Traveler Information System, Arizona

The City of Tucson is part of a public-private partnership aimed at making drivers' lives easier. The city has teamed up with a local traffic reporting company to create and implement a new Traveler Information System based on Intelligent Transportation System technology. Tucson has been able to provide reliable, detailed travel information for its commuters, while improving its management of crashes, breakdowns, and other problems. The city has also increased its investment in smart roads, coordinated traffic signals, electronic signboards, and other advanced transportation technologies. 
Perhaps the most interesting part of this program is its financing through a public-private partnership. Federal assistance helped initiate the ITS program in 1996, but there was no mechanism for continued maintenance. In order to meet the financial needs of the program, the city developed a contractual agreement in which the city gives all traffic data directly to the private firm METRO NETWORKS/Tucson for their commercial traffic reports in exchange for flight time for city staff to observe roadway conditions, prime-time commercial slots for peak-hour transportation announcements, a percentage of sales of traffic data, and personnel to monitor and operate the control center. In addition, under the deal the private firm agreed to pay for a full remodeling of the computer center and Traffic Engineering Division offices. Estimated costs avoided by the city: $68,000.

More Info: www.pagnet.org/its/

Metro Rapid Bus, California

Light rail and subway trains are popular in part because of their speed and convenience. Now some transit systems are giving the same attributes to some bus lines. "Think Rail, Use Bus" is how people have been describing the new Bus Rapid Transit system in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles MTA has two new "MetroRapid" bus routes to complement MetroRail and replace existing limited-stop systems. These routes feature low-floor buses with a distinct image and fewer stops, as well as message boards at stops that tell patrons when the next bus will arrive. Traffic lights detect approaching buses and extend the green to give them up to 10 seconds longer to get through the intersection. Much of the system is made possible through Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) real-time bus tracking technology. Capital costs were held to roughly $8.2 million that covered two major bus lines stretching 42 miles. Since the lines opened in June 2000, travel time has decreased by 25 percent, and ridership has increased by 37 percent.

More Info: www.mta.net/metro_transit/rapid_bus/metro_rapid.htm

Transportation Incentives for New Housing, California

In the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the biggest contributors to regional traffic congestion is the lack of affordable housing close to jobs. The region has produced as many as nine new jobs for every new housing unit since the mid-1990s. 
Recognizing this connection between the lack of housing and the resulting two hours commutes that cause regional traffic congestion, San Mateo County (just south of San Francisco) launched an innovative program to provide transportation funds as a reward to local jurisdictions that build new housing in walkable neighborhoods close to jobs. The program started in 1999 with a set-aside of $2.2 million in flexible state and federal highway funds. Among the first recipients was Redwood City for planning a new 430-unit apartment complex near a commuter rail station. Their award of a $750,000 transportation grant will enable the city council to make improvements on an adjacent main street. The grant program is restricted to transportation expenditures, but for the first time makes a critical transportation- housing link and is rewarding - rather than punishing - local jurisdictions who build infill housing that many public officials and private developers often find difficult to construct. 
Viewed as a stunning success, San Mateo County is about to double the size of their housing incentive program. Their vision is sparking similar efforts now underway in at least 15 other counties in California.

More info: www.mtc.ca.gov

Expanding Light Rail Options, Colorado

Denver's Central Corridor light rail opened in 1994, and was highlighted in STPP's Five Years of Progress report. The success of the first phase of the project has led to increased investments and interest in light rail as a means to enhance quality of life in the region's communities. In July 2000, an 8.7-mile extension of the Southwest line opened. It has exceeded ridership projections by over 50 percent, carrying over 13,000 riders per day. Ridership projections are for 22,000 per day by 2015. 
Other communities in the Denver area will soon see the benefits of light rail, with the Central Platte Valley spur opening in 2002. This project connects to three sports stadiums, an amusement park, and Union Station. 
Evidence shows that Denver's light rail is serving to increase choices for residents. A fall 2000 ridership survey found that 50 percent of riders are using light rail for a trip they previously would have made by car.

More Info: www.transitalliance.org

Guaranteed Ride Home, District of Columbia

One of the main concerns that people have with riding transit, carpooling, or biking to work is how they will get home in an emergency. Washington, DC's Guaranteed Ride Home Program seeks to solve this problem by providing commuters who regularly carpool, vanpool, bike, walk or take transit to work with a taxi ride home when an emergency arises. To be eligible, commuters must register, and must be commuting via alternative modes at least twice per week. Commuters can use the service to get home up to four times per year. Best of all, the GRH ride home is free.

More Info: www.wmata.com/riding/guaranteed_ride_home.htm and www.mwcog.org/commuter/Bdy-Grh.html

SmarTrip, District of Columbia

Making transit easier to use increases commuting options and speeds commute times, improving quality of life for a region's residents. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Agency (WMATA) employed these important principles in its development of SmarTrip, the first "contactless" smart-card system for mass transit in the U.S. SmarTrip is an automated, rechargeable fare-payment card that lets travelers enter parking garages and Metrorail trains without standing in line or making any cash transactions. Users simply pass their card over a detector at the fare gate, and uses are automatically recorded on a central server and deducted from the traveler's account. Users don't even have to remove their card from their wallet or purse.

More Info: www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.htm

MARTA Rail to the Airport, Georgia

For business and leisure travelers, Atlanta's MARTA rail system works hand in hand with Hartsfield International Airport to provide a hassle- free travel experience. The MARTA train stops right in the airport, just steps away from the baggage carousels. The station itself includes a baggage check desk staffed by several airlines, and all trains have ample room set aside to stow luggage. Seven of MARTA's rail stations offer secure long-term parking, so travelers can easily park, ride, and fly. In addition, the 16-minute ride from downtown provides airport and airline workers with easy access to their jobs.

More Info: www.itsmarta.com

Oahu 21st Century Vision, Hawaii

If you want an example of how to use local tools successfully, look at Oahu, Hawaii, which combined a variety of local tools, citizen involvement, land use planning, and alternative transportation approaches to improve community quality of life. When the Mayor of Honolulu revealed a land-use vision in September of 1998, a great deal of discussion ensued - discussion designed to improve the planning process through the use of visual preference surveys and neighborhood planning charrettes in an effort called "21st Century for Oahu: A Vision for the Future." The plan called for limited growth, establishing a light rail system, more pedestrian friendly neighborhoods, and mixed-use approaches to revitalizing neighborhoods. Community design teams consisting of residents, planners, and city and state officials met on and off for over a year to develop plans and approaches that citizens, businesses, and elected officials can support. Although the overall plan is still in the development phase, a number of steps have been taken to promote more efficient use of resources, such as establishing a hub and spoke bus system and creating several bike trails.

More Info: www.co.honolulu.hi.us/mayor/vision/

Paris Pike, Kentucky

When road widenings are necessary, they can be done in a way that preserves and enhances the local community. Traffic between Paris, Kentucky and Lexington, Kentucky on the historic Paris Pike is increasing dramatically. In 1971, the daily traffic count was 6,580. In 1992, it had climbed to 10,400, and by 2020 it is expected to nearly triple to 29,000. While the community recognized the need for more capacity, residents also wanted to be sure that the widening of the roadway would serve to enhance, not damage, community quality of life. 
The City of Paris, Lexington-Fayette County, and the County of Bourbon formed the Paris Pike Commission to develop a corridor-wide land use plan as part of an agreement to widen the road. With power to coordinate land use among 12 jurisdictions in a 12-mile corridor, the new Commission is ensuring that the construction of the new road and the new zoning to protect the area are proceeding hand in hand. 
The new road has been designed using "context-sensitive" design principles, aimed at preserving the character of the historic road as well as panoramic views of the countryside. The designers went to great lengths to preserve mature trees by curving the divided road around them. Among the trees saved are a 64-inch-diameter burr oak and two towering hickories, preserved where the historic Monterrey settlement once stood. A patch of endangered running buffalo clover at the William Thompson farm was transplanted out of harm's way.

More Info: www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/news/041301/burdetteldocs/13burdette.htm

The Independent Transportation Network, Maine

Portland's Independent Transportation Network (ITN) is a non-profit membership organization designed to provide transit service to older adults that is as flexible and convenient as a private automobile - and totally self-sustaining. The concept is to link ITN members in need of transportation with volunteer or paid drivers. A user's fee is based on miles traveled and is paid through a cashless pre-paid account system so it can be paid by the user, their relatives or a business. The drivers transport people 65 and older anywhere within the greater Portland, Maine service area, reaching from Wells in the south to Yarmouth in the north. ITN service is available 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, offering seniors maximum choice and freedom.

More Info: www.itninc.org

Telework Incentives, Maryland

Reducing the need to commute through telework incentives is one effective means of improving quality of life for all employees. The Maryland State Telework Partnership with Employers helps employers understand and implement telework options by offering free consulting services. In the Washington, DC metropolitan area alone, over 250,000 people commute to work over phone/data lines instead of by automobiles or public transit. This represents 12 percent of the region's workforce, a 65 percent increase from 1996. With the potential for 300,000+ more workers to be effective telecommuters, teleworking has the option of dramatically reducing automobile dependency, while increasing community quality of life.

More Info: www.teleworksmart-md.org/

Smart Growth, Maryland

The State of Maryland provides a variety of incentives to help residents and businesses make transportation decisions that will enhance community quality of life. For example, the Live Near Your Work program provides eligible homebuyers with $3,000 to help them purchase a home near their workplace, while the Transit Station Smart Growth Initiative provides funding to developers to pay for transit-related improvements near train stations. 
Both programs are part of Maryland's groundbreaking smart growth legislation, which encourages better development and transportation practices not through dictates, but through incentives and disincentives. The program has three goals: (1) to save valuable remaining natural resources before they are forever lost; (2) to support existing communities and neighborhoods by targeting state resources to support development in areas where the infrastructure is already in place or planned to support it; and (3) to save taxpayers millions of dollars in the unnecessary cost of building the infrastructure required to support sprawl.

More Info: www.smartgrowth.state.md.us

Environmental Justice, Ohio

Part of transportation equity is making sure that all segments of society are adequately served by the transportation system. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission addressed transportation equity by researching whether transportation served all communities adequately in the Columbus metropolitan area. Moreover, MORPC created an Environmental Justice task force to identify places where transportation investments were creating negative environmental impacts for low income and minority communities. Task force members included members of existing policy, technical and citizen advisory committees, council members, and public interest groups that represent minority and low income people. In doing so, MORPC not only engaged non-traditional partners in the planning process, but also utilized community participation to frame and inform transportation decisions. 
MORPC used socioeconomic data to create maps and determine if lower income and minority populations had reasonable access to jobs, education, medical facilities and other basic needs. MORPC conducted the analysis to comply with the Executive Order on Environmental Justice and the planning requirements of ISTEA. MORPC found no significant EJ issues. MOPRC will, however, continue to apply additional measures to the analysis and update the current analysis with 2000 Census figures.

More Info: www.morpc.org

Eastgate Town Center, Tennessee

Sometimes the best transportation solutions are really all about developing land in a way that minimizes the need to travel in the first place. The Eastgate Town Center mall redevelopment in Chattanooga is a good example: developers are turning the mall into a real town center, by creating housing, parks, civic buildings and a town square on what used to be vacant parking lots. 
In 1997, store occupancy at Town Center, about five miles from downtown Chattanooga, was down to 27 percent and the mall was failing. However, when AT&T stepped in to lease one of the anchor store sites, local officials were inspired to attempt a full-scale revitalization of the mall. In January 1998, they invited local residents and business owners to a weeklong planning process. The participants pushed planners to build a multi-purpose town center with both retail and residential opportunities. Residents and workers will be able to enjoy a hiking trail to a nearby wetland and, hopefully, a proposed greenway. Thousands of jobs are coming to the area - jobs that are within easy walking and biking distance of homes and shops.

More Info: www.doverkohl.com/redevelop.html

DART Light Rail, Texas

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) 20-mile light rail "starter" system opened on a phased schedule between June 1996 and May 1997, and right from the beginning the project was about more than providing a train ride: it was about "transit-oriented development." 
Communities surrounding the original 15 stations got easier access to jobs through the train, but the new light rail system also brought over $800 million worth of economic development into those communities. DART and the City of Dallas viewed the rail line as an important part of encouraging smart development. DART has had such success with the system, both in terms of ridership as well as community revitalization, that a 12.3-mile extension is under construction with additional service expected to suburban areas in 2002 and 2003.

More Info: www.dart.org

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Vermont

The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps shows how the expenditure of transportation funds can in itself help members of the community. The VYCC is a non-profit organization that hires diverse teams of young adults for work on conservation projects, and in the process trains and educates them. In 1997 the Corps began to take on transportation projects through grants from Vermont's Agency of Transportation, made possible through ISTEA's Transportation Enhancements program. 
The Corps begins by engaging the community, working with community coalitions, city planning commissions, parks, transportation managers, recreation directors, and others to identify important projects that the corps can implement. One of the VYCC's most successful transportation projects is the West River Trail Project, which was started in 1998 in collaboration with the Windham Regional Planning Commission. The project is transforming 15 miles of an abandoned railroad into a multi-use trail, linking 4,500 acres of public land and three communities along its route. In 2000 the Agency of Transportation joined as a partner and provided funding to support the cost of VYCC crews working on the project, which will be completed in 2002. The VYCC's participation is but one part of Vermont's extensive Transportation Enhancements program.

More Info: www.vycc.org

OmniRide, Virginia

The OmniRide system in Virginia combines general transit service with paratransit service to better serve both disabled users and the general public. The system, operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), combines fixed stops and flexible routing within 3/4-mile of established routes. Transit schedules have margins for deviations, and the control center alerts drivers to changes. This creative system allows the agency to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act more efficiently than with parallel paratransit and fixed route services. This approach also improved coverage to the general public in a low-density area. The smaller paratransit-style vehicles are also more appropriate for neighborhood streets. With continued onboard ITS developments and an expansion of operating hours, ridership on OmniRide has recently jumped 58 percent to 1,900 riders per day. The system also has automated statistical analysis built in to help improve routes and schedules.

More Info: www.omniride.com

Route 50 Traffic-Calming, Virginia

In 1994, plans for widening Route 50 in Virginia outside of Washington DC and for constructing bypasses around the towns generated such apprehension that concerned citizens decided to organize into what became the Route 50 Corridor Coalition. The early members of the Coalition were concerned that the widenings and the planned bypasses around the small towns along the corridor would invite sprawl and destroy the character of the area. 
Convinced it could find a more acceptable alternative, the Coalition set up a plan for public involvement and contracted with an independent traffic-calming expert who helped the group define their vision for the future of the Rural Route 50 Corridor: a scenic, rural area in a historical, agricultural, quiet, and natural setting. To achieve this vision, the coalition developed a traffic-calming proposal which included entrance features to identify distinctive areas, reduced speed limits and traffic-calming measures in the villages to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and other nonmotorized users. Virginia DOT agreed to work with the Coalition to revise and implement a traffic-calming plan, and now members of the Coalition are working alongside VDOT to create the new plan for the corridor.

More Info: www.pecva.org and www.uap.vt.edu/cdrom/cases/route50.htm

STAR, Wyoming

The Sweetwater County Transit Authority in Wyoming created the Sweetwater Transit Authority Resources (STAR) system to replace a large number of client-based, agency-operated transportation services with a single, coordinated, demand-response system that serves persons of all ages and abilities. STAR serves a very large and sparsely populated rural county. Almost one-half of the rides are to members of the general public, 31 percent to persons with disabilities and 23 percent to older adults. The system offers high-quality, dependable service and one-stop shopping for riders. Although the program started in 1983, it was able to dramatically improve service with a 1994 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to purchase new buses, radio equipment and computers.

More Info: www.nccic.org/ccpartnerships/profiles/star.htm