CO N N EC T I N G T H E D OT S :
L I N K I N G P L A N N I N G A N D O P E R AT I O N S FO R
B E T T E R T R A N S P O RTAT I O N O U TCO M ES
Jamie Cochran, AICP
Gresham, Smith, and Partners
November 30, 2012
“We are continually faced with a series of great
opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”
John W. Gardner
- Voter distrust/disinterest/hostility/apathy
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Lack of public awareness of the value of
planning
- Continuous pressure to “do more with less”
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Lack of willingness or patience with creative
problem-solving
“We can complain because rose bushes have
thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
- Abraham Lincoln
Planning for Operations
Using the planning process to identify, consider,
and use transportation operations solutions that
could be overlooked in favor of larger, more
expensive capital investment projects to obtain
desirable mobility outcomes.
Similar Worlds of Planning and Operations
- Must work continuously with multiple parties
- Requires creative problem-solving and consensus-building
- Reflects the inter-relatedness of technical issues
- Involved in in both short- and long-range activities
- Must work with very active constituencies
Planning
(all the other stuff, i.e. design, construction, etc.)
System Operations
Key Ways to Link Planning and Operations
• Actively Engage in the Transportation
Planning Process
• Share Data
• Choose Performance Measures
• Work Together on Congestion
Management
• Share Funding and Other Resources
• Work Out Institutional Arrangements
• Serve on Project Teams Together
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Corridor Plans
ITS
Management and Operations
Safety
Not A New Idea
Fashion Circa 1962
Fashion Circa 2011
Linking Planning and Operations Has A Long History
1934 – First Highway
Inventories Completed
1950 – First Highway Capacity
Manual Published
Linking Planning and Operations…
1959– BPR Sponsors Study of Wisconsin Avenue in Washington,
D.C. to Demonstrate Value of Coordinated
Traffic Management Methods in a Corridor
Linking Planning and Operations…
1962 Federal-Aid Highway Act:
First Required Analysis of Travel Patterns and Traffic Control
Linking Planning and Operations…
Average new car cost
was about $ 2,800
Cost of one gallon of
gas was 31 cents
1968- Federal-Aid Highway Act – Creates TOPICS Program
(Traffic Operations Program to Improve Capacity and Safety)
Over 160 Cities Participate
In 1973, Program was Merged into the Federal Aid Urban System
Linking Planning and Operations…
1974 – Federal Service and Methods Demonstration Program – Federal
Funds for Shifting to Shorter-Term, Low-Capital Improvements
Later known as “Transportation System Management (TSM)”
MAP-21:
Requires a report to the U.S.
Congress on each State and
MPO related to their
achieving their established
performance targets
“Transportation Systems Management and
Operations” activities include:
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Traffic detection and surveillance
Corridor management
Freeway management
Arterial management
Work zone management
Emergency management
Traveler information services
Congestion pricing
Parking management
Automated enforcement
Traffic control
Commercial vehicle operations
Freight management
Coordination of highway, rail, transit,
bicycle and pedestrian operations
MAP 21: National Transportation Goals
- Safety
- Infrastructure Condition
- System Reliability
- Freight Movement and Economic Vitality
- Environmental Sustainability
- Project Delivery and Innovation
Helpful Hints for Small and Medium-Sized MPOs
Convene a Quarterly Local Transportation
Roundtable (GDOT District County,
Municipalities, Transit Provider(s), etc.
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Identify New Data
Discuss Partnerships
Create “Lunch and Learn” Opportunities
Invite Planners and Engineers
Include Management/Operations Experts in
Your Planning “Brainstorming Sessions”
Schedule “Road Shows” to Look at
Problems/Issues in the Field Together
EXAMPLE: LARGE MPO APPROACH TO LINKING PLANNING
AND OPERATIONS (ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION)
TECHNICAL
COORDINATING
COMMITTEE
ARC
GRTA
BICYCLE/
PEDESTRIAN
TASK FORCE
FREIGHT
ADVISORY
TASK FORCE
GDOT
MGMT AND
OPERATIONS
SUBCOMM.
SRTA
TRANSIT
OPERATIONS
SUBCOMM.
REG’L
TRAFFIC
OPERATIONS
TASK FORCE
METRO
ATLANTA
TIME TASK
FORCE
Part of ARC Organization
- Human Services Transportation Plan
- Regional ITS Architecture
- Planning Partner Across Region
Bicycle/Pedestrian Task Force
- Formed in 1993
- Created as a TCC subcommittee
- 2007 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
- Complete Streets Program
- Safe Routes to School
Management and Operations Subcommittee of TCC
- Congestion Management Process (CMP)
- Crash Profiles and Safety Plan
- Multimodal Corridor Studies
- Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan
Regional Traffic Operations Task Force
- Regional Traffic Operations
Program (RTOPs)
SRTA
- I-85 HOV to HOT Conversion Project
- Peach Pass
- Managed Lane System Plan
Metro Atlanta TIME Task Force
(Traffic Incident Management
Enhancement)
- Nearly 80 public and private
sector members
- 13-member Board of Directors
- 2011 GA Traffic Incident
Management Guidance
- Open Roads Policy
- Towing Recovery Incentive
Program (TRIP)
Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan:
Sample Typical Section Sample for Urban Thoroughfare
From Strategy to Action
STRATEGY
ACTION
Bring equal focus to planning and
transportation system operations
Make conscious choices to
involve professionals who can
see the ultimate goal
Complement and not duplicate
state-level efforts with regional
initiatives and vice versa
Learn MPO-speak and DOTspeak and be multi-lingual.
Tap into a wide array of planning
and operations talents and
expertise across institutions and
economic sectors –
“more is more”
Think about maintaining
momentum – celebrate
victories with public and
private partners!
How will we know if
we are making progress?
Does the mix of funded projects include affordable,
effective transportation operations solutions that are
supported by the public?
Are we “moving the needle” in improving
crash histories, traffic flow, and clearing incidents in
the short- and long-term?
Are we talking to each other?
The End Result:
Better Transportation Outcomes
For More Information:
Jamie Cochran, AICP
S e n i o r V i c e P r e s i d e n t o f Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n n i n g
Gresham, Smith, and Partners
2 3 2 5 L a k e v i e w P a r k w a y, S u i t e 4 0 0
Alpharetta, Georgia 30075
Phone: 404-909-2331
jamie_cochran@gspnet.com