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Presentation by Carrie Kissel, National Association of Development Organizations, at the FTA State Programs Meeting, August 7, 2013, in Washington, DC.
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NATIO
NAL ASSO
CIATION OF D
EVELOPM
ENT O
RGAN
IZATIONS
Rural Transportation Planning Trends and Issues
Carrie KisselNational Association of Development Organizations
with support from the Federal Highway Administration
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About NADO
National association for 540 regional development organizations, including emerging network of Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs or RPOs)
Promote public policies that strengthen local governments, communities and economies through the regional strategies, coordination efforts and program expertise of the nation’s regional development organizations
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Regional Development Organizations
Formed by state statute or executive order May be called: Council of Governments, Regional
Planning Commission, Economic Development District
Participate in/administer many state and federal programs
• Economic Development• Regional Planning• Human Services
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About RPO America
Program affiliate of NADO Serves as the national professional association for
rural and small metro transportation planners National Rural Transportation Peer Learning
Conference www.RuralTransportation.org
Rural Transportation Newsletter www.Facebook.com/RPOAmerica Twitter @RPOAmerica
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What’s Happening in Rural Transportation Planning?
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Rural Planning Organization
•R‐Relationships•P‐Priority•O‐One
• Communication is Essential
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How Did We Get Here?• ISTEA (1991)
– Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
• TEA‐21 (1998)– Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
• SAFETEA LU (2005)– Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users
• 2003 FHWA/FTA planning regulations were adopted implementing language on rural planning and state‐local consultation. (4 year process )
• Same language used in 2007 regulations• In essence requires meaningful input by local officials in the
transportation planning process/decision making—separate from public outreach efforts
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ERTPO Governance Framework
• Policy board/committee – local elected officials or their designees, plus reps of state, transportation providers, modal representatives, & public
– Often same as “parent” COG/RPC board
• Technical committee – to provide guidance and advice on practitioner‐level issues
– consider relationship with CEDS committee, including shared membership and coordinating project identification and ranking processes as appropriate
• Fiscal agent – to serve as management, planning, and administrative support (COG/RPC)
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Typical RTPO Tasks
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ELocal Government Technical Assistance• Be a general transportation resource
• Assist with traffic counts, parking counts, local roads issues
• Convene local transit providers
• Convene local road managers
• Learn major state/fed program categories to answer questions about what projects are eligible or assist with grantwriting
• Joint purchasing opportunities
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Facilitate Input in Statewide Plan
• Invite DOT to participate in regional RTPO board/committee meetings regularly– Onemeeting for DOT staff to attend, rather than separate outreach every jurisdiction
• Help DOT host regional local official forum, public involvement forum
• Offer to assist with reviewing projects in the pipeline: – What’s changed at local level? – What’s still a priority?
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Develop Regional Priorities
• Help DOT to solicit project ideas for available funds
• Develop regional priority list: – What can we agree on?– What issues/projects are most important?
• Be realistic and strategic—may need to focus on specific corridors or issues, rather than needs of region’s entire network
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Connect State and Local Levels
• Local jurisdictions may not have extensive planning and zoning, but they still have a sense of community direction
• Where is development planned or desired? New housing? New schools?
• Impact of those on transport network?• If there are upcoming construction or service change projects, how will they impact communities?– Assist with Context Sensitive Solutions– Assist with outreach to businesses and facilities located on affected routes
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General Transportation Challenges
• Unpredictable funding levels• Shrinking resources for planning and construction
• Turnover—local officials, state officials, and legislators
• Long‐term horizon—benefit may not be realized during term of office
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RTPO Challenges• Recognize limits ‐‐no national standards until MAP‐21, planning framework is voluntary
• No uniform work program• Little, if any, financial authority• Keeping local officials engaged and committed to the process
• Lack of “buy‐in” by: DOT, Elected Officials, staff• Varying resources and capabilities among the RTPOs: within state, between states
• Turf‐‐Is there room in the sandbox?
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What are RTPOs doing about transit?
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Work Program Elements
• Ensure transit providers, interests are aware of and invited to table
• Gather, prioritize 5311 applications• Inventory existing services• Mobility management• Coordinated planning• Assist providers with planning service
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Emerging Issues and Themes
• Increasing focus on mobility• Ability to convene partners• Relationships with human services entities• Access to regional data• Experience in data analysis, mapping, database development
• Connections to economic trends
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GA: Transit Development Plans
GDOT contracts with regional commissions to: • Assist local governments with transit planning:
– Identify areas, populations of need– Inventory, assess existing services– Develop support organizations– Present a plan or vision– Obtain local support
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GA: Transit Development Plans
GDOT contracts with regional commissions to:
• Organize and facilitate community meetings to develop “transit development plans”
• Facilitate completion of environmental tasks for transit earmark projects
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GA: Essential Elements of TDPs
• Executive Summary• Demographic Analysis• Goals & Objectives• Performance Evaluation of Existing Service• Demand Estimation, Transit Needs Assessment• Transit Alternatives & Recommendations• Compliance with Federal & State Requirements• Five Year Capital and Operating Projections• Adoption of the Plan
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EArizona: Coordinated PlanningState Context
ADOT Uses 9 Planning Regions to: • Improve management of existing assets
• AZ Institute 4 Coordination• Strengthen Regional Human Service Coordination Plans
• Develop Coordination Councils
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ENorthern AZ: Projects Underway
• Sr. Cntr – Para Transit
• COG AAA – NOMT
• COG – MPO Senior Transportation Network Development
• COG AAA – Para Transit Voucher
NON EMERG MEDICAL
NACOG AAA
Senior Center
DTD PROJECT
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Lowcountry COG & Partners (SC)
Conditions for Coordination/ Consolidation:• ONE well‐established public transit service provider• Large, sparsely settled area• Many human service agencies discovering they do not want to be in “transportation business”
• Purchase of Service contracts (with 5310 funding) with the transit provider an important option
• Opportunities for sharing routes• Potential for multiple funding sources
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SCDOT Coordination Plan 2007Regional Transportation Needs
• More service for medical appointments, urban and rural
• Work trips—to Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, within and between all of the COG counties
• Interregional medical trips (outside of COG region Charleston, Savannah)
• General public transportation • Retirees and other older people• Youth (after school) transportation• Fixed route/fixed schedule services
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E2013 Service Consolidation: SCDOT Coordination Plan 2007
Challenges Facing Agencies Met by 2013 through Consolidation √
1. Need to move away from 48‐hour advanced reservation; more spontaneous trips √
2. Cost of fuel
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EService Consolidation: SCDOT Coordination Plan 20073. Need to upgrade vehicles, equipment √4. Need for additional funding for expanded
services √5. Implementation of a mechanism to centralize
transportation services, i.e., lacking a mobility manager √
6. Need for technology to coordinate trips among agencies, across jurisdictional lines √
7. Vehicle assets rapidly deteriorating √
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CTAA/Lowcountry Plan 2012Evaluated Five Potential Structures/Strategies
1. Consolidated Structure: Nonprofit and public agencies consolidate transportation into Palmetto Breeze
2. Brokerage Structure: Palmetto Breeze brokers trips to participating transportation providers, operates public/coordinated transportation
3. Hybrid Structure: Some participating organizations consolidate, others serve as independent, contracted service providers
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CTAA/Lowcountry Plan 2012Evaluated Five Potential Structures/Strategies
4. Coordination: Shared use of vehicles, staff, maintenance, training, grant writing
5. Information and Referral: Mobility Manager continues to refer passengers, uses technology to promote efficiency
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ECoastal Regional Commission (GA):Rural Commuter Vanpooling
• Contract with VPSI• Target workforce living 10+ miles away, those unable to conveniently use fixed‐route transit
• Provide service as groups are identified, with the riders deciding where and when a route operates
• Save costs for workers, promote productivity for employers
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Iowa: Rural Transit Planning
• Regional Planning Affiliations created post‐ISTEA
• Most are co‐terminus with regional transit boundaries– Some housed in same parent org as transit
• Transit planning, coordination plans• Emerging issues: connect workforce development/employment transportation
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Thomas Jefferson PDC (VA)
• The TJPDC received a grant from the Virginia Board of People with Disabilities to develop and expand the use of the Transportation Housing Alliance Toolkit.
• This funding focuses on 3 deliverables:
• Work also involves training and presentations to localities and PDCs throughout the state.
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‐ Six case studies in the region to focus on assessing the inclusiveness of local ordinances, procedures and plans.
‐ A standardized assessment tool to identify gaps.‐ A list of common barriers to meeting needs.‐Model language that localities can consider for adoption to address those gaps
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Southwest RPC (NH): Rural TDM
Travel Demand Management Advocacy Group• Public & private sector• Meeting since 2006• Advocacy, education, leadership• Role of transportation on economy, environment and
society• Monadnock Region Transportation Management
Association• Web‐based toolkit
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Web‐Based TDM Toolkit• Clearinghouse of information
• Accessible
• User friendly
• Diverse audience• Residents/visitors• Employers• Educators• Municipal officials www.monadnocktma.org
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Web‐Based TDM ToolkitInformation on transportation options
Employer toolkit
Guide for municipalities
Materials for Educators and Schools
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ERTPOs and State DOTs:Opportunities for Transit PlanningUse regional partners to:• Leverage investments: transportation service supports changes in population, land use, economic, and local quality of place efforts
• Identify an area’s economic assets that may be key service destinations
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ERTPOs and State DOTs:Opportunities for Transit PlanningUse regional partners to:• Innovate in outreach, service delivery, planning frameworks
• Partner with new organizations—major employers? Community foundations? Other local institutions?
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Additional Resources
www.NADO.org
www.RuralTransportation.org
Carrie Kissel
202.624.8829
