NCHRP 08-122 Information Forums

Metropolitan Planning Organizations: Strategies for Future Success

MAR 30

Information Forum on Resiliency, for Real

Tue, Mar 30 2021 2:00 PM

Dear MPO Staff, Officials, and MPO Partners:

On behalf of Metro Analytics and NCHRP, I am pleased to announce the scheduling of an Information Forum being held for MPOs and their partnering agencies. This forum is focused on Resiliency in the context of transportation investments. The Information Forum is scheduled for March 30^th at 2:00 pm Eastern.

About the Resiliency for Real Forum. Our 90-minute session will begin with three brief presentations from each of our Panelists, then jump into your questions for our Panel of three leaders in the resiliency space.

Kyle Schneweis, Chief Executive Officer of High Street Consulting Group. Kyle comes to High Street from the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) where he served as CEO for five and a half years. During his tenure at NDOT, Kyle made many significant operational achievements and advancements in building critical infrastructure that helps communities across Nebraska stay connected. Importantly, Kyle oversaw the response and recovery from the states monumental flooding in 2019.
Allison Brooks, serves as the Executive Director of the Bay Area Regional Collaborative (BARC). BARC helps coordinate the regional planning and implementation efforts of four regional agencies in the 9-county, 101-city Bay Area tackling both climate mitigation and climate adaption. Prior to her role at BARC, Allision was the Chair of the Board of Directors for Resilient by Design a collaborative research and design project to develop innovative solutions to the issues brought by climate change.
Jeffrey Raven, FAIA, LEED BD+C, is Associate Professor and former Director, Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Design, New York Institute of Technology. Jeffrey has shaped the program to reflect the fluid, interdisciplinary, and global urban design profession as it is practiced today. He is a practicing architect-urbanist and owner of RAVEN A+U, a professional practice with a focus on U.S. and international projects and knowledge transfer; he has carried out projects in the Arabian Gulf, India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States, including low-carbon communities, green buildings, and smart growth.

About the NCHRP Project. The objective of NCHRP 08-122 “Metropolitan Planning Organizations: Strategies for Future Success” is to develop a comprehensive resource to inform and guide the evolving roles and functions of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in partnership with their key stakeholders for the 21st century. Many MPOs have been involved in the project through surveys or participation at conferences, all of which were instrumental in identifying and forming the Information Forum topics. The full suite of Information Forums, all of which are targeted for MPOs and their partnering agencies, includes:

Integrating micromobility into plans
Funding/financing strategies for projects and programs
Staff attraction and retention
Planning for social, economic, and environmental resiliency
Integrating technology into MPO practice
Land use shifts
Engagement in the time of COVID-19, and beyond
Social equity

Each forum will be open to any member of a MPO or partnering agency. Dates, times, and details will be announced as the Information Forums are organized.

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What type of organization do you work for or represent today?

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO / TMA)

Transit Operator

City / Town

State Department of Transportation

County / Parish

Private Consultant

Other

Closed to responses

Are your agency's travel demand models evolving?

b. They haven't yet changed significantly, but we recognize the need

52%

a. Yes, they are changing to meet new needs

39%

c. We are leaving our models as they have been but using other means to adjust to changing metrics

d. No, our agency will continue to model travel demand as we have been

Closed to responses | 23 Responses

What do you think is the best practice currently for travel surveys?

c. Traditional + passive make the perfect partnership

48%

d. Undecided

33%

a. Nothing is better than traditional surveys!

10%

b. Surveys are so 2019, it's all about passive data now.

10%

Closed to responses | 21 Responses

How much do you believe resiliency should be a part of MPO planning efforts?

c. Resiliency has an increasing impact on our planning efforts

71%

d. Resiliency should be primary driver of our planning efforts

29%

a. I do not believe resiliency is vital to our planning efforts

b. Resiliency has a minor impact on our planning efforts

e. I do not know

Closed to responses | 14 Responses

How big an impact do you think autonomous and connected in your planning efforts?

c. It may impact some demand, or change our models, but more gradually than we expected

38%

b. A significant impact particularly in the long-term

33%

d. The effect is over-hyped and we may not see much change

19%

a. A game-changing impact to how we plan today

10%

Closed to responses | 21 Responses

How would you best describe the level your agency's commitment to resiliency in transportation planning?

b. We are beginning to discuss resiliency as a factor in planning

46%

c. Resiliency is a part of our transportation plans

46%

e. I do not know

a. We have not yet planned for resiliency in the context of transportation

d. Our agency places a high priority on resiliency in transportation planning

Closed to responses | 13 Responses

How would you rank the need for integrating land use planning into your transportation planning processes?

d. Essential to transportation planning

67%

c. Important to transportation planning

27%

b. Good to integrate where possible

a. Not necessary

Closed to responses | 52 Responses

How do you see land use potentially changing in the next decade?

b. After COVID, work-from-home will allow more people to live further from major metros

45%

a. The population will continue to migrate toward major metropolitan areas

34%

c. Social equity discussions will renew our focus on affordable housing.

18%

d. Technology like autonomous and connected vehicles will reduce the parking and highway footprint

Closed to responses | 56 Responses

Does your agency do enough to reach out to communities that are difficult to engage?

Our agency could do better

49%

Our agency is doing well and improving

31%

No, our agency does not do enough

18%

Yes, our agency does very well

Closed to responses | 39 Responses

How high of a priority does your agency place on public engagement?

A high priority

44%

A moderate priority

28%

A very high priority

28%

Not a high priority

Closed to responses | 40 Responses

How high of a priority should your agency place on public engagement?

A very high priority

51%

A high priority

44%

Not a high priority

A moderate priority

Closed to responses | 39 Responses

2. What do you see as the most promising advancement in transportation funding?

c. Adoption of Mileage Base User Fee or Road Use Charge funding model

63%

a. Increases in state fuel taxes

16%

b. Increase in the federal fuel tax

10%

d. Increases in vehicle registration fees

10%

e. Forego expensive new construction and focus on maintenance or small-scale projects

Closed to responses | 91 Responses

1. How do you see transportation funding environment in the next 5 years?

b. Continue to be challenging

60%

c. Slightly improving

24%

d. Improving

10%

a. Worsening significantly

e. Significantly improving

Closed to responses | 99 Responses

3. How would you assess the impact of levels of transportation funding on your organization?

c. Considerable impact

44%

b. Some impact, but manageable

29%

d. Significant impact

26%

a. Very little impact

Other

Closed to responses | 97 Responses

Barriers to your organization's integration of mobility into long-term planning include any of the following (choose any):

Uncertainty about Future Status of MOD/MaaS

Technical Expertise of Our Staff

Lack of Relevance to Our Work

Other

Closed to responses

Have you integrated micromobility in a long-range plan or similar study?

Yes, for Metropolitan Transportation Plan

Yes, for Active Mode (bike, walk, transit) Plan

Yes, for a Corridor Study, Design, or Plan

Yes, for some other Study or Plan

Closed to responses

What is the biggest challenge for your organization to integrate micromobility, mobility-on-demand, and other tech-driven mobility solutions into your plans and processes?

Few good examples of how this is done elsewhere to draw upon

29%

Concern about rapid pace of change conflicting with long-term planning objectives

24%

Lack of understanding of the subject by elected officials

21%

Lack of understanding on the part of staff

14%

Other

12%

Closed to responses | 86 Responses

What changes will likely stick with your organization after COVID-19?

Teleworking

81%

Increased reliance on "remote" public engagement tools

81%

Increased usage of greenways and trails,

41%

Dispersion to smaller communities

Other

Closed to responses | 100 Responses

How would you assess your organization's readiness to deal with issues surrounding social equity in your community?

Somewhat prepared

46%

Moving in a positive direction

44%

Very prepared

Not at all ready

Closed to responses | 79 Responses

How would you assess the impact a renewed focus on social equity will have on your organization?

Some impact, but manageable

48%

Considerable impact

28%

Significant impact

23%

Very little impact

Closed to responses | 80 Responses

Do you have an effective onboarding program for new employees?

YES

54%

46%

Closed to responses | 26 Responses

What is the hardest part about attracting talent to your organization?

Small Market / Not Many Candidates Locally

33%

Competitive Salary / Benefits

33%

Little Understanding of MPOs and Work

17%

Not a Path to Advance within the Organization

10%

Attracting People to the Area Generally

Other

Closed to responses | 30 Responses

What would make retaining good staff easier for your organization? (pick two)

• Salary Increase

67%

• Meaningful / Interesting Work

41%

• Flexible Hours / Telework Support

37%

• Training & Professional Development Opportunities

19%

• Better Workplace Environment

15%

• Something Else?

Closed to responses | 27 Responses

How integrated is land use planning into your regional planning activities

c. Generally integrated as part of most planning processes

47%

a. Not as integrated as it should be

30%

b. Early stages of integration

17%

d. Highly integrated across all planning activities

Closed to responses | 53 Responses

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NCHRP 08-122 Information Forums

NCHRP 08-122 Information Forums

Information Forum on Resiliency, for Real Information Forum on Resiliency, for Real

Accessibility and Language Accommodation Request

Question title

What type of organization do you work for or represent today?​

Question title

Are your agency's travel demand models evolving?

Question title

What do you think is the best practice currently for travel surveys?

Question title

How much do you believe resiliency should be a part of MPO planning efforts?

Question title

How big an impact do you think autonomous and connected in your planning efforts?

Question title

How would you best describe the level your agency's commitment to resiliency in transportation planning?

Question title

How would you rank the need for integrating land use planning into your transportation planning processes?

Question title

How do you see land use potentially changing in the next decade?

Question title

Does your agency do enough to reach out to communities that are difficult to engage?

Question title

How high of a priority does your agency place on public engagement?

Question title

How high of a priority should your agency place on public engagement?

Question title

2. What do you see as the most promising advancement in transportation funding?

Question title

1. How do you see transportation funding environment in the next 5 years?

Question title

3. How would you assess the impact of levels of transportation funding on your organization?

Question title

Barriers to your organization's integration of mobility into long-term planning include any of the following (choose any):​

Question title

Have you integrated micromobility in a long-range plan or similar study? ​

Question title

What is the biggest challenge for your organization to integrate micromobility, mobility-on-demand, and other tech-driven mobility solutions into your plans and processes?

Question title

What changes will likely stick with your organization after COVID-19?

Question title

How would you assess your organization's readiness to deal with issues surrounding social equity in your community?

Question title

How would you assess the impact a renewed focus on social equity will have on your organization?

Question title

Do you have an effective onboarding program for new employees?

Question title

What is the hardest part about attracting talent to your organization?

Question title

What would make retaining good staff easier for your organization? (pick two)

Question title

How integrated is land use planning into your regional planning activities

Information Forum on Resiliency, for Real

What type of organization do you work for or represent today?

Barriers to your organization's integration of mobility into long-term planning include any of the following (choose any):

Have you integrated micromobility in a long-range plan or similar study?