answer whether the laws can serve as models for climate change-mitigation policy. Title: Building Planner Commitment: Are California’s SB 375 and Oregon’s SB 1059 Models for Climate-Change Mitigation? Author: Bartholomew, Keith, Proffitt, David Year: 2017 California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375) and the Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative (SB 1059) have made them the first states in the nation to try and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the transportation-planning process. Evaluating how these pioneering laws have changed local planning processes – as well as plans themselves – in each state provides insight into the laws’ effectiveness at changing development patterns in a way that reduces GHG emissions, without waiting decades to see the effects in the built environment. Both states’ laws require metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and the municipalities that comprise them to plan development scenarios that reduce per capita GHG emissions from private automobiles. The emissions-reductions targets for each metro are determined through negotiation with state agencies and are updated periodically. Planning researchers (Burby et al., 1997) categorize laws like these as state planning mandates because they require local-level governments to incorporate state-specified goals into their plans. A host of empirical studies (Berke & French, 1994; Bunnell & Jepson, 2011; Burby & Dalton, 1994; Burby & May, 1998; Burby, 2005; Burby et al., 1993; Dalton & Burby, 1994; Hoch, 2007; May, 1993) suggest that the structure of state planning mandates, particularly the way their “carrots” and “sticks” encourage full adoption of the mandate’s goals and objectives or allow for just minimal compliance, are key to their success in changing development patterns. This is because greater planner commitment tends to result in higher-quality local plans and better plan implementation (Alterman & Hill, 1978; Berke & French, 1994; Berke & Godschalk, 2009; Berke, 1996; Brody & Highfield, 2005; Brody, 2003; Laurian et al., 2004; Talen, 1996), effectively acting as a multiplier that increases the plan’s influence on the built environment and other development outcomes. Therefore, we believe that evaluating the degree to which state planning mandates in California and Oregon have changed local planning documents and practices is the best available indicator of how the mandates will influence development patterns in the future. Furthermore, tracing how the mandates affect decisions made by local planners informs the suitability of California and Oregon’s planning mandates to serve as a model for policy in other states, or at the national or international scale. This study fits the NITC themes of taking long-term action on transportation emissions and climate change and integrating multimodal transportation and land use. We employ content analysis to evaluate SB 375 and SB 1059’s influence on regional transportation plans (RTPs) produced by MPOs. Conducting content analyses of RTPs approved before and after the planning mandates took effect will produce scores that allow us to compare how much the plans have changed due to the laws. It will also allow us to group MPOs based on their performance and identify characteristics of the metro areas they represent that predict their scores. For instance, some RTPs may shift from a weak focus on emissions reduction to a strong focus, while others may have a strong focus both before and after the planning mandates took effect. Building case studies in this way will allow us to ascertain which aspects of the laws are working as intended and which are not, and answer whether the laws can serve as models for climate change-mitigation policy. Close

• 31. [Article] Impacts of Low-Speed Vehicles on Transportation Infrastructure and Safety

  There are increasing numbers of low-speed electric vehicles (LSVs) on public roadways. These vehicles are designed to be used within protected environments and on roadways with a maximum posted speed of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Impacts of Low-Speed Vehicles on Transportation Infrastructure and Safety Author: Hunter-Zaworski, Katharine M., Cornell, Linda Year: 2010 There are increasing numbers of low-speed electric vehicles (LSVs) on public roadways. These vehicles are designed to be used within protected environments and on roadways with a maximum posted speed of 25 mph. Currently these vehicles are not subject to the same federal requirements for occupant protection as passenger cars. This research project investigated safety standards, operating regulations, and LSV manufacturer materials from sources around the world. The purpose of the research was to determine positive and negative impacts that LSVs, including Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) and Medium Speed Electric Vehicles (MSEVs), are likely to have for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oregon communities, and whether adjustments in current state regulations are needed to ensure that LSVs do not negatively impact road safety and traffic operations, or expose the LSV operators to undue risk. The U.S. and Canadian federal motor vehicle safety agencies have harmonized their regulations and stipulated the maximum operating speed of these vehicles, however state and local roadway authorities have regulated the maximum speed of roadways and intersection characteristics on which these vehicles can operate. The significant recommendations of this research are: (i)The State of Oregon regulations for LSVs should be amended such that LSVs are limited to public roadways with a maximum operating speed of 25 mph, and they are restricted to crossing higher speed roadways at four-way Stop or traffic controlled intersections, (ii) local transportation authorities should develop parallel or secondary low-speed transportation networks that connect residential neighborhoods with major activity centers Title: Impacts of Low-Speed Vehicles on Transportation Infrastructure and Safety Author: Hunter-Zaworski, Katharine M., Cornell, Linda Year: 2010 There are increasing numbers of low-speed electric vehicles (LSVs) on public roadways. These vehicles are designed to be used within protected environments and on roadways with a maximum posted speed of 25 mph. Currently these vehicles are not subject to the same federal requirements for occupant protection as passenger cars. This research project investigated safety standards, operating regulations, and LSV manufacturer materials from sources around the world. The purpose of the research was to determine positive and negative impacts that LSVs, including Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) and Medium Speed Electric Vehicles (MSEVs), are likely to have for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oregon communities, and whether adjustments in current state regulations are needed to ensure that LSVs do not negatively impact road safety and traffic operations, or expose the LSV operators to undue risk. The U.S. and Canadian federal motor vehicle safety agencies have harmonized their regulations and stipulated the maximum operating speed of these vehicles, however state and local roadway authorities have regulated the maximum speed of roadways and intersection characteristics on which these vehicles can operate. The significant recommendations of this research are: (i)The State of Oregon regulations for LSVs should be amended such that LSVs are limited to public roadways with a maximum operating speed of 25 mph, and they are restricted to crossing higher speed roadways at four-way Stop or traffic controlled intersections, (ii) local transportation authorities should develop parallel or secondary low-speed transportation networks that connect residential neighborhoods with major activity centers Close

• 32. [Article] Data-Driven Illustrations for Climate Smart Communities Scenarios

  Public investment in transit and streetscape improvements can encourage private development, and subsequently increase transit ridership and reduce pollution. Portland, OR’s Metro regional government has ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Data-Driven Illustrations for Climate Smart Communities Scenarios Author: Cheng, Nancy Yen-wen, Ellis, Kim, Vogt, Molly, Chiavarini, Clint, Houk, Justin, Lockyear, Brian, Postma, Boyce, Morell, Peggy Year: 2013 Public investment in transit and streetscape improvements can encourage private development, and subsequently increase transit ridership and reduce pollution. Portland, OR’s Metro regional government has developed investment scenarios designed to reduce light vehicle carbon emissions. Adopting a regional scenario requires public review and consultation with local governments who will implement the comprehensive plans and land-use regulations. Decision makers and residents need to understand potential benefits: ways in which targeted investment could generate more livable urban spaces while reducing greenhouse gases. Illustrations can show how the investments could shape the pedestrian experience through trees, street furniture, buildings, open spaces, etc. This report explains a new workflow to illustrate urban development possibilities that can be adjusted according to evolving forecasts. Developing accessible scenario illustrations from city and regional planning forecasts requires sound analysis and thoughtful graphics to effectively communicate the analysis results. Our workflow connects planning forecasts (incorporating economic, transportation and land development data) to a parametric urban modeler to generate development massing, with views refined with 3D and 2D graphic procedures. Our objective has been to streamline the creation of visuals that communicate community development patterns and amenities provided with different levels of investment. A streamlined procedure allows different designers to generate illustrations with a consistent graphic style. The report documents the workflow, and identifies challenges, opportunities and questions for further work. Title: Data-Driven Illustrations for Climate Smart Communities Scenarios Author: Cheng, Nancy Yen-wen, Ellis, Kim, Vogt, Molly, Chiavarini, Clint, Houk, Justin, Lockyear, Brian, Postma, Boyce, Morell, Peggy Year: 2013 Public investment in transit and streetscape improvements can encourage private development, and subsequently increase transit ridership and reduce pollution. Portland, OR’s Metro regional government has developed investment scenarios designed to reduce light vehicle carbon emissions. Adopting a regional scenario requires public review and consultation with local governments who will implement the comprehensive plans and land-use regulations. Decision makers and residents need to understand potential benefits: ways in which targeted investment could generate more livable urban spaces while reducing greenhouse gases. Illustrations can show how the investments could shape the pedestrian experience through trees, street furniture, buildings, open spaces, etc. This report explains a new workflow to illustrate urban development possibilities that can be adjusted according to evolving forecasts. Developing accessible scenario illustrations from city and regional planning forecasts requires sound analysis and thoughtful graphics to effectively communicate the analysis results. Our workflow connects planning forecasts (incorporating economic, transportation and land development data) to a parametric urban modeler to generate development massing, with views refined with 3D and 2D graphic procedures. Our objective has been to streamline the creation of visuals that communicate community development patterns and amenities provided with different levels of investment. A streamlined procedure allows different designers to generate illustrations with a consistent graphic style. The report documents the workflow, and identifies challenges, opportunities and questions for further work. Close

• 33. [Article] Investigations In Transportation

  The Investigations in Transportation program is an elementary school partnership and curriculum development project that will engage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Investigations In Transportation Author: Becker, William G., Biskupic Knight, Carol Year: 2015 The Investigations in Transportation program is an elementary school partnership and curriculum development project that will engage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals in school-based activities and projects that will bring real-world applications to elementary classrooms for grades 3-5. The Portland Metro STEM Partnership (PMSP) is providing leadership and facilitation to a team of educators from Portland State University, Beaverton School District and Hillsboro School District who will work with volunteers from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to design, develop, implement and assess the impact of an in-class unit entitled "Investigations in Transportation". This report presents a study of a transportation education partnership and curriculum development project that harnessed the professional expertise, experience and enthusiasm of transportation-sector STEM workers by creating a mechanism and set of protocols by which they engaged with elementary school teachers to develop and implement an instructional unit. This STEM-connected instructional unit and lessons allowed students to explore and investigate issues central to transportation. The unit incorporated and enhanced the content and practice standards outlined by the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, and relied heavily on the instructional and curriculum expertise and experience of classroom teachers to develop an age- and interest-appropriate unit of study. This collaboration resulted in the development of an Investigations in Transportation instructional unit that provided students with rich, engaging learning opportunities set in the context of real-world problems around a school parking lot dilemma focused on safety, sustainability and health concerns. The education project team utilized a coherent and cohesive curriculum development process for unit creation and evaluated the development, implementation and reflection of the unit through teacher and student surveys/assessments of attitudes, identity and conceptual understanding. The report describes the process successes, challenges and replication opportunities. Title: Investigations In Transportation Author: Becker, William G., Biskupic Knight, Carol Year: 2015 The Investigations in Transportation program is an elementary school partnership and curriculum development project that will engage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals in school-based activities and projects that will bring real-world applications to elementary classrooms for grades 3-5. The Portland Metro STEM Partnership (PMSP) is providing leadership and facilitation to a team of educators from Portland State University, Beaverton School District and Hillsboro School District who will work with volunteers from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to design, develop, implement and assess the impact of an in-class unit entitled "Investigations in Transportation". This report presents a study of a transportation education partnership and curriculum development project that harnessed the professional expertise, experience and enthusiasm of transportation-sector STEM workers by creating a mechanism and set of protocols by which they engaged with elementary school teachers to develop and implement an instructional unit. This STEM-connected instructional unit and lessons allowed students to explore and investigate issues central to transportation. The unit incorporated and enhanced the content and practice standards outlined by the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, and relied heavily on the instructional and curriculum expertise and experience of classroom teachers to develop an age- and interest-appropriate unit of study. This collaboration resulted in the development of an Investigations in Transportation instructional unit that provided students with rich, engaging learning opportunities set in the context of real-world problems around a school parking lot dilemma focused on safety, sustainability and health concerns. The education project team utilized a coherent and cohesive curriculum development process for unit creation and evaluated the development, implementation and reflection of the unit through teacher and student surveys/assessments of attitudes, identity and conceptual understanding. The report describes the process successes, challenges and replication opportunities. Close

• 34. [Article] Regional Travel Options 2007-08 Program Evaluation

  To help implement the Growth Concept, Metro’s Regional Travel Options (RTO) Program works to increase awareness of non-SOV alternatives and increase the provision of those alternatives. The program complements ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Regional Travel Options 2007-08 Program Evaluation Author: Dill, Jennifer, Brown, Stephan Year: 2010 To help implement the Growth Concept, Metro’s Regional Travel Options (RTO) Program works to increase awareness of non-SOV alternatives and increase the provision of those alternatives. The program complements other strategies, including land use policies and infrastructure investment. The most comprehensive data available for this evaluation come from commute surveys of employees at work sites that participate in outreach programs offered by TriMet. All of the RTO evaluations have used these data as a benchmark for overall progress, though the data only captures commute travel. The 2008 data reflect the commute patterns of about 120,000 employees commuting to 549 worksites. The long-term trend is positive, with the share of work trips made by modes other than single-occupant vehicles (SOVs) generally increasing since 1996 Figure 3. However, the data for 2007 and 2008 show a decline since 2006 in the share of work trips made on transit. Increases in bicycling and walking, compressed work weeks, and telecommuting helped offset that decline. The share of trips made in carpools and vanpools has remained about the same for the past four years, and is still lower than 1996. Title: Regional Travel Options 2007-08 Program Evaluation Author: Dill, Jennifer, Brown, Stephan Year: 2010 To help implement the Growth Concept, Metro’s Regional Travel Options (RTO) Program works to increase awareness of non-SOV alternatives and increase the provision of those alternatives. The program complements other strategies, including land use policies and infrastructure investment. The most comprehensive data available for this evaluation come from commute surveys of employees at work sites that participate in outreach programs offered by TriMet. All of the RTO evaluations have used these data as a benchmark for overall progress, though the data only captures commute travel. The 2008 data reflect the commute patterns of about 120,000 employees commuting to 549 worksites. The long-term trend is positive, with the share of work trips made by modes other than single-occupant vehicles (SOVs) generally increasing since 1996 Figure 3. However, the data for 2007 and 2008 show a decline since 2006 in the share of work trips made on transit. Increases in bicycling and walking, compressed work weeks, and telecommuting helped offset that decline. The share of trips made in carpools and vanpools has remained about the same for the past four years, and is still lower than 1996. Close

• 35. [Article] Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool: a Destination Choice Model

  There is growing support for improvements to the quality of the walking environment, including more investments to promote pedestrian travel. Planners, engineers, and others seek improved tools to estimate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool: a Destination Choice Model Author: Muhs, Christopher D., Clifton, Kelly, Singleton, Patrick Allen, Schneider, Robert J. Year: 2015 There is growing support for improvements to the quality of the walking environment, including more investments to promote pedestrian travel. Planners, engineers, and others seek improved tools to estimate pedestrian demand that are sensitive to environmental and demographic factors at the appropriate scale in order to aid policy-relevant issues like air quality, public health, and smart allocation of infrastructure and other resources. Further, in the travel demand forecasting realm, tools of this kind are difficult to implement due to the use of spatial scales of analysis that are oriented towards motorized modes, vast data requirements, and computer processing limitations. To address these issues, a two-phase project between Portland State University and Oregon Metro is underway to develop a robust pedestrian planning method for use in regional travel demand models. The first phase, completed in 2013, utilizes a tool that predicts the number of walking trips generated with spatial acuity, based on a new measure of the pedestrian environment and a micro-level unit of analysis. Currently, phase two is building upon this tool to predict the distribution of walking trips, connecting the origins predicted in phase one to destinations. This presentation will focus on phase two, which is one of the first studies to focus on destination choices among pedestrians separately from other modes. The approach can be extended to identify the spatial extent of potential pedestrian paths to these destinations. Ultimately, the products developed from the research can estimate various aspects of pedestrian demand – trip generation, trip distribution, and areas of potential pedestrian activity. These tools will add to the analytical methods available for transportation modeling, pedestrian and safety analysis, health assessments, and other pedestrian planning applications. Title: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool: a Destination Choice Model Author: Muhs, Christopher D., Clifton, Kelly, Singleton, Patrick Allen, Schneider, Robert J. Year: 2015 There is growing support for improvements to the quality of the walking environment, including more investments to promote pedestrian travel. Planners, engineers, and others seek improved tools to estimate pedestrian demand that are sensitive to environmental and demographic factors at the appropriate scale in order to aid policy-relevant issues like air quality, public health, and smart allocation of infrastructure and other resources. Further, in the travel demand forecasting realm, tools of this kind are difficult to implement due to the use of spatial scales of analysis that are oriented towards motorized modes, vast data requirements, and computer processing limitations. To address these issues, a two-phase project between Portland State University and Oregon Metro is underway to develop a robust pedestrian planning method for use in regional travel demand models. The first phase, completed in 2013, utilizes a tool that predicts the number of walking trips generated with spatial acuity, based on a new measure of the pedestrian environment and a micro-level unit of analysis. Currently, phase two is building upon this tool to predict the distribution of walking trips, connecting the origins predicted in phase one to destinations. This presentation will focus on phase two, which is one of the first studies to focus on destination choices among pedestrians separately from other modes. The approach can be extended to identify the spatial extent of potential pedestrian paths to these destinations. Ultimately, the products developed from the research can estimate various aspects of pedestrian demand – trip generation, trip distribution, and areas of potential pedestrian activity. These tools will add to the analytical methods available for transportation modeling, pedestrian and safety analysis, health assessments, and other pedestrian planning applications. Close

• 36. [Article] Transit-Oriented Development and Equity in Latino Neighborhoods: A Comparative Case Study of MacArthur Park (Los Angeles) and Fruitvale (Oakland)

  Transit-oriented development (TOD) projects in low-income neighborhoods have the potential to provide needed transportation access to a segment of the population that stands to benefit significantly from ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Transit-Oriented Development and Equity in Latino Neighborhoods: A Comparative Case Study of MacArthur Park (Los Angeles) and Fruitvale (Oakland) Author: Sandoval, Gerardo Francisco, Herrera, Roanel Year: 2015 Transit-oriented development (TOD) projects in low-income neighborhoods have the potential to provide needed transportation access to a segment of the population that stands to benefit significantly from these large-scale transit infrastructure projects. This research project reveals that large-scale TOD projects have the potential of leading to neighborhood revitalization and equitable outcomes in low-income Latino communities. But these positive outcomes depend on both the process and context of these particular neighborhoods, and how transportation planners incorporate the various forms of political, financial and cultural capital that exist in these communities into the planning and implementation process of TOD projects. This comparative case study analyzed the Fruitvale Transit Village in Oakland and the MacArthur Park METRO TOD in Los Angeles. We uncovered how TOD projects in Latino neighborhoods have the potential to improve access to regional transportation systems, increasing the number of affordable housing units, supporting local and diverse Latino retail businesses, and building upon existing social services. We conclude that TODs can help serve as catalysts for revitalization in low-income neighborhoods by paying attention to and building upon endogenous forms of cultural, political, financial and built capital that exist in these neighborhoods, and encouraging more bottom-up participatory forms of decision-making and activism in neighborhoods. Title: Transit-Oriented Development and Equity in Latino Neighborhoods: A Comparative Case Study of MacArthur Park (Los Angeles) and Fruitvale (Oakland) Author: Sandoval, Gerardo Francisco, Herrera, Roanel Year: 2015 Transit-oriented development (TOD) projects in low-income neighborhoods have the potential to provide needed transportation access to a segment of the population that stands to benefit significantly from these large-scale transit infrastructure projects. This research project reveals that large-scale TOD projects have the potential of leading to neighborhood revitalization and equitable outcomes in low-income Latino communities. But these positive outcomes depend on both the process and context of these particular neighborhoods, and how transportation planners incorporate the various forms of political, financial and cultural capital that exist in these communities into the planning and implementation process of TOD projects. This comparative case study analyzed the Fruitvale Transit Village in Oakland and the MacArthur Park METRO TOD in Los Angeles. We uncovered how TOD projects in Latino neighborhoods have the potential to improve access to regional transportation systems, increasing the number of affordable housing units, supporting local and diverse Latino retail businesses, and building upon existing social services. We conclude that TODs can help serve as catalysts for revitalization in low-income neighborhoods by paying attention to and building upon endogenous forms of cultural, political, financial and built capital that exist in these neighborhoods, and encouraging more bottom-up participatory forms of decision-making and activism in neighborhoods. Close

• 37. [Article] Using "Big Data" for Transportation Analysis: A Case Study of the LA Metro Expo Line

  Access to a comprehensive historical archive of real-time, multi-modal multi-agency transportation system data has provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate how “big data” can be used for policy analysis, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Using "Big Data" for Transportation Analysis: A Case Study of the LA Metro Expo Line Author: Rhoads, Mohja L. Year: 2014 Access to a comprehensive historical archive of real-time, multi-modal multi-agency transportation system data has provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate how “big data” can be used for policy analysis, and to offer new insights for planning scholarship and practice. We illustrate with a case study of a new rail transit line. We use transit, freeway, and arterial data of high spatial and temporal resolution to examine transportation system performance impacts of the Exposition (Expo) light rail line (Phase 1) in Los Angeles. Using a quasi-experimental research design, we explore whether the Expo Line has had a significant impact on transit ridership, freeway traffic, and arterial traffic within the corridor it serves. Our results suggest a net increase in transit ridership, but few effects on traffic system performance. Given the latent travel demand in this heavily congested corridor, results are consistent with expectations. The benefits of rail transit investments are in increasing transit accessibility and person throughput within high-demand corridors; effects on roadway traffic are small and localized. Title: Using "Big Data" for Transportation Analysis: A Case Study of the LA Metro Expo Line Author: Rhoads, Mohja L. Year: 2014 Access to a comprehensive historical archive of real-time, multi-modal multi-agency transportation system data has provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate how “big data” can be used for policy analysis, and to offer new insights for planning scholarship and practice. We illustrate with a case study of a new rail transit line. We use transit, freeway, and arterial data of high spatial and temporal resolution to examine transportation system performance impacts of the Exposition (Expo) light rail line (Phase 1) in Los Angeles. Using a quasi-experimental research design, we explore whether the Expo Line has had a significant impact on transit ridership, freeway traffic, and arterial traffic within the corridor it serves. Our results suggest a net increase in transit ridership, but few effects on traffic system performance. Given the latent travel demand in this heavily congested corridor, results are consistent with expectations. The benefits of rail transit investments are in increasing transit accessibility and person throughput within high-demand corridors; effects on roadway traffic are small and localized. Close

• 38. [Article] Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool: a Destination Choice Model

  There is growing support for improvements to the quality of the walking environment, including more investments to promote pedestrian travel. Planners, engineers, and others seek improved tools to estimate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool: a Destination Choice Model Author: Muhs, Christopher D. Year: 2015 There is growing support for improvements to the quality of the walking environment, including more investments to promote pedestrian travel. Planners, engineers, and others seek improved tools to estimate pedestrian demand that are sensitive to environmental and demographic factors at the appropriate scale in order to aid policy-relevant issues like air quality, public health, and smart allocation of infrastructure and other resources. Further, in the travel demand forecasting realm, tools of this kind are difficult to implement due to the use of spatial scales of analysis that are oriented towards motorized modes, vast data requirements, and computer processing limitations.To address these issues, a two-phase project between Portland State University and Oregon Metro is underway to develop a robust pedestrian planning method for use in regional travel demand models. The first phase, completed in 2013, utilizes a tool that predicts the number of walking trips generated with spatial acuity, based on a new measure of the pedestrian environment and a micro-level unit of analysis. Currently, phase two is building upon this tool to predict the distribution of walking trips, connecting the origins predicted in phase one to destinations. This presentation will focus on phase two, which is one of the first studies to focus on destination choices among pedestrians separately from other modes. The approach can be extended to identify the spatial extent of potential pedestrian paths to these destinations. Ultimately, the products developed from the research can estimate various aspects of pedestrian demand – trip generation, trip distribution, and areas of potential pedestrian activity. These tools will add to the analytical methods available for transportation modeling, pedestrian and safety analysis, health assessments, and other pedestrian planning applications. Title: Development of a Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool: a Destination Choice Model Author: Muhs, Christopher D. Year: 2015 There is growing support for improvements to the quality of the walking environment, including more investments to promote pedestrian travel. Planners, engineers, and others seek improved tools to estimate pedestrian demand that are sensitive to environmental and demographic factors at the appropriate scale in order to aid policy-relevant issues like air quality, public health, and smart allocation of infrastructure and other resources. Further, in the travel demand forecasting realm, tools of this kind are difficult to implement due to the use of spatial scales of analysis that are oriented towards motorized modes, vast data requirements, and computer processing limitations.To address these issues, a two-phase project between Portland State University and Oregon Metro is underway to develop a robust pedestrian planning method for use in regional travel demand models. The first phase, completed in 2013, utilizes a tool that predicts the number of walking trips generated with spatial acuity, based on a new measure of the pedestrian environment and a micro-level unit of analysis. Currently, phase two is building upon this tool to predict the distribution of walking trips, connecting the origins predicted in phase one to destinations. This presentation will focus on phase two, which is one of the first studies to focus on destination choices among pedestrians separately from other modes. The approach can be extended to identify the spatial extent of potential pedestrian paths to these destinations. Ultimately, the products developed from the research can estimate various aspects of pedestrian demand – trip generation, trip distribution, and areas of potential pedestrian activity. These tools will add to the analytical methods available for transportation modeling, pedestrian and safety analysis, health assessments, and other pedestrian planning applications. Close

• 39. [Article] Improving Travel Information Products via Robust Estimation Techniques

  Traffic-monitoring systems, such as those using loop detectors, are prone to coverage gaps, arising from sensor noise, processing errors and transmission problems. Such gaps adversely affect the accuracy ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Improving Travel Information Products via Robust Estimation Techniques Author: Maier, David, Tufte, Kristin A., Fernández Moctezuma, Rafael J. Year: 2009 Traffic-monitoring systems, such as those using loop detectors, are prone to coverage gaps, arising from sensor noise, processing errors and transmission problems. Such gaps adversely affect the accuracy of Advanced Traveler Information Systems. This project will explore models based on historical data that can provide estimates to fill such gaps. We build on an initial study by Mr. Rafael J. Fernandez-Moctezuma, using both a linear model and an artificial neural network (ANN) trained on historical data to estimate values for reporting gaps. These initial models were 80% and 89% accurate, respectively, in estimating the correct speed range, and misclassifications were always between adjacent speed ranges (in particular, the free-flow range and congested range were never confused). Going forward, we will investigate other non-linear models, such as Gaussian Mixtures, that provide further statistical metrics, in contrast to the uninterpreted weights of ANNs. This work will exploit the Portland Transportation Archive Listing (PORTAL) at the Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory at PSU. Dr. Tufte helps supervise development of PORTAL, and Mr. Fernandez used PORTAL data in his study. PORTAL holds more than two years of Portland-area freeway-loop-detector data at both detailed and aggregated levels, and is an ideal resource for the proposed work. Initially we will be building and testing estimators in off-line mode. We will select a highway segment (comprising multiple detector stations) that is representative in terms of pattern of outages. We will build models for this segment, then examine their performance on estimates for synthetic gaps (so we can compare estimates to reported values). Later, using live loop-detector data (which PORTAL supports), we will work towards on-line estimation over the local freeway network, which requires computing estimates in a timely manner. Our end target is improvements in end-user travel information products, such as the Portland-Metro Speed Map on ODOT's Trip Check. Our main evaluation metric will be the trade-off curve bewteen accuracy of prediciton and percentage of gaps that can be filled. This research supports national surface-transportation research priorities, including the Systems Management Information area (ITS JPO). Within that area, it relates to (2) Data Management (techniques and guidance for processing and managing data associated with highway and transit monitoring) and (5) Data Dissemination (exchanging information about transportation services and providing that information to travelers). [Page 3-15, U.S. Department of Transportation Research, Development, and Technology Plan, 6th Edition] Title: Improving Travel Information Products via Robust Estimation Techniques Author: Maier, David, Tufte, Kristin A., Fernández Moctezuma, Rafael J. Year: 2009 Traffic-monitoring systems, such as those using loop detectors, are prone to coverage gaps, arising from sensor noise, processing errors and transmission problems. Such gaps adversely affect the accuracy of Advanced Traveler Information Systems. This project will explore models based on historical data that can provide estimates to fill such gaps. We build on an initial study by Mr. Rafael J. Fernandez-Moctezuma, using both a linear model and an artificial neural network (ANN) trained on historical data to estimate values for reporting gaps. These initial models were 80% and 89% accurate, respectively, in estimating the correct speed range, and misclassifications were always between adjacent speed ranges (in particular, the free-flow range and congested range were never confused). Going forward, we will investigate other non-linear models, such as Gaussian Mixtures, that provide further statistical metrics, in contrast to the uninterpreted weights of ANNs. This work will exploit the Portland Transportation Archive Listing (PORTAL) at the Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory at PSU. Dr. Tufte helps supervise development of PORTAL, and Mr. Fernandez used PORTAL data in his study. PORTAL holds more than two years of Portland-area freeway-loop-detector data at both detailed and aggregated levels, and is an ideal resource for the proposed work. Initially we will be building and testing estimators in off-line mode. We will select a highway segment (comprising multiple detector stations) that is representative in terms of pattern of outages. We will build models for this segment, then examine their performance on estimates for synthetic gaps (so we can compare estimates to reported values). Later, using live loop-detector data (which PORTAL supports), we will work towards on-line estimation over the local freeway network, which requires computing estimates in a timely manner. Our end target is improvements in end-user travel information products, such as the Portland-Metro Speed Map on ODOT's Trip Check. Our main evaluation metric will be the trade-off curve bewteen accuracy of prediciton and percentage of gaps that can be filled. This research supports national surface-transportation research priorities, including the Systems Management Information area (ITS JPO). Within that area, it relates to (2) Data Management (techniques and guidance for processing and managing data associated with highway and transit monitoring) and (5) Data Dissemination (exchanging information about transportation services and providing that information to travelers). [Page 3-15, U.S. Department of Transportation Research, Development, and Technology Plan, 6th Edition] Close

• 40. [Article] Contextual Influences on Trip Generation

  There is national interest in building data that expands upon the existing Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip generation rates to include sites located in a multi-modal context. Current ITE ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Contextual Influences on Trip Generation Author: Clifton, Kelly J., Currans, Kristina Marie, Muhs, Christopher D. Year: 2012 There is national interest in building data that expands upon the existing Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip generation rates to include sites located in a multi-modal context. Current ITE rates represent travel behavior for development in single lots and uses, primarily measured in low-density suburban areas. Despite evidence that a more compact urban form, access to transit and a greater mix of uses generates fewer and shorter vehicle trips, local governments are often compelled to use current ITE trip generation rates to evaluate transportation impacts and calculate transportation system development charges (TSDCs). This is due to: a) the expense of collecting local data, b) lack of alternative sources of information, c) the strong industry bias toward using ITE published rates and d) the absence of a empirically tested methodology for adjusting those rates for development occurring in different land use and transportation contexts. Compounding these challenges, cities in Oregon are required to demonstrate that planning and zoning changes will not degrade the performance of state-owned transportation facilities compared to the levels of service documented in the Regional Transportation Plan under the Oregon Transportation Planning Rule, section -0060, and Oregon Highway Plan, Policy 1.F.6. These requirements can conflict with regional policies in Metro's 2040 Growth Concept that call for development of mixed-use centers and corridors to support jobs and freight reliability, a compact urban form and leverage transportation investments such as high capacity transit. Thus, there are gaps in the understanding about how best to evaluate, mitigate and plan for growth under these conditions. This research proposes to develop multi-modal trip generation rates that better reflect the relationship between land use, transportation and travel demand for specific land use types located in various urban settings. The project aims to collect local data (using multi-modal counts and establishment surveys) on a few specific land uses (deemed most problematic to estimate demand and occurring across the spectrum of urban conditions) to develop trip generation rates that are sensitive to demographic, land use and transportation contexts. These new trip rates will be compared to the ITE rates for the same land use category and a methodology for adjusting the ITE rates will be developed. This adjustment methodology will be validated, using additional data collected in this research. The research will be documented and made available to local partners and disseminated widely to reach out to other communities across the country. The research conducted for this project would account for how the built environment (e.g., both land use and transportation) influences travel behavior (number of trips, trip length, mode choice), and determine trip rates that reflect the entire activity spectrum of different development/place typologies. This is extremely important in determining the impact of different development types on the transportation system to: 1) avoid over-planning the system for the surrounding land uses; (2) suggest strategies and investment priorities to encourage more compact, mixed-use areas with more transportation choices and 3) avoid creating regulatory and/or financial barriers to compact form envisioned by local, regional and statewide plans (i.e. uniform TSDCs can result in lower impact development paying the same rates, and thus subsidizing development with higher impact costs to the transportation system). The documentation of the findings and methodology will be applicable to current and future growth and be transferable to other communities, locally and nationally, beyond the Portland region. Title: Contextual Influences on Trip Generation Author: Clifton, Kelly J., Currans, Kristina Marie, Muhs, Christopher D. Year: 2012 There is national interest in building data that expands upon the existing Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip generation rates to include sites located in a multi-modal context. Current ITE rates represent travel behavior for development in single lots and uses, primarily measured in low-density suburban areas. Despite evidence that a more compact urban form, access to transit and a greater mix of uses generates fewer and shorter vehicle trips, local governments are often compelled to use current ITE trip generation rates to evaluate transportation impacts and calculate transportation system development charges (TSDCs). This is due to: a) the expense of collecting local data, b) lack of alternative sources of information, c) the strong industry bias toward using ITE published rates and d) the absence of a empirically tested methodology for adjusting those rates for development occurring in different land use and transportation contexts. Compounding these challenges, cities in Oregon are required to demonstrate that planning and zoning changes will not degrade the performance of state-owned transportation facilities compared to the levels of service documented in the Regional Transportation Plan under the Oregon Transportation Planning Rule, section -0060, and Oregon Highway Plan, Policy 1.F.6. These requirements can conflict with regional policies in Metro's 2040 Growth Concept that call for development of mixed-use centers and corridors to support jobs and freight reliability, a compact urban form and leverage transportation investments such as high capacity transit. Thus, there are gaps in the understanding about how best to evaluate, mitigate and plan for growth under these conditions. This research proposes to develop multi-modal trip generation rates that better reflect the relationship between land use, transportation and travel demand for specific land use types located in various urban settings. The project aims to collect local data (using multi-modal counts and establishment surveys) on a few specific land uses (deemed most problematic to estimate demand and occurring across the spectrum of urban conditions) to develop trip generation rates that are sensitive to demographic, land use and transportation contexts. These new trip rates will be compared to the ITE rates for the same land use category and a methodology for adjusting the ITE rates will be developed. This adjustment methodology will be validated, using additional data collected in this research. The research will be documented and made available to local partners and disseminated widely to reach out to other communities across the country. The research conducted for this project would account for how the built environment (e.g., both land use and transportation) influences travel behavior (number of trips, trip length, mode choice), and determine trip rates that reflect the entire activity spectrum of different development/place typologies. This is extremely important in determining the impact of different development types on the transportation system to: 1) avoid over-planning the system for the surrounding land uses; (2) suggest strategies and investment priorities to encourage more compact, mixed-use areas with more transportation choices and 3) avoid creating regulatory and/or financial barriers to compact form envisioned by local, regional and statewide plans (i.e. uniform TSDCs can result in lower impact development paying the same rates, and thus subsidizing development with higher impact costs to the transportation system). The documentation of the findings and methodology will be applicable to current and future growth and be transferable to other communities, locally and nationally, beyond the Portland region. Close