APA Transportation Planning Division
Monday, April 26, 2004
Washington Hilton, DC, Observatory Room
48 in attendance (below)
Chair Whit Blanton called the meeting to order at 5:50pm. He then asked for introductions, which were given by everyone.
TEA-21 Reathorization: Based on his informed position as APA staff-person based in Washington, Jason Jordon provided the latest news on the status of SAFETEA negotiations. Senator Warner has emerged as a major champion on sound transportation planning. The House version keeps allocations for MPO funding at the current 1%, while the Senate version raises it to 1.5%. From attendees came many questions, including a plea to argue for project funding by planning criteria, not “pork barrel” ear-marking. “Enhancements” are intact after a successful bi-partisan response to the Bush Administration’s attempts to end them. There will be additional funds for transport on Indian Reservations. CMAQs are a big issue: new regulations will soon be put into place, while funds grow a bit.
Chair’s Report: Whit presented the Annual Report, starting with the good news that TPD was one of only three divisions to meet all the criteria established for APA’s evaluation process. He presented the 2004 Work Program, which continues the same basic elements of recent years. He explained that APA is advancing a Mentoring Program, to be running by this fall focused at the chapter level. TPD has 6 volunteers and seeks more. Whit will soon nominate a chair for an Election Committee to implement upcoming election of officers.
Student Paper Competition: Ruth Steiner explained that 15 papers on diverse topics from a variety of universities were received. Karen Lambertson announced the two winners – both of which used GIS techniques. Second place went to Jeeseong Chung of MIT for a paper on ways to measure pedestrian-friendliness. First place was to Daniel Prevost of UVa for a paper on the geography of public participation. Both papers will be posted on the TPD website. Chung’s papers will be forwarded to the TRB Committee on Pedestrians.
Airports in the Region: Whit reported that the level of attendance and participation at the Divisions Council “forum” the previous day were good. It provides much input for a multi-year work program aimed at producing planning guidance and best practices for APA. Whit will prepare a draft report and make it available for comment. The focus will be on the airfront district, and the needs for better intergovernmental communications and coordination are obvious. Mike Callahan, departing chair of the committee, thanked all for their participation. Peggy Drake suggested contact with the BWI Airport director, who is a planner. The importance of cargo and food movements was noted. Whit added that Dan Wong of SFO is already busy working on the program for next year’s National conference in San Francisco. Larry Fabian described interest from a British airport publisher that is organizing a series of workshops on “Airport Cities” to cooperate with TPD. Whit pointed out that there is an International Division which might be interested.
APA05: Ideas for sessions for next year’s National are due the end of July, as the conference starts on the early side of spring, March 19, 2005. Among the themes are the Rise of Regionalism and New Urbanism. Ideas should be directed to Vice-Chair Larry Lennon. Don Steiger offered his services in helping to organize supplementary TPD visits or workshops such as held in recent years. Larry Fabian offered that ATRA would probably be interested in something along these lines, and also solicited interest from anyone wishing to work on a session for San Francisco on Parking and Circulation for Campus Dstricts (e.g. hospitals, universities).
Membership Survey: Newsletter editor Ruth Fitzgerald passed out detailed information and described results from an extensive survey of membership interests that have important implications for the newsletter and TPD as a whole. Over 760 members responded. They want case studies, regulatory updates, and news on innovative technologies, and TPD (not APA) news. Two-thirds prefer electronic to paper delivery. There is strong but not complete support for a transportation planner certification. Only 6% consider themselves active in the Division, but almost half are willing to become active. Almost 40% work with or as consultants. 23% are at local agencies, 18% regional, 10% state and federal, and 9% academic.
Newsletter: The next issue will go out in May. The deadline for the following issue is late July for a late August mailing.
Whit adjourned the meeting at 7:30.
David Kuehn, FHWA
Karen Lamberton, Pima AG
Ned Baier, Hillsborough Co.
Bobby Sills, Nelsnick Enterprises
Robert Johnson, Johnson Visual Software/ATRA
Whit Blanton, Renaissance Planning
Mark Johnson, Landrum & Brown
Rana Al-Jammal, Umass
Namda Srinivasam, FHWA/CSI
Elaine Murakami, UFla
Dan Prevost, Parsons
Ruth Steiner, UFla
Mark Melnychenko, Phoenix Transit
Larry Fabian, Trans.21
Keshtkaran, Cleveland RTA
Bruce Wilson, Water Taxi Inc.
Linda Howe-Steiger, UC Berkeley ITS
Jeeseong Chung, MIT
Holly Krambeck, MIT
Andrew Murray, U-Ill UC
Leonard Wolfenstein, Fairfax Co., VA
Larry Lennon, PB
Don Steiger, GTP, Inc.
Janet Bell, Jefferson Co, CO
Norman Marshall, Smart Mobility Inc.
Alan Black, Ukansas
Katherine Kelly, Rockville MD
Anne Wallas, Rockville MD
Matt Noonkester, Kimley-Horn
Wade White, Citilabs
Noel Comeaux, Earth Tech
David Phillips, UVa
Brian Blaesing, Oakland Co. Roads
Richard Rolland, NW&Atc JJAP
Ruth Fitzgerald, FHI
Jherry Riklin, US DOT/OST
Mike Callahan, Parsons
David Ginns, Sustainable Pittsburgh
Jaak Pedak, Fairfax Co. VA Transportation
Jim Prost, BBP
Laura Toole, Michael Baker
Kent McLemore, Houston Airport
Robert Ritter, FHWA
Anthony Drummond, San Jose
John Wetmore, Perils for Pedestrians
Peggy Drake, Baltimore Plannng/TRB Pedestrians
Wiatt Bowers, PBSJ
Lilia Medina, Miami