Transportation Agencies Will Finally Measure the Movement of People, Not Just Cars

1. STATES WILL MEASURE THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST VEHICLES

U.S. DOT’s previous version of the rule measured roads that move the highest number of vehicles were the most successful. If some of those vehicles were buses holding 40 people, they would count the same as a single person driving an SUV.

The final rule incorporates a measure of “person-hours” of delay rather than just “vehicle hours.” That means spatially efficient solutions like exclusive transit lanes won’t be penalized for supposedly worsening the congestion problem.

2. STATE DOTS WILL HAVE TO TRACK THEIR IMPACT ON CARBON EMISSIONS

For the first time, state transportation agencies will be required to monitor and forecast the impact of their projects on greenhouse gas emissions. The rule will apply to any alteration of roads in the National Highway System, which includes not just interstates but many state highways and major urban streets as well. Transportation emissions are the single biggest source of carbon emissions in the U.S., and this acknowledgment that DOTs should address the problem is long overdue.

3. PEOPLE WHO WALK, BIKE, OR RIDE TRANSIT WILL BE COUNTED

The U.S. DOT rule creates a “multi-modal” performance measure that will track “non-single occupant vehicle travel.” States will have to establish targets to increase walking, biking, and transit use.

U.S. DOT is also leading a research project to help states and local agencies development better tools to measure how much people walk and bike — a big missing piece in transportation agencies’ toolkits.

4. FREE-FLOWING RUSH HOUR CAR TRAFFIC ISN’T THE GOAL

Originally, U.S. DOT wanted to measure congestion by comparing rush-hour travel times to free-flowing traffic conditions. That framework rewards road expansion and sprawl, and it’s been the basis for a lot of wasteful highway spending.

In response to comments, U.S. DOT dropped this problematic measure altogether.

Beth McKechnie | Workplace Commuter Options

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