Cooperation, collaboration, and public involvement top the list of recommended strategies for public transit agencies and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) when both seek to improve livability and sustainability in their regions, according to panelists representing five diverse U.S. regions at a session during the APTA Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

More than 100 people participated in the round-table discussion, led by panelists representing public transportation systems and MPOs from San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Houston, Seattle, and Albany, NY. Four presenters from a variety of backgrounds also contributed to the peer-to-peer exchange.

Working with the development community emerged as a key topic of discussion. In addition to emphasizing the importance of the relationship between the agency-MPO partnerships and developers, panelists acknowledged that one challenge in implementing regional long-range plans is the lack of control over land use and development. The process itself was also mentioned as a significant challenge.

“Getting developers to understand that there is a process that must be followed when you use federal dollars—and that it takes a little longer—is important,” said Kimberly Slaughter, associate vice president, planning, with Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County.

In the host region of San Antonio, the most productive strategies for addressing the challenges of a growing region—increasing ridership and funding—align with those of other panelists and focus primarily on emphasizing public involvement and attracting stakeholder participation. The city also benefits greatly by having a mayor who firmly supports livability and sustainability issues, said Christine Vina, project manager-urban design for VIA Metropolitan Transit.

In Albany, a developer forum is under consideration to bring developers together to talk about issues and ways they can collaborate, according to Sandy Misiewicz, AICP, senior transportation planner with the Capital District Transportation Authority.

And the Seattle region is encouraging developers to have transportation management plans as part of its development planning, said Charlie Howard, transportation planning director of the Puget Sound Regional Council.

In Utah, projects happen because of institutional relationships, according to Andrew S. Gruber, executive director, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Salt Lake City. Transit oriented development is part of the implementation of the regional long-range plan, Envision Utah, and public transit systems have participated in Salt Lake City’s master plan as well as state planning initiatives. “At the end of the day, it’s about partnerships and people,” he explained.

Over the past 10 years, Gruber said, partnerships in Utah have reaped benefits such as seeing ridership reach record levels and continue to grow. He added that partners are also jointly exploring high-speed rail.

Kevin Desmond, general manager of King County Metro Transit Division/DOT in Seattle, noted that successful partnerships include leading and following components. He suggested that MPOs and transit agencies work together to develop guidelines and standards that provide opportunities for investments that lead development and follow ridership growth.

Participants in the session generally concurred that change is the one consistent element in the future of livable and sustainable communities and that regions with energetic, thoughtful people participating in the process will most readily and successfully adapt to that change.

Andrew D. Gruber, center, executive director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council in Salt Lake City, UT, and Michael A. Allegra, general manager of the Utah Transit Authority, speak at the session on transit agency-MPO partnerships. At left is Diana C. Mendes, session moderator and senior vice president with AECOM.

 

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