APA Transportation Planning Division

 

 

 

 

M  I  N  U  T  E  S

of the

B U S I N E S S   M E E T I N G  at NATIONAL

 

 

March 21, 2005

San Francisco Marriott, Yerba Buena Salon 10-13

43 in attendance*

 

 

 

Chair Whit Blanton opened the meeting at 6:20pm, welcoming attendees and leading a round of introductions.

 

  1. Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) representative Andy Canby was introduced. She asked how they can cooperate with TPD to advance the status of planning in the U.S. Input by May is appreciated. Her telephone is 202-974-5135

 

  1. Amy Carrier of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship was also introduced. She mentioned their work of advocating the FasTracks program in Denver and announced a conference they were organizing this May in Washington DC. Her telephone is 303-477-9443.

 

  1. Jim Schwab (773-218-2560) asked for TPD assistance with their Tribal Travel program for a TRB Synthesis project. He invited attendees to a focus group on Wednesday, 3/23.

 

  1. Dan Wong described Airports-in-the-Region (AIR) activities, including the FAA meeting on Land Use Compatibility in Washington Feb. 17, input into the APA Guidebook, and two sessions and a mobile workshop at the San Francisco conference. Larry Fabian described the possibility of a TPD participation in a workshop with the Greater Jamaica Dev. Corp., Dusselfdorf Airport, and others to explore the kinds of urban activities drawn to an airfront location. Whit Blanton reported that his presentation (available on the TPD website) at the Feb. UC Berkeley aircraft noise symposium and a “groundswell” of support and interest in APA involvement to help set standards and identify best practices (Whit needs input by 4/14), and assured that APA did not intend to be used as a “shield” for inappropriate airport expansions. Ashraf Jan of the FAA noted that AIR is “very encouraging” as it will help airport officials to pay attention to issues “outside their fence”.

 

  1. New officers Larry Lennon (former vice-chair, new chair), Hilary Perkins (new vice chair), Todd Ashby (new treasurer) and Larry Fabian (incumbent secretary) were announced. The services of Whit Blanton and Larry Fabian were applauded, as well as Sara Forelle and Noel Comeaux who orchestrated the election process. Only about 15% of members voted, similar to other divisions.

 

  1. For the second year in a row, TPD received an “outstanding” evaluation according to APA’s performance criteria for divisions. The 2005 Work Program and budget were distributed. The Program was described, including work on the continuing student paper awards, mentoring, education, and our excellent newsletter, now with email distribution at a major cost savings. The membership campaign of “2,006 by 2006” was mentioned as a project for this year. New website manager Krishna Veerangham was announced.

 

  1. Karen Lamberton announced that winner of the graduate student paper award was Eric Sundquist of Georgia Tech. Ruth Steiner was not present to report the undergraduate award. Volunteers are wanted to review papers for the next round.

 

  1. Bill Lyons of the USDOT/Volpe Center described a new FTA project to enhance the quality of transit new start planning, and invited TPD members to a meeting Tuesday evening. His telephone is 617-494-2579.

 

  1. A written proposal received from the Urban Design & Preservation Div. was mentioned. It involves supporting an effort outlined by UPenn Professor Tomazinis and David Hunt to develop and document an approach to evaluate principles presented in Beyond Traffic Calming: A Balanced Circulation Approach to Transportation and Economic Development published by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. TPD can offer to review their work and offer other input. A financial contribution is not necessary. The chair of the ID&P Division is Karen Hundt at 423-668-2262.

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15pm to a joint reception with the Intergovernmental Affairs Division.

 

 

 

*  All but one of the sign-in sheets was misplaced. A count of 43 was taken during the meeting. About 15 of them indicated that it was their first time at a TPD meeting.