The Metropolitan Transportation Planning ... - Saginaw County

The Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process: Key Issues
What is "smart growth"?
Smart growth is a set of policies and programs designed by local governments to
protect, preserve, and economically develop established communities and natural
and cultural resources. Smart growth encompasses a holistic view of development.
From a transportation perspective, smart growth includes building walkable
communities and providing a variety of transportation choices by integrating land
use planning and transportation planning. Smart growth policies link transportation
projects with desired land use patterns in order to make more efficient use of
infrastructure (assets such as roads, bridges, and equipment) and reduce
environmental impact.
Using a smart-growth approach, an area can consider land use strategies that will
reduce both transportation and environmental problems, and achieve quality-oflife
goals. These land use strategies may include:
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Site design planning, with an emphasis on pedestrian access and transit
service.
Incentives and bonuses for desired land uses and for developments that
provide desired transportation and land use amenities.
A balance of job growth with housing developments priced and located to
match the needs and incomes of the work force.
Minimum as well as maximum development densities and floor area ratios
that ensure adequate ridership for transit.
Requirements for providing adequate public facilities (i.e., schools, fire and
police protection) commensurate with development, or for attaining a
minimum level of service standards.
Urban growth limited to areas where urban services are already available or
are scheduled.
Consistency between local land use plans and local and regional
transportation plans.
What is the role of the MPO in smart growth?
Smart growth policies are usually developed and mandated at the state (and
sometimes the regional) level. The role of the MPO varies according to the authority
and influence it has in regional land use matters.
As the organization that adopts the transportation plan and the TIP, the MPO is able
to influence transportation investments toward improving quality of life, and can
tailor some transportation activities to improve both specific economic
development projects and regional mobility in general. The transportation planning
process provides critical input into a regional smart growth strategy. The
transportation plan, in particular, outlines the vision and goals for transportation
investment, thus incorporating smart growth policies.
Additional sources of information:
A Toolbox for Alleviating Traffic Congestion and Enhancing Mobility, Institute of
Transportation Engineers: Washington, D.C., 1997.
Institute of Transportation Engineers, "Smart Growth? Sensible Growth? Sustainable
Growth? Balanced Growth? Responsible Growth -- What Are the Transportation
Needs to Achieve This Growth?" ITE Journal, April 2000.
Apogee Research, Inc. and Greenhorne & O'Mara, Research on the Relationship
Between Economic Development and Transportation Investment, National
Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 418, Washington, D.C.: