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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Transit Administration
Resource Center
Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program
FHWA LEADERSHIP
Leadership Change
Victor Mendez, who had served as the FHWA Administrator since 2009, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation on July 25, 2014 and was sworn in July 29, 2014. Effective on July 30, 2014, FHWA Deputy Administrator Gregory Nadeau became the FHWA Acting Administrator. Ken Petty, who has been acting as the Director of the FHWA Office of Planning, has been selected as the permanent Director.
PERFORMANCE BASED PLANNING
MAP-21 Implementation Schedule
The following are the latest estimates of the publication dates (subject to change) of the performance based programs regulations:
National Goals and Performance Management Measures - Performance Management 1 - Highway Safety & PM Rules
Publication Date 03/11/2014
End of Comment Period 06/30/2014
Highway Safety Improvement Program
Publication Date 03/28/2014
End of Comment Period 06/30/2014
Posted at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/03/28/2014-06681/highway-safety-improvement-program
Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning
Publication Date 06/02/2014
End of Comment Period 09/02/2014
Posted at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/06/02/2014-12155/statewide-and-nonmetropolitan-transportation-planning-metropolitan-transportation-planning. FHWA/FTA Webinars were held on June 13, 2014 and June 24, 2014 with external stakeholders on the Planning NPRM, the presentations and recordings from these webinars can be accessed at https://www.planning.dot.gov/webinars.asp.
National Goals and Performance Management Measures - Performance Management 2
Projected Publication Date Oct. 2014
Projected End of Comment Period Jan. 2015
National Goals and Performance Management Measures - Performance Management 3
Projected Publication Date Dec. 2014
Projected End of Comment Period Mar. 2015
The latest dates can be found at: https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/report-on-significant-rulemakings.
Transportation Performance Management Digest
FHWA publishes two Newsletters directly related to performance management, the PBPP News related to planning issues and the more general TPM Digest. The June Edition of the TPM Digest has been posted to the web. You can find it at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/resources/digest/current.cfm. You can sign up on the same site to be notified of future editions.
Performance Management Exchange
The TPM Exchange series is focused on performance management implementation topics of interest to FHWA units and partner agencies. The exchange includes speakers from throughout the transportation community who share their experiences in implementing various aspects of performance management. During these sessions you will have the opportunity to ask questions, share your own experiences, and learn how you can most effectively support implementation. All sessions are scheduled for 2 pm Eastern. The scheduled webinars are tentatively:
Sept. 9, 2014 Collaborating on Setting Targets
Oct. 14, 2014 Non-traditional Performance Measures
Dec. 9, 2014 Theory vs. Practice: Linking Performance Measures to Improve Performance Outcomes
March 10, 2015 Fundamentals of Transportation Data Part 1
July 14, 2015 Fundamentals of Transportation Data Part 2
Sept. 8, 2015 Telling the Performance Story
The dates will change, depending on Federal Register publication. For more information, contact Michael Kay, michael.kay@dot.gov, or 617-494-2404.
NEW REGULATIONS / GUIDANCE
Statewide, Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning & Metropolitan Transportation Planning NPRM
The "Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning" Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published in the Federal Register on Monday, June 2, 2014 for a 90-day comment period. Comments must be received on or before September 2, 2014. The proposed rule can be found here. MAP-21 continues many provisions related to transportation planning from prior laws, but also introduces transformational changes and adds some new provisions.
The NPRM proposes the following changes to statewide and nonmetropolitan and metropolitan transportation planning:
Performance-Based Planning and Programming - The MAP-21 transforms the Federal-aid highway program and the Federal transit program by requiring a transition to a performance-driven, outcome-based program that provides for a greater level of transparency and accountability, improved project decisionmaking, and more efficient investment of Federal transportation funds.
New Emphasis on Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning - MAP-21 places a new emphasis on the importance of nonmetropolitan transportation planning. The MAP-21 requires the States to work more closely with nonmetropolitan areas. It also gives States the opportunity to designate Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) to help address the planning needs of the nonmetropolitan area of the State. It fosters further collaboration between individual State DOTs and MPOs by requiring them to coordinate with each other when establishing performance targets.
The MAP-21 made two changes specific to the metropolitan planning process. One change affects the policy board structure of large MPOs, and the second establishes a process for scenario planning. Both of these changes would support the effective implementation of a performance-based planning process.
A link to the June 13, 2014 webinar held on the topic can be found on the Transportation Planning Capacity Building (TPCB) Program website here: https://www.planning.dot.gov/documents/Webinar_MAP-21_06-13-14.pdf
Planning Emphasis Areas Announced
The FHWA and FTA have jointly issued planning emphasis areas (PEAs) for Federal fiscal year 2015. The PEAs are planning topical areas that FHWA and FTA want to place emphasis on as the metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and the State DOTs develop their respective planning work programs for Federal fiscal year 2015. The PEAs are being issued in response to a renewed a focus on transportation planning brought about by the MAP-21, Transportation Secretary Foxx, and the proposed transportation planning regulations. The emphasis areas include:
MAP-21 implementation and the transition to performance-based planning and programming, Models of Regional Planning Cooperation to promote cooperation and coordination across MPO boundaries and across State boundaries where appropriate to ensure a regional approach to transportation planning, and Ladders of Opportunity to provide access to essential services as part of the transportation planning process and to identify transportation connectivity gaps in access to essential services.
FHWA's Office of Planning and FTA's Office of Planning and Environment held a webinar on the topic June 11, 2014 and the recording can be found on the Transportation Planning Capacity Building website here: https://www.planning.dot.gov/documents/Webinar_PEA_06-11-14.pdf.
Models of Regional Planning Cooperation
As part of the new planning emphasis areas, FHWA/FTA are looking to improve collaboration and decision-making in transportation planning. The FHWA and FTA will lead an initiative on Regional Models of Cooperation - Multijurisdictional Coordination to promote interagency agreements and improved planning processes that cross agency jurisdictional boundaries.
The benefits of multi-jurisdictional planning are many and include, but are not limited to:
Improved input for transportation decision-making
Increased awareness of transportation projects
Improved public participation
Reduced project delivery time
Flexible and combined funding options
Improved air quality analysis
Improved freight movement coordination
Reduced traffic congestion
Enhanced economic development
Improved public-private partnerships
Increased livability
Improved safety
This topic has been selected as an Every Day Count 3 Initiative and the FHWA and FTA are moving forward to prepare sessions for the regional summits in fall that will explore this topic even further. In addition, the FHWA and FTA are also in the mist of developing three pilot workshops that will explores ways State DOTs and MPOs can find opportunities for improving collaboration. The three pilot locations are Tampa, FL, Birmingham, AL, and Charlotte, NC. If you would like more information, you may contact Jody Mccullough, at 202-366-5001, Fred Bowers at 202-366-2374, or Dave Harris at 202-366- 2264.
Planning Across Boundaries
A new white paper on rural participation in transportation planning at a megaregions scale has been completed. "The Role of Regional Planning Organizations in Transportation Planning Across Boundaries," was recently published on the FHWA megaregions website and is available at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/megaregions/reports/regional_planning_organizations/index.cfm.
The white paper assesses the mutual benefits of rural participation in megaregions projects and programs. Considering the limited resources of RPO staff, the research describes the institutional barriers to entry for RPOs in cross-regional transportation planning and considers partnerships that may lead to greater involvement in megaregions initiatives. Using three case studies in Washington, Arizona, and Michigan, the paper describes best practices for RPOs in innovative partnerships and joint planning with MPOs and State DOTs. The recommendations also demonstrate how transportation planning can be the mechanism to support rural participation in plans and projects at a megaregions scale. For additional information or to request a hard copy, please contact Fred Bowers, frederick.bowers@dot.gov or 202-366-2374.
SHRP 2
Project C20 Recipients Announced
Implementation Assistance Program Recipients Announced for SHRP2 Project C20 (Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement).
On March 28, 2014, FHWA and AASHTO jointly announced the recipients of Implementation Assistance Program (IAP) funding as part of SHRP2 "Round 3," which included five products. Under the Capacity focus area, IAP funding was awarded to 11 recipients for SHRP2 Solution C20 (Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement), which focuses upon behavior-based freight modeling and innovations in local freight data. The following is a list of the recipients who have been awarded proof of concept pilots:
Maricopa Association of Governments
Florida Department of Transportation
Maryland State Highway Administration
Mid-America Regional Council
Capital District Transportation Committee
Winston-Salem MPO
Portland Metro
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
South Dakota Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
For more information on SHRP2 Solution C20, contact Ed Strocko at the FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations at 202-366-2997 or Vidya Mysore with the FHWA Resource Center's Planning and Freight Technical Services Team at 404-562-3929.
"Round 4" Applications for Capacity Solutions
On May 30, 2014, FHWA (in partnership with AASHTO) launched the fourth round of the IAP that can help transportation agencies deploy new products developed under SHRP2. Two of the twelve product bundles included within "Round 4" are SHRP2 Solutions C10/C04/C05/C16 (Advanced Travel Analysis Tools) and C03/C11 (Economic Analysis Tools). The "Round 4" application deadline was June 27, 2014, with the announcement of "Round 4" IAP funding recipients to be made about August 8, 2014. Additional information on "Round 4" of the IAP is available at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/goSHRP2.
For more information on SHRP2 Solutions C10/C04/C05/C16, contact Brian Gardner at the FHWA Office of Planning at 202-366-4061 or Eric Pihl with the FHWA Resource Center's Planning and Freight Technical Services Team at 720-963-3219. For more information on SHRP2 Solutions C03/C11, contact Stefan Natzke at 202-366-5010.
Project C40 "Integration of National-Level Geospatial, Ecological Tools and Data"
The primary objective of this project was to develop an integrated, geospatial, ecological screening tool for early transportation planning that produces results that can carry through and inform the environmental review process. This tool was to advance both Eco-Logical and the Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF) by providing the transportation community with the means to identify and analyze environmental impacts at a regional scale. This tool is now is now available at: http://c40-stage.icfwebservices.com/.
No decision has been made on moving forward with this product. FHWA needs stakeholders to test the product and provide feedback to inform our direction. For more information about the tool or to provide feedback, contact Mike Ruth at the FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review at 202-366-9509.
Establishing Monitoring Programs for Travel Time Reliability
TRB has posted a Project Brief on the SHRP 2 L02 project that describes how travel time reliability monitoring systems can help transportation agencies, especially those with transportation management centers, track the performance of their system. It helps them understand the impacts of the various factors that influence travel time variability, provide credible information to the system users, and decide what actions to take to help improve reliability. You can find the Brief at: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/171017.aspx.
For more information on SHRP2 Solutions L02, contact: Bob Rupert, robert.rupert@dot.gov, or 202- 366-2194.
Evaluating the Effect of Smart Growth Policies on Travel Demand
TRB has posted a Project Brief on the SHRP 2 C16 project that describes transportation planning agencies with improved tools and methods to accurately and comprehensively integrate transportation investment decision-making with land development and growth management.
The project produced a decision support software tool and online resources to improve communication, interaction, and partnerships between decision-makers and planners in both the transportation and land use arenas. You can find the Brief at: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/171019.aspx. For more information, contact Eric Pihl, eric.pihl@dot.gov or 720-963-3219.
TRANSIT
Joint NTI/NHI Courses and MAP-21 Updates
With the enactment of MAP-21 and the anticipated issuance of a new joint Final Planning Rule, FTA and FHWA staff has been reviewing the NTI and NHI courses for needed updates and compliance with MAP-21.
Three courses that have been updated in compliance with MAP-21 and now available are: Public Involvement in Transportation Decisionmaking, Transportation and Land Use, and Metropolitan Transportation Planning. A working group of FTA and FHWA staff are currently reviewing two NTI courses - State and Metropolitan Transportation Programming and Financial Planning in Transportation - to make them compliant with MAP-21 and joint NTI/NHI courses.
A FTA/FHWA work group is also updating the Metropolitan Transportation Planning and Statewide Transportation Planning courses to combine them into a single course. Performance-Based Planning and Programming will also be developed as a joint course conforming with the Final Rule. For more information on the NTI/NHI update activities, contact Candy Noonan with FTA's Office of Planning at 202-366-1648, or Rae Keasler from FHWA's Planning Capacity Building Team at 202-366-0329.
Policy Guidance: Transit Provider Representation in Metropolitan Planning Organizations
On June 2, 2014, FTA and FHWA jointly issued policy guidance on the new MAP-21 requirement for representation by providers of public transportation on Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) that serve urbanized areas with a population greater than 200,000, known as a Transportation Management Areas (TMAs). This guidance was published concurrently with the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning. The policy guidance provides useful information and applicable examples on how MPOs that serve an area designated as a TMA can meet the new legislative requirement. The policies on MPO representation presented in the Guidance and the Planning NPRM will not be mandatory until they are included in a Joint Planning Final Rule. Therefore the only requirement is that by October 1, 2014, MPOs that serve as a TMA must consist of local elected officials; officials of public agencies that administer or operate major modes of transportation in the metropolitan area, including representation by providers of transportation and appropriate State officials.
To access the policy guidance, please visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/06/02/2014-12163/policy-guidance-on-metropolitan-planning-organization-mpo-representation.
For further information, please contact Dwayne Weeks at the FTA Office of Planning and Environment, or Harlan Miller from the FHWA Office of Planning.
AIR QUALITY
NTAQS 2014
The Northern Transportation and Air Quality Summit (NTAQS) 2014 will be held in Pittsburgh August 19-20, 2014. This meeting is held biennially in even years and alternates with its southern cousin the Southern Transportation and Air Quality Summit (STAQS) in odd years. The summit is a meeting of FHWA and other Federal agencies such as EPA, State DOTs, Regional MPOs, local air quality, transportation and planning organizations, and their consultants to discuss the transportation and air quality topics important to the region. This year's summit will be cosponsored by FHWA, PennDOT, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC - the MPO for the Pittsburgh area). Topics typically covered include: regulations and their impacts to the region, analysis and modeling requirements, climate change, programs such as CMAQ and other topics related to transportation and air quality.
This year's meeting will consider legislative updates including reauthorization and MAP-21, the NAAQS Standards, conformity, transportation and energy topics, climate change and sustainability, programs for funding air quality improvements, analysis and modeling at both the regional and the local level, and roadside monitoring issues. Several selected organizations, MPOs, and State agencies will provide feedback to the meeting through a panel discussion. The summit may also provide some opportunities for training on policy or technical topics. The program and online registration can be found at: https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1567670. For more information on the NTAQS 2014 Meeting, contact Kevin Black, kevin.black@dot.gov, or 410-962-2177.
GIS
June GIS in Transportation Webcast
In the latest FHWA GIS in Transportation webcast on June 11th, Laurie Goudy, Erin Lesh, and Mike Sheffer from the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) provided an overview and demonstrated a few specific functions of their Enterprise Geographic Information System (eGIS) portal. The eGIS portal makes it possible for agency users to query and visualize information from one source without needing to gain access to multiple databases. The eGIS tool supports Maryland SHA's asset management program and performance-based planning efforts. For more details a summary and recording of the webcast will be available in July 2014 on the FHWA GIS in Transportation website (www.gis.fhwa.dot.gov). For information on other FHWA GIS outreach activities, please contact Mark Sarmiento, mark.sarmiento@dot.gov or at 202-366-4828.
Geospatial Data Sharing Peer Exchanges
FHWA Office of Planning sponsored two Geospatial Data Sharing Peer Exchanges that provided participants the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge in using GIS and geospatial data to help them deliver transportation projects in an efficient and timely manner. The first took place in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 20-21 and was hosted by the North Carolina DOT (NCDOT). In addition to NCDOT staff, participants from Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and West Virginia were present. From the peer exchange it was apparent that there were many commonalities in their efforts. These included: difficulty in working with IT offices when trying to take advantage of newer technologies, ensuring adequate metadata when making data easier to find, dealing with security/privacy issues, and exploring the use of cloud-based applications, like ArcGIS Online.
A second peer exchange hosted by Colorado DOT took place in Denver, Colorado, on May 28-29. State DOT representatives from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Washington participated. Preliminary themes identified during the peer exchange included interest in using cloud-based applications/services as a delivery vehicle for geospatial data and maps, the desire for training or marketing that explains the value of GIS to upper-level management, and the helpfulness of FHWA mandates in forcing previously stove-piped offices to talk to each other.
A case study report on Geospatial Data Collaboration will incorporate information gained from the peer exchanges and will be available during the Summer of 2014 on the FHWA GIS in Transportation website (www.gis.fhwa.dot.gov). For additional information about these activities and others related to GIS, please contact Mark Sarmiento, mark.sarmiento@dot.gov or 202-366-4828.
TRANSPORTATION & HEALTH
Health in Statewide Planning
The FHWA Office of Planning is pleased to announce availability of a new resource on consideration of health in Statewide transportation planning. "Statewide Planning for Healthy Communities," is a companion to the 2012 report, "MPO Planning for Healthy Communities." The new report takes a holistic approach to transportation planning for healthy communities at the State DOT level. It includes sections on identifying key actors and roles, the regulatory and programmatic framework, funding and advocacy support. The report highlights five states doing outstanding work incorporating health considerations in the statewide planning process. There are case studies of the California, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, and North Carolina DOTs, and their transportation and public health partners. The two reports also provide links to related resources. The reports are available at: https://www.planning.dot.gov/. For additional information, please contact Fred Bowers, frederick.bowers@dot.gov or 202-366-2374.
FREIGHT
Talking Freight
The Talking Freight seminars are sponsored by the FHWA and are held via web conference. The seminars are held on the third Wednesday of each month, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EST. The first hour of each seminar is dedicated to the presentations and the remaining 30 minutes are for audience question and answer. Future webinars are:
8/20/14, An Overview of the 2014 Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals State of Logistics Report
Also a Scenario Planning Applications for Freight Transportation Webinar will be jointly held by the FHWA Office of Planning and the Office of Freight Management and Operations. That webinar will be held two times, Wednesday, July 30th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM and Thursday, September 11th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. The webinar is officially a part of the Scenario Planning webinar series. You can register for the Sept. 11th event at https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=27771.
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Toledo Complete Streets Policy
The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG), the MPO serving Toledo, Ohio, recently adopted a Complete Streets Policy. This Complete Streets Policy is a tool to plan, construct, and operate streets in a manner that ensures a comprehensive transportation system. This policy defines complete streets as streets, highways, and bridges that are routinely planned, designed, operated, and maintained to safely and comfortably accommodate all transportation system users along and across the entire public right-of-way. All users of the public right-of-way include motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, transit and school bus riders, delivery and service personnel, freight shippers, and emergency responders. All users include people from the school-aged to the elderly, and individuals of all abilities, including those who use mobility aids. It applies to all projects, including the new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair, maintenance, or planning of roadways, trails and other transportation facilities that will use federal Surface Transportation Program funds allocated through TMACOG.
The TMACOG Complete Streets Policy is available for download within the Current Documents section of the TMACOG transportation webpage available here - http://www.tmacog.org/tran_body.htm. For more information, please contact Mr. Warren Henry, henry@tmacog.org, or 419-241-9155.
Hawaii Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan
The American Planning Association awarded the Hawaii Department of Transportation the 2014 National Planning Excellence Award for Transportation Planning for the Hawaii Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan. This plan prioritizes pedestrian safety, mobility, and accessibility, and is the first in the nation to have a Statewide, pedestrian-only focus. The plan focuses on four critical transportation elements: improving safety, enhancing mobility and accessibility, improving connectivity, and encouraging priority pedestrian infrastructure. To combat the State's high number of pedestrian fatalities, the plan identifies ways to improve pedestrian safety through engineering, education, enforcement, and evaluation. The Hawaii Pedestrian Toolbox is a key component of the plan and includes guidelines and best practices for the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of pedestrian facilities.
The plan was created through a transparent and inclusive process that included extensive public participation. A Citizen Advisory Committee was created to provide a balanced representation of stakeholder interests including police, health, transit, vehicle, and non-motorized advocates. The plan also identified 31 prioritized project locations and has included performance measures to gauge the plan's progress and provide accountability. The Hawaii Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan is one component of Hawaii DOT's overall mission of providing safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system.
Additionally, the US DOT Volpe Center on behalf of the FHWA recently interviewed HDOT for how the statewide pedestrian plan was developed, what planning processes were used, and what lessons were learned in the state's implementation of associated policies and plans in non-motorized transportation. They were particularly interested in Hawaii because of the state's exemplary pedestrian plan. FHWA and the Volpe team see the Hawaii guide as a means for them to craft a better-informed planning guide for use by other practitioners in statewide bicycle and pedestrian planning throughout the United States.
The Hawaii Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan and the Hawaii Pedestrian Toolbox are available for download at: http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/statewide-pedestrian-master-plan-and-hawaii-pedestrian-toolbox/
Activity-Based Travel Demand Models: A Primer
TRB's second SHRP 2 Project C46 has released a prepublication, non-edited version of a report titled Activity-Based Travel Demand Models: A Primer. It explores ways to inform policymakers' decisions about developing and using activity-based travel demand models to better understand how people plan and schedule their daily travel.
The document is comprised of two parts. The first part provides an overview of activity-based model development and application. The second part discusses issues in linking activity-based models to dynamic network assignment models. Information about the report can be founds on their website at: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/170963.aspx.
Washington State Bike / Ped VMT Estimates
This work discusses the research toward creating a method to calculate Bicycle and Pedestrian Miles Traveled (BMT/PMT) for the State of Washington. It recommended improvements to the existing Washington State Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Program to provide data for BMT/PMT estimates, including expanding the program geographically and installing permanent automated bicycle and pedestrian counters to complement the short duration count program. This report outlines a sample-based method that could be used to compute BMT/PMT for the State and identifies both the data available for such a computation as well as the data gaps. The report can be found at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/828.1.pdf.
Recommended Bicycle Lane Widths
NCHRP Report 766: Recommended Bicycle Lane Widths for Various Roadway Characteristics presents an analysis of the research and design guidance for bicycle lane widths on existing travel lane widths and parking lane widths. The conclusions are most applicable to urban and suburban roadways with level grade and a posted speed limit of 30 mph, and it should be used cautiously for the design of roadways with motor vehicle speeds outside of the range of 25 to 35 mph, and in particular for higher-speed roadways. The Report is posted at: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/171010.aspx.
TMIP UPDATES
Upcoming TMIP Webinars
The following webinars are planned for the next six months. Please look out for our webinar announcements with specific dates and times delivered via GovDelivery. You can subscribe to the GovDelivery distribution lists on the TMIP website at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/tmip/.
August 21, 2014 Quality Control in Household Travel Surveys
September 2014 Technology in Household Travel Surveys
October 2, 2014 Data Governance
November 13, 2014 New Activity-Based Model for Southern California: Addressing Variety of Urban Conditions and Impact of Accessibility on Travel Behavior
December 4, 2014 Performance Based Planning: Real World Data and Model Data,
Participants do not need to preregister to attend the webinar. All webinars start at 2:00 PM Eastern. Attendance is limited to 100 connections and is first-come, first-served. You can log on to the webinar at: http://fhwa.adobeconnect.com/tmipvirtualseminars/.
Peer Exchanges
See reports on the completed 2014 Exchanges:
Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) Activity-Based Travel Model Peer Review Report
Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) Maryland Statewide Travel Model Peer Review Report
July 2, 2014 Washington DOT
Future :
Fall 2014 Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
For information about the peer exchanges, see: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/tmip/resources/peer_review_program/.
RESEARCH
Research Data Exchange Release 2
The Research Data Exchange (RDE) is a web-based data resource provided by the US DOT Joint Program Office for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Real-Time Data Capture and Management (DCM) program. It collects, manages, and provides archived and real-time multi-source and multi-modal data to support the development and testing of ITS applications.
New Data Environments
The RDE now contains two new data environments that have been added to the list of data environments available for download to the public:
Real-time connected vehicle weather and engine status data from Minnesota DOT maintenance vehicles, available with a real-time user interface
Multi-modal connected vehicle data from the Safety Pilot Model Deployment in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
New Features
The RDE also features a new user interface and new download capabilities
The RDE now features a "shopping cart" model enabling the user to designate multiple files to download as a zip file.
The download confirmation text now states an estimate of the download file size.
There are sample files containing the same columns and data types as the complete files, but with only a few records, allowing you to confirm your data ingestion and processing routines with very low overhead.
A copyright information file is included along with each data download.
Users can now subscribe to receive emailed news of RDE-related updates.
Researchers, application developers, and others are invited to use the RDE in support of their endeavors. Please visit the RDE website at: http://www.its-rde.net to explore the data and resources that are available and to learn more about the features included in Release 2.0. For more information about the RDE, please contact Gene McHale at gene.mchale@dot.gov or Dale Thompson at dale.thompson@dot.gov.
FHWA PLANNING DISCIPLINE
SPOTLIGHT
2015 Transportation Planning Excellence Awards
FHWA and FTA are excited to announce that the 2015 Transportation Planning Excellence Awards (TPEA) Program is open through September 15, 2014. The TPEA Program is sponsored by FHWA and FTA, in partnership with the American Planning Association. The TPEA Program recognizes outstanding initiatives of organizations and agencies across the country that used FHWA or FTA federal funds to develop, plan, and implement innovative transportation planning practices.
We encourage you to share this announcement and apply today! Visit the TPEA Program website to learn more and apply at: https://www.planning.dot.gov/tpea/. For questions, please contact Rae Keasler of FHWA, rae.keasler@dot.gov, or 202-366-0329 or Jeff Price of FTA, jeff.price@dot.gov, or 202-366-0843.
Celebrating the First Year of the Planning Mentoring Program
Last year, the FHWA Planning Discipline launched the inaugural Planning Mentoring Program (PMP) by successfully matching 16 pairs of associates and mentors. The objective of the mentoring program is to improve the development of internal planning knowledge and enhanced individual technical competencies, resulting in improved staff productivity. The Program matches Mentors from various planning technical backgrounds with Associates, especially those who are newer to transportation planning within FHWA. Each match is a reciprocal partnership in which both the Mentor and Associate grows professionally and personally. Based on results from the mid-year participant survey, we are happy to report the program has been a great success. The respondents indicated having positive experiences and impressions of both their matches and the program. Some participants took the time to provide helpful suggestions to improve the program. A summary of the results include:
100% indicated their match was working
86% interacted at least once per month with their mentor/associate
52% wanted more structure and/or interaction with other PMPers.
Please consider mentoring someone interested in learning more about a particular technical aspect of planning or general planning knowledge. The application deadline is August 15, 2014. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Michelle Noch at michelle.noch@dot.gov, or 202-366-9206.
Statistical Report Training
The annual Highway Information Seminar will be held September 22-25, 2014 at the National Highway Institute (NHI) in Arlington, VA. This seminar provides comprehensive training on the latest requirements, guidance, and information pertaining to the reporting of data to the FHWA with respect to the following program areas:
Highway Performance Monitoring System
Travel Monitoring and Surveys
Highway Funding
Highway Tax Evasion
Motor Fuel
Motor Vehicle Registration
Licensed Drivers
The registration for the session can be found at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/hisregistration/. For more informaiton contact Danny Jenkins, daniel.jenkins@dot.gov, or 202-366-1067.
Let's Talk Planning
The FHWA and FTA strive to provide the planning staff with current policy information, guidance, and an opportunity for dialogue on key programmatic issues. The "Let's Talk Planning" (LTP) series of web meetings are information-sharing sessions for the FHWA and FTA planners. These internal meetings are generally held the second Wednesday, every three months, via webinar at 1 p.m. EST. Material from previous LTP sessions can be found on the FHWA Planning Discipline SharePoint site.
Mark your calendars! The scheduled date for the upcoming 2014 webinars is:
Sept. 10, 2014 TBD
Dec. 10, 2014 TBD
If you have suggestions for LTP sessions, contact: Rae Keasler, rae.keasler@dot.gov, or 202-366-0329, Ed Christopher, ed.christopher@dot.gov, or 708-283-3534.
Planning On the Web Training Seminar Series
To help support the FHWA and FTA staff and promote continuous professional development of agency planners, the FHWA Resource Center is offering a series of internal web-based training seminars through an initiative known as "Planning on the Web"(POW). The POW training sessions are for the FHWA/FTA staff and will generally last 90 minutes to two hours.
Mark your calendars. The dates of the 2014 POW sessions are:
Aug. 19, 2014 Tools for Division Stewardship
Oct. 21, 2014 STIP Management
Nov. 18, 2014 Gulf Coast II Study Tools
If you cannot attend the POW session for a particular month, the presentations and other information resources are available on the FHWA Planning Discipline SharePoint Reference Library. An Outlook appointment for each session will be sent to the FHWA Field Planners' e-mail group approximately three weeks before each session. We hope to "see" you at the next session and hear your feedback on the session, as well as future POW topics. If you have a topic that you think would be valuable to offer as a POW web-based training seminar, contact Lisa Randall, Ken Petty, or any member of the RC Planning Technical Service Team.
STAFF UPDATES
Staff Changes
There have been changes in staff recently.
From Office To Office
FHWA Offices
Kevin Jones PDP Pgm. VA Div. Planning
Laura Toole PDP Pgm. KY Div. Planning
Jill Stark NC Div. Office of Planning-HEPP 10
Unwanna Dabney NC Div. Parsons Brinckerhoff
Nicole Spivey GA DOT AL Div. Planning
Tammy Keeley AL RealtyAL Div. Planning
Lynn Heisler AL Env. AL Div. Planning
Susan Moe MN Div. Retirement
Don Cameron MI Div. Retirement
WORKSHOPS & TRAINING
FHWA Resource Center Training
For information, see contacts at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/planning/index.cfm. You can find the Planning Menu of Resource Center technical assistance and training at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/planning/courses.cfm.
Start Date End Date Location
8/25/2014 8/26/2014 Integrating Planning for Operations into Metropolitan Transportation Plans & Programs, Phoenix, AZ
8/27/2014 8/27/2014 Performance Based Planning & Advancing Planning for Operations, Kansas City, MO
8/28/2014 8/28/2014 Integrating Planning for Operations into Metropolitan Transportation Plans & Programs, Kansas City, MO
9/15/2014 9/16/2014 Integrating Planning for Operations into Metropolitan Transportation Plans & Programs, Newington, CT
National Transit Institute Training
For registration instructions see: www.ntionline.com/CourseDates.asp. For session dates, see below.
Start Date End Date Location
8/27/2014 8/28/2014 Oakland, CA
Introduction to Transit Asset Management
9/16/2014 9/17/2014 Arlington, VA
Title VI and Public Transit
9/09/2014 9/10/2014 Culver City, CA
National Transit Database (Urban Reporting)
9/30/2014 10/02/2014 Chicago, IL
Public Involvement in Transportation Decisionmaking,
9/09/2014 9/10/2014 Philadelphia, PA
National Transit Database (Urban Reporting)
12/10/20141 2/11/2014 Philadelphia, PA National Transit Database (Urban Reporting)
3/24/2015 3/25/2015 Seattle, WA
National Transit Database (Urban Reporting)
National Highway Institute Courses
Visit the NHI Web site at: www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx. Also, you can now view the schedule of web conferences at: www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/eventcalendar.aspx.
The FHWA has invested in web-based courses to make it easier for people to get the training they need.
Interested in taking an NHI Web-Based Training (WBT) Course? View this help guide on enrolling in an NHI WBT course. Please click here for a complete list of NHI web-based courses.
Scheduled Courses in the Next Quarter:
Start Date End Date Location
8/19/2014 8/21/2014 Montgomery, AL
NEPA and Transportation Decisionmaking
9/3/2014 9/4/2014 Portland, OR
Traffic Monitoring Programs: Guidance and Procedures
9/3/2014 9/4/2014 Arlington, VA
Highway Program Funding
9/17/2014 9/18/2014 Lansing, MI
Traffic Monitoring Programs: Guidance and Procedures
9/22/2014 9/24/2014 Wasilla, AK
Transportation and Land Use
10/28/2014 10/29/2014 Portland, OR
Traffic Monitoring Programs: Guidance and Procedures
11/4/2014 11/6/2014 Anchorage, AK
Highway Traffic Noise
12/02/2014 12/04/2014 Montgomery, AL
Metropolitan Transportation Planning
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2014 Calendar
8/26/2014 8/29/2014 TRB Transportation-Related Environmental Analysis Summer Conference, Nashville, Tennessee
Sept. TRB Sixth Biennial Northeast Transportation and Wildlife Conference, Burlington, VT
Sept. TRB Transportation-Related Environmental Analysis Summer Conference, Nashville, TN
9/7/2014 9/10/2014 Governors Highway Safety Association Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI
9/7/2014 9/10/2014 Intelligent Transportation Society 2014 Annual Meeting, Detroit, MI
9/21/2014 9/24/2014 TRB Sixth Biennial Northeast Transportation and Wildlife Conference, Burlington, Vermont
10/22/2014 10/25/2014 National Association of City Transportation Officials 2014, Meeting, San Francisco, CA
10/7/2014 10/8/2014 FHWA Every Day Counts Summit, Washington, DC Area
10/12/2014 10/15/2014 ITS America 2014 Annual Meeting, Houston, TX
10/21/2014 10/22/2014 FHWA Every Day Counts Summit, Louisville, KY
10/21/2014 10/24/2014 AMPO Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA
10/26/2014 10/29/2014 TRB 21st National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation: Setting Our Course for the Future, Monterey, CA
10/27/2014 10/28/2014 FHWA Every Day Counts Summit, Phoenix, AZ
11/5/2014 11/6/2014 FHWA Every Day Counts Summit, Seattle. WA
11/13/2014 11/14/2014 FHWA Every Day Counts Summit, Portland, ME
11/18/2014 11/19/2014 FHWA Every Day Counts Summit, Charlotte, NC
11/21/2014 11/24/2014 AASHTO Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC
Summer 2015 Second International Conference on Public-Private Partnerships, Austin, Texas
Mid-September 2015 TRB International Conference on Transportation System Resilience to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events, Washington, D.C.
11/15/2015 11/17/2015 TRB National Light Rail Conference: Light Rail Transit and Streetcars: Mobility Partners in the Evolving Metropolitan Environment
FHWA Planning, Environment and Realty:
www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/calendar/
FHWA Resource Center:
www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/
calendar.htm
Transportation Research Board:
http://www.trb.org/calendar/
Photo Credits:
Page 1 left - Envision Utah from Public Roads Sept./Oct. 2005
Page 1 left center - Forest highway, Photo courtesy of istockphotos
Page 1 right center - Portland light rail, Photo courtesy of istockphotos
Page 1 right - Church St. Marketplace, Burlington, VT. Retrieved from Wiki Travel http://wikitravel.org/en/Burlington_%28Vermont%29
Page 3 - SHRP 2 Logo courtesy of FHWA
Page 6 -SHRP Catalog Cover courtesy of TRB
Page 7 - IPD Logo courtesy of FHWA
Page 8 - Corridor Study report cover from South Western Connecticut Regional Planning Agency website
Page 8- NTAQS logo courtesy of FHWA
Clip Art courtesy of Microsoft
NOTICE: The information and articles in this newsletter are for your information and do not necessarily
constitute policy positions of the Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration.
The mention of commercial products, their source or their use in connection with material reported herein
is not to be construed as either an actual or implied endorsement of such products.
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Ben Williams, Co-Editor
Metropolitan Planning Specialist,
FHWA Resource Center
(404) 562-3671
ben.williams@dot.gov
Rae Keasler, Co-Editor
Transportation Specialist
FHWA Office of Planning
(202) 366-0329
rae.keasler@dot.gov
John Sprowls, Contributing Editor
Community Planner
FTA Office of Systems Planning
(202) 366-5332
john.sprowls@dot.gov
