Showing papers on "Transportation planning published in 2023"

Investigation of Critical Factors for Future-Proofed Transportation Infrastructure Planning Using Topic Modeling and Association Rule Mining

Abstract: Most existing studies on transportation infrastructure planning focus on only one or a few critical factors. In addition, the interrelationships among different planning factors were seldom investigated. Therefore, this study aims to develop a holistic understanding of various critical factors and their interrelationships toward future-proofed transportation infrastructure planning. A novel text mining-based approach was proposed in this study to identify the critical factors and their interrelationships based on selected transportation infrastructure planning publications. Two topic modeling techniques, i.e., latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF), were used to identify the critical and emerging topics that may affect transportation infrastructures, resulting in the automatic identification of critical factors. These factors were compiled and converted to a four-level taxonomy via bottom-up grouping. Association rule mining (ARM) was then used to discover relations among the identified factors. Among these interrelationships, eight were found to be significant based on confidence and lift values as two quantitative measures of association rules. These findings could guide transportation infrastructure planners and decision makers to have a holistic approach to planning, building, and managing our transportation infrastructure in the face of future risks and opportunities. This study also demonstrates the potential of using text mining techniques to explore new knowledge in civil infrastructure planning.

Planning of Transportation Infrastructure Networks for Sustainable Development with Case Studies in Chabahar

Abstract: This article addresses the problem of increasing transport services that intercontinental corridors demand from the urban infrastructure networks along their routes. Yet, attention has not been paid to the coordination between the transportation potentials of a city infrastructure network located on the path of an intercontinental corridor and the sustainable application of the corridor itself. This article discusses solving this problem by increasing the transportation capacities of the cities on the path of the corridor. With field studies in Chabahar, we observe the situation of its transportation infrastructure network to discover shortcomings and suggest required changes. This paper recommends the necessary changes and improvements in the urban transportation system of Chabahar to have a sustainable intercontinental corridor and an effective urban infrastructure network simultaneously. The research methods used include observation of traffic flow and behavior in travel origins, destinations, and paths in Chabahar. Then, this study builds a mathematical model with a graph technique to calculate the traffic capacities on the nodes and streets and determine places that require changes. Analyses show that 13,420 cars enter just the center of Chabahar city due to the increasing pressure of the Chabahar–Milak corridor. This paper recommends a multi-modal transportation system with an urban public transport network. It also suggests physical and geometric corrections in sight distances and longitudinal curves of streets, sidewalks, and squares. We find urban transportation failures in the city and present a comprehensive transportation plan for its improvement. This model is applicable in all cities on the route of corridors and assists their sustainable function and urban transport system simultaneously.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Planning and Implementation: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Abstract: Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is an innovative mobility service that aims to redesign the future of urban mobility by integrating multi-modal transportation and app-based technologies to enable seamless urban mobility. While MaaS pilot demonstrations and schemes implementation have taken place in different cities at a global level, and relevant studies focus on the MaaS barriers and users’ characteristics, the planning process for implementing MaaS is rarely presented. This paper summarizes the services to be integrated into the MaaS Athens’ demo site in Greece and describes the planning process that was followed to showcase the demo. The demo site is located within the urban area of Athens, including a public transport operator, a bike-sharing service, a taxi operator, and a municipality public transport operator. The demonstration runs developments in a real corridor that has the potential to prepare the MaaS eco-system deployment and market uptake. Three travel cases are planned: (1) Multimodal work trip; (2) MaaS for tourists; and (3) Interurban/urban interfaces, for work and shopping/leisure trips. The user journeys are defined in detail and the main information for each user journey is presented. The study concludes with challenges that were faced during the demo planning and recommendations for achieving the MaaS goals.

Cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region - An introduction

Abstract: This report aims to increase knowledge of cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region. The project covers four Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) and explores institutional and other challenges and opportunities associated with better and more coordinated cross-border transport infrastructure planning. The publication gives an overview of the transport infrastructure planning systems in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, with a focus on the policy goals, the main actors and their responsibilities within the transport infrastructure planning system, central elements of the planning process, analytical tools and tools for impact analysis.

Data analysis in transportation planning

Abstract: The article presents the methodological foundations for conducting data analysis when planning transportation. The authors distinguish three levels of transportation planning: the macro level (the transport system of the country), the meso level (the transport system of regions, large cities), the micro level (the supply chain and individual enterprises), for which relevant methods of planning and analysis of the data used are applied. Modern transportation planning methods use big data, which are managed using a set of digital technologies. The authors characterized the structure and content of the main procedures when working with big data in transportation planning.

Comparative Study of The Sustainability Transport Systems

Abstract: Purpose: Compare of the sustainability transportation systems between Indonesia and Germany. Learning implements some lessons learned from the German experience to the development of transportation planning in Indonesia to support sustainable land use and transportation by comparing and analyzing the probability of converting and adopting reducing private transportation, landscape, financing mechanisms, and transport mechanism between Germany and Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach: Analyzing obtained data based on the comparison's parameters framework. Findings: Potentially, a parameter that can be set to develop a better transportation system for environmental and people safety, or even to reduce the congestion that occurs in most of Indonesia's metropolitan areas. Research limitations/implications: Since the study location is in fact somewhat distant, the information that is gathered to analyze the comparison is only chosen from each country's broad outline and is not otherwise specified. Practical implications: Finding solution for a better sustainable transportation in Indonesia that can be implemented. Originality/value: The analytical framework that is implemented in this comparative study is a methodically innovative approach form of developing an Innovative Transport System that is to aim a better use of transport network. Paper type: Literature Review

GIS Models for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning: Current Use, Future Needs and Potentials

Abstract: GIS models are currently available for a broad range of applications in mobility planning. However, it is not known how widespread the current use of GIS models is among European urban mobility planners, nor what their user experiences and needs are. There is therefore a risk that the development of GIS models for urban mobility planning will be mainly driven by technical possibilities and data availability rather than by the needs of the prospective users. To inform model developers and ensure a good match between model options and user needs, we conducted a survey investigating the current application of GIS models in urban mobility planning practice in Europe as well as model data availability and the needs and priorities of European mobility planners regarding GIS models. We received 51 valid responses from the transport departments of 42 cities from 21 European countries. For developers of GIS-based traffic models, the findings indicate that in Europe there is scope for wider adoption and further improvement. The models currently used are considered useful to support urban mobility planning, but more than 60% of the surveyed cities do not yet use them. Increased user-friendliness, in particular for non-experts, appears important to promote wider adoption. Availability of non-traditional types of data, such as real-time data or data at neighborhood level, is still limited in most cities, but this may rapidly change. Finally, there is also considerable interest in traffic models that integrate social and environmental aspects.

Transport planning and big data

Abstract: The chapter Transport planning and big data give a short insight into the way transport planning is done and has been done for decades. It introduces the general transport planning framework and gives a more detailed description of one of the best-known transport planning models, the four-step transport planning model. It includes subchapters dedicated to each step of the four-step transport planning model (trip generation; trip distribution; mode choice and route assignment) where for each of them, the overview of the state-of-the-art literature, in line with the big data set introduced in the previous chapter, is given. The idea behind this overview is to give a systematic reference, to both the researchers and the practitioners, on where are we at this point, what are the plausible applications of big data for smart mobility, and what are the open questions that are crucial for the fruitful implementation of big data-driven insights into smart mobility and transport planning. To researchers, this is a point of reference on where to focus their research in order to support smart mobility developments and for transport planners and practitioners, it is a reference point to the existing advances and barriers related to big data integrations.

Machine Learning Applied to Public Transportation by Bus: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract: Machine learning (ML) solutions have been proposed to make public transportation more attractive. Works that employ ML in bus transportation focus on various problems, such as travel time prediction or passenger flow prediction. These solutions look to improve elements of transportation services, such as the availability of information on passengers’ travel time and the reliability and regularity of the service. An analysis of the solutions proposed in the literature for public transportation by bus can reveal opportunities for data scientists and transportation professionals, and highlight problems that have been only slightly explored. In addition, mapping information about modeling these solutions (e.g., types of data produced by devices on the transportation network, which can be used in modeling a solution) could help beginner data scientists develop public transportation solutions. Transportation professionals can benefit from an overview of possible transportation solutions to improve transportation problems and direct government agency efforts to implement these solutions. This paper presents a survey of ML-based solutions for public bus transportation and details the modeling of these solutions (e.g., data types, ML algorithms). In addition, the problems tackled in the literature are categorized into four themes, and the solutions proposed to deal with them are schematized, highlighting problems that are little explored.

Introduction to Sustainable Transportation System

Abstract: Transportation plays a substantial role in the modern world; it provides tremendous benefits to society and imposes high economic, social, and environmental costs. Sustainable transport planning requires integrating environmental, social, and economic factors to develop optimal solutions to our many pressing issues, especially carbon emissions and climate change. This book explores sustainable development and transportation concepts, describes practical techniques for a comprehensive evaluation, provides tools for multi-modal transport planning, and presents innovative mobility management solutions to transportation problems. Moreover, it focuses on accessibility rather than mobility, emphasizes the need to expand the range of options and impacts considered in the analysis, and provides practical tools to allow planners, policymakers, and the general public to determine the best solution to the transportation problems facing a community.

Automatic bike sharing system planning from urban environment features

Abstract: The planning process for bike sharing systems is often complex, involving multiple stakeholders and several considerations: finding hotspots in the potential demand, and dimensioning the system, requires an intimate knowledge of urban mobility patterns and specific local features of the city. The significant costs associated with dynamic rebalancing of bike sharing systems, i.e. with moving bikes across the city to correct the demand imbalance and ensure that they are available where and when they are needed, make correct planning even more critical for the economic viability of the system. In this work, we consider urban environment data from multiple sources and different cities in Europe and the United States to design an automated planning pipeline to place stations in an area with no direct knowledge of the demand. The first step in the planning is to build models of activity patterns and correlate them with features of the urban environment such as land use and mass transit availability; these statistical models can then be used to expand an existing network or even create an entirely new one in a different city. A use case in New York City shows that our system can effectively plan a bike sharing system expansion, providing a valuable first step for the planning process and allowing system designers to identify gaps in existing systems and the locations of potential demand hotspots.

Community-Designed Participation: Lessons for Equitable Engagement in Transportation Planning

Abstract: Despite years of legally mandated public engagement for transportation planning, there is often little evidence that this results in more equitable processes or outcomes. Recently, there has been interest in improving engagement by having community-based or advocacy groups design, lead, and implement public engagement activities. This research examines two separate engagement processes—one led by a public agency, and one designed and carried out by community advocates—to understand the opportunities and barriers for community-led engagement in transportation planning. We assess how these processes differed in: (1) representation of equity-deserving groups in respondents, (2) conceptualization of equity and community needs, and (3) transportation priorities identified in the surveys. While neither process fully reflected city demographics, the community-led process was more representative of equity-deserving groups. We found key differences in priorities between the community- and agency-led surveys, and by respondent identity. Areas that were identified as a high priority in the agency-led survey, such as traffic congestion, were lowly ranked in the community-led survey, as respondents prioritized safety and lower fares. Critically, community- and agency-led processes used substantially different framings of transportation equity, along with different understandings of community needs and experiences, which could have a significant impact on the development of future transportation plans. Community-led strategies require significant resources and capacity to undertake, but meaningful participation in the design and implementation of engagement processes has the potential to better engage a diversity of perspectives and reflect community priorities.

“I’d like accessibility analysis to help us shape the future”: Transportation practitioners and accessibility measurement

Abstract: Abstract Transportation agencies are becoming increasingly interested in measuring accessibility, or the ease with which people can reach desired destinations. In part, the concept is attractive because it reflects the primary purpose of a transportation system—to connect people to the opportunities they value. Academic researchers have identified a wide range of accessibility measures that vary widely in terms of their interpretability, data requirements, parameters, multimodalism, and relevance to different areas of transportation planning and decision-making. At the same time, new data and tools that facilitate and improve accessibility measurement are proliferating. Despite the promise of access measures, the landscape is vast and changing, which can be difficult for practitioners to navigate. In fact, the use of accessibility in practice is relatively limited, with only a small share of U.S. transportation agencies using these measures. In this paper, we draw from 45 interviews with transportation professionals and a follow-up survey to determine how U.S. transportation practitioners currently use accessibility measures, barriers to accessibility measurement, and opportunities to use accessibility measures moving forward. Our results point to a wide range of technical capacities and accessibility applications across agencies, a suite of considerations that influence whether and how accessibility measures are used, a desire among many practitioners to increase their use of accessibility, and barriers to doing so. We close with reflections on opportunities to expand and improve the use of accessibility measurement in practice to strengthen transportation decision making.

Final Report: California Tribal Nations Transportation Planning Needs Assessment Study

Abstract: The Tribal Transportation Planning Needs Assessment Study was a collaborative project conducted by Caltrans and the Mineta Transportation Institute, San Jose State University. The primary goal of the project was to identify the current state of transportation planning activities and partnerships within Tribal governments in California, so that Caltrans can meaningfully engage more actively with Tribal governments early in the planning process and better meet the transportation needs of Tribal communities. The study focused on the 109 federally recognized Tribal Nations in California, and collected data through a survey questionnaire. The key task undertaken by the study team was to engage and support Tribes to ensure that their opinions were heard and to provide as much or as little technical assistance on the questionnaire as they needed. The findings of the study clearly demonstrate that Tribal Nations have challenges related to technical and staff capacity, funding, lack of resources to meet transportation needs, and lack of collaborative partnerships at the local, state and federal levels, among other issues. This study identifies specific needs and provides recommendations for future engagement between Caltrans, local, state and federal agencies with the Tribal Nations.

A Study on the Methodology for Estimating Floating Population in Microscopic Spatial Units

Abstract: Estimating pedestrian volume has become an important topic in urban planning and transportation-planning research. However, current models find it difficult to predict long-term changes in pedestrians due to changes in land use and transport infrastructure. In this study, a methodology was devised to estimate the mesoscale pedestrian volume according to the results of a long-term-forecasting model integrating land use and transportation. The methodology was validated using pedestrian volume data collected from Gangnam, Seoul. The main contributions of this study are that the proposed methodology enables the long-term prediction of mesoscale pedestrian volume, which has previously been difficult to analyze, and that it considers not only pedestrians who are walking but also public transportation users moving between public transport nodes and buildings. Thus, it can accommodate long-term changes in not only land use but also in transportation infrastructure.

Transportation Academies as Catalysts for Civic Engagement in Transportation Decision-Making

Abstract: Citizen planning academies, which became popular in the 1990s, are increasingly being used in transportation planning and decision-making contexts. By making use of a longer-term, multiweek educational format, transportation academies have the potential to reduce barriers and enhance community capital leading to more meaningful and sustained government–community interaction. This paper tracks the rise of transportation academies in North America, and provides a detailed look at two academies: one in Portland, Oregon with a 30-year history, and another recently launched in the Salt Lake City, Utah region. Postacademy surveys of participants provided data that illuminated whether the transportation academy model was effective in fostering greater and longer-term community engagement. Using an evaluation framework developed for assessing citizen planning academies, the data indicated positive outcomes and provide a basis for further expansion of the use of academy-type engagement initiatives.

Improving Transit in Small Cities through Collaborative and Data-driven Scenario Planning

Abstract: Small communities lack effective transit planning methods that integrate diverse forms of knowledge, foster collaboration, and envision better transit futures. To address this need, this paper presents a case study of a project conducted in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The case study demonstrates a collaborative and data-driven scenario planning process conducted for a small region, and evaluates it through a mixed-methods research design. Through the use of quantitative normative service scenarios and qualitative exploratory scenarios, the project generated financially and operationally feasible proposals that community leaders can implement in the future, and also fostered constructive dialogue among transit stakeholders. Survey data show that participants experienced high levels of learning, engaged in quality deliberation, and are generally optimistic about the potential for improved transit. The project’s approach can be replicated elsewhere through the use of five essential elements: a steering committee, stakeholder analysis, a series of engagement workshops, normative and exploratory scenarios, and interaction between data and modeling. Collaborative planning with scenarios can help the transportation field address the need to foster collaboration and epistemic inclusion in a changing world.

Comprehensive Transportation Planning Oriented by Green TOD Mode under the Background of Dual Carbon

Abstract: Since the reform and opening up, China's cities have entered a period of rapid development, and the planning and design methods that meet the needs are far behind the economic development speed. The influx of people and the development of the automobile industry have made the space of the city crowded, and the problems of urban traffic congestion have become increasingly prominent. In the era of accelerating urbanization, urban transportation design planning is more and more important, urban transportation design is a large system, this paper focuses on the green TOD model as the guide for introduction, through the analysis of the current urban transportation development challenges to put forward green transportation priority strategy, on this basis to introduce the relevant concepts of TOD mode and the combination of green transportation, and then by citing examples of Chengdu TOD development to summarize the problems solved by TOD, and finally make suggestions for urban transportation design.

Simplified geodata models for integrated urban and public transport planning

Abstract: Abstract. The current division between urban and transport planning is a significant obstacle to achieving sustainable urban development. To transform cities towards sustainability, both fields must adopt shared or at least compatible models of the urban systems, namely transport, street and public space networks for all users and urban activities. Although several models and tools have emerged in recent years to facilitate this integration, there are still usability gaps that hinder their wider adoption. One of the gaps is a lack of flexibility to operate at different stages of integrated planning. To address this gap, the study aims to develop a set of aligned and flexible multimodal urban network models and tools to support different stages of planning. This paper focuses on the public transport geodata models, which were built by aggregating a General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) dataset at various spatial and temporal levels. The aggregation levels range from a baseline data model that is useful for detailed planning stages, up to a topological data model that is suitable for macro scale and strategic planning. By using this unified set of models, the dialogue between the two fields at different integrated planning phases can be facilitated, and decision-making can be enhanced.

An Integrated Quality Function Deployment and Multichoice Goal Programming Approach for Sustainable Transportation: The Case of Eskişehir

Abstract: Limiting individual transportation and increasing the share of public transportation has an important place in planning a sustainable transportation system in the urban environments of today. The most important goals for city governments include the ability to attract automobile users to public transportation. At this stage, there is a need for a public transportation system that aims to optimize the criteria of cost, safety, organization, and comfort. It is highly important to measure, assess, and improve the satisfaction of those who use public transportation for sustainable transportation. This study used an integrated quality function deployment (QFD) and multichoice goal programming approach to assess the satisfaction of people who use public transportation and to improve the transportation systems quality. The proposed approach was implemented for the tram system that is currently operational in Eskişehir in Turkey. According to the results that were obtained, with a low cost, it was seen that customer priorities could be met to a great extent as 93.1%. The results of the study are helpful for the decision makers to develop incentive policies regarding public transportation systems.

Delivering Tram-Based Boulevards: Learning from Opportunities and Challenges in Three European City Case Studies

Abstract: Increasing calls for zero-carbon cities invite transformative solutions for people and places within our cities around the world. Key to the transformation is cities and regions shifting in mobility away from fossil-fuel based car-oriented solutions. The paper investigates a range of case studies where “tram-based boulevards” have been planned or implemented to provide such opportunities. The case studies share a common broader policy objective: to transform the car-oriented or car-saturated areas to an intensified urban template based on a critical presence of dedicated mid-tier transit infrastructure and active transport. “Trams”, or mid-tier, mid-capacity transit when combined with Transit oriented development (TOD) along whole corridors can provide transformative pathways towards zero-carbon outcomes as well as multiple, strong urban benefits. However, many successful or instructive examples of this practice from non-English speaking countries, particularly in Europe, are underdocumented in the international literature. The paper addresses this gap by investigating opportunities and challenges evident in a range of European case studies. These are explored for insight towards policy learning particularly in New World cities seeking to transform into a zero-carbon and more transit-oriented template: How can decision-makers avoid repeating the identified pitfalls, and instead focus on emulating the successful approaches and outcomes? We conclude the need for recognition of the inherent synergies between transport and land use settings in any endeavour, and their translation into policy priorities in both fields of planning. We also conclude the importance of decision makers proactively identifying and critically appraising specific opportunities for change, concerning funding, technology, public opinion, stakeholder alliances or market dynamics, and capitalising on them at suitable moments in time.

Rapid Planning: Opportunities with Pervasive Data for Sustainable Mobility

Abstract: The universal availability of pervasive traffic data can fundamentally change our perception of looking towards transportation systems, diagnosing their issues, and building transport policies to improve their functionality. In the present paper, we demonstrate how such data can be used in classic transportation system analysis to obtain quick insights into the travel behavior prevailing in the cities. Three mobility-related metrics were estimated for twenty-six different world cities (i) trip lengths and the time required to complete them, (ii) congestion index, and (iii) vehicles kilometers traveled. The computational pipeline to estimate these metrics using the pervasive data from smartphones is discussed briefly. The relationship of estimated metrics with the broader socioeconomic profile of cities revealed some crucial insights into the mobility pattern of urban dwellers. Broadly, the results demonstrated the potential environmental impact of observed mobility patterns and directions that can be pursued to attain sustainable mobility.

Context-Sensitive Solution: concept, demand, and potential of the method for modernizing transportation planning

Abstract: The Context Sensitive Solution, a terminology created in the early 2000s in the USA and still pending translation to Portuguese, configures a methodology to support promoting participation and inclusion of different actors in the transport planning processes. The approach is an alternative to the complex demand for contemporary transport planning. It has shown promising results in studies of urban roads for communities, mainly because it aims to serve users through compatibility with the surroundings, community, and environment. Although Context Sensitive Solution originated in the early 2000s and with proven maturity in projects involving interventions on highways and major avenues in a peri-urban environment in large North American cities, its dissemination has not yet reached the peak of its potential and demand. The growing complexity of the transport and territorial planning policies makes it imperative to study solutions compatible with demand that address the problem in a comprehensive, transparent and participatory manner. As a management tool, the Context Sensitive Solution considers the values ​​of stakeholders and the local community, in contrast to conventional practices of planning transport works that directly intervene in the urban space in which traditionally there is a lack of approaches that integrate local interests and values. In Brazil, the urban landscape's enormous dynamics and the city's structure's functional characteristics justify the academy's inclination to understand and adapt the Context Sensitive Solution to the local characteristics and desires. Notwithstanding the already established negative aspects such as the loss of connectivity, disruption in the local microeconomy, and encouraging a drop in security that impact the quality of life for the population bordering highways and significant avenues, there are also severe changes in the landscape, the natural flow of drainage, habitat segregation, noise, light and particulate matter pollution, as well as fauna mortality. Given this scenario, our manuscript introduces the concept of the Context Sensitive Solution and discusses its current demand and potential for use in planning and managing space nearby proposed or constructed critical linear infrastructure projects with the potential to interfere with the landscape and functions of urban locations. Furthermore, an in-depth literature review focused on the theme made it possible to know and measure the state of the art of the technique and identify the gains proposed by the method, for which situations there is a collaborative and holistic approach to the problem, and the Solution stands out.

Transport Planning beyond Infrastructural Change: An Empirical Analysis of Transport Planning Practices in the Rhine-Main Region in Germany

Abstract: The transport system in Germany is characterised by a dominance of individual automobility. Acknowledging the necessity of a transition in the transport sector towards a more equal and sustainable transport system, the paper takes a closer look at how local and regional transport planning actually responds to the demands of the transition. Following a practice theoretical approach, the empirical analysis of local and regional transportation planning in the Rhine-Main region aims at an understanding of planning actions that go beyond infrastructural and technological change. Based on document analysis and interviews, the analysis highlights spatial and material changes promoted by transport planning, normative aims, and assumptions followed by transport planning and skills and competencies supporting transport planning in the Rhine-Main region. The paper identifies two overarching transport planning practices that shape the way the transport transition is addressed in the Rhine-Main region: the expansion of sustainable transport networks and the redistribution of road space. The empirical results are discussed with regard to the potential for change in local and regional transport planning.