Coordinating Land Use and Transportation: What is the Role of Transportation?

What does coordinating land use and transportation mean?

Image consists of a neighborhood site plan with interconnected streets and small blocks, primarily based on a grid street pattern, and including a mix of land uses, open space, and parks

The role of transportation professionals is evolving and more frequently requires them to understand how transportation investments can be consistent with the principles and practices of land use planning and development. At a minimum, the coordination of land use and transportation requires that those concerned with the well-being of a community (or region, state or nation) assess and evaluate how land use decisions effect the transportation system and can increase viable options for people to access opportunities, goods, services, and other resources to improve the quality of their lives. In turn, the transportation sector should be aware of the effects the existing and future transportation systems may have on land use development demand, choices, and patterns.

Coordinating (or integrating) land use and transportation planning and development is commonly considered today as one facet of "smart growth", sustainable development, new urbanism, or other similar concept. These share policies, principles, and strategies intended to preserve and even enhance valued natural and cultural resources and facilitate "healthy", sustainable communities and neighborhoods. These approaches also tend to foster a balance of mixed uses (including housing, educational, employment, recreational, retail, and service opportunities) which recognize the importance of spatial or geographic proximity, lay out, and design of those uses. In addition, the consideration of long term and broader (even global) impacts of land use decisions on our natural and human-made environment, including transportation systems and facilities, is critical to these concepts, as well.

Image shows higher density, mixed use development surrounding a plaza located next to a commuter rail train and station. Many pedestrians are in the plaza after just apparently disembarking from the train

In addition to new approaches to how we maintain and enhance the livability of our communities referred to above, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which became federal law in August 2005, reconfirms the need to consider land use through the federally-supported transportation planning program. One of the eight planning factors (see 23 USC 134 (h) (1)) states the following:

(E) protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development

While State Departments of Transportations, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), local agencies, and others involved in the transportation planning process have flexibility in meeting that factor, its implementation does require communication and interaction between transportation agencies and those involved with developing and implementing plans for growth, economic development, and similar issues and concerns impacting land use. Most likely, that effort will involve the comparison of transportation plans to other plans and, to some degree, coordinated crafting of local and regional land use/economic development strategies, policies, and plans with pertinent transportation studies, plans, and programs.

This FHWA website offers many, and we hope, useful resources, website links, and other information, including FHWA/US DOT program information, tools and techniques, and examples and case studies, which address the growing demand for delineating the interrelationships between land use and transportation. The information here will help transportation and land use professionals, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public to more successfully coordinate land use and transportation.

To see how FHWA programs can assist states, local governments, and others in addressing smart growth and related issues, please explore the information provided below and also visit: FHWA Environmental Programs Support State and Local Smart Growth Policies.

FHWA Laws and Regulations support the integration of land use and transportation planning

The laws governing the federal transportation planning process are found in Title 23 of the United States Code, Sections 134 and 135 (23 USC 134 and 135). The regulations derived from those laws which further define the planning requirements are contained in Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 450 (23 CFR 450). Both the statute and regulations include references to the role of land use considerations and related issues when transportation stakeholders, elected officials, and the public make decisions regarding the maintenance, operations, and expansion of transportation systems.

Specific citations of law and regulation pertaining to land use planning in the transportation planning process can be accessed here.

Statewide and Metropolitan Transportation Planning programs

This is a map using a satellite enhanced image of the Salt Lake City region, clearly indicating major highways and significant geographic features such as the eastern portion of the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains

Transportation planning programs can foster integration of land use and transportation planning through the following principles:

Developing land use, economic development and transportation (or other infrastructure) plans in a coordinated manner, with all elements supporting a common vision.
Establishing land use goals and strategies to facilitate alternative transportation modes, including transit and non-motorized transportation.
Using a context sensitive solutions approach in planning and project development that considers land use conditions and implications.
Knitting together transportation projects and programs and public/private investments so that they complement each other and support broader community goals.
Accommodating the flow of freight throughout the country while avoiding or minimizing negative impacts on residential neighborhoods and city centers and the natural environment.
Considering a wide range of strategies, tools, and modal options to address transportation and land use issues.

The statewide transportation planning process is a forum through which transportation decisions, based in part on these principles, are made at the state level. States are required to conduct comprehensive and collaborative intermodal statewide transportation planning that facilitates the efficient, economic movement of people and goods in all areas of the state, including rural, small urban, and metropolitan areas.

Metropolitan transportation planning is the process of examining travel and transportation issues and needs specifically in metropolitan areas. It includes a demographic analysis of the region in question, as well as an examination of travel patterns and trends. The planning process includes an analysis of alternatives to meet projected future demands, and for providing a safe and efficient transportation system that meets mobility while not creating adverse impacts to the environment. In metropolitan areas over 50,000 population, the responsibility for transportation planning lies with designated Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).

The FHWA/FTA has issued guidance to clarify the eligibility and criteria for use of metropolitan and statewide planning program funds to support planning work activities addressing the integration of transportation with other planning activities not directly tied to transportation, including planning to address land use and climate change issues.

Photo of people meeting to demonstrate public involvement.

Programs, Tools, and Approaches available to support the integration of land use and transportation planning initiatives.

Transportation Planning Capacity Building

FHWA/FTA Transportation Planning Capacity Building (TPCB) initiatives assist state and local decision makers in addressing complex transportation issues by providing information and resources on improving and enhancing many aspects of transportation planning programs and activities.

Climate Change and Transportation

The FHWA has created a website that presents the results of research with the intention of advancing the practice and application of transportation planning among state, regional, and local transportation planning agencies to successfully meet growing concerns about the relationship between transportation and climate change.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Program

The Bicycle & Pedestrian Program of the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Human and Natural Environment, promotes bicycle and pedestrian transportation accessibility, use, and safety.

Safe Routes To School (SRTS)

The purpose of the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Program is to empower communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and routine activity once again. The Program makes funding available for a wide variety of programs and projects, from building safer street crossings to establishing programs that encourage children and their parents to walk and bicycle safely to school. While not specifically addressed through this program, decisions about where to locate new schools or renovate existing schools, particularly in more traditional, walkable neighborhoods, can have an enormous impact on facilitating the likelihood of students walking or biking to school.

Access Management

Access management is the proactive management of vehicular access points to land parcels adjacent to all manner of roadways. Access management encompasses a set of techniques that state and local governments can use to control access to highways, major arterials, and other roadways. The benefits of access management include improved movement of traffic, reduced crashes, and fewer vehicle conflicts.

Transportation Enhancements Program

The Transportation Enhancement Program funds projects that better integrate transportation into communities. Eligible Transportation Enhancement projects include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, historic preservation, and landscaping and scenic beautification along streets,gateways, waterfronts and highways.

Context-sensitive solutions

Context sensitive solutions (CSS) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility.

Scenario Planning

Scenario Planning provides a framework for developing a shared vision for the future by analyzing various forces (e.g., health, transportation, economic, environmental, land use, etc.) that affect the community. The website provides noteworthy practices and innovative uses of Scenario Planning applications for transportation planning, and will allow you to explore other Scenario Planning resources.

Visualization in Planning

Visualization in Planning has advanced recently due to new technology in communication processes. Providing visual images to a broader audience has become easy, fast and of high quality. Visualization can provide the public and decision makers a clear idea of the proposed policies, plans and Transportation Improvement Programs and the impacts to the human and natural environment. Visuals can make information instantly or intuitively understandable. The new technology has made it possible to visually communicate what the proposals may look like if and when implemented.

Tools and Analytical Methods

Tool Kit for Integrating Land Use and Transportation: The objective of this tool kit is to provide a user-friendly, web-based source of methods, strategies, and procedures for integrating land use and transportation planning, decision-making, and project implementation.

Toolbox for Regional Policy Analysis - A toolbox of analytical methods for testing the regional impacts of transportation and land use policies.

Other Related Transportation Programs/Activities

Integrating Health and Physical Activity

US DOT research on how land use and transportation systems affect options available for physical activity.
Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) on the connections between walking, bicycling, urban design, and healthy lifestyles.

Linking Land Use, Environmental Issues, and Transportation in Project Development

Community Impact Assessment - An iterative process of understanding potential impacts of proposed transportation investments on communities.
Linking Planning and NEPA - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have developed legal and program guidance on how information, analysis, and products from metropolitan and statewide transportation planning processes can be incorporated into and relied upon in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process under existing Federal statutes and regulations.

Public Involvement, Outreach, and Participation

In the transportation decision-making process, public involvement is a key component of integrating land use and transportation issues. FHWA's role in this arena includes:

Providing best practices in public involvement;
Articulating the benefits of early and continuous public involvement;
Providing training, peer exchanges, workshops and technical assistance; and
Demonstrating public involvement strategies that have been effective with traditionally underserved populations.

Public Participation / Public Involvement

Public participation is more than just a hearing, or one meeting near the end of the project development process. Public involvement needs to be an early and continuing part of the transportation and project development process. It is essential that the project sponsor knows the community's values in order to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts, as well as to narrow the field of alternatives (for planning) and alignments (for projects).

Transportation System Management and Operations

Linking transportation planning and operations improves transportation systems management and operations across a region and can reduce the demand for capacity expansion and reduce delay, congestion, and environmental impacts.

Links to Additional Reports, Studies, and Resources on Linking Land Use and Transportation

FHWA Resources

Corridor Preservation
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/realestate/cp_cases.htm

Freight Planning
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/freightplanning/index.htm

Noise Compatible Land Use Planning
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/quietzon/qz2.htm

Planning Excellence Awards
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/tpea/index.htm

Rural Transportation Planning
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/rural/index.html

Safety – Pedestrians
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/

Other Governmental Agencies

EPA
Smart Growth
http://www.epa.gov/dced/index.htm

FTA
Transit Oriented Development
http://www.fta.dot.gov/planning/planning_environment_6932.html

Transit and Sustainability
http://www.fta.dot.gov/planning/planning_environment_8510.html

To provide Feedback, Suggestions or Comments for this page contact Robin Smith at robin.smith@dot.gov.