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 | TCSP-1999 Grant Proposals"Transportation/Community Systems Optimization through Non-Traditional Partnering and Infrastructure Prioritization" |
Transportation/Community Systems Optimization through Non-Traditional Partnering and Infrastructure Prioritization
I. Cover Sheet and Abstract
| Type of Project Request: | Planning Grant |
| Project Title: | Transportation/Community Systems Optimization through Non-Traditional Partnering and Infrastructure Prioritization |
| Location: | Louisiana State Planning District 1 |
| Organization: | Regional Planning Commission for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes, Louisiana (RPC) |
| Key Contact: | John W. LeBourgeois, Executive Director |
| Address: | 333 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 1100, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 |
| Phone/Fax/E-Mail: | Phone: (504) 568-6611 Fax (504)568-6643 E-Mail: rpc@gnofn.org |
| Estimated Grant Request: | Total Request - $450,000 in 3 Phases. Phase I - $150,000 Phase II - $200,000 Phase III $100,000 |
Abstract
The project will develop and implement various mechanisms to affect land use growth factors and system tools in order to guide transportation development, community and system preservation and regional metropolitan sprawl. Traditional tools, such as, zoning and growth boundaries, and non-traditional approaches, such as open space reservations, land banking, environmental sensitivity ratings and linkages to empowerment zone planning, brownfield redevelopment, regional environmental initiatives and other quality of sustainable life indicators will be employed. These mechanisms will focus on both internal and external factors that could effect growth patterns. External factors to the region will emphasize an "outside to inside" approach, while internal factors to the region will focus on the "inside to outside" methodology. This project will be regional (including five or more parishes in Southeast Louisiana) in scope over a twenty year planning period with various smaller geo-political units utilized as "pilot application models" in order to assess and evaluate implementation.
The goal of the project is the development of regional strategies and tools that can lead to a long-range plan and a map of growth/sprawl boundaries for a regional livability standard based on balance and sustainability. These tools will lead to a capital project management plan for the effective and efficient timing and construction of transportation infrastructure, and ultimately establish a framework for the control and monitoring of regional metropolitan sprawl. The goal of the program would be to form the coalitions of interest groups in the Region’s 1.3 million population required to realize the level of knowledgeable voter tax support to implement sustainable land use and transportation growth measures such as improved mass transit services, the encouragement of employment cluster development, and the non duplication of infrastructure.
II. Project Description
The project will examine alternative strategies for both the boundaries and the patterns of regional metropolitan land use, transportation investments (both public and private) as these factors impact the continued development of new lands. This phenomenon, as it creeps outward from a typical urban core into suburban open space, has been termed "sprawl." Looking at a metropolitan area from the outside into its inner subregional edges, natural barriers and patterns will be documented and established. Examples include natural boundaries such as rivers, flood zones, jurisdictional wetlands, slope zones, historical boundaries such as designated historical areas or documented battlefields, and intergovernmental boundaries such as national recreation areas, military reservations and tribal lands.
From the perspective of inside to outside, the project will examine the existing infrastructure such as transportation and other public works, particularly those public or future infrastructure needs based on population trends. Other demographic databases will compare current land use inventory with current land use needs. This will result in a measure of land use sustainability for transportation infrastructure that yields a "land use surplus" or a "land use deficit."
Applying the results of the sustainability measuring technique to the geographical results of the "outer boundary analysis," various indicators, tools and parameters will be developed. These will lead to a system to monitor growth, limit sprawl, utilize existing transportation infrastructure efficiently, conserve environmental resources, plan future transportation needs in accordance with "resource-sustainability" guidelines, and ultimately preserve community and system resources. These indices, strategies and parameters will provide the foundation for the region to build a long range land use/transportation investment plan. The dual vision of the application of the methods is a region focused on land use sustainability and transportation investment balance. New investments in the transportation infrastructure will be subjected to a livability/quality of life "litmus paper" test. Using the principles of neotraditional planning combined with community based environmental standards, projects will be evaluated in the context of the regional balance. High density is balanced with open space. Congestion is balanced with shorter travel distances. Travel distances are measured in terms of land use balance, which is a multiple approach to regional density. The key to the successful application of the model is a community based management approach. Thus the key to the follow through will be to integrate the model into existing systems within the regional context.
Section V outlines successful community-based initiatives involving the MPO and non-traditional partners which are presently underway in the region. The pilot application model areas proposed for short-term demonstration purposes are noted below.
(a) Jackson Avenue Task Force - This project is located in a national register area, the historic Garden District, of uptown New Orleans. Cooperative efforts among the neighborhood, City and MPO has resulted in downgrading this arterial from truck route status. Present efforts are focused on traffic calming (i.e., widening the median and removing a traffic lane), replacement of heavy buses with smaller vehicles, and safety and operational enhancements, including signing, lighting, crosswalks, and landscaping. Task force participants include a multi-racial coalition of residents and businesses, local churches and neighborhood schools, Tulane University, various city agencies, and the MPO.
(b) New Orleans East Economic Development Foundation - The implementation area consists of an inner suburb within the City of New Orleans. Membership of the umbrella Economic Development Foundation consists of neighborhood association leaders, local business and labor groups, and area elected officials. Area residents are concerned with improved traffic safety and Interstate access.
Following a series of public involvement meetings sponsored by the MPO and LaDOTD, the Foundation with support from the MPO has abandoned Interstate ramp widening and one-way service road concepts in favor of five traffic management measures designed with local input and private sector financial participation in street reconstruction and a new regional employment center. Additionally, the MPO is presently partnering with the Young Leadership Council, the Audubon Institute, and Parkway Partners to further enhance these neighborhood-based transportation management improvements by providing needed tree plantings and other landscaping. The private sector has made a financial commitment on the required project matching funds. The MPO is advancing this overall package of improvements through final design and into early implementation.
c) South New Orleans - The South New Orleans Subdivision located on the Westbank of Jefferson Parish has suffered from decades of poor subdivision layout, inadequate lot sizes, lack of zoning, sub-standard streets, open ditch drainage and partial utility systems. The area is also riddled with numerous brownfield sites. RPC has been working closely with the district councilman, neighborhood residents, local developers, health officials, area churches, the Harvey Canal Business Association, and local planning and community development offices to address the many quality of life issues which face this socially mixed, lower income neighborhood.
Through the use of town hall meetings, a Land Use and Master Plan with defined priorities has been put together by the above community coalition. Coordination with federal resource agencies including EPA, HUD, FTA, FHWA and EDA is now being carried out by the Regional Planning Commission to bring neighborhood streets and utilities up to standard, provide transit access to the Harvey Canal employment center, and clean-up brownfield sites. Private sector partners have taken the lead in trying to assemble the substandard lots into larger parcels for community-related facilities.
Section V of this application documents the other MPO/community-based management projects being pursued in the New Orleans region and which successfully demonstrate partnership formation, organized and coordinated work efforts, and implementation results.
III. Purpose and Criteria
Background
Development of the New Orleans region is at a pivotal point. The oil bust of the middle 1980’s precipitated efforts by community leaders to diversify the economic business and industry base in the region. Their efforts have produced significant results in this diversification of the region’s economic base and heightened community awareness to the point where citizen groups and public officials are publicly expressing their concerns and aspirations for the future development and quality of life conditions in their respective parishes (i.e. counties) and the region. Because of the Regional Planning Commission’s (RPC) highly successful past and ongoing efforts to build consensus among and between citizen groups and public officials, the RPC finds itself as the single organization empowered by State enabling legislation positioned to bring together all of the varied interests, traditional and non traditional, to comprehensively focus private and public interests on future sustainable development, infrastructure, land use, and transportation issues and opportunities.
The program outlined herein proposes to expand the RPC’s initial organizational efforts to reach out in a structured manner to all interests in the region and to form the public and private relationships and commitments needed to assure successful implementation of measurable projects and programs which will be beneficial to the future growth and quality of life of the 1.3 million people in the region in concert with the five stated objectives of the TCSP program. The program will focus and blend the diverse needs, environmental issues, and quality of life concerns of all of the region’s citizens including the region’s low income, middle income, upper income population, minority population, commuters, businesses, handicapped, and disadvantaged populations.
The program shall fully integrate each of the objectives of the TCSP Program as described below.
Scope of Work
Phase I
A description of the Scope of Work in Phase I (FY 1999-00) and how TCSP objectives are integrated therein is summarized below.
Task
1.1 Coordination of Baseline Infrastructure, Transportation and Land Use Data
This task will be undertaken to inventory and map baseline data such as existing population by demographic breakdowns, existing land use, zoning, and transportation, sewer, drainage, and drinking water infrastructure systems.1.2 Development and Documentation of Regional Indices Identified by Existing Trends
This task will be used to identify trends in regional growth and to document key socio-economic characteristics of the region’s population and economy over the past 25-30 years, including significant environmental changes. This data will be used to prepare profiles of pilot project community areas and the region as a whole.Tasks 1.1 and 1.2 will be prepared and funded through the MPO’s Unified Work Program in support of TCSP efforts.
1.3 Identification of Growth Constraints – Natural , Environmental, Other
This task will be undertaken to identify and map the external constraints to future development including natural constraints (e.g., wetlands, floodways, rivers, lakes, etc.); governmental constraints (e.g., political boundaries, sewer, water, drainage, and levee districts), and other environmental constraints (e.g., air quality, soil conditions, brownfields sites, environmental justice areas, etc.). The constraints will be identified with assistance from traditional partners such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local universities and non-traditional partners such as the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Tulane University Environmental Law Clinic, and the Sierra Club.The above information (Tasks 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) will be used to Examine Development Patterns (a TCSP objective) for existing and projected land use, socio-economic variables, growth in employment and job centers, and environmental conditions at the neighborhood, parish, and regional levels.
1.4 Identification of Short-Term Local and Regional Pilot Projects
This task will select pilot demonstration projects based on meetings with and evaluation of the projects by the community based organizations who are responsible for areas impacted by the indicies and constraints. Examples of groups include brownfield redevelopment areas, historic preservation organizations, environmental justice groups, faith-based groups and local development corporations.The objective is to continue working with a coalition of traditional and non-traditional partners in developing a consensus plan, using agreed upon transportation improvements as a means to enhance overall land use, economic viability, and environmental objectives of the community. The RPC functions as a coordination and resource agency, providing community education and outreach, scoping and analysis of work efforts, linkages with other resource agencies, and funding implementation.
1.5 Development of Growth Indices and Sprawl Alternatives Model
One of the key TCSP objectives is to Reduce the Need for Costly Future Public Infrastructure Investments. This task will examine regional growth indicators (Task 1.2 and 1.3) and construct a model to document quantitatively as well as qualitatively the consequences of urban sprawl development on regional growth.In order to quantitatively measure urban sprawl consequences on the region, a series of regional growth scenarios will be developed. Under each growth scenario a Healthy Community rating will be made for individual neighborhood sub-districts and the region as a whole using the following criteria:
The Healthy Community rating will then be used to weigh the relative merits of various regional development schemes.
Working with a broad cross-section of community-based organizations at both the neighborhood and regional level, the model will be used to examine the socio-economic impacts associated with various land use and transportation decisions. Opportunities for amending, delaying or avoiding major capital investments on the "highway side" in favor of TSM or transit alternatives which support TCSP environmental and sustainable communities objectives will be documented.
In conducting this alternatives evaluation, whether at the neighborhood or regional level, emphasis will be placed on quantifying the economic benefits for both the Central City and the region as a whole.
Emphasis will be placed on bringing non-traditional groups and developers into the alternatives evaluation process from the beginning through the MPO’s community outreach program. It is the expressed intent of the MPO to actively involve affected neighborhoods early in the education and visioning process (Task 2 as well as the alternatives evaluation "feedback" loop -Task 2.2).
By the time of selection of the preferred Land Use and Transportation Alternative by the Transportation Policy Committee, the economic investment choices and benefits associated with the various TCSP alternatives will have been fully discussed in community-based forums with all interested parties.
1.6 Post Model Evaluation (Year 1)
Approximately 10 percent of the annual TCSP budget will be set aside for an assessment of project performance and national significance. An educational institution with close ties to the New Orleans community such as the Sociology Department at Dillard University or the College of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of New Orleans will be used for this purpose.Innovative and relevant TCSP community education and outreach efforts as well as community-based management and pilot project implementation activities would be documented and forwarded to FHWA for review and consideration as possible case studies.
Phase II
In Phase II (FY 2000-01), the work effort will be expanded to include not only community-based management projects, but also the development of sustainable regional growth concepts. The sprawl alternative model which was developed in Phase I will continue to be used as a baseline to evaluate on-going and new community-based pilot projects. In addition, a major community visioning process will be undertaken to involve and educate all groups (traditional and especially non-traditional community stake holders) on the benefits and objectives of TCSP. Special efforts will be made to involve local developers in the TCSP education process.
Task
2.1 Development of Regional Sustainable Growth Concepts
Using the baseline GIS infrastructure and environmental data developed in Phase I (tasks 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3), alternative Regional Sustainable Growth Concepts will be developed for public review and discussion. These alternative growth patterns will be based on input received from all the stakeholders involved in the metropolitan coalition building process and developed in accordance with TCSP objectives. Common to all of the alternatives is the concept of managing land use and transportation decisions to Reduce Transportation Impacts on the Environment (an important TCSP objective) and enhance quality of life features and opportunities.
The sustainable growth alternatives will be contrasted with an uncontrolled growth alternative. This will demonstrate to the public, environmental groups, land developers, and decision-makers the potential for cost avoidance in major transportation investments through better land use management based on the principles of sustainable communities.
2.1.1 Projections of Alternative Regional Land Use/Open Space Patterns
This sub-task will provide input into Task 2.1 above developing Smart Growth land use and open space alternatives for the region. This effort is also tied to Task 2.1.2 which forecasts regional demographic changes over the project’s 25-year horizon.
2.1.2 Projections of Alternative Regional Demographics
This sub-task will forecast regional population and demographic trends. It will be used to estimate acreage by land use categories for input into the sustainable communities model. Particular attention will be paid to inner city neighborhoods to estimate the projected growth in population due to continued revitalization efforts and new or rehabilitated infill development.
The above sub-tasks (2.1.1 and 2.1.2) will be funded through the MPO’s on-going Unified Work Program and incorporated into the TCSP project.
2.2 Application of the Sprawl Alternative Model Developed in Year 1 to Continuing and New Community Projects
This task will be undertaken to include non-traditional partnering and will focus on metropolitan regional coalition building. Emphasis will be placed on bringing non-traditional groups into the alternatives evaluation process. It is the expressed intent of this approach to actively involve effected neighborhoods and multiple, diverse groups early in the education and visioning process as well as substantive inclusion in the alternatives "feedback" loop where each alternative will be reassessed in a loop process. Alternatives will be shared with the general public suing different levels of community-based participation methods, as well as the business community and numerous other public and private sector groups through the metropolitan transportation coalition. Each alternative will be evaluated in regard to the following: 1.) The number of new jobs created and their approximate location; 2.) The change in per capita income for the Central City and the region; and 3.) Projected tax revenues for municipal and parish governments.
In summary, a strong emphasis will be placed on quantifying the economic benefits for both the Central city and the region. Simultaneously, a series of livability factors will be analyzed in terms of less quantifiable data on quality of life indicators, such as, walkabillity, green-space vistas, noise-tranquillity versus urban mix, mixture and density of land use, environmental justice, and cultural diversity factors. The combination of both objective and subjective parameters will form the basis of a methodological test of each alternative and will form the basis of the evaluation process discussed in subsequent sections of this proposal.
2.2.1 Develop Community-Based Visioning and Public Education Program
This outreach effort will be undertaken in concert with community leaders representing non-traditional partnerships at both the regional and neighborhood level. Initially, work tasks will center on developing the curriculum and materials to be used to present the benefits, and successful examples, of sustainable development and TCSP goals to traditional and non-traditional planning partners in each parish of the region.
This work effort will be coordinated with, and facilitated by, the on-going comprehensive planning efforts now being undertaken at the parish level. The TCSP concept also will be explained to local elected officials and parish planning directors. Basically, TCSP represents a new tool which can be used to assist local governments in guiding land use and zoning decisions in support of local community objectives for more livable and sustainable community development.
2.2.2 Preparation for Regional Scale Community Participation Process
This task will be undertaken to undertake the work necessary to identify and determine the names of traditional and non-traditional groups and agencies in the region. Included in this task will be the development of a listing of the names of group leaders, phone numbers, addresses, and areas of interest of each group. Each group will be solicited to participate in the Community Participation Process via mailings and invitations to organizational meetings. In seeking input to the formulation of alternative transportation decision parameters and development patterns, the RPC will pursue the participation of non-traditional partners in the planning process such as charitable foundations, community development corporations, faith-based organizations, organized neighborhood groups, and corporate sponsors. A series of well-advertised public meetings structured as participatory "charettes" will be held. Community education tools such as news articles, community access cable programming, website publication, and inclusion in neighborhood newsletter and local church publications will be utilized at critical points in the planning process. Information and documents to be discussed at the public meetings will be placed for advance scrutiny by the public in area libraries and the Regional Planning Commission website.
2.2.3 Conduct Regional Visioning/Education Process on Benefits of TCSP
Major emphasis will be placed on educating the public, business community, environmental groups, private developers, transportation providers, and non-traditional partners on the benefits to be derived from a TCSP approach to community systems and regional planning. The regional sustainable growth concepts developed under Task 2.1 will be compared in terms of their respective economic benefits to local communities and the region. This comparison will specifically address the economic benefits of TCSP to on-going neighborhood revitalization projects in inner city neighborhoods as well as the region as a whole.
The evaluation of alternative sustainable concepts for regional development will specifically take into account the need for jobs and means of access to employment centers for low income workers. Task 2.2.3 is designed to receive input and listen to the views of affected neighborhoods, transit dependents, non-traditional participants in the transportation planning process, and the general public.
In applying the sprawl model to analyze and compare sustainable growth alternatives, major employers and major faith-based organizations will be contacted and educated about TCSP objectives and benefits. Members of the region’s Federal Programs Coordinating Council, major regional employers, local chambers of commerce, MetroVision (a nine parish business development organization), local economic development corporations, developers and civic leaders, among others, will be brought together to discuss active TCSP projects as well as regional sustainable development concepts, particularly as they relate to jobs and job access opportunities.
The education and visioning process conducted under sub-tasks 2.2.1, 2.2.2 and 2.2.3 is designed to increase awareness and understanding and demonstrate how managed land use and transportation can provide more Efficient Access to Jobs, Services and Centers of Trade. The linkage between inner city and regional TCSP neighborhood revitalization projects and the need for more efficient transit access to job centers will continue to be addressed as part of the planning and implementation effort supporting each TCSP pilot project.
2.3 Post Model Evaluation (Year 2)
An independent review group consisting of involved TCSP community leaders and a local university will prepare a summary activities evaluation report. The report will document year 2 of the TCSP program, providing an overview of TCSP accomplishments as well as any special issues or problems encountered. The report will provide up-to-date information on the various TCSP projects underway in the region, emphasizing non-traditional parnerships; new players being brought into the process; the extent of private sector financial participation in planning and implementation; and the role of the MPO’s Federal Programs Coordinating Council. Innovative strategies in organizing or advancing the TCSP projects from the planning phase into implementation will be cited as potential case studies of national significance.
Phase III
A description of the Scope of Work in Phase III (FY 2001-02) and how TCSP objectives are integrated therein is summarized below.
Task
3.1 Synthesize Community Based Plans and Form Regional Growth Alternative
Based on the feedback received from traditional groups, affected communities, developers, and other non-traditional groups on the sustainable growth concepts (Tasks 2.1 and 2.2.3), a preferred regional Land Use and Transportation alternative will be selected by the Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) as the basis for the updated Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the New Orleans region.
Prior to TPC endorsement, the economic investment choices and benefits associated with the various TCSP alternatives will have been fully discussed in community-based forums with all interested groups (Task 2.2.3). Because of its emphasis on managed growth and sustainable development, the transportation component will reflect the MPO’s continuing commitment to implement community-based solutions to land use and transportation problems, such as transportation systems management (TSM) and congestion management system (CMS) improvements designed to Improve the Efficiency of the Transportation System.
The MPO has taken a leadership role in advancing several TCSP projects in the New Orleans region. Active TCSP projects in the area (See TCSP Projects Listing in report section V) are illustrative of the types of transit, environmental and TSM measures being developed with community-based management groups and, in some cases with private sector financing, and implemented through the MPO’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). These action measures are developed with the support of the neighborhood and are aimed at satisfying the mobility needs of the community for efficient transportation, imporved job access or enhanced economic competitiveness, and preservation of the natural environment, and character of the neighborhood.
3.2 Develop Regional Consensus on Applied Development Patterns and Strategies that Encourage Private Sector Investment
This task will be undertaken to examine economic benefits to private sector interests to identify what is required to induce private investment in central city, suburban, and regional projects which are consistent with the preferred sustainable development alternative and consistent with TCSP goals.
Strategies encouraging private sector investment in TCSP community-based projects will be based on the following:
3.3 Post Model Evaluation (Year 3)
The report will examine the progress made in regard to TCSP project development and implementation; formation of the metropolitan transportation coalition for sustainable development; success in working with community-based non-traditional partners; and strategies development and applications involving private sector support for TCSP objectives. Again, university faculty and community leaders will prepare a written report documenting TCSP project accomplishments, problems encountered, and national value or significance of the work completed.
IV. Coordination
The program proposed herein is consistent with State and the metropolitan planning process and in fact will be accomplished via a joint effort by the RPC as the MPO with support from and coordination with the Louisiana State Department of Transportation (LaDOTD). The Secretary of the LaDOTD is an active member of the MPO. The RPC and LaDOTD staff interface daily in the metropolitan urban planning process and enjoy a strong working relationship built on 30 years of cooperative efforts. The program envisioned herein will enhance this working relationship and mutual planning process.
V. Partners and Projects
This project envisions a two-tiered partnership approach. One tier will utilize federal resources such as housing (HUD), economic development (EDA), environmental issues (EPA), all transportation modes (DOT, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, etc.) and the appropriate government agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The RPC is currently the host and sponsor the Regional Federal Program Coordinating Council. This group is composed of representatives of all of the Federal agencies overseeing and/or conducting programs or projects in the region. This Council will be designated as the official group to accomplish the goals of this part of the project.
The other tier of the partnership will focus on all local resources such as county governments (parishes in Louisiana), municipal partners (cities and towns), private groups, such as local economic development groups, community development corporations and local Chambers of Commerce, appropriate neighbor-level and citizen organizations, faith-based neighborhood centers and other appropriate local jurisdictions. A regional community participation/ information system will be developed during this phase of the project. Other successful community outreach programs, such as, the City of New Orleans’ Land Use Plan Neighborhood Participation Program and the upcoming St. Tammany Master Plan Visioning Process, will be included and supplemented where necessary.
The following projects and non-traditional partners will be candidate projects for the pilot application of the model:
Type of Organization | Non-Traditional Partner | Project/Result |
| Neighborhood Group | Lakeview Property Owners Association | Bicycle Path/Noise Abatement |
| Association of Churches | The Jeremiah Group | Improvement Transit/Regional Mobility |
| Neighborhood Group/Businesses | Riverfront Streetcar Line | Improved Transit/Economic Development |
| Faith-Based/Neighborhood Group | Treme community Association | Establishment of a Green Market in an Interstate R-O-W |
| Neighborhood Association | Jackson Avenue Citizens’ Task Force | Historic Preservation/Traffic Calming |
| Faith-Based/University/ Businesses | Gentilly Woods Livable Community Initiative | Comprehensive Quality of Life Improvement |
| Neighborhood Group | Young Leadership Council | Transportation Management/Calming |
| Business/Neighborhood | South New Orleans | Brownfield Redevelopment/Quality of Life (general) |
Note: These historic and successful projects will form the base on which future non-traditional partnerships and transportation and community and systems preservation efforts will be built.
VIII Project Evalutation Plan
Any assessment of the effectiveness and success of any planning effort will be measured by the goals achieved. Therefore, the assessment of the effectiveness of the TCSP program proposed herein will be demonstrated by the local, State, and Federal commitments and actions in relation to the objectives of the TCSP goals and objectives. Because the TCSP planning program will address fundamental questions of the balance between transportation and land use development and the strategies, policies. and procedures must be employed to achieve desired goals, the degree of success of the TCSP program will be measured relative to an annual comprehensive analysis of the parameters and indices listed below:
1. Regional Partner DataBase: Identification of the names of leaders, addresses, phone numbers, and the organization’s characteristics of all traditional and non-traditional interest groups in the region.
2. Accessibility Measurements: Plans that include implementation of transportation improvements that facilitate access to the City of New Orleans and the City’s central business district from suburban areas will be ranked and evaluated in terms of travel times and volumes.
3. Public/Private Input/Output analysis: Private investment in the City of New Orleans and the central business district by the clustering of commercial land uses in combination with low cost parking and rapid mass transit services to suburban areas will be measured in an economic input/output framework.
4. Bureaucracy’s Indices: Formulation of regulatory policies that promote measures that protect property values and quality of life conditions will be measured for effectiveness, acceptance and difficulty of implementation.
5. "Green" Meter: Formulation of policies, practices, and regulations that bring about the least environmentally detrimental combination of transportation and land use development will be measured by means of developing a general environmental impact parameter to be called the "Regional Green Meter."
6. "Access to Job" Index: Formulation of policies, practices, and regulations that encourage the clustering of employment and services so as to facilitate the provision of public transportation systems to maximize access to jobs, services and regional centers of trade will be analyzed.
7. The Regional Sprawl Index: Regulatory policies that promote measures to discourage scattered and duplicating land use in suburban areas by use of impact fees, land banking and infrastructure prioritization methods will be considered in a sprawl (lateral land use spread) index.
8. Capital Improvements/Capital Projects Parameter: A database of plans that identify present, planned, and maximum transportation, sewer, drainage, and drinking water infrastructure capacity will be developed on a regional basis.
Annual Assessment of TCSP Efforts
At the end of each year of TCSP program effort, an independent, comprehensive assessment of the progress and failures of the TCSP effort in encouraging and bringing about plans, policies, procedures, programs, and projects consistent with the above TCSP parameters and indices will be conducted. This assessment will be used by the RPC to modify and/or redirect TCSP efforts toward better realizing TCSP goals and objectives. The independent assessment will specifically include: an evaluation of the process employed in the TCSP effort, an evaluation of the products produced by the TCSP effort, and an evaluation of the overall outcomes of the TCSP effort. The findings of the independent assessment will be compiled in an annual report and presented to the RPC and the Federal Coordinating Council for review and input.
Additionally, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the TCSP planning program regarding local versus regional impacts, the specific actions and commitments made by local, State, and Federal public and private entities to support the implementation of plans, procedures, policies, and programs for specific development areas selected as TCSP pilot demonstration areas will be analyzed. In formulating TCSP work plans for the pilot areas, the roles and responsibilities of traditional and non-traditional partners will be identified, development objectives listed and the measures of performance expected cited.
The TCSP pilot program results will also be assessed using the above detailed parameters for consideration in modifying and/or redirecting TCSP pilot program efforts. The findings of the independent assessment of the pilot TCSP programs will also be compiled in an annual report and presented to the RPC and FHWA.
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