Summary of input gained from the first rounds of committee meetings and public meetings (July-September 2012) for the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan.
Guest presentation to the Institute for Transport Studies by Keith Buchan, Policy Director of the Transport Planning Society (TPS), 12th November 2014
Keith Buchan outlines what the Transport Planning Society would like to see included in a transport manifesto for the new Government which will be elected in 2015.
Keith Buchan, is the Policy Director of the Transport Planning Society. He has been an Executive Director of Metropolitan Transport Research Unit (MTRU), an independent transport planning consultancy, since 1989. Prior to that he worked for local authorities, including the Greater London Council where he was responsible for implementing the Night and Weekend Lorry Ban. His work has included objectives led assessment, traffic restraint, ‘new generation’ bus priority, demand responsive transport and heavy vehicle studies. Keith recently completed a draft UK strategy to reduce carbon emissions from transport including aviation and shipping. He was a Government adviser for the 1997 national road traffic forecasts (NRTF) that were part of the original NATA in 1998, and is a member of the advisory group now working on the NATA Refresh.
Transport for Cape Town’s role in encouraging public transportTristan Wiggill
A presentation by Ms Melissa Whitehead (Commissioner of Transport: TCT) at the Transport Forum special interest group proudly hosted by TCT in Cape Town on 10 December 2015. The theme for the event was: "Encouraging Public Transport". The topic of the presentation was: "Transport for Cape Town’s role in Encouraging Public Transport".
More like this on www.transportworldafrica.co.za
Encouraging public transport as a feasible option to passenger mobilityTristan Wiggill
A presentation by Mr Ofentse Mokwena (Lecturer: Department of Transport Economics and Logistics Management: NWU) at the Transport Forum special interest group proudly hosted by TCT in Cape Town on 10 December 2015. The theme for the event was: "Encouraging Public Transport". The topic of the presentation was: "Encouraging public transport as a feasible option to passenger mobility"
More like this on www.transportworldafrica.co.za
Making cities more competitive the economic case for public transportTristan Wiggill
A presentation by Adv Alma Nel (Director: Legal and Policy Research: Gauteng Provincial Government) at the Transport Forum Month of Transport Celebrations 1 October 2015 hosted by University of Johannesburg. The theme for the event was: "Trends in Policy Development for Transport" and the topic for the presentation was: "Making cities more competitive The Economic Case for Public Transport."
More like this on www.transportworldafrica.co.za
Multimodal in rail development: popularity and reaping benefitsAtkins
Dr Ghassan Ziadat, Atkins’ director of planning and infrastructure, looks in depth at transport planning, multimodal transportation and transit oriented developments. Ghassan believes that clear government direction, through policy and legislation, remains essential to ensure the consistent and effective adoption of multimodal transportation and transit orientated developments (TODs) in the Middle East’s major cities.
This presentation was first delivered in March 2014 at Infrastructure Outlook 2014, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Guest presentation to the Institute for Transport Studies by Keith Buchan, Policy Director of the Transport Planning Society (TPS), 12th November 2014
Keith Buchan outlines what the Transport Planning Society would like to see included in a transport manifesto for the new Government which will be elected in 2015.
Keith Buchan, is the Policy Director of the Transport Planning Society. He has been an Executive Director of Metropolitan Transport Research Unit (MTRU), an independent transport planning consultancy, since 1989. Prior to that he worked for local authorities, including the Greater London Council where he was responsible for implementing the Night and Weekend Lorry Ban. His work has included objectives led assessment, traffic restraint, ‘new generation’ bus priority, demand responsive transport and heavy vehicle studies. Keith recently completed a draft UK strategy to reduce carbon emissions from transport including aviation and shipping. He was a Government adviser for the 1997 national road traffic forecasts (NRTF) that were part of the original NATA in 1998, and is a member of the advisory group now working on the NATA Refresh.
Transport for Cape Town’s role in encouraging public transportTristan Wiggill
A presentation by Ms Melissa Whitehead (Commissioner of Transport: TCT) at the Transport Forum special interest group proudly hosted by TCT in Cape Town on 10 December 2015. The theme for the event was: "Encouraging Public Transport". The topic of the presentation was: "Transport for Cape Town’s role in Encouraging Public Transport".
More like this on www.transportworldafrica.co.za
Encouraging public transport as a feasible option to passenger mobilityTristan Wiggill
A presentation by Mr Ofentse Mokwena (Lecturer: Department of Transport Economics and Logistics Management: NWU) at the Transport Forum special interest group proudly hosted by TCT in Cape Town on 10 December 2015. The theme for the event was: "Encouraging Public Transport". The topic of the presentation was: "Encouraging public transport as a feasible option to passenger mobility"
More like this on www.transportworldafrica.co.za
Making cities more competitive the economic case for public transportTristan Wiggill
A presentation by Adv Alma Nel (Director: Legal and Policy Research: Gauteng Provincial Government) at the Transport Forum Month of Transport Celebrations 1 October 2015 hosted by University of Johannesburg. The theme for the event was: "Trends in Policy Development for Transport" and the topic for the presentation was: "Making cities more competitive The Economic Case for Public Transport."
More like this on www.transportworldafrica.co.za
Multimodal in rail development: popularity and reaping benefitsAtkins
Dr Ghassan Ziadat, Atkins’ director of planning and infrastructure, looks in depth at transport planning, multimodal transportation and transit oriented developments. Ghassan believes that clear government direction, through policy and legislation, remains essential to ensure the consistent and effective adoption of multimodal transportation and transit orientated developments (TODs) in the Middle East’s major cities.
This presentation was first delivered in March 2014 at Infrastructure Outlook 2014, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Lessons Learned in Transit Efficiencies, Revenue Generation, and Cost Reductions
Presented by: Joel Volinski, Director, National Center for Transit Research, University of South Florida
Over the years, transit systems have responded to budget challenges by becoming more diligent
and creative in developing ways to generate non-traditional revenues and to reduce costs without raising fares or cutting service. Mr. Volinski will discuss a project, first reported on in 1996, whose objective was to collect innovative ideas from transit agencies throughout the country. The ideas collected were then synthesized and redistributed to transit agencies throughout the nation, allowing all agencies to have the potential to replicate successful techniques. Mr. Volinski will also provide a sampling of the 200 successful ideas that have been put in place in dozens of transit agencies across the country.
NFTA Metro Route Restructuring
Presented by: James Morrell, Manager, Service Planning, NFTA
Hal Morse, Executive Director, Greater Buffalo-Niagara Region Transportation Council
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) implemented a major route restructuring
initiative on October 31, 2010; a plan which required extensive organizational planning and community participation. The restructuring included adjusting service levels to make the entire system more efficient and increase passenger revenues. Buses now run more frequently over the heaviest used routes, and less frequently over lesser-used portions. This presentation will outline the steps needed to restructure service to be more efficient and cost effective.
Maintaining and Improving Rural Transit Supply in an Era of Cost-Cutting
Presented by: Matthew W. Daus, Esq., Distinguished Lecturer, City College, University of New York, University
Transportation Research Center, Region II
James Cooper, PhD, Head of the Taxi Studies Group, Edinburgh Napier University
In this session, Mr. Daus and Dr. Cooper will address research completed on the supply of transit services, including paratransit use in mainstream transport provision in rural communities. Evidence will be presented from US and European locations, including the application of a shared
transit scheme using a wide range of optimized supply including Demand Responsive Transportation (DRT) and taxi operations. The presentation will also address how the research has demonstrated that bringing bookings and trips together allows authorities and suppliers to reduce costs, effectively maintaining a service with reduced costs, and/or enhancing services.
Ppp for solving public transport woes in indiaAmit Jain
The public transport in most of the cities are dependent on buses, auto rikshaws, cycle rikshaws which are not able to meet the demand, prone to accidents, delays & traffic jams. The cities need to create an efficient and affordable public transport services. The private sector may be invited through PPP to develop an integrated public transport system in a city. The private sector may charge an appropriate user fee (fare) from the users and earn revenue from commercial activities like advertising, renting & leasing of commercial spaces etc to cover his capital and recurring cost.
Presentation by Maria Börjesson, Deputy Director Centre for Transport Studies, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
Delivered on 5 March 2014 to an audience of postgraduate students at the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds
www.its.leeds.ac.uk/courses/masters/externalseminars
Presented by Eric Ziering, Director of Software, Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
Google Transit and the widespread adoption of the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) has had a huge impact on the availability of Transit routing and scheduling services and information,
both from Google and third parties such as HopStop.com. The effect has been to provide
the public with high-quality information services (well beyond what was imaginable a decade
ago) while lowering the cost to transit agencies. In his presentation, Mr. Ziering will tie together a
number of transit-related information systems projects that are now in progress or have recently
been completed by Cambridge Systematics that illustrate this theme of cost-effectiveness through
the innovative use of information technology. Together, these projects showcase the potential to
maximize the effectiveness of existing transit agency resources through innovative use of information systems.
A presentation depicting what are the advantages of publicly owned and operated transportation system over privately owned and operated transportation system with suitable case studies of a few big cities.
Presentation by Stelios Rodoulis, of Jacobs Consulting, to a postgraduate audience at the Institute for Transport studies (ITS), University of Leeds UK. October 2015.
www.linkedin.com/in/rodoulis
www.its.leeds.ac.uk/courses/masters/programme-structure/#tabs-4
Posters summarizing dissertation research projects to date, presented by MA and MSc students at the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds, May 2014.
on.fb.me/1oSvcMT
www.its.leeds.ac.uk/courses/masters/dissertation
A presentation by Mr Neil Frost (CEO: iSAHA International), at the Transport Forum SIG: "Sustainable Transport" on 6 August 2015 hosted by University of Johannesburg's Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa), or ITLS (Africa). The theme of the presentation was: "Sustainable Integrated Transport".
Maps from teams participating in the Leadership Symposium Mobility Chip Game on 8.24.12. Teams implemented desired transportation infrastructure (type and location) for the region with finite resources. See what our teams came up with- you will notice some very different approaches to promoting mobility in the region!
Key:
Dark Blue=Multimodal Street Improvement
Light Blue=Bus Transit
Gray=Rapid Transit
Green=Multi-use Path
Red=Road Widening
Orange=Roadway New Location
Lessons Learned in Transit Efficiencies, Revenue Generation, and Cost Reductions
Presented by: Joel Volinski, Director, National Center for Transit Research, University of South Florida
Over the years, transit systems have responded to budget challenges by becoming more diligent
and creative in developing ways to generate non-traditional revenues and to reduce costs without raising fares or cutting service. Mr. Volinski will discuss a project, first reported on in 1996, whose objective was to collect innovative ideas from transit agencies throughout the country. The ideas collected were then synthesized and redistributed to transit agencies throughout the nation, allowing all agencies to have the potential to replicate successful techniques. Mr. Volinski will also provide a sampling of the 200 successful ideas that have been put in place in dozens of transit agencies across the country.
NFTA Metro Route Restructuring
Presented by: James Morrell, Manager, Service Planning, NFTA
Hal Morse, Executive Director, Greater Buffalo-Niagara Region Transportation Council
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) implemented a major route restructuring
initiative on October 31, 2010; a plan which required extensive organizational planning and community participation. The restructuring included adjusting service levels to make the entire system more efficient and increase passenger revenues. Buses now run more frequently over the heaviest used routes, and less frequently over lesser-used portions. This presentation will outline the steps needed to restructure service to be more efficient and cost effective.
Maintaining and Improving Rural Transit Supply in an Era of Cost-Cutting
Presented by: Matthew W. Daus, Esq., Distinguished Lecturer, City College, University of New York, University
Transportation Research Center, Region II
James Cooper, PhD, Head of the Taxi Studies Group, Edinburgh Napier University
In this session, Mr. Daus and Dr. Cooper will address research completed on the supply of transit services, including paratransit use in mainstream transport provision in rural communities. Evidence will be presented from US and European locations, including the application of a shared
transit scheme using a wide range of optimized supply including Demand Responsive Transportation (DRT) and taxi operations. The presentation will also address how the research has demonstrated that bringing bookings and trips together allows authorities and suppliers to reduce costs, effectively maintaining a service with reduced costs, and/or enhancing services.
Ppp for solving public transport woes in indiaAmit Jain
The public transport in most of the cities are dependent on buses, auto rikshaws, cycle rikshaws which are not able to meet the demand, prone to accidents, delays & traffic jams. The cities need to create an efficient and affordable public transport services. The private sector may be invited through PPP to develop an integrated public transport system in a city. The private sector may charge an appropriate user fee (fare) from the users and earn revenue from commercial activities like advertising, renting & leasing of commercial spaces etc to cover his capital and recurring cost.
Presentation by Maria Börjesson, Deputy Director Centre for Transport Studies, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
Delivered on 5 March 2014 to an audience of postgraduate students at the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds
www.its.leeds.ac.uk/courses/masters/externalseminars
Presented by Eric Ziering, Director of Software, Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
Google Transit and the widespread adoption of the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) has had a huge impact on the availability of Transit routing and scheduling services and information,
both from Google and third parties such as HopStop.com. The effect has been to provide
the public with high-quality information services (well beyond what was imaginable a decade
ago) while lowering the cost to transit agencies. In his presentation, Mr. Ziering will tie together a
number of transit-related information systems projects that are now in progress or have recently
been completed by Cambridge Systematics that illustrate this theme of cost-effectiveness through
the innovative use of information technology. Together, these projects showcase the potential to
maximize the effectiveness of existing transit agency resources through innovative use of information systems.
A presentation depicting what are the advantages of publicly owned and operated transportation system over privately owned and operated transportation system with suitable case studies of a few big cities.
Presentation by Stelios Rodoulis, of Jacobs Consulting, to a postgraduate audience at the Institute for Transport studies (ITS), University of Leeds UK. October 2015.
www.linkedin.com/in/rodoulis
www.its.leeds.ac.uk/courses/masters/programme-structure/#tabs-4
Posters summarizing dissertation research projects to date, presented by MA and MSc students at the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds, May 2014.
on.fb.me/1oSvcMT
www.its.leeds.ac.uk/courses/masters/dissertation
A presentation by Mr Neil Frost (CEO: iSAHA International), at the Transport Forum SIG: "Sustainable Transport" on 6 August 2015 hosted by University of Johannesburg's Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa), or ITLS (Africa). The theme of the presentation was: "Sustainable Integrated Transport".
Maps from teams participating in the Leadership Symposium Mobility Chip Game on 8.24.12. Teams implemented desired transportation infrastructure (type and location) for the region with finite resources. See what our teams came up with- you will notice some very different approaches to promoting mobility in the region!
Key:
Dark Blue=Multimodal Street Improvement
Light Blue=Bus Transit
Gray=Rapid Transit
Green=Multi-use Path
Red=Road Widening
Orange=Roadway New Location
2040 RTP Community Advisory Committee/Core Technical Team #1CHCRPA
Presentation made to the 2040 RTP Community Advisory Committee and Core Technical Team 7.25.12 & 7.16.12. The presentation introduces the purpose of the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan, goals and challenges, land use and transportation integration, and the concept of performance-based planning.
A presentation by Mr Bill Cameron (Director: Public Transport: DOT) at the Transport Forum Month of Transport Celebrations 1 October 2015 hosted by University of Johannesburg. The theme for the event was: "Trends in Policy Development for Transport" and the topic for the presentation was: "Policy Conundrums in Urban Transport."
More like this on www.transportworldafrica.co.za
Establishing a transport authority in GautengTristan Wiggill
A presentation by Honourable Ismail Vadi (MEC: Department of Roads and Transport: Gauteng Provincial Government), at the Transport Forum SIG: "Cost Effective Public Transport Management Systems" on 12 May 2016 hosted by University of Johannesburg. The theme of the presentation was: "Establishing a Transport Authority in Gauteng"
Providing Transportation Choices: The Region of Durham ExperienceSmart Commute
Written by: Jeffrey Brooks, MCIP, RPP, Ramesh Jagannathan, P.Eng, PTOE, Colleen Goodchild, MCIP, RPP
Presented at: Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers, Toronto, May 2007
World Resources Institute Conference | Beijing, China 2016Texxi Global
Increasing highway capacity is not always a solution to the efficient mobility of people and goods as it leads to more traffic both on the new and existing roads
More traffic means more congestion
With current technology, more traffic means more road crashes, more pollution, more energy wasted, more parking congestion and increasing C02 and climate change
More reliance on car use for mobility leads to poor land use planning decisions and urban sprawl
Especially in towns and cities TDM can reduce the need for motorised transport
TDM can create better use of existing transport transport facilities
In some circumstances TDM can be a cost effective alternative to increasing capacity with new costly infrastructure
On September 23-24, Chattanooga business owners, residents, City engineering, transportation, and planning staff welcomed Dutch bicycle transportation experts to plan and discuss how Chattanooga can become more bike-friendly. The two day ThinkBike workshop addressed how to improve multi modal access along Frazier Avenue and Cherokee Blvd on the north shore and create a link for the St Elmo neighborhood to the planned Riverwalk extension. The result was a broadened understanding of how incorporating bikes and pedestrians into all projects can create a sense of place.
ThinkBike was hosted by the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the City of Chattanooga with generous support from the Benwood Foundation and Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga. The Regional Planning Agency provided staff support for the planning of the workshop.
More information about ThinkBike available here: http://www.chattanooga.gov/transportation/transportation-resources
DRAFT 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)CHCRPA
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia's Draft TIP for 2014-2017 is open for public comment. Comments can be submitted to tpo(at)chattanooga.gov.
2040 RTP Community Advisory Committee/Core Technical Team #2
2040 RTP Outcomes Summary
1. 2040 RTP OUTCOMES SUMMARY: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS
2040 Regional Transportation Plan Public Engagement Efforts
Chattanooga‐Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency (RPA)
Melissa Taylor, Director Strategic Long Range Planning
Project Lead
Office: 423.643.5944, Email: taylor_melissa@chattanooga.gov
Summary of Progress
In July 2012, the RPA on the behalf of the TPO, began seeking public input on the 2040 Regional
Transportation Plan (RTP) through a variety of meetings and workshops. To date, the RTP team has
hosted the following events:
Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting #1, July 25th (38 participants)
Core Technical Team (CTT) Meeting #1, July 26th (29 participants)
Transit Aspirations Workshop, August 22nd (34 participants)
Leadership Symposium, August 23rd (85 participants)
Public Open House, August 23rd (32 participants)
Stakeholder Interviews with interest groups, August 23rd (6 participants)
Climate Adaptation and Transportation Resiliency Workshop, September 17th (15 participants)
The following summary reports represent a synthesis of the ideas, challenges, concerns, frustrations,
and interests expressed during each event. A separate summary of the Leadership Symposium activities
is also included.
To further facilitate interest in the process and to share plan progress, the RPA created a Plan webpage:
http://www.chcrpa.org/2040RTP.htm and Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/2040RTP. To
obtain more detailed public input, a questionnaire was distributed to the TPO TCC/Board meetings, at
public outreach events, and made available online (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2040RTP). The
questionnaire and public event notices were provided in Spanish. To date, we have received more than
320 responses. The questionnaire will close October 31st.
2. 2040 RTP OUTCOMES SUMMARY: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC) & CORE TECHNICAL TEAM (CTT) MEETINGS
July 25 & 26, 2012, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM - Development Resource Center, Conference Room 3B
Challenges & Frustrations – Summary Report
38 CAC and 29 CTT members attended a presentation of the RTP process, and provided input on
transportation-related challenges and frustrations in the region.
TRANSIT
Local funding for transit ranks in the bottom 10% nationally.
Access to jobs via transit is limited.
Improvement in state and federal agency coordination is needed to better serve the disabled
and those living in rural areas (special transportation services).
Better utilization of the existing transit fleet is needed.
The benefits and impacts of transit need to be quantified.
AIRPORT
Increases in cargo freight volume and passenger travel at airport is creating a need for new and
upgraded infrastructure
PARKING
Parking is challenging in downtown Chattanooga and at UTC.
FUNDING, POLICY & PROCESS
A long-term approach to funding for operations and maintenance, transit, and the Chickamauga
Lock is needed.
The process of planning, funding, and constructing road infrastructure is slow and underfunded.
We need to communicate effectively with the public and public officials.
AUTO-CENTRICITY
The transportation system and the local mentality create a focus on moving people out of the
city rather than developing neighborhoods.
We cannot build ourselves out of congestion; we need to find other ways to maximize the
existing system.
Quality of life considerations of transportation projects need to play a role.
CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESS: PROBLEM AREAS
Transit in sprawling areas
UTC to downtown
Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
To major assets (national parks)- we need to determine how to maximize the use of our historic
sites while preserving for future generations
Schools are located away from housing and transportation facilities
3. 2040 RTP OUTCOMES SUMMARY: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS
TRANSIT ASPIRATIONS WORKSHOP
August 22, 2012, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM – Ray Evans Transit Center
Summary Report
The RPA invited local partners with an interest in transit planning to participate in a half-day transit
aspirations workshop with the purpose of developing a consensus-based transit vision for the
Chattanooga region in 2040. 34 participants, including 10 representatives from RPA and consulting
team and 7 representatives from CARTA/SETHRA, gave input.
Where are we now with transit?
Transit service provision in the region has seen severe cuts, largely due to financial constraints.
Geography and topography add to the challenges for transit service and access to service.
Throughout much of the region current transit coverage is sparse.
The free downtown shuttle has proven to be an enduring success for twenty years. Tourists will
continue to expect transit and will provide a market for transit in the future.
The auto-centricity of recent commercial and industrial development has created congestion
and an increasing desire for alternative mobility options.
Where are we going? Trends, development and directions that will impact transit in the region
New employment opportunities and residential and commercial development will continue to
occur outside of the central city area and in areas largely not served by transit. Enterprise South
is one key area to connect by transit.
Increases in Chattanooga Airport passenger traffic will create demand for transit service there.
Demographic trends related to age groups present an opportunity for transit expansion: the
U.S. population is aging and will increasingly require transit. At the same time, younger people
are driving less and looking for alternatives to automobile-based mobility.
Vision for Transit in Chattanooga in 2040
The Chattanooga Region will capitalize on 20 years of successful innovative electric shuttle bus
technology to provide efficient transit service for more people to more places, stimulating economic
development and revitalizing our region.
How do we get there? Strategies to achieve the vision:
Engage employers and business partners as part of the process as this is considered a primary
funding opportunity for the future.
Include further diversity as part of the process, especially actual transit users.
Access to transit service for the aging, young, poor, and disabled must be a priority.
Post-workshop survey results suggest the following prioritization of strategies:
o Most Important: Embrace new technologies for vehicles and information
o More important: (1) Improve bus operating speeds with exclusive bus lanes and new
technologies; (2) Expand to new areas with new routes
o Somewhat Important: Expand hours and frequency of service on existing routes
4. 2040 RTP OUTCOMES SUMMARY: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS
LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
August 23, 2012, 8:15 AM-12:00 PM – The Chattanoogan Hotel, Ballroom 1 & 2
Summary Comments
89 Attendees, including 13 representatives from the RPA and consulting team, gave feedback on
planning themes and mapped their visions for transportation projects in the region, including bus transit,
rapid transit, road widening, new roads, multi-use paths, and multimodal street improvements.
MOBILITY & CONNECTIVITY
Sprawling growth patterns are the most challenging development patterns for our communities.
Additionally, mountains and rivers present topographical challenges to development.
Most participants believe there is or should be an appetite for managing access along critical
corridors.
The majority expressed that multimodal investments are more vital for urban areas and expected
growth areas than in suburban and rural areas.
ENVIRONMENT GREENPRINT
Rivers, mountains, parks, trails, and farmland are the most valuable environmental features and
green spaces of the region.
Protective zoning, including buffers between developments, are needed to protect green spaces.
The region lacks a vision for green space, but this regional vision/master plan is needed. A local
government, regional entity, or the Trust for Public Land should spearhead this effort.
Participants were most supportive of transit, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and emissions
testing as mechanisms for improving air quality.
REGIONAL COLLABORATION
Participants agreed that collaboration across jurisdictions needs improvement.
Transportation issues- transit in particular- and economic issues would both benefit from greater
regional collaboration.
The 2040 RTP can serve as a model for regional collaboration and help integrate planning efforts,
such as Thrive 2055.
ECONOMIC VITALITY
Transit, walking, biking, and the airport are the greatest transportation priorities that will ensure the
region is well positioned to be competitive coming out of the recession.
Transportation should contribute to quality of life and should offer multimodal options.
In order for the region to be successful, transportation policy should embrace complete streets.
5. 2040 RTP OUTCOMES SUMMARY: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
August 24, 2012 – Development Resource Center
Summary Comments
QUALITY OF LIFE INTERVIEW
4 interviewees representing Lyndhurst Foundation, Great Eastern Trail, Cumberland Trail
What are the regional issues that could be addressed through transportation?
Multimodal transportation: more facilities, better connections, improved access, greenways
Improved parking
Stable funding for transportation
What would help improve the region’s quality of life?
A punctual, robust transit system and a culture of transit as a commuting choice
Additional east-west connections
Improving and promoting dense urban centers as places to live
Protecting ridgelines and viewsheds
How could we change or enhance our policy measures?
More appreciation of floodplain preservation through non-motorized travel
More use could be made of preserving green infrastructure
What are your top projects?
Greenways: N Chickamauga Trail; Completed greenway master plan
Bicycle Facilities: A network of “low-stress” bike routes and separated bike facilities - most
roads in the region not currently suitable for bikes
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC VITALITY INTERVIEW
2 attendees, representing National Parks Service and McKee Foods, were asked about the role of
transportation in the economic vitality of the region.
How important is transportation to economic vitality?
McKee Perspective:
Highway access and travel times are very important elements of transportation that impact
economic development. McKee does not rely on rail due to excessive vibration of products.
There’s some concern about the increase in freight traffic through the region as a result in
changes to Panama Canal and increased volume of Atlantic maritime ports. We cannot have a
bottleneck through Chattanooga; a bypass east of Chattanooga should be a priority.
Completing Corridor K is considered very important to the economic vitality of the region.
Parks Service Perspective:
The major corridors are clogged with commuters coming from far outside the region. This is
impacting the accessibility of the local towns to tourists. This is important because there aren’t
overnight accommodations at the surrounding parks. Visitors need good access to easy
wayfinding, and wayfinding is an issue in the region. A coordinated strategy between states and
cities as well as between towns and parks is recommended.
Rossville Blvd is dilapidated, but it could be an enhanced corridor that supports local access.
6. 2040 RTP OUTCOMES SUMMARY: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND TRANSPORTATION RESILIENCY WORKSHOP
September 17, 2012, 8:15 AM-3:00 PM – Development Resource Center, Room 1A
Summary Comments
The 18 attendees of the climate change adaptation workshop identified through a series of activities
critical and vulnerable transportation assets as well as climate adaptation strategies to address the
potential impacts.
ASSETS
The following five transportation assets are both critical to the region and vulnerable to climate change
impacts, such as changing precipitation and increasing temperatures:
Chickamauga Lock and Dam,
Chattanooga Airport and SR 153 access,
Interchange of I-75/I-24,
Enterprise South road and rail access, and
Downtown bridges.
IMPACTS
The attendees identified a number of specific impacts that are likely to occur in the Chattanooga region
if precipitation and temperature patterns change. These included flooding, erosion, road closures,
landslides and other earthwork failures, pavement cracking and rutting, bridge expansion, and airport
take and landing issues, among many others.
CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
The attendees identified a number of climate adaptation strategies to address the impacts. Some
examples include planning transportation infrastructure to avoid flood zones, establishing emergency
detour routes, hardening/stabilizing slopes, using different types of pavement, and increasing
maintenance of culverts, among many others.