Transportation Demand Management and the NEPA Process

Transcription

1 T R B A N N U A L M E E T I N G Session 715: Transportation Demand Management and the NEPA Process A Fresh Look at Incorporating Transportation Demand Management Strategies As Creative Transportation Alternatives Charles Muggs Stoll, Presiding Richard Record Fred R. Wagner Kimberly Weinstein Allison Richards RL Record, LLC Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. SANDAG Atlanta Regional Commission

2 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Reduce traffic during peak travel periods Promote cost-effective, voluntary programs Changing behavior Emphasis on Transportation alternatives Employer outreach 2

3 TDM Programs and Services Vanpool Subsidy Program Ride Matching Service Guaranteed Ride Home Employer Outreach Telework & Flexible Work Info First & Last Mile Solutions Regional Bicycle Program Traveler Information - 511

4 Four Components of the 2030 SANDAG RTP Land Use Demand Management 2030 RTP Systems Development Systems Management

5 Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP)

6 TDM in the Atlanta Region s s Long Range Transportation Planning Process ARC as the Metropolitan Planning Organization develops the long range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Envision6 adopted RTP: First priority manage current assets Second priority manage demand

7 Envision6... Adopted RTP Priorities

8 Envision6 Program Funds TDM strategies funded at $205 million include: Carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, transit, teleworking and alternative work schedules Bicycle and Pedestrian projects comprise the largest category of the projects at $944 million

9 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Role in NEPA Process NEPA Process Includes: Purpose and Need Identification Affected Environmental Constraints Public Involvement Alternatives Analysis Mitigation Transportation Planning Process Includes: Corridor Vision and Goals Corridor Vision Description Corridor Vision Strategies Public Involvement Mitigation

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15 Systems vs Demand

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18 NEPA Timeline Definition of Purpose and Need Incorporation of planning principles Drafting the problem

19 NEPA Timeline Definition of Project Purpose and Need Scoping Encouraging meaningful input

20 NEPA Timeline Definition of Project Purpose and Need Scoping Formulation of Range of Alternatives Establishing reasonable MOEs Reasonable bases for narrowing range

21 NEPA Timeline Definition of Project Purpose and Need Scoping Formulation of Range of Alternatives Impacts Analysis How far should agency go to respond to competing studies?

22 NEPA Timeline Definition of Project Purpose and Need Scoping Formulation of Range of Alternatives Impacts Analysis Secondary and Cumulative Effects Analysis What other projects and what other TDM?

23 NEPA Timeline Definition of Project Purpose and Need Scoping Formulation of Range of Alternatives Impacts Analysis Secondary and Cumulative Effects Analysis Narrowing of Range of Alternatives Better definitions of improvement in safety, congestion relief, etc.

24 NEPA Timeline Definition of Project Purpose and Need Scoping Formulation of Range of Alternatives Impacts Analysis Secondary and Cumulative Effects Analysis Narrowing of Range of Alternatives Identification of Preferred Alternative

25 NEPA Timeline Definition of Project Purpose and Need Scoping Formulation of Range of Alternatives Impacts Analysis Secondary and Cumulative Effects Analysis Narrowing of Range of Alternatives Identification of Preferred Alternative Mitigation Measures Mitigating for what?

26 NEPA Timeline... Secondary and Cumulative Effects Analysis Narrowing of Range of Alternatives Identification of Preferred Alternative Mitigation Measures Decision Document and Future Commitments Horton Hears a TDM plan

27 TDM Example Projects

28 I-15 Managed Lanes San Diego, CA

29 I-15 Managed Lanes

30 TDM in Major Transportation Study in Atlanta Region in NEPA Process revive285 top end - combined 17 mile highway/transit proposal along Interstate 285 from I-75 to I-85 Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) preparing Environmental Impact Study (EIS) Initial Strategy Screening Report identified that TDM will support each of the build alternatives and the Transportation System Management (TSM) alternative Team is developing appropriate design elements to incorporate TDM Example - if a build alternative includes HOV lanes, then heavy marketing for carpooling would be an appropriate TDM element TSM alternative includes aggressive TDM elements

31 Example: revive285 top end TSM Alternative Federal guidance requires Transportation System Management (TSM) alternative Develops an alternative with the least environmental impact Includes combination of: Pricing Incident Management ITS Transit Services TDM Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities

32 TDM Partners in revive285 top end Numerous TDM Partners promoting activities along revive285 top end study corridor: ARC - RideSmart Clean Air Campaign Perimeter Transportation Coalition Cumberland Community Improvement District Commuter Club Programs include: Carpool and vanpool ridematching Promotion of commuter award programs Bicycle and walking programs Commute information Telework information

33 Questions/ Discussion

34 T R B A N N U A L M E E T I N G Session 715: Transportation Demand Management and the NEPA Process A Fresh Look at Incorporating Transportation Demand Management Strategies As Creative Transportation Alternatives Charles Muggs Stoll, Presiding Richard Record Fred R. Wagner Kimberly Weinstein Allison Richards RL Record, LLC Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. SANDAG Atlanta Regional Commission