Office of Systems Planning, Iowa Department of Transportation Transportation and the Role of the Planner Civil Engineering 451/551 Fall Semester 2008 Presented by: Phil Mescher, AICP Office of Systems Planning, Iowa Department of Transportation Des Moines, Iowa

Purpose of Today’s Presentation Overview of the Role the DOT plays Discuss Jurisdiction over Transportation Infrastructure Discuss System Performance Measures Tour the DOT Organizational Structure Define the Steps in the Statewide Planning Process Cover the Planners Role in Transportation Discuss Areas of Planning Expertise Job Requirements and Opportunities

Role of the State DOT The State Department of Transportation is responsible for the overall connectivity of all modes of transportation in the state, even if the DOT does not have direct jurisdiction

Highways-- Jurisdiction State Highway System County Road System City Road System Federal Aid System State City County

DOT Covers All Modes Highway Rail Aviation Transit Water

Iowa Facts Iowa has: 114,194 miles of roads 24,598 bridges 9,393 maintained by the DOT 79% of the roads are county roads Roughly 30,000 miles are paved (35%) 13th highest in the nation 24,598 bridges 5th highest in nation

DOT Organization Governor Transportation Commission DOT Director (7 Members appointed by Governor) DOT Director General Counsel 5 Divisions Highway Division Information Technology Planning, Programming, Modal Motor Vehicle Operations and Finance 6 Transportation Districts

Statewide Planning The purpose of statewide transportation planning is to outline strategic investments in facilities and services that are necessary to meet expected future deficiencies and to identify the operational and technological changes in the existing network that will improve transportation service.

Definition of Statewide Planning Statewide Multimodal Transportation Planning is the process of identifying the most cost-effective and appropriate set of transportation strategies that will provide a DESIRED LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE for the state’s transportation system in relation to a set of desired goals and outcomes, thus helping the state meet the needs of its citizens and of those dependent upon the state’s products for their livelihood

Iowa Goal The transportation goal of Iowa is to provide and preserve adequate safe, and efficient, transportation services based on the use by and benefits to the public.

Performance Measures Highways Transit Airports V/C ratio, minutes of delay, crashes/hmm Transit passengers/vehicle hour, operating ratio (revenue/cost) Airports Airside, landside, terminal System performance is the ultimate test --quality of life, environmental quality

Iowa Policies 5. Promote financing the system through user and non-user sources 6. Administer the land and resources under the State’s jurisdiction in a manner that protects the rights of individuals and considers the effects on the environment 7. Promote a transportation research and technology transfer program to develop and improve services, methods, and materials. 1. Address user needs and maximize the economic and social benefits for Iowa 2. Provide a participatory planning process 3. Encourage and support programs to provide commodity movement and mobility for all citizens 4. Develop, promote, administer, and enforce just and equitable procedures for the registration, regulation,and operation of motor vehicles, aircraft, and common carriers of passengers and freight

Statewide Transportation Plan Focus on needs that concern the state Include all modes Financial Resources Coordinated and Integrated Shared and consistent data collection strategy Common set of assumptions Common performance measures Each plan should serve as input to others Formal public participation process Relate all plans to realistic financial strategies

Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan Capital projects (highways, bridges, buses) and operating projects (transit operating) that require federal funding “Regionally significant projects” must be in Must be financially constrained Must maintain performance levels

Information in a STIP Project description Estimated cost Federal funds by year and category Non-federal match for year 1 Responsible agency Air Quality conformity -- for non-attainment areas

Steps in Statewide Planning Vision, Goals, and Objectives Performance, Linkages, and Deficiencies Identify Issues Identify and Analyze Alternatives Financial Planning and Programming System Monitoring Traffic Forecasting/Modeling

The Transportation Planner Can fill a multitude of roles to aid in reaching goals Entry Level Planner Senior Level Planner Office/Division Head

The Transportation Planner Education Requirements Bachelor’s Degree Planning Engineering Accounting Geography Economics

The Transportation Planner Job Responsibilities General Planning Write Plans Economic Analysis Policy Analysis Grant Writing/Administration Financial Environmental/ NEPA Modal Public Involvement Technical Travel Demand Modeling Traffic Forecasting Pavement Analysis GIS Air Quality Safety

The Transportation Planner District Transportation Planner Liaison with Locals Public Meetings Project Coordination Public Speaking! Meetings

The Transportation Planner (outside the DOT) Consulting FHWA/US DOT Metropolitan Planning Organization Regional Planning Affiliation University Research/Education City/County Other Governmental Entities Census Bureau

Transportation Areas of Knowledge This is a list of areas of interest where a transportation planner should be knowledgeable.

Planning Process Metropolitan, Regional and Statewide Planning Process LRTP, TIP, UPWP, PTDP Legislation (SAFETEA-LU) Funding Mechanisms Gas Tax, registration, bonding, tolls (Time 21) Federal Funding Flowcharts/STP/TE Distribution

Planning Process Programming Grant Administration NEPA Systems TIP/STIP/5-year program Grant Administration NEPA CE, EA(FONSI), EIS(ROD) Systems FFC F2M NHS Interstate CIN

Planning Process Modal Planning Boundaries Bike/Ped Rail Transit Highway Water Planning Boundaries Urbanized Area (Census) Urban Area (FHWA) Planning Area (Local)

Planning Process Data Census Survey Reebie/Transearch REMI CTPP NHTS NPTS Reebie/Transearch REMI

Planning Process Traffic Forecasting/Modeling System Monitoring Traffic Count Program Geographic Information Systems Cartography/Map Making Engineering Basics/Terminology Traffic Impact Studies Interchange Justification

Planning Process Safety Analysis Asset Management Access Management Crash Data Asset Management Pavements/Infrastructure Access Management Land Use and Development Real Estate Basics

Planning Process Civil Rights Title VI – Discrimination Impact on the Human Environment Environmental Justice DBE/On Job Training JARC

Questions? Contact Information: Phil Mescher, AICP Office of Systems Planning Iowa Department of Transportation 515-239-1629 Phil.mescher@dot.iowa.gov