Planning at a metropolitan scale is important for effective management of urban growth, transportation systems, air quality, and watershed and green-spaces. It is fundamental to efforts to promote social justice and equity. Best Practices in Metropolitan Transportation Planning shows how the most innovative metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in the United States are addressing these issues using their mandates to improve transportation networks while pursuing emerging sustainability goals at the same time. As both a policy analysis and a practical how-to guide, this book presents cutting-edge original research on the role accessibility plays - and should play - in transportation planning, tracks how existing plans have sought to balance competing priorities using scenario planning and other strategies, assesses the results of various efforts to reduce automobile dependence in cities, and explains how to make planning documents more powerful and effective. In highlighting the most innovative practices implemented by MPOs, regional planning councils, city and county planning departments and state departments of transportation, this book aims to influence other planning organizations, as well as influence federal and state policy discussions and legislation.

Planning at a metropolitan scale is important for effective management of urban growth, transportation systems, air quality, and watershed and green-spaces. It is fundamental to efforts to promote social justice and equity. Best Practices in Metropolitan Transportation Planning shows how the most innovative metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in the United States are addressing these issues using their mandates to improve transportation networks while pursuing emerging sustainability goals at the same time. As both a policy analysis and a practical how-to guide, this book presents cutting-edge original research on the role accessibility plays - and should play - in transportation planning, tracks how existing plans have sought to balance competing priorities using scenario planning and other strategies, assesses the results of various efforts to reduce automobile dependence in cities, and explains how to make planning documents more powerful and effective. In highlighting the most innovative practices implemented by MPOs, regional planning councils, city and county planning departments and state departments of transportation, this book aims to influence other planning organizations, as well as influence federal and state policy discussions and legislation.

First Published in 2018. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an Informa company.

This study compares Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Regional Transportation Plans (RTP) and planning processes in selected regions of California. The study included seventeen MPOs in order to provide a balance of geographical location, growth rate, transit orientation size, density and air quality conformity status. Recommendations are presented for the following six areas: 1) public participation in the RTP process; 2) the frequency of updates; 3) scoring criteria for projects; 4) the use of planning data in the RTP; 5) coordination with ports and airports; and, 6) the evolving role of MPOs as it relates to the preparation of the RTP.

There are over four-hundred metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in the United States that are federally required to communicate regional long-range priorities in their Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). These plans provide a long-term vision that drives the prioritization and development of billions of dollars worth of transportation improvement projects. Despite the value of these plans, most MTPs fall short on their ability to feel user-friendly (Florida Department of Transportation, 2013). One explanation may be the fact that there is a lack of guidance for good graphic communication. MPOs need to think strategically about how to visualize their information. Therefore, this research is intended to serve as a resource to create appealing and more effective graphics for the general public, stakeholders, and elected officials. Over 1,500 graphics were carefully researched from a random selection of twenty MTPs from MPOs across the United States (with a population less than 200,000). Each graphic was categorized into one of three graphic types used within MTP documents: spatial, numeric, and concept graphics. Extensive quantitative analysis was conducted on these graphics in order to understand existing practice among the twenty MTPs. The application of graphic communication principles for these graphic types enable MPO planners and decision makers to understand "best practices" for graphics in MTP documents. In turn, these recommendations have the ability to enhance the way information is presented publicly and strengthen the overall quality of a document that serves as the overarching regional transportation vision for the future.

State and local governments must designate a metro. planning org. (MPO) in each urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more to help plan surface transport. infrastructure and services. MPOs are subordinate to state departments of transport. in the planning and selecting of projects using fed. surface transport. funds. Contents of this report: (1) The Metro. Transport. Planning Process; (2) Issues for Congress: Decision-Making Authority of MPOs; Surface Transport. Assist. Act of 2009; Perspectives on MPO Authority; Representation and Participation in MPOs; MPO Funding and Tech. Capacity; MPOs and ¿Livability/Sustainability¿ Initiatives; Climate Change Mitigation, Compact Cities, and Transport.; Long-Range Planning; Freight Transport. Illustrations.

As cities around the globe respond to rapid technological changes and political pressures, coordinated transport and land use planning is an often targeted aim. Metropolitan Transport and Land Use, the second edition of Planning for Place and Plexus, provides unique and updated perspectives on metropolitan transport networks and land use planning, challenging current planning strategies, offering frameworks to understand and evaluate policy, and suggesting alternative solutions. The book includes current and cutting-edge theory, findings, and recommendations which are cleverly illustrated throughout using international examples. This revised work continues to serve as a valuable resource for students, researchers, practitioners, and policy advisors working across transport, land use, and planning.