By 2035 the H-GAC Region is forecast to add another 3.5 million people. The impacts of this growth on the transportation network will be profound. The 2035 RTP has shown that sustained major investments in roadway capacity will only moderate, and will not eliminate the level of future traffic congestion expected to result from the region's projected growth. However, more significant mobility gains are possible through better coordinated land use and transportation planning. Land use choices have direct impacts on the ability of the region's transportation system and agencies to deliver a variety of travel choices. The Envision Scenario, an outgrowth of the Envision Houston Region process, showed that by redirecting some future growth along transit corridors and into "emerging cities" a nearly 7% reduction in daily vehicle miles traveled could be achieved. These results reinforce the public's intuitive notions about coordinated transportation and land use planning.
H-GAC has identified a three-pronged land use and transportation coordination strategy that calls for the: creation of bicycle and pedestrian friendly Centers; establishment of better Connections between the centers, and designs based on the Context of the surrounding land uses. In addition to enhancing mobility choices, this 3C's strategy is expected to produce economic, environmental and "quality of place" benefits for the region.
Context Sensitive Solutions
To accommodate our region's growth, new approaches to coordinate our transportation sytems and land use, while improving mobility, accessibility and respecting community, are needed.
NEW! Join us Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Context Sensitive Solutions: Smart Design with Communities in Mind
This half-day workshop will provide participants the tools and knowledge required to apply Context Sensitive Solutions' flexible and responsive approach to transportation and land use planning.
>> Download the promotional flyer
>> Register now
Livable Centers
H-GAC has taken several steps towards implementing the 3C's program. A "Livable Centers" project category has been created in the TIP and RTP and sponsors have proposed both planning and implementation Livable Centers projects. Centers are places with a concentration of jobs, shopping, entertainment, and/or housing. Clustering these activities creates opportunities for walking, bicycling and transit trips, thus reducing the need for car travel. Depending on the concentration of activities and the pedestrian environment, internal car trips within a center could be reduced from 5% to 55%. The goal of the Livable Centers strategy is to improve access while reducing the need for mobility by single-occupancy vehicles. Through a concentration and a mix of land uses, livable centers allow for greater accessibility by a variety of transportation modes, including walking, bicycling, and transit. Click here to learn more about livable centers.
For questions or more information contact Meredith Dang at meredith.dang@h-gac.com or 713-993-2443.
Visit the publications page for Land Use and Transportation Coordination documents and PowerPoint Presentations.