Transportation Planning is a multidisciplinary field that sits at the heart of developing effective and sustainable transportation systems. It’s the initial, crucial stage where diverse disciplines converge to shape policies, funding strategies, legislative actions, and project development. As defined in the Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), transportation planning is a “collaborative and participatory process involving agencies, organizations, and the public in a comprehensive look at national, state, regional, and community needs.” This process meticulously examines demographics and travel patterns within a specific area, forecasts future changes, and evaluates potential improvements to the transportation network.
Core Components of Transportation Planning
Transportation planning encompasses a wide range of critical areas, each contributing to the creation of holistic and efficient transportation solutions.
Sustainability in Transportation
Modern transportation planning emphasizes sustainability as a core principle. The Transportation Planning Handbook, Third Edition, highlights the importance of improved coordination between land use and transportation planning. It advocates for cooperative interaction across planning, design, and operation to strike a balance between energy consumption, environmental quality (clean air and water), and the promotion of alternative transportation modes. This approach aims to enhance efficiency, improve mobility, and ensure safety while minimizing the environmental footprint of transportation systems. ITE offers numerous resources on sustainable transportation practices to guide professionals in making transportation more environmentally responsible.
Parking Management Strategies
The planning, design, operation, and management of parking facilities are crucial elements within transportation planning. ITE’s Parking Standing Committee focuses on effective practices in this area, addressing the relationship between land use and parking supply, parking generation rates, and innovative parking management programs. They also tackle transportation engineering issues directly related to parking. The committee actively contributes to updates to resources like the Parking Generation Manual, available through ITE’s Trip and Parking Generation resources, ensuring planners have access to the latest data and methodologies.
Integrating Transportation and Health Considerations
Transportation and health are intrinsically linked. The available transportation modes significantly influence daily physical activity levels. Accessible options like walking and biking encourage active lifestyles, while reliance on driving promotes sedentary habits. Furthermore, transportation systems dictate access to essential healthcare facilities, recreational areas, and even healthy food resources. Prioritizing transportation options that support public health is a growing focus within transportation planning. The Transportation and Health Resource Page on ITE provides further insights into this vital intersection.
Accessibility and Universal Design for All Users
A core tenet of contemporary transportation planning is universal accessibility. Recognizing that roadways serve diverse users beyond standard vehicles, and pedestrian needs vary greatly, planners are moving away from “one-size-fits-all” approaches. Considering that a significant portion of the population experiences disabilities or does not drive, accessible design is not merely an accommodation but a necessity. Accessibility is paramount for safety, especially for individuals with visual impairments. Modern roadway designs, while intended to improve efficiency, can inadvertently create challenges for pedestrians with disabilities, such as increased crossing distances due to larger curb radii and difficult-to-detect curb ramps. Transportation professionals utilize a range of tools and strategies to enhance accessibility in transportation infrastructure.
Traffic Impact Analysis Evolution
Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) is a vital tool in transportation planning, assessing the effects of new developments on the transportation network. ITE’s Recommended Practice on Transportation Impact Analyses has evolved to reflect current industry needs. Initially focused on traditional TIA approaches, the practice is being updated and rebranded as Recommended Practice on Multimodal Transportation Impact Analysis for Site Development (MTIA). This shift emphasizes a broader perspective, incorporating multimodal measures of effectiveness and addressing alternative funding contributions from both public and private sectors for transportation infrastructure. This updated approach ensures a more comprehensive and forward-thinking assessment of development impacts. Further resources on incorporating safety into the TIA process are available in the Technical Brief on Essential Components of Incorporating Safety in Transportation Impact Analysis.
ITE Resources for Transportation Planning Professionals
The Institute of Transportation Engineers provides extensive resources for professionals and those interested in transportation planning.
Councils and Committees
- Transportation Planning Council
- Parking Standing Committee
- Sustainability Standing Committee
- Transportation and Health Standing Committee
Projects and Publications
- Transportation Planning Handbook
- Traffic Impact Analyses for Site Development
- Electronic Toolbox for Making Intersections More Accessible for Pedestrians Who are Blind or Visually Impaired webpage
- Planning and Funding Accessible Pedestrian Facilities webpage
Awards
External Resources
- US Access Board website
- Trip and Parking Generation
In conclusion, transportation planning is a dynamic and essential field that shapes how we move and connect within our communities. By integrating diverse perspectives and focusing on key areas like sustainability, accessibility, and comprehensive impact analysis, transportation planning paves the way for efficient, equitable, and future-proof mobility solutions.
