BEST PRACTICES: COORDINATION OF TRANSIT, REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND LAND USE:RELEVANT REPORTS AND RESOURCES

Transportation Research Board

Committee on Public Transportation Planning and Development - AP025

BEST PRACTICES: COORDINATION OF TRANSIT, REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND LAND USE:

RELEVANT REPORTS AND RESOURCES

Transit at the Table

In order for transit to play a meaningful role in creating sustainable transportation systems, transit agencies have to become more meaningful and pro-active partners in the Federal transportation planning and programming process. The FTA has sponsored a series of publications, called "Transit at the Table" that identifies ways for transit agencies to effectively participate in metropolitan and statewide transportation planning.

Transit at the Table I for larger metropolitan areas (more than 200,000 in population)

Transit at the Table II - for smaller metropolitan areas (populations between 50,000 and 200,000).

Transit at the Table III - for non-urbanized and rural areas

http://www.planning.dot.gov/focus_transit_attable.asp

Trends Affecting Public Transit Effectiveness: A Review and Proposed Actions

This report, prepared for APTA, examines the impact of demographic and socio-economic trends, changes in land use and mobility patterns, societal changes and concerns, emerging professional practices, and other trends that will impact the future effectiveness of transit. It assesses challenges and opportunities, potential actions and key questions, and the Appendices provide a valuable summary of key concepts (e.g. smart growth, sustainable transportation, etc.), as well as a listing of a wide range of resources on the web for those who desire more information. One of the key findings was that many current planning practices are supportive of transit, but that transit agencies need to provide leadership to encourage transit-supportive development.

http://www.apta.com/gap/policyresearch/Documents/trends_affecting.pdf

Basic Course material on Public Transportation

An on-line primer on public transit. Gives and overview of basic background information useful to understand how transit systems can be planned and developed. Topics include: understanding transit demand, transit benefits, new starts procedures, technology options, analysis procedures, operations planning, performance evaluation and route location. Material is presented in both power point and lecture format.

http://www4.uwm.edu/cuts/utp/

Center for Transit-Oriented Development (Reconnecting America)

This site contains many resources and reports on Transit-Oriented Development includes guidebooks on best practices and impact studies.
http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/public/practices

Bus Transit Service in Land Development Planning

TRB TCRP Synthesis 67: Bus Transit Service in Land Development Planning examines successful strategies that assist in the incorporation of bus transit service into land developments, as well as the challenges that transit agencies face when attempting to do so. The report also explores the state of the practice regarding the use and components of transit agency development guidelines.

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_67.pdf

Traveler Response to Transportation System Changes: Chapter 15-Land Use and Site Design

TRB TCRP Report 95: Traveler Response to Transportation System Changes, Chapter 17--Transit-Oriented Development explores the transit-oriented development (TOD) land use strategy and its transportation impacts in terms of regional context, land use mix, and primary transit mode. TOD generally refers to higher-density development, with pedestrian priority, located within easy walking distance of a major public transit station or stop.

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_95c17.pdf

Traveler Response to Transportation System Changes: Chapter 17-Transit-Oriented Development

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_95c17.pdf

Transit-Oriented Development in the *United States--Experiences, Challenges, and Prospects***

TRB TCRP Report 102: Transit-Oriented Development in the United States--Experiences, Challenges, and Prospects examines the state of the practice and the benefits of transit-oriented development and joint development throughout the United States.
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_102.pdf

The Role of Transit in Creating Livable Metropolitan Communities
TRB TCRP Report 22: combines guidelines and case studies to provide a comprehensive approach for improving community livability and transit ridership in the United States.
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_22-a.pdf

Using Archived AVL-APC Data to Improve Transit Performance and Management

TRB's TCRP Report 113: explores the effective collection and use of archived automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger counter (APC) data to improve the planning and management of transit systems. TCRP Web Document 23 contains case studies and other materials

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_113.pdf

TCRP Web Document 23: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_webdoc_23.pdf

NOTE: TCRP reports are available from TCRP-OnLine at:

www.tcrponline.org

Transit-Friendly Development Design Guidelines
One of the key findings from the conference is that transit agencies need to be more pro-active in articulating for developers and municipal planners the key requirements for transit-friendly development. A recent TCRP Synthesis found that only 28% of transit systems have developed Design Guidelines. Such Design guidelines should cover at the very least the following elements:
- Site planning and pedestrian orientation
- Traffic engineering (road geometry, turning radius, bus paths through development, turn-around loops/layover spots, etc.)
- Bus stop placement
- Bus stop design and amenities
- Pedestrian capture area: accessibility and walkability

The following documents provide various examples of Transit-Friendly Design Guidelines that are available from the web:

AC Transit: DESIGNING WITH TRANSIT: Making Transit Integral to East Bay Communities

http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/designing_with_transit2.pdf

Pace Development Guidelines:
http://www.pacebus.com/pdf/development_guidelines.pdf

Calgary Transit: Transit Friendly Guidelines

http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/transit_friendly.pdf

Ontario (Ministry of Transportation): Transit-Supportive Guidelines

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/transit/supportive-guideline/index.shtml

BC Transit (provincial agency that oversees transit in Victoria and all of the small municipalities in BC):
www.bctransit.com/corporate/resources/pdf/res-urban-20.pdff

Vancouver-TransLink Transit Passenger Facility Design Guidelines:
http://www.translink.ca/~/media/Documents/bpotp/plans/transit_oriented_communities/TPFDG Print Version.ashx

Austin-Capital Metro Transit Ready Development Guide:

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/downloads/Transit%20Ready%20Development%20Guide%202008.pdf

BC Transit (provincial agency that oversees transit in Victoria and all of the small municipalities in BC):

Infrastructure Design Guidelines

http://www.transitbc.com/corporate/resources/pdf/res-urban-64.pdf