LEAST-COST TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN ODOT. PHASE 2 - FINAL REPORT
This project is intended to suggest ways in which least-cost planning principles could be incorporated into the transportation planning process. The Mt. Hood corridor was chosen for examination. The examination of the planning process highlighted several differences between a least-cost planning approach and the present process. First, the corridor chosen is designated as an Access Oregon Highway, and this designation sets certain level of service standards that do not appear to be consistent with a least-cost planning process. Second, the analysis of future outcomes was not as detailed as might be required for a least-cost planning process. Third, the process was more deterministic than would be expected with least-cost planning, since the latter emphasizes uncertainty in forecasts and the need for flexibility. Fourth, the range of alternatives considered appeared to be more narrowly defined than one would find with least-cost planning, and fifth, the analysis of travel patterns and possible diversion to other routes was not extensive as might be done for least-cost planning. Many of these constraints were due to specific requirements of the planning process or of the environmental process. Various approaches to evaluating alternatives for the Mt. Hood corridor are detailed and discussed. The types of data needed and the likely cost of the analysis are specified for different approaches. These include cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness or problem-oriented analysis, and estimation of decision-maker preferences. It is concluded that the general concept of Least-Cost Planning is readily adaptable to transportation planning; however, the specific methodology is still not well defined and there are substantial knowledge gaps regarding the effect of various policies. In particular, there is little information on the effectiveness of various non-construction alternatives in responding to increases in demand for transportation services. It appears to be both feasible and desirable to move in the direction that has been identified as Least-Cost Planning, characterized as a planning process that seeks to improve the efficiency of the transportation system, primarily by considering alternatives to new construction as methods to provide transportation services. Demand management systems, pricing systems, and land use systems are among the options that should be evaluated along with road construction, transit construction, and other supply oriented management systems.
- Record URL:
-
-
Corporate Authors:
Portland State University
Center for Urban Studies, P.O. Box 751
Portland, OR United States 97207-0751Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Center for Transportation Analysis, P.O. Box 2008
Oak Ridge, TN United States 37831Oregon Department of Transportation
Research Section, 2950 State Street
Salem, OR United States 97310Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Rufolo, A M
- Bronfman, L M
- Strathman, J G
- Hillsman, E L
- Elliot, S R
- Publication Date: 1996-6
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 97 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Case studies; Demand; Land use planning; Least overall cost; Methodology; Pricing; Transportation planning; Travel demand management
- Geographic Terms: Oregon
- Old TRIS Terms: Least cost planning; Non-construction alternatives
- Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00728433
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-OR-RD-96-08
- Contract Numbers: SPR 5267
- Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Nov 15 1996 12:00AM