As communities are rethinking the dominant paradigms of the last 60 years of transportation planning, traditional funding mechanisms are coming up well short of needs. A new guidebook will help state DOTs sort it all out.
In response to the challenges facing the mission of state departments of transportation, Smart Growth America partnered with the State Smart Transportation Initiative to develop a handbook called The Innovative DOT [pdf]. The handbook released in January was the third edition after being released originally in 2012.
"This handbook provides 34 recommendations transportation officials can use as they position their agencies for success in the new economy. Developed with input from top transportation professionals and officials at state agencies around the nation, the handbook documents many of the innovative approaches state leaders are using to make systems more efficient, government more effective and constituents better satisfied."
The 34 recommendations mentioned above are separated into eight chapters, or "focus areas," within the report. Focus areas include "Revenue Sources," "Pricing," and "Increasing Transportation System Efficiency."
The report pairs well with a handbook recently released by Transportation for America called The Innovative MPO.
FULL STORY: The Innovative DOT
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Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
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