Download Assignment 3 for White Paper on Strategies | TTP 220 and more Assignments Public Policy in PDF only on Docsity! TTP220 Transportation Policy and Planning Assignment 3: White Paper on Strategies Due Thursday, June 12 at 1pm Purpose In their long-range transportation plans, MPOs aim to address a variety of problems: congestion, air quality, sprawl, safety, equity. To address these problems, MPOs turn to a variety of potential solutions, from traditional approaches such as road building to more innovative approaches such as congestion pricing. The challenge for MPOs is to find solutions that effectively address each problem without aggravating the others. Examples of strategies include: Pricing Transit Non-Motorized Land Use HO/T lanes Light-Rail Transit Pedestrian infrastructure Transit-oriented development Congestion pricing Commuter Rail Bicycle infrastructure New Urbanism Parking pricing Bus-Rapid Transit Traffic calming Smart Growth Paratransit Safe-Routes-to-School Voluntary trip reduction programs ITS applications Social marketing programs E-activities Although MPOs rely on modeling to forecast the implications of the projects and policies in their plans, the models are limited in their ability to represent non-traditional projects and policies and do a poor job of accounting for secondary effects. Empirical evidence can also be useful in evaluating the potential effectiveness of proposed projects and policies, though not all of them have yet been studied. Assessments of the empirical evidence are thus useful in the decision making process. The purpose of this assignment is to prepare a “white paper” on one of these strategies, by which I mean an informative paper that provides an overview of a policy issue, analyzes the arguments for and against, and assesses the available evidence to produce a useful guide to decision makers Products In this assignment, you will prepare a paper of no more than 10 pages double-spaced (with 12- point font and 1-inch margins) on your selected strategy. This paper should be in the style of a “white paper.” You will also be giving a 15-minute Powerpoint presentation in class. The paper will be worth 20% of your final grade, and the presentation worth 10%. I will grade your papers and presentations based on the quality of your research, the clarity with which you lay out the pro and con arguments, the thoughtfulness of your conclusions, and the quality of your written and oral presentation. Task 1: Research First, you will need to do a fair bit of research. Probably the best place to search for relevant material is the TRIS database, available via the BTS website. Another good place to look is the Victoria Transport Policy Institute website. You might also try a Google search to find examples of arguments for and against the policies – but remember to look at these arguments critically. I
