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Mineta Transportation Institute Publishes 'Model-based Transportation Performance'Apr 11, 2012 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- The Mineta Transportation Institute has published Model-based Transportation Performance: A Comparative Framework and Literature Synthesis, a peer-reviewed research report. The Company said this study links transportation performance measures with data from simulation tools, develops a common framework by which to compare many of the various measures, and synthesizes the types and the results of these measures as implemented to date. Principal investigator was Caroline Rodier, PhD, with Margot Spiller. The 103-page report is available for free PDF download from transweb.sjsu.edu/project/2805.html "In a time of serious fiscal and environmental constraints," said Dr. Rodier, "there has been a renewed call to identify transportation investments and related policy decisions that will optimize transportation, environmental, economic, and equity outcomes. Several influential reports have articulated how such outcomes may be measured commonly known as performance measures in the context of Global Warming legislation in California and the Federal Transportation Reauthorization Bill." According to a release, the study found that a variety of performance measures have been used to quantify impacts of various transportation policies. However, it is often unclear how those various measures relate and how they can be measured with existing modeling tools. This study links these performance measures to data available from simulation tools and develops a common framework by which to compare many of the various measures. Soon a new generation of activity-based travel and land use models will be implemented statewide and regionally in California. This study will enable performance measures to be developed, which are necessary to explore the critical dimensions of livable communities. The Company noted that the results from synthesizing performance measures in implemented policy studies show that land use effects, travel time, and costs for all modes of travel can significantly affect the determination of total benefits for policy scenarios. Further, external costs related to accidents, noise, air pollutants, and climate change also have significant effects. The findings, as described by the Company, include: -The survey of performance measures suggests that most of the recommended measures have not been implemented in transportation and land-use planning studies in the United States. More of the measures have been implemented in European studies. -The survey showed little commonality in the equity measures implemented in studies to date. This is an area in which regional stakeholders can come together to clearly articulate concerns and evaluate the ability of available tools to measure the impact of policies on those concerns. -Few economic performance measures have been implemented in the United States. Regional governments and community groups have evaluated the financial cost of transportation plans but rarely their cost-effectiveness. -Environmental performance measures related to energy, air quality, and climate change have been frequently evaluated. The report is divided into sections that include Models and Data for Performance Measures; Comparative Framework for Performance Measures; Implementation of Performance Measures; and Evidence for Performance Measures. Caroline Rodier, PhD, is associate director of the Urban Land Use and Transportation Center (ULTRANS) at the University of California, Davis. Her areas of research include transportation and environmental planning and policy analysis. She has experience applying land-use and transportation-demand models to evaluate the performance of a range of transportation and land-use policies. Recently, she has overseen the development of the California Travel Demand Model, which is an activity-based travel-demand model developed on a statewide scale. Dr. Rodier also provided research support to the California Air Resources Board in its development of the scoping plan for Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, including an international review of the modeling evidence on the effectiveness of land-use and transportation strategies. Margot Spiller is a junior specialist at Ultrans. She is also a transportation engineer and planner. Her research interests include the land-use and transportation connection, and emissions reductions from the transportation sector. This is her second co-authored report. The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) conducts research, education, and information and technology transfer, focusing on multimodal surface transportation policy and management issues, especially as they relate to transit. More information: transweb.sjsu.edu ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |