Conference on Performance Measures for Transportation and Livable Communities
SEPTEMBER 7-8, 2011 • AUSTIN, TEXAS
Sessions
Full Summary
PDF, 1.1M, 116 pages
Luncheon Speaker
Breakout Session 1: Complete Streets Performance Measures
Breakout Session 2: Sustainability, Livability, Planning, and Policy Performance Measures
Breakout Session 3: Urban and Rural Livable Communities
Breakout Session 4: Transportation Performance Measures for Communities of all Sizes, Shapes, and Forms
Breakout Session 5: Land Use, Social Justice, and Environmental Performance Measures
Breakout Session 6: Livable Communities and Transit Performance Measures
Breakout Session 7: Access to Destinations Performance Measures
Breakout Session 8: Freight, Economic Development, and Return on Investment Livability Performance Measures
Breakout Session 9: FTA Livability Performance Measures Projects
Breakout Session 10: State, MPO, and Local Examples
Breakout Session 11: Bicycle and Pedestrian Performance Measures
LUNCHEON SPEAKER
Presiding
LINDA WATSON, President/CEO, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Speaker
Texas State Senator KIRK WATSON
Senator Watson discussed the concepts of livability and sustainability and how these concepts apply to transportation. He provided examples of approaches used in the Austin area. Senator Watson covered the following topics in his presentation.
- The terms livability and sustainability have become lightning rods to many groups. People tend to feel strongly supporting livability and sustainability ideas or strongly opposing them. Many people view the concepts as all good or all bad. Similar reactions occurred a few years ago with the smart growth concept. People were either strongly in favor of smart growth or strongly opposed. There was very little middle ground. Projects that promote livability and sustainability may be under minded due to these strong feelings.
- Addressing sustainability as a more fundamental or human term may help address these concerns. Thinking of sustainability and livability as the quality of one’s life, the quality of our constituents’ lives, the contentment our constituents feel on a day-to-day basis, and their sense of wellbeing may be a better approach. These concepts do not begin or end with transportation. Transportation plays a key role in enabling or supporting all of these concepts, however, as it does in people’s everyday lives.
- Rather than focusing on individual transportation projects, a better and more productive approach may be to focus on transportation programs and the concept of comprehensive transportation systems. Using the term "comprehensive lifestyle support system" may help overcome the concerns noted with the terms livability and sustainability. Transportation supports people’s lives. Transportation enhances people’s happiness and community contentment.
- Unlike the movie Field of Dreams and the "build it and they will come" perspective, for many years Austin had the perspective related to transportation of "don’t build it and they won’t come." Transportation was not being considered as a comprehensive system for the full community. It was not viewed as a comprehensive lifestyle support system.
- The Edwards Aquifer and the Barton Springs recharge zone are located in southwestern Travis County. This area is also home to the protected Barton Springs Salamander. Placing transportation infrastructure in other areas, such as the SH 130 Toll Road on the east side of Austin, helped direct growth and new development away from the Edwards Aquifer and the Barton Springs recharge area.
- It is also important to communicate the benefits of a comprehensive transportation system approach in personal terms. People related to how transportation will benefit their lifestyle support system, especially when they see a comprehensive approach, not just individual stand-alone projects. This approach has been used successfully in Austin. A transportation investment decision tree, which included sustainability and livability, was used as part of this approach. Other elements in the decision tree focused on a transparent and accountable process, the project purpose, and project benefits, including mobility, economic development, environment, public health, social equity, and quality of life. A final element was the project cost.
- Process is important, but process may be used to slow down or stop a project or program. Focusing the transportation decision making process on lifestyle support systems, community wellbeing, and contentment can help address possible concerns.
- One challenge being faced at all levels of government is promoting a 21st century economy with 19th century tools. Making investments in transportation and other infrastructure today for the future is critical. Lifestyle support systems need state-of-the-art transportation.
- The transportation planning and investment decision process should be transparent and accountable. It is unrealistic to think that 100 percent consensus will be achieved on any project or program. It is important for transportation professionals to highlight the long-term gains and benefits from short-term costs in strategic investments.
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