2001-03-19 Special Called Regular Meeting and Public Hearing

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Environmental Considerations in Traffic Engineering 985 @ t INTEGRATING LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING f AT THE LOCAL SCALE Chapter II, Urban Transportation Planning, and Chapter 12, Statewide and Re- gional Transportation Planning, contain discussions of land use considerations. Land use and transportation planning can be coordinated to reduce the adverse impact of traffic in several ways: ....-. ~ _. ..- ~'.. e 'C l to E i= >,- . . mC':tI.:l- ~.~:::5~ .. - . 0- =_ .. .c;z~~ nuO\~ .. .c .. ~,:::E ~ C ~8: ~ E~Jci' u.-..o -Nt/1"';:: ~N'~e rnc""_ r; - 0\ .~ c 5:.5 u.;: o.g g~c-< E VJ;;;, ~ .- co", c ~.= '" ~ CI - -..c c {; c.!!(l "e.5!:t tO~ u - cQ.tJas ';;; e fIl ::; fI}_ .."0 ~"'$~' E~~... c.'::... g ... c 0.- cS::.:...ai w~ut: ;':; -< g, "5o~~ . .- lIS ~...or.': Oull.r ii:~_... ='GSO.- ~ei1i~ - . S s.- "'ggt:"g !.-'-4cdU Q '5'~ go g: ii;.5!I1lt:l< 1. Land use patterns can be established to encourage transit usage and, thereby, reduce vehicular emissions. 2. The transportation network can be designed to minimize vehicular hours of travel, thereby reducing emissions and noise. 3. Land use plans can be coordinated with transportation plans to reduce the exposure of residential areas to heavy traffic movement. 4. Land use controls can be established to preserve capacity and minimize ribbon commercial development along major radial routes. . -. --.'. ~ > .. 'C o ell E " E 'E ::; ~ > ~ lOl E ~ 'E ::; The 1962 Highway Act provided the basis for better coordination of land use and transportation planning by requiring that there be a "continuing, cooperative, comprehensive transportation planning process" in all urban areas of over 50,000 population. , \!! .. :; ~ U 'C C .. ,!! :E a to il E Land use patterns to encourage transit. The development of land use plans to encourage transit usage generally involves higher densities along existing or proposed transit corridors. This increased density provides the market for transit ridership to the CBD. The result may be a higher proportion of transit ridership and a consequent reduction in the use of the private vehicle. This translates to lower ,air pollution and noise. Transportation network to minimize travel. Systems planning usually seems to minimize vehicle milesand.."ehicle hours of travel. The proper balance of freeways, arterial streets, and public transit will result in a compromise situation in which vehicle miles and vehicle hours are minimized consistent with capital investment and operating cost for highways and transit. Reductions in vehicle hours of operation will reduce air pollution and noise. Protection of residential areas. Transportation networks should be selected in such a way that existing residential areas are protected and that a framework for logical development of future residential areas is provided. The design of the network with adequate spacing allows the development of residential areas between the major segrnents. The network must have sufficient capacity, however, to eliminate through traffic in the residential area. This design minimizes transportation noise levels within neighborhoods and reduces the number of accidents. .~ Land use controls and the enl'ironment. Heavy traffic flow can serve as a catalyst for ribbon development and frequently reduces capacity on the major arterial facility<.., Land use controls, when properly applied, can restrict undesirable development and/or can provide design solutions such as control of access or driveway design that