Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations Travel Modeling Working Group

1
Association of Metropolitan Planning
Organizations Travel Modeling Working Group

• Ronald Milone
• Principal Transportation Engineer
• National Capital Region Transportation Planning
  Board
• 11th TRB National Transportation Planning
  Applications Conference
• Session 3A The Benefits of Belonging
• May 7, 2007

2
Presentation Format

• Background on the AMPO Travel Modeling Work Group
• Observations on the question
  How does best practice get promoted?

3
AMPO Travel Modeling Work Group Background

• Established in 2002
• Mission To promote communication and
  understanding among MPO analysts regarding
• Methods currently used in application
• Preferred modeling methods and techniques
• Guidelines for acceptable practice standards
• Research and development needs

4
AMPO Travel Modeling Work Group Composition

• Core Group MPO Modelers
• Small, Medium, Large
• - Friends with a stake in the regional modeling
  process
• FHWA, FTA, EPA, Consultants, Software Vendors
• Collegial discussions on common challenges

5
AMPO Travel Modeling Work Group Meeting
Arrangements

• Bi-annual meetings
• Focus on one or more technical themes at each
  meeting
• Central meeting locations in the U.S., rotating
  MPO hosts
• Limited reimbursement opportunities for lodging
  / air travel
• Informal roundtable discussions

6
Promoting Best Practice at MPOs is Challenging

• No one-size-fits-all solution
• Transportation issues vary
• Staff resources vary
• To what extent is the modeling problem really
  a data problem?
• Meaning of best practice varies depending on
  area size and nature of policy challenges
• Best practices are often dependent on software
  vendors to accommodate new methods

7
Why are MPOs Interested in Collaboration on
Modeling Practices?

• Federal TMIP program has been cut back
• Legislative requirements are considerable staff
  capabilities and technical resources are limited
• New questions are being asked, such as
  time-of-day tolling proposals
• Interest in sharing experience in implementing
  new methods
• Potential legal challenges to modeling

8
Lessons Learned

• Frequent discussion and collaboration is
  essential for improving methods
• Academic research has not adequately addressed
  MPO needs
• MPOs need to conduct and share their own
  research practitioner issues and needs
• AMPO Travel Modeling Work Group is currently
  planning to establish a web site to share MPO
  research products and experience
• The benefits of this forum are clear