councilonsustainability.org

Sustainable Transportation Working Group,
Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability

DRAFT 11-9-09

NOTE:
We were tasked to

1. Articulate a vision
2. Set goals and actions to achieve the vision in the relevant area.
   1. Short Term (2020)
   2. Long Term (2050)
   3. Immediate Actions
3. Suggest indicators (no more than 5-6) to measure progress towards achieving those goals
4. Identify barriers to reaching goals (legal, behavioral, institutional, educational) with specific examples where possible
5. Identify who is responsible for achieving goals and actions (from #2 above)
6. Identify overlap with other working groups/functional areas
7. Suggest need for future research

Proposed Vision:

Southeastern Massachusetts has a transportation system that supports and promotes communities that are livable, green, fiscally responsible and designed for people rather than cars.  Our transportation system is:

• Socially sustainable, by providing equitable access to jobs, education, and services for all residents;
• Environmentally sustainable, by minimizing negative impact on climate change and by promoting human and environmental health;
• Economically sustainable, by maximizing efficiency through coordinated use of transportation assets and coordination with land use, by creating jobs, and by increasing access to employment and education.

Long term goal (2050): SE Mass is a “sustainable transportation hub” with a wide range of alternative modes of transportation; coordination of transportation resources and inter-modal links; planning and land use policies that support a variety of travel modes; and government, business and community support for mobility management and sustainable transportation policies and networks.

Short term goal (2020): Raise public awareness about impacts of transportation choices and increase use of transportation alternatives.  Reduce impacts of fossil fuels on the climate and the environment.

Proposed Policy priorities:

• Commuter rail link to Boston, with effective inter-modal links
• Increasing bicycle and pedestrian paths and connections
• Sustainable zoning and land use planning
• Prioritize funding to improve public transit and shared transportation resources – including technology (intelligent transportation systems, Google transit, fare payment, etc.).
• Mobility management
• Fill the gaps in transportation connections within the region and to other regions, integrating all available transportation resources.
• Short sea shipping for freight transportation

Goals and Actions (Identify who is responsible for each.)

Immediate actions  (Who will take the lead for each action?  Timeline?  Steps? Resources?)

1. Sponsor a “Transportation Fair” for public awareness of transit and other alternative modes, increase communication among local transportation resources, etc.
2. Continue work on Southeastern Massachusetts Transportation Coordination project to inventory all transportation resources and identify transportation needs (and increase awareness).
3. Add sustainability to SRPEDD transportation project evaluation criteria for projects.
4. Inventory funding sources for sustainable transportation actions and potential applicants.
5. Learn more about rideshare and other options (Alternative Rides; biking and pedestrian possibilities; Zipcar; Zipbike).
6. Create list of expanded contacts for Transportation WG:  Transportation Joint Legislative Committee; Department of Public Health Healthy Communities; Mass. Sustainable Transportation Planner Catherine Cagle; Mass. Transit Director John Englert.
7. Invite speakers/experts:  MassRIDES to discuss use of their resources in SE Mass; Catherine Cagle, new Manager of Sustainable Programs at MassDOT; Kristin Decas New Bedford Harbor; Mass Bicycle Coalition; Jeff Brown, Ridebuzz; other biking and pedestrian speakers; etc.
8. Promote service learning connections between student curriculum and specific projects with partners.  Schedule independent learning projects for next semester with faculty.
9. Develop a checklist of sustainable actions.  Encourage communities to do by developing a sustainable (transportation) “seal of approval” program to promote smart policies, developments, practices etc. undertaken by governments, businesses, organizations and individuals.
10. Get all 27 municipalities to sign onto Council and develop a list of shared priorities.

Long-term Actions

#1. Develop and advocate for policy changes that support sustainable transportation goals. (Policy Subcommittee from each Working Group)

Strategy

1. Research effects of institutional barriers and potential solutions.
2. List potential policy changes and rationale for each.
3. List who needs to be involved and engage all partners.
4. Meet with government leaders.

#2. Raise public awareness and understanding of the consequences of individual, corporate and institutional transportation choices. (SRPEDD, Council, Transportation Working Group, University and colleges, Regional Transit Authority, Mass Rides, local committees)

1. Work with Council and Working Groups to produce a comprehensive regional transportation/land use/economic development plan that coordinates priorities and recommendations and has a vision for the future landscape of Southeastern Massachusetts that considers climate change and energy strategies. 
2. Include sustainability criteria in criteria for TIP projects and other regional projects
3. Give sustainable “stamp of approval” to communities in region applying for competitive State grant funding.  Provide recognition to “sustainable communities” who take positive actions for sustainability.
4. Stimulate Faculty at educational institutions to reform curriculum that incorporates sustainability, smart growth and transportation impacts on the environment. Connect these students with town select boards and other outreach activities that further the Council’s goals.
5. Create a public education campaign (using billboards, CATV, video meetings, You Tube, videos to schools, social media) to:  
   1. raise awareness about fuel conservation, including 55mph driving and proper inflation of tires; drive less, combine errands, walk more; buy from local suppliers;
   2. Mass Rides programs;
   3. Increase support for expanded public transit, ride-sharing and other alternative modes
6. Create a campaign targeted to employers about employee incentives for carpooling, transit, biking and walking (e.g. extra mileage reimbursement based on number of people in car; guaranteed ride home, preferred parking spaces, reduced parking permit cost, reduced cost to develop parking).
7. Schedule “No Car Zone” days and activities in urban centers.

#3. Increase availability and user-friendliness of alternative modes of travel (biking, walking, public transit, shared rides, etc.) (Municipalities, SRPEDD, Council, Regional Transit Authorities, Executive Office of Transportation, local committees, schools)

A sample list of actions follows:

1. Review local zoning and plans with a sustainability screen and make changes to support sustainable transportation goals.
2. Create incentives for new businesses that support sustainable transportation goals, e.g., zip bikes, shared cars, smart jitneys, retrofitting vehicles with clean technology.
3. Install bicycle, walking and transit enhancements.
4. Incorporate intelligent transportation systems (ITS)--such as universal fare payment, Google transit, corridor management and communication systems—into transportation systems.
5. Inventory existing and potential bicycle and pedestrian networks and develop a plan for improving safety and connectivity.
6. Inventory existing and potential public transportation networks and develop a plan to increase connectivity within the region and with other regions.
7. Create a one-stop transportation information resource.
8. Request Mass Rides to improve promotion of their programs in the region and encourage businesses and institutions to participate.
9. Inventory existing vehicle fleets and transportation expenditures in the region in order to coordinate the use of existing transportation resources through cooperative agreements.
10. Identify potential Transportation Management Areas and investigate interest and available funding for their establishment.

#4. Implement clean energy transportation technology wherever possible.  (Who does this?)

1. Study viability of sail transportation via waterways.
2. Attract businesses related to alternative energy technology.
3. Develop an intern program with colleges, universities and high schools to retrofit existing fleets/vehicles to use biodiesel or other clean fuel; retrofit fleets with filters to reduce air pollution, etc.
4. Support incentives for transit and private transportation to invest in hybrid and clean fuel technology vehicles.

#5.  Recognize and support Mobility Management to maximize the use of existing transportation resources.  (Who takes the lead?  What are the steps?)

Mobility Management is a way of managing all community transportation resources that emphasizes moving people instead of focusing on a particular mode of transportation.   A Mobility Manager coordinates services and providers in order to increase the efficiency of the transportation service delivery system.  (Project Action brochure on Mobility Management, 2007)

In the southeastern Massachusetts region, mobility management actions will coordinate all transportation resources (public transportation, Mass Rides, transportation management areas, rideshare resources, private companies, employer transportation, people, funding and technology).

Whether a mobility manager provides options to the single-occupant auto directly or through collaboration with other organizations, being a mobility manager implies a range of activities that go beyond traditional transit service. Those activities have been divided into four categories.

1. Operational functions – assisting customers with or supplementing fixed route services with nontraditional services such as carpooling, subscription service, shuttles, demand response, volunteer transportation, etc.
2. Technological functions – telecommuting, real-time rideshare matching, “smart card” fare payment, trip reservations and integrated billing.
3. Marketing and informational functions – being a one-stop information resource for all travel options, including public and private operations.
4. Land use functions – advocating, planning and financing projects that support development patterns that foster transit ridership.

Potential Indicators: (come up with 5 or 6)

• Amount of regional VMT (vehicle miles traveled)
• Amount of work trips completed by SOV (single occupancy vehicle)
• Miles of bike paths and sidewalks
• Policies enacted that support sustainability goals
• Zoning changes enacted that support sustainability goals
• Number of alternative energy vehicles
• GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions at all levels

Barriers to achieving sustainable transportation: (Use specific examples to illustrate.)

• Funding amounts for public transportation, bike paths and sidewalks is inadequate.
• The current tax structure encourages “sprawl”.
• There is no entity responsible for coordinating land use development with transportation infrastructure at a local, regional or state level.  There is no enforcement mechanism for Section 61 findings for MEPA.
• We live in a car culture, where cars equal freedom.  Planning and investment strategies at all government levels prioritize automobile travel.
• Public Transportation needs increased revenue and a dedicated revenue source, as well as flexibility in how it uses its funding (operating or capital).
• Lack of awareness and understanding of the consequences of individual, corporate and institutional transportation choices.
• The complexity of the transportation planning process at all levels discourages public involvement.
• Transportation is a part of all aspects of society, yet it is often considered as an afterthought in location decisions (e.g., human service offices, medical facilities, schools).

Identify overlap with other working groups/functional areas.

• Equal access (to clean air, healthy food, jobs, education and nature) for all residents.
• Reduce negative impacts on climate change by reducing use of fossil fuels and increasing use of clean energy and technology.
• Maximize efficient use of existing resources through inventorying what exists and improving coordination.
• Increase connectivity between cities within and outside of region.
• Increase public awareness about impacts of choices and alternatives.
• Increase municipal representation on Council and find consensus on policy priorities.
• Broaden Council involvement to reflect the population of the region.
• Sustainable “seal of approval” program.
• Shared barriers and policy changes needed
• Need for a one-stop resource for all (transportation) information.
• Support for Short Sea Shipping and Commuter Rail link to Boston.
• Create new jobs.
• Buy from local suppliers.
• Use resources of higher education institutions to achieve goals.

Suggest need for future research.  (Ideas?)

• Specific effects of barriers, places that have dealt with barriers and results, proposed effects of removing barriers.
• Transportation funding and pricing innovations
• Incentives to voluntarily reduce driving and/or fuel use
• Supply chains for freight and potential for SSS and/or rail
• Study viability of freight transported by sail power
• Literature search re:  sustainable transportation
• Short-line rail (value to region for food, freight; inventory of existing resources)
• Increasing wireless capability in the region
• Mobility management
• Attracting new transportation businesses.
• Vehicle inventory of all transportation resources
• Inventory of available funding to achieve goals.

Responsible parties:

• The Council demonstrates leadership on the issue of sustainability; forms a compelling, positive vision for the region; is the voice for advocating sustainable policies and practices at local, regional and state levels; is a source of connections and information for all stakeholders; provides advocacy, outreach and education about sustainable actions; and builds a work program of actions to take in order to move towards the vision.
• The Working Groups serve as a technical and public outreach resource to SRPEDD, UMD and the Council.
• UMD is the leader in research and in strategies for public education, awareness and behavior change to foster sustainability.
• SRPEDD provides technical support on regional planning issues and provides municipal outreach and education..
• Cities and towns support Council priorities and review their local policies.
• Regional Transit Authorities enhance transit through public information and through programs to increase bike racks, bus shelters and other passenger amenities.
• Community sustainability committees serve as focal points for local advocacy and action.

Recommendations for Policy Changes

1. Provide input to federal transportation legislation.
2. Change municipal funding to remove incentives for all communities to attract inappropriate development.
3. Support stronger requirements and enforcement within MEPA for new development projects to mitigate transportation impacts.
4. Increase costs of development where it encourages sprawl and where the automobile is the only transportation mode.  Provide incentives to invest in urban centers and close-in suburbs.
5. Parking policies and costs.
6. Require consistency of local plans and land use regulations (zoning, subdivision regulations, parking requirements, etc.)
7. Support a restoration and expansion of bus and rail passenger transit to make it a viable choice, with reasonable minimum frequencies and hours of service.
8. Support and encourage short-sea shipping in port cities.
9. Require master plans and provide financial support.  Require consistency of master plans with land use policies.
10. Add sustainability criteria to State grant funding.
11. School Transportation policy change and School location and funding policy change
12. Invest in wireless technology.
13. Preserve all rail ROW lines and segments, including secondary lines to allow for short local rail trips (or other use of rail ROW) across the region.
14. Connect the region with Boston through the South Coast Rail project.
15. Create an east-west transit connection.
16. Plan land use in conjunction with present and future transit routes.
17. Add DEP Clean Air Act mandates for large employers/trip generators to take steps to reduce vehicle trips and enforce!
18. Allow transit authorities flexible funding based on need for capital or operating assistance and/or increase operating funding.