M2D2 Multi Modal Development and Delivery A project to support Michigan s economic recovery by improving MDOT s institutional capacity to plan, design, construct, operate and maintain Michigan s transportation system for Complete Streets and multiple modes Project Summary Rebuilding our economy and creating new jobs is the most important issue of our generation. Thriving local economies need access to workers, to materials, and to markets. Transportation investment is key to economic recovery and prosperity, and Michigan has much to gain by creating communities that attract and retain people and attract and retain jobs. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) mission is providing the highest quality integrated transportation services for economic benefit and improved quality of life. To carry out its mission in the context of 21 st Century economic and demographic reality, MDOT recognizes that its standards and approaches for planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and operating trunk line highway facilities need to be updated to consider the impacts and interactions of all potential modes of travel (automobile, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, truck, rail, etc.) from a capital investment, physical construction, and operational perspective. MDOT staff need to have the knowledge and tools available to them to effectively plan, design, construct, maintain and operate facilities that move people and goods in the variety of ways that people and communities chose to utilize. To address this compelling need, MDOT and Smart Growth America (SGA) propose to partner to explore the needs and expectations for each transportation mode and identify ways MDOT can balance those needs and modes collectively when multiple modes coexist. A series of workshops would lead to systematic revisions to MDOT procedures, practices, standards, guidance documents and manuals, as well as recommendations for ongoing training and development activities for MDOT staff to understand and utilize the revised practices. Project Objectives 1. Create an MDOT staff project stakeholder group (PSG) with a state-of-the practice understanding of the capabilities and requirements of each transportation mode and the opportunities and tradeoffs that exist in a multimodal environment. 2. Work with the PSG to understand barriers, gaps, and opportunities that exist in current MDOT practices, standards and guidance to address the needs of all modes in a variety of contexts: urban core, suburban, small urban, and rural; arterials and limited access/freeway. Set in place a process to modify and/or augment practices, standards, and guidance as appropriate. Page 1 of 5
3. Implement new practices, standards and guidance through a training program for MDOT staff, the staff of partner agencies in regional and local government, and design professionals in the private sector. 4. Communicate new MDOT practices to other state agencies, regional and local government, the business community, advocacy groups, and the traveling public. Background MDOT trunk line standards for planning, design and operations have historically centered around the provision of facilities that allow for the safe and efficient travel of motor vehicles (cars and trucks) and are based on the performance of those vehicles and the behavior patterns, expectations and needs of the operators of vehicles. These standards have evolved over time to provide more consideration for other surface transportation modes in some instances, but do not necessarily fully consider the co-operation of these modes in the same space, or how the modes need to interface at the human dimension to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people between the modes within the same space. At times, various modes have competing needs within the same space, and MDOT guidance and standards offer little clarification as to how to resolve these conflicts effectively or how to prioritize which needs are most critical for a given situation. Several policy and practical developments are converging in recent times that require a fresh look at MDOT standards for planning, designing and operating facilities in a comprehensive way to consider all modes and how state trunk line facilities make possible their safe and efficient operation within MDOT rights of way: The establishment of Complete Streets policies at both the state and local levels. The development of light rail, streetcar and bus rapid transit systems The increased utilization of bicycles for non-recreational transport and the establishment for formal green ways, bike lanes, bike sharing services, regional and statewide trail systems and national bike route designations. The emphasis on placemaking, transit oriented development and other land use changes to reflect demographic trends toward more urbanized living preferences of the population. The emergence of new technologies to provide traveler information for all modes. The development of advance freight logistics methodologies. The emergence and development of autonomous or driverless vehicles. Furthermore, state trunk lines tend to be the main streets and arteries of Michigan communities, connecting centers of economic and quality of life activities, as well as often being the host to many adjacent economic and commercial activities. They are inherently the focus of attention for the movement of people, the areas desired by people for multimodal access, and the areas where mode transfer need to occur for a seamless transportation experience to exist. Page 2 of 5
Work Plan 1. Scoping and background information Meet with lead agency staff to review and refine scope of work. Meet with Sense of Place Council to review and refine scope of work. Convene an MDOT project stakeholders group (PSG), including representatives of: o Project planning and community outreach o Traffic estimation and forecasting o Internal mode specific experts o Traffic engineering o Traffic operations o Road design o Bridge design o Maintenance operations o Federal Highway Administration o Federal Transit Administration o Federal Railroad Administration o Others as identified by lead agency staff Recruit and convene a Curriculum Review Committee (CRC) of recognized modal experts from Michigan and other states to advise on the content of the training program. These experts may come from other DOTs, transit agencies, academia, not-for-profits organizations, etc. Collect background information related to existing training opportunities (National Highway Institute, National Transit Institute, American Public Transit Association, National Complete Streets Coalition, ITS America, etc.) o Analyze relevance for this program o Determine permissions required to use material With the PSG and CRC, review existing training and identify any additional training modules required. Create an initial list of existing MDOT practices, standards and guidance that may be subject to revision. Identify any FHWA and/or FTA rules, practices, standards and guidance that may need revision. Review list of MDOT/FHWA/FTA practices, standards and guidance with PSG and revise as appropriate. Update Sense of Place Council. Page 3 of 5
2. Develop Multimodal Workshop Curriculum Create outlines for each mode and for multimodal integration module. Modes will likely include: o Public Transportation o Bicycling o Walking o Intelligent Transportation Systems o Transportation Demand Management o Freight Logistics o Multimodal Integration Review outlines with CRC and PSG. Develop course curriculum and materials including presentations and interactive exercises. Review curriculum and materials with CRC and modify as appropriate. Update Sense of Place Council. 3. Conduct Workshops with PSG Schedule and conduct full-day workshops on each mode. Schedule and conduct a two-day multimodal integration workshop. Compile recommendations from each workshop in a next steps memorandum. Review memorandum with PSG and revise as appropriate. Update Sense of Place Council. 4. Modify and/or augment practices, standards, and guidance in response to workshop findings Review list of practices, standards, and guidance developed in Task 1 and revise/augment as appropriate based upon input from the workshops. Draft work plan for revision. Identify any FHWA and/or FTA practices, standards and guidance that may need clarification/revision in order to implement MDOT work plan. Initiate discussion with FHWA and FTA staff as appropriate. Review work plan with PSG and CRC and revise as appropriate. Review work plan with MDOT management and revise as appropriate. Update Sense of Place Council. MDOT implements work plan. 5. Communicate changes to MDOT staff, partners and customers Draft a communications and training plan for engaging MDOT staff, partners and customers in developing and implementing revised practices, standards, and guidance. Review communications and training plan with PSG and modify as appropriate Page 4 of 5
Review communications and training plan with MDOT management and revise as appropriate MDOT implements communications and training plan Demonstration Project Deliverables Documentation of PSG and CRC meetings Draft and final curriculum Draft and final workshop documentation Draft and final work plan for revision/augmentation of MDOT/FHWA/FTA standards, practices and guidance Draft and final communications and training plan Technical support for this demonstration project is being provided by Smart Growth America through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org. Page 5 of 5