Assignment on the Planning Process:
Answers to questions 1-3 should be limited to 2 pages.
Due: October 10th, 2011 in class and hardcopy only
1. Federal laws required that the urban transportation planning process must be 3C. Explain 3C (what
each C refers to and what it means).
2. Discuss the important roles that the Clean Air Act of 1970, 1977, and 1990 has in the regional
transportation planning process (discuss what each legislation does and its significance).
3. Explain the roles of MPO in the regional transportation planning process and the products they produce.
4. Write a few paragraphs (roughly one page) that describes the impacts the construction of I-5 in the
early 1960s had on the University District and the area just north of the University District. To help
make this judgment, walk (or bike) to and through the western edge of the U-District and eastern edge
of Wallingford (e.g., both sides of I-5 from NE 40th up to about NE 56th (Do you think you can tell which
are owner occupied houses and which are rentals? Why are there so many new apartment
complexes? What types of houses were there before the new apartments were built?) Think about the
factors that are causing the changes in land use you observe. Think about and comment on the
following items:
a. What did I-5 do to/for travel through the area? North/South? East/West?
b. Did I-5 change the character of the neighborhood near the freeway? How?
c. What is it like to live next to I-5? Do you imagine it is more or less pleasant than before I-5 was
built?
d. Is the U-District a better place to own a business as a result of I-5’s construction?
e. Who benefited from the construction of I-5? Who lost?
5. (for graduate students only) Read the attached newspaper article. Write a few paragraphs (limit to 2
pages) explaining the story in the newspaper article using the knowledge learned from the class.