TPB Vision versus SAFETEA-LU Planning Factors

As mentioned elsewhere on this site, the TPB Vision is the transportation policy framework intended to guide transportation investments in the Washington region. The Vision covers all of the SAFETEA-LU planning factors.

A mapping of the eight SAFETEA-LU planning factors to the eight TPB Vision policy goals is provided below. Please note that the TPB Vision implicitly addresses security, and that the TPB has been proactively involved in security efforts since 9/11.

(1) Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency;

TPB Policy goal #2 addresses this factor, and planning activities such as the Activity Centers analysis and the regional Smart-Growth education program. Policy goal #8 also addresses this factor by discussing options for promoting international and interregional travel and commerce. Global competitiveness is encouraged through the Ground Access Element of the Regional Airport System and the planned Metrorail to Dulles project.

(2) Increase the safety of the transportation system for all motorized and non-motorized users;

TPB Policy goal #2 addresses this factor, and TPB Policy goal #1 focuses on pedestrian and bicycle safety.  Planning activities have resulted in many programs to promote safety including: Street Smart campaign, operations and maintenance funds to keep existing network operational and safe to use, effective enforcement of all traffic laws and motor carrier safety regulations, achievement of national targets for seatbelt use, appropriate safety features in facility design.

(3) Increase the ability of the transportation system to support homeland security and to safeguard the personal security of all motorized and non-motorized users;

Security is not directly addressed in the TPB Vision. However, security is addressed by the following planning activities:

Within the regional transportation plan, the TPB established a priority area for project submissions to maintain and expand the regional transportation coordination program and related activities to benefit transportation management, safety, and security.

Security has been a major focus since the 9/11 attacks. With TPB member participation, regional transportation security activities are undertaken through the homeland security committee structure of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), involving federal, state and local public safety and homeland security stakeholders.

On October 19, 2005, the TPB added an initial multi-year Regional Transportation Coordination Program to the CLRP and Transportation Improvement Program. The program, a partnership of the region's major transportation agencies, is to coordinate and support regional sharing of transportation systems condition and management information during incidents.

(4) Increase accessibility and mobility of people and freight;

TPB Policy goal #1 addresses this factor as well as the TPB scenario study, called the Regional Mobility and Accessibility Study. The study is examining alternative land use and transportation scenarios for 2030. The TPB is currently expanding its freight planning efforts.

(5) Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State
and local planned growth and economic development patterns;

TPB Policy goal #5 addresses this factor directly. Many of the TPB's activities have resulted from this policy goal, including the Air Quality Conformity Analysis, the Commuter Connections program aimed at reducing single occupant vehicles, the Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program, Green Space Advisory Committee, regional green-way priorities, promotion of increased transit use, ridesharing, bicycling and walking. TPB Policy goal #6 addresses this factor as well, and many of the TPB's planning activities work towards this goal, including the development of the Regional Activity Centers and Clusters, the Regional Mobility and Accessibility Study, Activity Cluster analysis, Cooperative Forecasting program, and other TPB work trying to better link land use transportation.

(6) Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight;

TPB Policy goal #2 addresses this factor, calling for the maintenance of an interconnected transportation system, multi-modal connections in the regional core and activity centers, ground access to airports. Numerous improvements in the plan contribute to a web of multi-modal connections between the core and activity centers, including transit and HOV (Dulles Rail, HOV/HOT, Bi-County Transitway), highways (circumferential corridor improvements, US-301, Tri-County Parkway) and goods movement.

(7) Promote efficient system management and operation;

This factor is addressed by several policy goals of the TPB vision. First, TPB Policy goal #3 addresses this factor, specifying priority to management and maintenance of existing facilities. Next, TPB Policy goal #7 addresses this factor, stating the goal of maintaining a financially sustainable transportation system. Additionally, the work of the TPB's value pricing task force is looking into efficient system management and operation. TPB Policy goal #4 addresses this factor, by addressing system effectiveness and improved management of weather emergencies and major incidents.

(8) Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.

TPB Policy goal #3 directly addresses this factor. This is evidenced by the financial analysis of the CLRP, where over 75% of allocated funding is for operating and maintaining transit and highways.