Abstract
This research proposal seeks to answer how the integration of multimodal policies onto regional corridors will impact small towns and boroughs differently from urban and suburban corridors, and whether there are political options for strengthening their effect. As a case study, PA Route 65 is an ideal model from three perspectives: first, from analyzing existing conditions, exploring options, testing alternatives, and developing prototypical conditions and recommendations; second, from the strong commitment of the local communities to this research and toward seeking new, cooperative decision-making and asset-sharing strategies; and, third, the suitability of PA Route 65 as a test environment for autonomous vehicles. The research will focus on four areas of inquiry: transportation corridor typologies and emerging technologies; economic impact; multi-municipality decision-making; and community design. The Remaking Cities Institute will partner with community partner, Quaker Valley Council of Governments, and industry partner, Aurora Innovation, Inc., a leader in hardware and software for autonomous vehicles.
Description
The Regional Highway Corridor Research Study - Proof of Concept will be completed in four phases:
• Phase 1 Research and Understanding
• Phase 2 Exploring and Proof of Concept
• Phase 3 Draft Final Report
• Phase 4 Final Report
Each phase will involve working meetings with the Technical Advisory Committee.
Phase 1: Research and Understanding
The RCI study team will collect and analyze information and data pertaining to emerging multimodal transportation technologies and to the Quaker Valley COG member communities and Beaver County COG member communities along the case study route, including current planning and proposed planning projects, information from interviews, published data, and on-site observations.
The RCI study team will meet with the Quaker Valley COG and Beaver County COG personnel and the Technical Advisory Committee to review the project’s timeline, areas of inquiry and study subjects, and plan for focus group and public meetings.
Areas of Inquiry:
Transportation Corridor Typologies and Emerging Technologies:
Research and document current multimodal uses and facilities along the Route 65 Corridor from the City of Pittsburgh to Rochester in Beaver County, including transit services; analyze transportation reports and future plans; and document the transportation impact on each of the Corridor communities. Research current and emerging transportation technologies that could benefit the flow of traffic and the safe accommodation of multimodal facilities.
Multi-Municipal Transportation Planning:
Internet and local interview research of best practices multi-community planning entities. Research would not be limited to only transportation-related entities. Comparative documentation of findings.
Economic Development:
Identify Corridor Influence on Town Economies and Key Catalytic Sites - Working with the Quaker Valley COG and Beaver County COG, the RCI study team will research earlier planning efforts for each of the identified communities, including potential opportunities for redevelopment and transit oriented development. The preliminary analysis will consider the size of vacant and contiguous developable parcels available, potential structural barriers to development, and current zoning.
Community Design:
Character of the Corridor today: The RCI study team will prepare an analysis of the physical conditions along the Corridor, assessing the factors that contribute to its functional performance, and connectivity and its relationship to Corridor communities. The team will analyze the street system and the topographic conditions that shape the Corridor and the local street patterns; review each community for current planning issues and official development plans; analyze issues of access and physical impact; and identify strengths that could be built on (physical, social, economic, natural) and areas of weakness to be addressed.
Deliverable:
Provide an Interim Report 1 documenting for each of the four (4) inquiry areas above:
• Data base summary
• Community summary
• Analysis
Phase 2: Exploring and Proof of Concept
The RCI study team, working with the Quaker Valley COG and Beaver County COG, the TAC, and other public stakeholders will build on the data analysis from Phase I to develop distinctive typological models that incorporate economic development, community design, and multimodal transportation strategies for each physical and economic typology.
Areas of Inquiry:
Transportation Corridor Typologies and Emerging Technologies:
The RCI study team will work with QVCOG, Beaver County COG, and the TAC to explore the multimodal transportation impacts on each of the typology models. The study team will look at performance metrics in terms of improved traffic flow, appropriate transit modes and locations, pedestrian access, commuter parking, and analyze the proposed performance metrics of emerging technologies with respect to standards now in place.
Multi-Municipal Transportation Planning:
Share research findings with QVCOG, Beaver County COG, and the TAC and discuss benefits and challenges of the different planning entities and frameworks.
Economic Development:
The RCI study team will contribute to and evaluate the economic aspects of the typological models for competitive position and market potential for various land use strategies. The assessment will address the potential for uses that are compatible with the Corridor for its community context, including positioning and/or repositioning future development.
Community Design:
In this phase, the RCI study team will integrate the analysis into a set of alternative community design typology models related to the physical and economic improvement or repositioning of corridor responses appropriate to the context. The alternatives will demonstrate the implications of various design or repositioning approaches, which may vary in priorities, assumptions, level of resources, timing/phasing, complexity, etc. Along with the alternatives, the RCI study team will develop evaluation criteria and prepare comparisons of the alternatives. The RCI study team will work with Quaker Valley COG, Beaver County COG, and the TAC to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative, their potential for long-term sustainability and quality of life, and for the identification of catalytic change agents.
Deliverable:
Provide an Interim Report 2 documenting for each of the four (4) areas of inquiry above:
• Methodology and criteria for evaluation
• Alternative development models
• Advantages and disadvantages of the models
• Initial design guideline ideas for each model
• Comparative matrix of multi-municipal planning alternatives
Phase 3: Draft Final Report
Upon completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2, a draft final report summarizing the findings will be generated by the RCI Team and provided to QVCOG, Beaver County COG, and the TAC for review. This report will include model comparisons and an implementation roadmap that provides detail on the broader use of the results of this research and recommended next steps.
Areas of Inquiry
Transportation Corridor Typologies and Emerging Technologies:
The RCI study team will prepare a multimodal transportation strategy for each of the alternative typological models and recommendations for their physical and multimodal accommodation needs, including alternative routes where conflict is identified and appropriate emerging technologies.
Multi-Municipal Transportation Planning:
The RCI study team, with the assistance of the COGs, prepare recommendations for a multi-municipal planning organization and procedures and responsibilities for its governance and operations.
Economic Development:
The RCI study team will prepare an economic development strategy for each development model, including short-term and long-term initiatives. The strategy will identify potential funding options, such as tax credits, tax increment financing, special assessment districts, etc.
Community Design:
The RCI study team will synthesize and document the urban design, economic development, and transportation research, alternative models, and integrated recommendations. Physical recommendations will include: streets, sidewalks, infrastructure, open spaces, and multimodal facilities. The report will include strategic interventions for a comprehensive understanding of the Corridor, preliminary descriptions of the prototypical economic development and community design typological models, and will document the design and development principles that will guide implementation.
Deliverable:
Provide an Interim Draft Final Report including:
• Relevant findings and information from Phase 1: Research and Understanding
• Relevant findings and information from Phase 2: Exploring and Proof of Concept
• Additional findings generated during the Draft Final Report phase
• Conclusions and Recommendations
Phase 4: Final Report
The RCI study team, working with QVCOG, Beaver County COG, and the TAC, will refine the Phase 3 report, including the incorporation of comments received on the Draft Final Report and also as determined by the study team for completeness and quality. The RCI study team will submit the final report, including electronic copies of the final report on two (2) CD or USB drives, three (3) bound and two (2) unbound hard copies, taking into consideration comments received from (client) on the Draft Final Report.
Deliverable:
Provide a Final Report including:
• Relevant findings and information from Task 1: Research and Understanding
• Relevant findings and information from Task 2: Exploring and Proof of Concept
• Appropriate revisions to the previous Conclusions and Recommendations
Timeline
1 July 2018 to 1 July 2019
Strategic Description / RD&T
Deployment Plan
Expected Outcomes/Impacts
Expected Outputs
TRID
Individuals Involved
| Email |
Name |
Affiliation |
Role |
Position |
| doncarter@cmu.edu |
Carter, Donald |
Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture |
PI |
Other |
| rgastil@Andrew.cmu.edu |
Gastil, Ray |
Carnegie Mellon Universiry |
Co-PI |
Other |
| shockenberry@qvcog.org |
Hockenberry, Susan |
Quaker Valley Council of Governments |
Other |
Other |
| jerry.paytas@fourtheconomy.com |
Paytas, Jerry |
Carnegie Mellon Heinz College |
Other |
Other |
| squick@andrew.cmu.edu |
Quick, Stephen |
Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture |
Other |
Other |
| valois@kilbucktownship.org |
Valois, Jean-Sebastian |
Aurora Innovations, Inc. |
Other |
Other |
Budget
Amount of UTC Funds Awarded
$90000.00
Total Project Budget (from all funding sources)
$90000.00
Documents
| Type |
Name |
Uploaded |
| Data Management Plan |
195_-_Regional_Highway_Benefit_Resear_DMT.pdf |
July 23, 2018, 5:14 a.m. |
| Progress Report |
195_Progress_Report_2018-09-30 |
Aug. 31, 2018, 1:52 p.m. |
| Progress Report |
195_Progress_Report_2019-03-30 |
March 9, 2019, 1:20 p.m. |
| Progress Report |
195_Progress_Report_2019-09-30 |
Sept. 25, 2019, 11:44 a.m. |
| Final Report |
195_-_Final_Report.pdf |
Dec. 5, 2019, 7:42 a.m. |
| Progress Report |
195_Progress_Report_2020-03-30 |
March 29, 2020, 6:34 a.m. |
Match Sources
No match sources!
Partners
| Name |
Type |
| Aurora Innovations, Inc. |
Deployment Partner Deployment Partner |
| Quaker Valley Council of Governments |
Deployment Partner Deployment Partner |
