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

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released new standards on January 18, 2017 to guide transportation agencies in their measurement of performance, with specific inclusion of transit, biking and walking. 

RESULTS:

  • States will now measure the movement of people, not just vehicles, by incorporating a measure of “person-hours” of delay rather than just “vehicle hours,” which means that transit will not be blamed for worsening congestion.
  • State DOTs will be required to monitor and forecast the impact of their projects on greenhouse gas emissions, which can be helpful for justifying walking and biking projects.  
  • States are encouraged to increase bicycle, pedestrian, and transit trips with the new addition of a “multi-modal” performance measure.

Schmitt, A. (2017). Transportation Agencies Will Finally Measure the Movement of People, Not Just Cars. Retrieved from: http://usa.streetsblog.org/2017/01/12/transportation-agencies-will-fina…

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