Transportation Planning Process Research Articles

Public participation in transport planning amongst the socially excluded: An analysis of 3rd generation local transport plans

This paper explores current approaches to the engagement of socially excluded or at risk groups and individuals within the 3rd generation local transport planning (LTP3) process and the policies that resulted. A quantitative content analysis of current policies and engagement techniques found that just over half of the 32 English LTP3s assessed outlined at least one instance where a single ‘at risk’ group was targeted using a specific participation instrument. People with disabilities, children and young people were better represented in these instances than older people and ethnic minorities. No evidence was found of specific initiatives aimed at lone parents or people on low incomes. Within these findings significant regional variation was observed with more initiatives in the North East and East Midlands and fewer initiatives in the East and South East. Notable progress has been made in terms of policy rhetoric however, with many plans containing policies which were aimed at social exclusion in general or ‘at risk’ groups in particular. The link between the participation carried out and the eventual policy was not clear, partly because the LTP3s assessed were not explicit about the links between instances of participation and specific policies. This paper considers the implications of these findings on UK policy and suggests that much more needs to be done to engage with socially excluded groups, especially when their reliance on local authority supported transport services is so critical.

Calibrating a trip distribution gravity model stratified by the trip purposes for the city of Alexandria

The trip distribution is the most important yet the most misunderstood model in the Urban Transportation Planning Process (UTPP). One overlooked aspect is the different sensitivities in choosing the destinations based on the trip purposes. This paper proposes a framework to calibrate a doubly-constrained gravity model for the trip distribution of the city of Alexandria based on a Household Travel Survey carried out in 2002. The trip ends are estimated from the available census data. Important parameters for the trip attraction models were estimated and validated in the course of this research. Since a small sample is used, a simple, effective weighing technique is applied to mitigate the sample bias. The purpose-based dispersion parameters are estimated based on the weighted sample. The model validation is also introduced in terms of trip length distribution, intrazonal trips and the distribution of the trip interchanges between city parts. The proposed model demonstrates the different patterns of trip distribution per purpose. It also shows a considerable shift toward non-compulsory trip purposes in the city of Alexandria.

Public transport vehicle scheduling featuring multiple vehicle types

Vehicle scheduling is a crucial step of the public transport planning process because it results in the number of vehicles required, thus it is directly related to fixed cost and labor cost. It is desirable, therefore, to minimize the number of vehicles used and operational cost. This paper proposes a new methodology for the multiple vehicle types vehicle scheduling problem (MVT-VSP). The methodology is based on a minimum-cost network flow model utilizing sets of Pareto-optimal timetables for individual bus lines. Given a fixed fleet size the suggested methodology also allows a selection of the optimal timetable. The method developed enables to stipulate the use of a particular vehicle type for a trip or to allow for a substitution either by a larger vehicle or a combination of smaller vehicles with the same or higher total capacity. Moreover, a variation of the method portrayed makes it possible to construct sub-optimal timetables given a reduction of the vehicle-scheduling cost. It is demonstrated that a substitution of vehicles is beneficial and can lead to significant cost reductions in the range of more than 27%. The suggested methodology is applied to a real-life case study in Auckland, New Zealand, and the results show improvements of greater than 15% in terms of the cost of fleet compared with vehicle schedules that are provided by standard models.

A fuzzy optimization approach for procurement transport operational planning in an automobile supply chain

We consider a real-world automobile supply chain in which a first-tier supplier serves an assembler and determines its procurement transport planning for a second-tier supplier by using the automobile assembler’s demand information, the available capacity of trucks and inventory levels. The proposed fuzzy multi-objective integer linear programming model (FMOILP) improves the transport planning process for material procurement at the first-tier supplier level, which is subject to product groups composed of items that must be ordered together, order lot sizes, fuzzy aspiration levels for inventory and used trucks and uncertain truck maximum available capacities and minimum percentages of demand in stock. Regarding the defuzzification process, we apply two existing methods based on the weighted average method to convert the FMOILP into a crisp MOILP to then apply two different aggregation functions, which we compare, to transform this crisp MOILP into a single objective MILP model. A sensitivity analysis is included to show the impact of the objectives weight vector on the final solutions. The model, based on the full truck load material pick method, provides the quantity of products and number of containers to be loaded per truck and period. An industrial automobile supply chain case study demonstrates the feasibility of applying the proposed model and the solution methodology to a realistic procurement transport planning problem. The results provide lower stock levels and higher occupation of the trucks used to fulfill both demand and minimum inventory requirements than those obtained by the manual spreadsheet-based method.

Community-Based Advocacy at the Intersection of Public Health and Transportation

Integrating public health concerns into transportation policy agendas involves addressing the negative impacts of traffic on neighboring communities. Through interviews, focus groups, and participatory photo-mapping, we studied one community that advocated to improve community health through the design and reconstruction of an arterial road in their neighborhood. The transportation planning process provided an opportunity for neighbors’ participation, but it prioritized solving regional transportation problems instead of local impacts. The uneven adoption of public health concerns in this case was related to the constraints of regional planning and governance. Integrating health and transportation issues locally requires action at multiple scales.

Pluralistic backcasting: Integrating multiple visions with policy packages for transport climate policy

Traditionally backcasting studies in the field transport are based on a single normative vision (often with clearly stated targets) and alternative pathways are then developed to reach that vision. This paper expands the discussion on the role and importance of backcasting towards using multiple visions as a part of strategic transport planning process. This is done by presenting a method for pluralistic backcasting, which is defined as a process where multiple visions of the future are developed in a participatory, interdisciplinary process using the Delphi method. Further, the pathways to the alternative visions are constructed with a set of policy packages in a collaborative process with key stakeholders. The pluralistic backcasting approach outlined in the paper presents a set of practical tools to support development and implementation of climate strategies and policy programmes for transport. It presents a novel, policy relevant application in the field of backcasting. The approach is tested with a case study of multiple visions of the future on CO2 emissions for transport in Finland up to the year 2050, including the identification of required policy packages to achieve the visions.

Public engagement in strategic transportation planning: An analytic hierarchy process based approach

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether and how multiple-criteria decision analysis, based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach, may support the participatory process of the public in the whole transportation planning process, especially in strategic planning and at the initial stages during which planning options are drawn up and the public are rarely involved. The AHP makes it possible to consider the multiple objectives of decision makers and allows public engagement to be deliberative, participatory, dynamic and flexible, which is independent of planning options. The method was specified and calibrated starting from a specific stated preferences survey, and its parameters were calibrated with respect to two scenarios: without any transport options and with real transport options. Different criteria (accessibility, travel safety, comfort, environment, landscape), subcriteria and corresponding indicators (qualitative, quantitative and dichotomous) were considered, and reciprocal weights were calibrated. Finally, a real planning scenario was implemented. Calibration results gave interesting insights into the public desires and expectations, made it possible to rank the different chosen criteria and sub-criteria and to understand the biases between preferences stated with or without transport options. The method can be easily updated and can be easily transferred to any case study.

Operational transportation planning of freight forwarding companies in horizontal coalitions

In order to improve profitability, freight forwarding companies try to organize their operational transportation planning systematically, considering not only their own fleet but also external resources. Such external resources include vehicles from closely related subcontractors in vertical cooperations, autonomous common carriers on the transportation market, and cooperating partners in horizontal coalitions. In this paper, the transportation planning process of forwarders is studied and the benefit of including external resources is analyzed. By introducing subcontracting, the conventional routing of own vehicles is extended to an integrated operational transportation planning, which simultaneously constructs fulfillment plans with overall lowest costs using the own fleet and subcontractors’ vehicles. This is then combined with planning strategies, which intend to increase the profitability by exchanging requests among members in horizontal coalitions. Computational results show considerable cost reductions using the proposed planning approach.

Measuring Transport Systems Efficiency under Uncertainty by Fuzzy Sets Theory based Data Envelopment Analysis

A crucial step in transportation planning process is the measure of systems efficiency. Many efforts have been made in this field in order to provide satisfactory answer to this problem. One of the most used methodologies is the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) that has been applied to a wide number of different situations where efficiency comparisons are required.The DEA technique is a useful tool since the approach is non-parametric, and can handle many output and input at the same time.In a lot of real applications, input and output data cannot be precisely measured. Imprecision (or approximation) may be originated from indirect measurements, model estimation, subjective interpretation, and expert judgment of available information. Therefore, methodologies that allow the analyst to explicitly deal with imprecise or approximate data are of great interest, especially in freight transport where available data as well as stakeholders’ behavior often suffer from vagueness or ambiguity. This is particularly worrying when assessing efficiency with frontier-type models, such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models, since they are very sensitive to possible imprecision in the data set. The specification of the evaluation problem in the framework of the fuzzy set theory allows the analyst to extend the capability of the traditional “crisp” DEA to take into account and, thus, to represent the uncertainty embedded in real life problems. The existing fuzzy approaches are usually categorized in four categories: a) the tolerance approaches; b) the defuzzification approaches c) the α- level based approaches; d) the fuzzy ranking.In this paper, we have explored the Fuzzy Theory-based DEA model, to assess efficiency measurement for transportation systems considering uncertainty in data, as well as in the evaluation result. In particular, the method is then applied to the evaluation of efficiency of container ports on the Mediterranean See with a sensitivity analysis in order to investigate the properties of the different approaches. The results are then compared with traditional DEA.

Applying Interactive Planning on Leadership in the Organization: The Case of Transforming Public Transport Services in Banjarmasin

Transportation is the main artery of economic and social lives in a region. To sustain routine economic and social activities, government is responsible to procure services of public transportation. Issues in Banjarmasin concerning the transportation facilities procurement is related to the increase of urbanization stream to the city, overflowing of private vehicles, people's low discipline level of using vehicles or many traffic offenses. To overcome the problems, the government of Banjarmasin has to establish appropriate policy concerning municipal public transport system suitable with the changes and demands of Banjarmasin people's needs. This research employs interactive planning method to manufacture future planning, based on the problems encountered, and to design planning to overcome those problems (Ackoff, 1981, 2001). The result of the study shows that, first, a firm and resolved leadership is needed in public transportation system planning in Banjarmasin. Second, the process of public transportation planning by using interactive planning method requires participative principle, continuity principle, and holistic principle in order to be sustainable. Therefore, to support the success of public transport services, Banjarmasin government should implement the planning of transportation policy based on sustainable vision in traffic and public transport systems.

Geographic specificity and positionality of public input in transportation: a rural transportation planning case from Central Texas

Current transportation planning processes often incorporate public input, but the types of engagement techniques can affect the ability of practitioners to meaningfully include local ideas. This study incorporates literature integrating communicative rationality with participatory mapping, supported by a case study focusing on two public engagement techniques. A transportation planning process in Central Texas is evaluated in terms of the geographic specificity and positionality of comments received from open-ended responses on a questionnaire and a facilitated mapping session, and reviews this input for relevance to developing a transportation plan. Although all input received from the public can be valuable in the process, location-based comments may be more actionable by transportation planners. Participants’ perceived roles likely affect their level of engagement, which planners can facilitate to maximize the quality of involvement. Planners are advised to understand the positionality of project stakeholders and professionals, designing involvement methods considering geographic specificity appropriate for each project.

Methodology for choosing a route for transport of dangerous goods: Case study

In the Serbian Armed Forces, oil and petroleum products are transported primarily for military units and institutions. The route for the movement of vehicles is selected during the transportation planning process. This paper describes a methodology for the selection of a route for the transport of dangerous goods and its application on one particular case in the Serbian Armed Forces.

Crowdsourcing and Its Application to Transportation Data Collection and Management

The participation of a large and varied group of people in the planning process has long been encouraged to increase the effectiveness and acceptability of plans. However, in practice, participation by affected stakeholders has often been limited to small groups, both because of the lack of reach on the part of planners and because of a sense of little or no ownership of the process on the part of citizens. Overcoming these challenges to stakeholder participation is particularly important for any transportation planning process because the success of the system depends primarily on its ability to cater to the requirements and preferences of the people whom the system serves. Crowdsourcing uses the collective wisdom of a crowd to achieve a solution to a problem that affects the crowd. This paper proposes the use of crowdsourcing as a possible mechanism to involve a large group of stakeholders in transportation planning and operations. Multiple case studies show that crowdsourcing was used to collect data from a wide range of stakeholders in transportation projects. Two distinct crowdsourcing usage types are identified: crowdsourcing for collecting normally sparse data on facilities such as bike routes and crowdsourcing for soliciting feedback on transit quality of service and real-time information quality. A final case study exemplifies the use of data quality auditors for ensuring the usability of crowd-sourced data, one of many potential issues in crowdsourcing presented in the paper. These case studies show that crowdsourcing has immense potential to replace or augment traditional ways of collecting data and feedback from a wider group of a transportation system's users without creating an additional financial burden.

Decision making on transport network planning and the impact on community, economy and the environment

Decision making on transport network planning have an impact on society, economy, environment, travel patterns, reliability and performance of transport networks. Transport corridors provide for all modes of transport and also contribute towards economic growth and community prosperity.The paper presents the analysis of a case study to illustrate a typical transport planning process which in this case has spanned over a period of 40 years. The study captures different stages of the planning process and identifies the gaps. It is noted that whilst the area is known to be prone to disasters, no consideration has been given to the transport infrastructure performance during a disaster.

Location-Based Social Networking Data

Trip distribution is an invaluable portion of the transportation planning process; this distribution leads to the creation of origin–destination (O-D) matrices. Location-based social networking (LBSN) has increased in popularity and sophistication and has emerged as a new travel demand data source. Users of LBSN provide location-sensitive data interactively with mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. These data can provide O-D estimates with significantly higher temporal resolution at a much lower cost in comparison with traditional methods. An LBSN O-D estimation model based on the doubly constrained gravity model was proposed to improve a previously proposed model based on the singly constrained gravity model. The proposed methodology was calibrated and comparatively evaluated against the O-D matrix generated by the method based on the singly constrained gravity model as well as a reference matrix from the local metropolitan planning organization. The results of this method illustrate significant improvement in reducing the O-D estimation errors caused by the sampling bias from the method based on the singly constrained gravity model.

Making accessibility analyses accessible: A tool to facilitate the public review of the effects of regional transportation plans on accessibility

The regional transportation planning process in the United States has not been easily opened to public oversight even after strengthened requirements for public participation and civil rights considerations. In the effort to improve the public review of regional transportation plans, this paper describes the construction of a proof-of concept web-based tool designed to analyze the effects of regional transportation plans on accessibility to jobs and other essential destinations. The tool allows the user to analyze disparities in accessibility outcomes by demographic group, specifically income and race, as required by civil rights-related planning directives. The tool makes cumulative-opportunity measures of the number of essential destinations reachable within certain times by public transit and automobile. The tool is constructed to analyze the San Francisco Bay Area’s 2005 regional transportation plan. Users can choose to make measures for a particular neighborhood or for all neighborhoods in the region with certain demographic characteristics. Two example analyses are shown with an interpretation and discussion of calculator outputs.

What Curriculum for Mobility and Transport Studies? A Critical Exploration

To understand the complex meanings of mobility and to engage in transport planning and management processes, a variety of disciplines, skills, and tools are potentially useful. Universities have a limited amount of time and resources to train future professionals though. This poses a problem: where should the teaching priorities be? By means of a web-survey, this study has asked academics based at a number of universities what the disciplines, skills, and tools that — according to their personal viewpoints — are the most relevant for practitioners in the mobility and transport sector. The respondents generally support curricula that facilitate a holistic, non-specialised, understanding of mobility and transport issues.

A Quality-Based Approach to Public Transportation Planning: Theory and a Case Study

ABSTRACT Methodologies for defining standard quality indicators are important to assess service quality in public transport. The article proposes a method to integrate EU service quality standards in the transport planning process. It also investigates the effects of a set of large-scale transport policies in Campania region, Italy, in terms of service quality and ridership variations. Results of 10 years-long transport policies (€3,115 million invested) shows an impressive increase in both service quality and ridership. The article also compares perceived and measured service quality indicators for a new high quality metro line. Results point to new perspectives in modelling users’ travel behavior and related quality measures.

The application of strategic environmental assessment in a non-mandatory context: Regional transport planning in New Zealand

There is no legal mandate for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in New Zealand. However, a requirement to consider environmental and sustainability issues is a key feature of many statutes, including that relating to regional transport planning. Given this, the research sought to determine whether SEA could be used to improve the incorporation of environmental and sustainability aspects into the regional transport planning process in New Zealand. Existing practice was evaluated, examining what factors currently limiting the consideration of environmental and sustainability issues and to what extent elements of SEA are currently being used. The research culminated in the development of a conceptual model where SEA elements could be incorporated into the existing framework to promote improved consideration of environmental and sustainability issues. The results provide some reassurance about the value of SEA even where its application is not legally mandated. However, it also highlighted some ongoing issues around the integration of SEA in existing frameworks and around the scope of SEA as a decision-aiding tool.

Urban Road Network Safety Model at the Transportation Planning Process

The transportation planning process is considered to be the initial step to incorporate the safety analyses of a transport system. Recently, tools have been created for this incorporation, although the vast majority has been applied at an area level. Despite the capacity of these tools to provide safety information, they are unable to identify hazardous locales in the network. The primary objective of this article was to develop a tool based on accident prediction models, which enable the forecasting of the highest accident-risk entities (i.e., nodes or links) using the information available as well as meeting the main issues that are decided at the planning level. Analyzing the influence of macrolevel road design variables on accident risk was the second objective, providing knowledge for planners and decision makers. To accomplish these objectives, generalized linear modeling techniques were employed to develop models for nodes and links using data from Porto, Portugal. The result analysis demonstrates that the additional macrolevel variables are statistically significant and improves the model. Thus, the results lead to a general conclusion that the proposed models are the suitable tool because they embody the balance between the needs and constraints inherent to the planning level.