Transit Project Prioritization

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Transit Project Prioritization

• A Proposed Conceptual Approach
• April 26, 2007

The TPB will develop a regional transit plan
including a comprehensive financial plan
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A Tale of Two Cities

• 40 years ago 2 southern cities vying for
  economic supremacy
• One invested in its airport
• Todays Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is a crown
  jewel in Atlantas economic vitality
• The Other City Birmingham, a nice place, but by
  no stretch of the imagination an economic
  powerhouse
• Today, Atlanta is at a similar crossroads with
  its congested transportation infrastructure

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Why Transit?

• Peer regions all see transit as means to improve
  mobility
• Each Region (economic competitor) is investing
  heavily in its transportation (including transit)
  infrastructure
• Top 10 economic regions all offer mobility
  options
• Clean air, environmental concerns, etc.
• Multiple transit projects now available to aid
  metro Atlanta regional mobility

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Why TPBs Work?

• Unify Regions transit program
• Abundance of proposed transit projects
• Fiscal constraints challenges
• Enhance funding competitiveness at national level
• Position Region for potential future funding
  sources
• Bring regional focus to macro needs
• Understand multiple studies and reports

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Process Overview
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Two Stage Approach

• 1st Initial Project Screening
• Member input
• Bridge to nowhere approach
• 2nd Proposed Evaluation Themes
• Agree on criteria themes
• Review projects by the five themes
• Develop multi-theme review matrix

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Initial Project Screening Iteration

• TPB member input
• Project feasibility/viability
• Appropriateness for proposed context (land use
  and demographics)
• Level of commitment/interest

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Transit Linkage Identification

• Use various sources to identify appropriate
  transit connections
• RTIA Guiding Principles
• Envision 6 Mobility 2030
• RTAP
• CMTF recommendations
• Peer regions
• FTA New Starts process
• Community and Business Input
• Demographics/Mapping

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Next Screening Iteration Proposed Evaluation
Themes

• Cost Effectiveness
• Performance Effectiveness
• Land Use Linkage
• Environmental Considerations
• Sponsorship Financial Viability

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Theme 1 Cost Effectiveness

• Example Criteria
• Potential ridership
• Fare revenue projections
• Congestion mitigation/relief
• Project cost to mobility benefit

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Theme 2 Performance Effectiveness

• Example Criteria
• Transit dependent served
• Integration with other transit / transportation
  services
• Meet national service performance standards
• Performance versus other transportation options

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Theme 3 Land Use Linkage

• Example Criteria
• Local comprehensive plan consistency
• Agency polices and criteria
• Economic development potential
• Activity centers compatibility connectivity

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Theme 4 - Environmental Considerations

• Example Criteria
• Community impacts compatibility
• Emission reduction potential
• Energy consumption reduction potential
• Cultural and natural resources impacts

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Theme 5 Sponsorship Financial Viability

• Example Criteria
• Existing programmed funding
• Demonstrated local commitment priorities
• Competitiveness for FTA funding
• Opportunity to bundle with other transit /
  roadway improvements

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Anticipated Evaluation Output
Comparison of projects ability to satisfy each
theme

• Large matrix noting themes criteria
• Uniform evaluations across criteria
• Summary score across multiple themes

• Ranking tool to select prioritize projects

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Project Flow
TPB Committees
PB Board
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Sample Evaluation Themes Matrix
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Schedule
1.
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Reaction To Approach?

• Two Stage Approach
• Evaluation Approach Themes
• Cost Effectiveness
• Performance Effectiveness
• Land Use Linkage
• Environmental Considerations
• Sponsorship Financial Viability