1. CONNECTING THE DOTS: LINKING PLANNING AND OPERATIONS FOR BETTER TRANSPORTATION OUTCOMES Jamie Cochran, AICP Gresham, Smith, and Partners November 30, 2012

2. “We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.” John W. Gardner - Voter distrust/disinterest/hostility/apathy -Lack of public awareness of the value of planning - Continuous pressure to “do more with less” -Lack of willingness or patience with creative problem-solving

3. “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. - Abraham Lincoln

4. 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.

5. Similar Worlds of Planning and Operations Planning System Operations (all the other stuff, i.e. design, construction, etc.) -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

6. 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 – Corridor Plans – ITS – Management and Operations – Safety

7. Not A New Idea Fashion Circa 1962 Fashion Circa 2011

8. Linking Planning and Operations Has A Long History 1934 – First Highway Inventories Completed 1950 – First Highway Capacity Manual Published

9. 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

10. Linking Planning and Operations… 1962 Federal-Aid Highway Act: First Required Analysis of Travel Patterns and Traffic Control

11. Linking Planning and Operations… 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 Average new car cost was about $ 2,800 Cost of one gallon of gas was 31 cents

12. 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)”

13. “Transportation Systems Management and Operations” activities include:  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: Requires a report to the U.S. Congress on each State and MPO related to their achieving their established performance targets

14. -Safety -Infrastructure Condition -System Reliability -Freight Movement and Economic Vitality -Environmental Sustainability -Project Delivery and Innovation MAP 21: National Transportation Goals

15. Convene a Quarterly Local Transportation Roundtable (GDOT District County, Municipalities, Transit Provider(s), etc. -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 Helpful Hints for Small and Medium-Sized MPOs

16. ARC BICYCLE/ PEDESTRIAN TASK FORCE GDOT TRANSIT OPERATIONS SUBCOMM. SRTA FREIGHT ADVISORY TASK FORCE GRTA MGMT AND OPERATIONS SUBCOMM. EXAMPLE: LARGE MPO APPROACH TO LINKING PLANNING AND OPERATIONS (ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION) TECHNICAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE METRO ATLANTA TIME TASK FORCE REG’L TRAFFIC OPERATIONS TASK FORCE

17. 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

18. 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) Regional Traffic Operations Task Force -Regional Traffic Operations Program (RTOPs) SRTA -I-85 HOV to HOT Conversion Project -Peach Pass -Managed Lane System Plan

19. Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan: Sample Typical Section Sample for Urban Thoroughfare

20. Bring equal focus to planning and transportation system operations STRATEGY ACTION Think about maintaining momentum – celebrate victories with public and private partners! Tap into a wide array of planning and operations talents and expertise across institutions and economic sectors – “more is more” Complement and not duplicate state-level efforts with regional initiatives and vice versa Make conscious choices to involve professionals who can see the ultimate goal Learn MPO-speak and DOT- speak and be multi-lingual. From Strategy to Action

21. How will we know if we are making progress?

22. 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?

23. The End Result: Better Transportation Outcomes For More Information: Jamie Cochran, AICP Senior Vice President of Transportation Planning Gresham, Smith, and Partners 2325 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 400 Alpharetta, Georgia 30075 Phone: 404-909-2331 jamie_cochran@gspnet.com