----------- VTPI NEWS ----------- Victoria Transport Policy Institute "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity" ------------------------------------ Fall 2000 Vol. 3, No. 3 ---------------------------------- The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. The VTPI website has many resources addressing a wide range of transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also provides consulting services. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VTPI ONLINE TDM ENCYCLOPEDIA ============================ Our "Online TDM Encyclopedia" is now posted at http://www.vtpi.org/tdm. It is significantly upgraded from previous draft editions. The official release will occur in the next few weeks. This is a unique and comprehensive resource for Transportation Demand Management (TDM) planning and analysis. It is a practical tool for identifying and evaluating innovative solutions to transportation problems. The Encyclopedia provides the following information on more than three-dozen TDM strategies: · A description. · How the strategy can be implemented. · Travel impacts. · Benefits and costs. · Equity impacts. · Applications (where it is most appropriate). · Stakeholders. · Barriers to implementation. · Best practices · Case studies. · References and resources (many accessible directly through the Internet). Each strategy is evaluated in terms of its ability to help achieve various objectives, including congestion reduction, road and parking facility savings, consumer savings and choice, road safety, environmental protection, efficient land use, community livability, and five equity objectives. The Encyclopedia also has general information about TDM planning and evaluation, information on transportation price elasticities, how land use impacts travel behavior, equity analysis, an extensive bibliography, and much more. New information is added regularly, and several additional chapters are under development. You Can Help ------------ The Encyclopedia is an ongoing project. Please review any chapter dealing with a TDM subject you are familiar with, and send us your comments and suggestions for improvement. Also, please let other transportation professionals know about the Encyclopedia. Thanks to the many colleagues who have already helped with this project! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEW REPORTS =========== The following new documents are now posted at our website: http://www.vtpi.org. * "An Economic Evaluation of Smart Growth and TDM: Social Welfare and Equity Impacts of Efforts to Reduce Sprawl and Automobile Dependency" (currently in draft form). This paper evaluates transportation and land use policies (Sprawl, Smart Growth, Automobile Dependency and Transportation Demand Management) with respect to economic criteria, including consumer choice, efficiency, equity, competition, and government neutrality. * "Estimation Of Generated Traffic By New Developments: Current Practice And Possible Improvements Based On Bangkok Experience" by Shihana Sulaiha Mohamed and Kazunori Hokao (posted with permission.) This paper reviews current methods used to estimate generated traffic caused by new developments such as housing, shopping centres, conventional centres, hospitals, etc. * "Response to Mark Delucchi's "Should We Try to Get the Prices Right?", with Allen Greenburg Mark Delucchi's article "Should We Try to Get the Prices Right?" (Access, Number 16, Spring 2000) provides useful insights concerning the role of price reforms in addressing transportation problems. We agree with many points he raises. However, we believe that Delucchi is overly pessimistic about the desirability and feasibility of transportation price reforms. * "How Canadian Climate Change Emission Reduction Analysis Undervalues TDM" The report "Transportation and Climate Change: Options for Action" summarizes Canadian government research to evaluate transportation emission reduction options. The methodology that was used has significant errors that tend to undervalue transportation demand management. * "Why ICBC Should Offer Distance-Based Pricing" There is a better way to price vehicle insurance that benefits consumers, increases road safety, and reduces traffic problems. It's called "Distance-Based" or "Pay-As-You-Drive" insurance pricing. This article describes how distance-base pricing works. It argues that the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) should complete its research on this concept and implement a pilot project to test its feasibility. * "Distance-Based Vehicle Insurance Feasibility, Costs and Benefits; Comprehensive Technical Report" This is a detailed study of the benefits, costs, equity impacts and feasibility of distance-based insurance pricing. * "Transportation Land Valuation; Evaluating Policies and Practices that Affect the Amount of Land Devoted to Transportation Facilities" This is the first-year report of a three-year project that explores the relationships between transportation, land use and taxation. * "The Potential for Further Changes to the Personal Taxation Regime to Encourage Modal Shift", by The Open University/WS Atkins/Napier University (posted with permission). This is a preliminary report on UK research that evaluates tax reforms to encourage more sustainable commuting. It includes a review of current tax policies related to commuting benefits, and analysis of various alternatives. The analysis indicates that targeted tax policies can encourage more efficient commuting and help achieve sustainable transportation objectives. "Divorce Your Car" Book Review The new book, "Divorce Your Car" by Katie Alvord argues that our relationship with automobiles requires intensive therapy. Like other self-help guides, it helps readers understand the dynamics of their unhealthy affiliations.. PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE "Transportation Market Reforms for Sustainability," Transportation Research Record 1702, Transportation Research Board (www.nationalacademies.org), 2000, pp. 11-20. "Evaluating Carsharing Benefits," Transportation Research Record 1702, Transportation Research Board (www.nationalacademies.org), 2000, pp. 31-35. Ira Carnahan, "Insurance by The Minute," Forbes, 11 December 2000, pp. 86-88. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OTHER NEWS: =========== BC VEHICLE EMISSION REDUCTION OPTIONS ------------------------------------- VTPI participated in development and review of the discussion paper, "Options to Reduce Light Duty Vehicle Emission in British Columbia." It is available at http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/tbs/emissions.htm. TAX EXEMPT TRANSIT PASSES ------------------------- A report submitted to the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance examines the benefits of tax exempt transit passes: http://www.cutaactu.on.ca/HofC2000.pdf CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION ------------------------------------- VTPI director Todd Litman has been appointed a boardmember of the Canadian Centre for Sustainable Transportation. For information see http://www.cstctd.org. PRESENTING AT TRB ----------------- Todd Litman will present the following papers at the Transportation Research Board 80th Annual Meeting: "You CAN Get There From Here; Evaluating Transportation Choice," Session 334, Recent Research on Transportation Choice and Access, sponsored by Committee on Social and Economic Factors, Wednesday, January 10, 8:00-9:30, Hilton, Lincoln West Room. "Overview of Walkability Evaluation," Session 385, Walkability Research: Audits, Indicators, and Level of Service, Sponsored by Committee on Pedestrians and Committee on Highway Capacity and Quality of Service Wednesday, January 10, 2:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m., Shoreham, Diplomat. Sincerely, Todd Litman, Director Victoria Transport Policy Institute "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity" 1250 Rudlin Street Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560 E-mail: [log in to unmask] Website: http://www.vtpi.org