Transportation Planning 99+3-1

1. Transportation Planning 99+3-1 Eric Fredericks - Caltrans District 3 Chief, Office of Transportation Planning – South Department of Aging Webinar Series February 26, 2013

2. Since this is a webinar, let’s just eliminate your top distraction right off the bat

3. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IS:

4. It is freaking complicated!!!

6. Complicated Funding Graphic • Table c caltrans

7. It begins with Federal County Regional State City

8. How to Play “The Game”

9. Today’s Game • Why focus on the local/regional/state/federal level • Who you should talk to first • Key documents that influence policy • Reverse order from normal – because America is supposed to be more local control, right?

10. Local Transportation PlanningIt is extremely important. It’s where the bulk of policies and plans actually get implemented.

12. Talk to transportation planning staff(if any) or public works first Regular old urban planners can work too

13. Search for any local transportation advocacy groups and find out what they’re doing. Maybe you can partner with them.

14. Gather data, formulate a proposal to present to neighborhood/city council or transit board P.S. - Public records act requests can be highly effective. Use them wisely as a last resort

15. Key policy/guidance documents: General Plan revisions, Capital Improvement Program revisions, street design standards, urban design guidelines, Specific Plans

16. A piece of advice about General Plans: The Land Use Map and Circulation Elements are critical to carrying out the transportation planning vision. Important teeth if you will.

17. Important Note: This approach applies to projects submitted for the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) as well!(we will talk about this next)

18. You may also want to encourage your local jurisdiction to adopt a complete streets policyThese typically say that roads should provide for the needs of all users appropriate to the context

19. SACOG has a wonderful web resource: the Complete Streets Toolkit http://www.sacog.org/complete-streets/toolkit/START.html

20. Regional Transportation PlanningPushes the regional vision and policies.Allocates transportation funding.Provides public transit.

21. Your Regional Go-Tos • For the regional vision and policy: staff at a Metropolitan Planning Organization or Regional Transportation Planning Agency • For transit vision and projects: planning staff at your regional transit agency

22. One of the key documents is the Regional Transportation Plan(RTP) …or some agencies call it various names like MTP, LRTP, etcJose Luis will have more on this in the next presentation

23. One important thing about the RTPOn the whole, if you want to influence PROJECTS you need to focus on the local agencies (or Caltrans, or transit agencies)

24. State Transportation PlanningPlans for and interregional travel.Allocates state and federal funds.Creates a state vision. Enforces state and federal laws and policies.

25. New California Transportation Agency • Caltrans • California Transportation Commission • Office of Traffic Safety • High Speed Rail Authority • California Highway Patrol • Department of Motor Vehicles • Board of Pilot Commissioners

26. Key Groups that influence Statewide Bike/Ped/Transit Policy • California Bicycle Advisory Committee (CBAC) • California Pedestrian Advisory Committee (CalPED) • Active Transportation and Livable Communities (ATLC) committee

27. Key state documents

29. KEY DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES HIGHLIGHTED in 2025 CTP While California’s general population is expected to increase nearly 29 percent by 2020, the senior age group is projected to increase about 71 percent. The over-85 age group is expected to increase 55 percent by 2020. Licensed drivers 85 years and older increased substantially from 1969 to 1995 — men from about 48 percent to 72 percent and women from 12 percent to 29 percent. However, some Californians in this age group do not or cannot drive. Decision-makers will need to consider the safety implications in designing and providing transportation choices and services for elderly, but active, Californians.

30. Sets vision for state transportation, but hasn’t been integrated as well in pastCTP 2040 is a more robust effort to include all plans stitched together californiatransportationplan2040.org

31. Another key guidance document: General Plan GuidelinesThese are about to be updated by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (Seth Litchney)

32. There are many, many other documents, but here are a few more key ones

33. CA State Rail Plan (out for review now) CA Strategic Highway Safety Plan CA Regional Transportation Plan GuidelinesCaltrans District System Management and Development Plans (for each Caltrans District)

34. To influence legislation: speak with your local state representative’s transportation policy staff.You can also partner with lobbying groups that focus on transportation.

35. Federal Transportation Planning Sets national vision and policies.Selects candidate projects for funding.Congress sets laws and allocates funding to the states.

36. Your Federal Go-Tos • To influence federal transportation authorization: your Congressperson’s staff or a transportation lobbying group (ex: T4A) • To set policy: Staff in USDOT and its agencies (FHWA, FTA, FRA, FAA, etc)

37. The key to focus on: Federal Transportation Authorization. The latest being MAP-21(that’s Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century…and much better sounding than the previous SAFETEA-LU)

38. MAP-21 bill authorized $105 billion over 2 years.Consolidated numerous programs.Allowed more funding flexibility (in most cases).Sets the policy tone for transportation in America.

39. Now is the time to start ramping up for the next Authorization. BUT BEWARE!! It could be a several year process…

40. USDOT Agencies set many policies and rules (too many to start listing).A (scary) place to start looking is the Federal Register.

41. It’s also important to talk to your local Congressperson’s staff and keep them engaged in your local effortsThis helps when you need funding for projects, like TIGER grants

42. Eric Frederickseric_fredericks@dot.ca.gov916.274.0635