presented to the

Model Task Force

presented by Howard Slavin, Andres Rabinowicz, and Giovanni Flammia March 5, 2012

A Web-based Transportation Planner’s Accessibility Toolkit

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Project Overview

FHWA-sponsored project

Competitive Response to a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for projects that could be transformational for transportation planning

The BAA primary goal was development of tools and techniques that support state and local planning capacity building

A secondary goal was to develop tools and techniques that support Tribal planning capacity building, public involvement, environmental justice, visualization in planning

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The Toolkit Approach

Provide a free web-based tool that can be used by planners and citizens

Deploy simple, but powerful analytical tools

Exploit advances in GIS, web software, and data availability

Focus on the ultimate goal of transportation initiatives

Provide a rich and valid alternative to travel demand models

Accessibility Concept

Conventionally traffic or mobility measures are used in place of accessibility measures, but “Accessibility is the ultimate goal of most transportation and so is the best approach to use” Todd Litman 2003

Accessibility refers to the possibilities of traveling to destination opportunities and the level of service associated with a wide range of travel options

Can be assessed for both person travel and freight movements and for all modes, not just vehicular modes.

Improving travel options or their quality and performance increases accessibility

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The 5-Cs of Effective Accessibility Measures (from Kevin Krizek and David Levinson)

Cumulative

Comparable

Clear

Comprehensive

Calculable

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The Concept is Old, Not New!

Extensive literature extolling the virtues of the approach

Numerous, but limited examples of U.S. application

A key aspect of British transportation planning where it is part of the fabric of “evidence-based” planning

Can be used to examine all parts of a study region and to compare them and perform evaluation of plan components using consistent and low cost methods

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Toolkit Transportation Modes

Car travel

Transit

Non-motorized

Measures tailored to each component

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Data Sources

TIGER Streets and Boundaries

GTFS Transit Data

Census Data

MPO Planning Model Data and other Local GIS Data

User supplied data

Further needs

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Computational Approach

TransCAD accessibility computation engine

Custom web-interface

Scenario and Comparative Maps and Reports

Several Technical Challenges

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Project Status

Literature review and approach complete

Development underway

Data assembly to be initiated

The web calculator should be available by October 2012

A second phase will include up to 5 case studies with MPOs or other agencies

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Questions?