Organizational Unit:

School of City and Regional Planning

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https://hdl.handle.net/1853/70772

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Organizational Unit

College of Design

Includes Organization(s)

Organizational Unit

Eco Urban Lab

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https://finding-aids.library.gatech.edu/agents/corporate_entities/1122

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Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 12

Economic and social sustainability of sidewalk infrastructure

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2019-08-27) Patel, Deep

The presence of sidewalks and quality of sidewalk infrastructure are important indicators of perceived pedestrian safety and the walkability of neighborhoods. However, a wide gap exists between the accessibility and quality of infrastructure provided for pedestrians compared to the infrastructure provided for motorized vehicles. While there may be numerous reasons for poor quality of pedestrian infrastructure across cities and neighborhoods, one of the main reasons is the lack of sustained operation and maintenance programs among these local government agencies. This study outlines an approach to quantify sidewalk infrastructure costs over an 80-year life cycle period. Equivalent annual costs for three different scenarios are allocated in part directly to property owners, with the remaining costs in each scenario recovered over time through an equivalent increase in property tax millage rates. The four sidewalk management scenarios are then examined in more detail to assess how implementation may differentially impact Atlanta’s 244 neighborhoods and their residents across income and ethnicity groups. The two somewhat surprising findings of the study are: 1) even though sidewalk infrastructure may have a lifespan of more than 40-years, the costs of owning and operating this infrastructure over an 80-year period with replacement are high; and 2) low income neighborhoods are negatively impacted when portions of sidewalk infrastructure management costs are allocated directly to property owners, rather than handling sustainable management through traditional property tax assessment methods.
Estimating managed lanes door-to-door travel timesavings using shortest path algorithms

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2019-08-27) Chang, Chia-Huai

Implementing managed lanes, such as high-occupancy toll lanes, within existing urban highway corridors has become increasingly common in cities that want to provide a reliable transportation option but lack sufficient right-of-way to construct new corridors. This study develops a framework that utilizes a shortest path algorithm to compare before and after commute routes and estimate the change in door-to-door travel time offered by managed lane facilities. Using this modeling approach, a case study is explored for the Northwest Corridor (NWC) managed lane facility located in the Atlanta, Georgia, region. The shortest path routines predict that the facility provides a 21.0% - 27.1% decrease in door-to-door travel time for the NWC managed lane users, and a 5.8% – 12.0% travel time decrease for non-NWC general-purpose lane users, for corridor travelers departing home between 6:30 and 8:30 A.M. (traversing the corridor between 6:30 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.). This framework can be easily customized and applied to any other commute route/time change assessment for major managed lane projects.
Assessing the potential of autonomous transit shuttles as a first-and-last mile public transportation solution

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018-07-27) Walls, Daniel Beckett

Automated vehicle (AV) technology has the potential to improve safety and vehicle energy efficiency, increase mobility, lower travel costs, and increase roadway capacity. Much of this potential, however, relies on how the vehicles are deployed and the resulting shifts in travel behaviors. If the travel cost and mobility improvements are realized, the success of AVs could come at the expense of public transit ridership. Facing this modal competition, there may be an opportunity for transit agencies to integrate AVs into their existing systems as a first-and-last mile solution for riders; merging the efficiencies of passenger rail and mass transit with the door-to-door convenience of personal vehicles. This research assesses such a scenario to model whether there would be travel time, cost savings, and other impacts to riders. Specifically, this research assesses the potential for on-demand, fully electric AV shuttles to serve as a first-and-last mile solution within 2.0-miles of all MARTA rail stations. A multi-modal routing platform was used to simulate trips and compare travel times between the proposed AV shuttle-transit service and the existing modal options of driving a conventional vehicle, walking to and from MARTA’s current bus and rail network, and using park-and-ride lots to access MARTA. The routing platform used for this research also includes an energy module and a cost module, allowing the modal options to be compared on energy consumption per trip, and cost to the traveler. Demographic information tied to the trip data was retained, offering a high-level picture of potential populations served. Nearly 7,000 trips were processed through the routing platform. On average, travel times for the simulated AV shuttle service were not competitive with conventional driving (when parking time is excluded), but they were competitive with park-and-ride, and showed significant travel time improvements over MARTA’s existing service. Driving also came in with the lowest average trip cost, excluding parking and sunk vehicle costs. In terms of energy consumption, the proposed AV shuttle service showed significantly lower energy use than the other modes. The AV shuttle service would offer other benefits as well, including expanding MARTA’s effective service area, travel time savings for transit captive riders, and improved transit service for minority populations.
An assessment of pedestrian infrastructure quality and the effect on travel time and mobility for users with physical limitations

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018-05-11) Dyess, Chelsea

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the potential effect that pedestrian infrastructure ADA compliance issues may have on persons with disabilities or physical limitations. Pedestrian infrastructure was inventoried and compliance issues were assessed in Midtown, Atlanta using the Sidewalk Sentry and Sidewalk Scout applications. Pedestrian infrastructure inspection data for the Midtown network were compared to ADA design standards and sidewalk sections were assigned an overall compliance value. Using the ADA compliance issues, travel-time impedance values were assigned to each sidewalk and ramp element that comprise the pedestrian infrastructure in Midtown. Five sets of travel time impedance values were assigned to the infrastructure, where travel time impedance values were assigned using historical rankings of the most problematic sidewalk barriers according to disabled persons. Using Network Analyst in ArcGIS, the shortest paths were calculated between 500 random origins and destinations before and after assigning issues a travel time impedance value. The results of the analysis indicate that while current pedestrian infrastructure may meet the needs of able-bodied users, the infrastructure limits the mobility of persons with disabilities. The findings show that pedestrian infrastructure that is in disrepair increases the average travel time and length of travel for persons with disabilities. Noncompliant pedestrian infrastructure also prohibits disabled persons from making approximately one fourth of the trips that an able-bodied person can make in Midtown, Atlanta.
Advancing strategic focuses through performance-based evaluation – the growth of state dot approaches

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017-08-01) Sperling, Elliot Asher

As a result of the enactment of the 2012 national surface transportation legislation, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), performance-based approaches have substantially grown in importance and use. States are examining their existing processes to ensure increases in transportation system performance over time. Certain states have developed internal processes that demonstrate use of a performance-based approach that effectively integrates both planning and programming decisions to meet agency-based objectives and national performance targets, and aligns with agency strategic goal areas. Through this research a national survey was developed and implemented to identify state transportation agency practices, which use multi-objective decision analysis (MODA) approaches to evaluate and prioritize strategic investments across asset categories. Agencies that are more advanced in project evaluation are able to quantify project values before they are funded to ensure that they are in alignment with an agency’s overall goals and, at the same time, demonstrate worthwhile investments to the taxpayers in an environment of fiscal constraint. Recent shifts towards more data-driven approaches in project evaluation are providing far more objectivity and certainty to project sponsors, and have led to more collaborative transportation processes for planning and programming. By linking state-based and national performance goals to evaluation methods, states will be better positioned to improve performance over time for their multi-modal transportation systems and better meet public expectations with the limited amount of resources and funding that are available. With growing uncertainties over future travel demands, the introduction of new technologies, and the phasing out of old technologies, strategic approaches will grow in importance.
Parking policies for resurging cities: An Atlanta case study

(Geomrgia Institute of Technology, 2016-08-01) Pringle, Jeshua D.

Parking policies lie at the intersection of land use and transportation. Although often overlooked by traditional planning and engineering methods, parking can serve as an amplifier for an area’s success or failure. The impact of parking can be revealed through a critical look at the history of parking and its role in decentralizing the urban core. The incorporation of parking into zoning regulations, and a commitment to shaping cities to accommodate the automobile, has contributed to the sprawling development patterns seen across the United States. Parking, and the policies that govern parking, are a reflection of a city’s priorities. Cities that provide ample free parking incentivize travel by automobile; yet, dense urban cores are capable of efficiently supporting travel by alternative modes. On the other hand, cities that manage parking through regulations, technology, and pricing can achieve a better balance in commute mode choice. As cities across the U.S. experience a resurgence of their urban core, the policies that govern parking should be re-evaluated to reflect those cities’ future priorities. This thesis evaluates policies that shape the way parking is managed in cities and assesses the potential impact of these policies in the central business district of Atlanta, GA.
Assessing the influence of policy factors on alternative fuel vehicle adoption in Georgia

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-04-29) Martin, Tyler Allen

To make a compelling case for government incentives as a stimulus for alternative fuel vehicle adoption, this thesis assesses the preliminary impacts associated with the elimination of Georgia’s income tax credits for low-emission and zero-emission vehicle purchases. The thesis identifies policy factors that appear to impact alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) adoption in the United States, with a focus on government incentives. Specific policy factors are discussed in the context of state and federal laws. For Georgia, motor vehicle registrations were collected to track AFV adoption rates before and after the change in law. Electric and hybrid vehicle registrations in Georgia have plummeted since the income tax credits were eliminated on June 30, 2015. Income tax credit data were collected to chart the significant increase in zero-emission and low-emission vehicle purchases and leases since electric vehicles started flooding the market. The primary outcome of this research is a set of distinct, measurable policy factors that influence AFV adoption in the United States. The factors identified include: 1) reward amount to income ratio, 2) ease of policy comprehension, 3) consumer awareness, 4) fuel/vehicle coverage of incentives, 5) incentive user groups, 6) forms of incentives (grants, income tax credits, etc.), 7) number of incentives available, and 8) dollar values of incentives. The conclusion presents factors for use in choice model estimation. These factors should be useful by policymakers who are trying to understand the true value of government incentives for alternative fuel vehicles.
Measuring the cost-effectiveness of idle reduction technologies in heavy-duty trucks

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015-12-15) Prabhakar, Niranjani

The main objective of idle reduction devices is to reduce the amount of energy wasted by idling trucks, decrease exhaust emissions and save in fuel use and maintenance costs and vehicle life extension. To achieve reductions emissions from vehicle idling in heavy-duty trucks, strategies and actions have been employed through the use of various technologies, namely auxiliary power units (APUs), direct-fire heaters (DFHs), truck stop electrification (TSE) and advanced truck stop electrification (ATSE). Little quantitative data exists on the amount of emissions that are emitted by heavy-duty trucks during idling. In general, diesel engines emit less CO and hydrocarbons (HC) when compared to gasoline engines since fuel-lean mixtures tend to reduce CO and HC emissions. The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review that illustrates the status of data present in literature for costs and emissions reduced for APUs, DFHs, TSEs and ATSEs. From the review process, a cost calculator was devised from the synthesis of literature data to measure cost-effectiveness of these technologies in dollars per year per ton per year of emissions reduced over a 30 year investment period. Data on capital costs, maintenance and operational costs, and fuel costs were reported in order to calculate net present values, payback periods and fuel savings from each technology. Given the relevant data available from various studies that compute the efficiency of competing technologies, TSEs were the most cost-effective for the investor and the truck owner in regards to NOx emissions reduction. Cost-effectiveness measured for investors at $1,707.57 and $1,473.27 per ton of NOx reduced, and $16,799.91, $22,261.44, and $20,583.79 per ton of NOx reduced for truck owners. The calculator also served as a tool to illustrate insufficient data currently present in the body of literature. Limited quantitative data and unknown variability of costs as a function of time over the 30-year investment period was used to assess best practices. Thus, policymakers and other stakeholders can benefit from this review in order to conduct future studies that would enlighten greater understanding of data points from specifications of the operating context and devise more robust models for the sake of comparing these technologies based on impact and risk
Forecasting ridership impacts of transit oriented development at MARTA rail stations

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015-12-04) Maier, George

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Transit Oriented Development (TOD) program has been expanding the number of stations being considered for development of surface parking lots and into the air rights over certain rail stations. As of 2015, MARTA has six rail stations in various stages of TOD development, which will increase multi-modal options for metro Atlanta residents. The overarching goal of TOD development is to increase transit ridership and reduce auto-dependency; hence quantifying the potential benefits of TOD development in terms of ridership is paramount. Despite several drawbacks, travel demand models have historically been utilized to forecast ridership for land use changes and transit improvements. Direct ridership models (DRMs) are transit demand forecasting methods that can be applied to land development in cases where traditional travel demand models (TDMs) are not well suited. DRMs leverage geographic tools commonly used by planners to take advantage of small scale pedestrian environment factors immediately surrounding transit stations. Although DRM data and methods can achieve greater precision in predicting local walk-access transit trips, the lack of regional and large-scale datasets reduces the ability to model ridership generated from riders outside the immediate vicinity of the rail stations. Stations that have high multi-modal access trips, particularly via personal vehicle and connecting buses, are not typically accounted for by DRMs. Hence, this study focuses on pedestrian-based rail boardings only, a metric that also allows the use of a large scale onboard survey distributed by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) in late 2009 and early 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. Analysis of the large scale on-board ridership survey also reveals variables that may be useful in forecasting ridership at the station level when coupled with available census data. Comparison of variables such as income, age, gender, ethnicity, and race from census data with the large scale survey guided the selection of candidate variables to be included in a DRM for MARTA rail stations. Results from the comparison showed that using census data in DRMs does not always accurately reflect the ridership demographics. Notable differences in pedestrian-based ridership and transit catchments appear to occur in populations making less than $40,000, African American populations, and the young and elderly populations. Large differences in the survey and census data reported around the stations raise questions about the usability of census data in predicting ridership at rail stations. Despite the shortcomings of using census data to directly predict walk access transit ridership, an ordinary least squared (OLS) regression model predicts a high proportion of variance of pedestrian-based ridership in Atlanta, Georgia. A small number of variables were incorporated into a DRM to show the strong relationship of employment density with pedestrian based ridership. The number of low income residents was also influential in increasing ridership via walk access.
Pedestrian transportation project prioritization incorporating app-collected sidewalk data

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-12-04) Frackelton, Alexandra

Planners and decision-makers recognize that non-motorized transportation provides environmental, economic, and public health benefits. Recent technology advances, such as the widespread use of mobile devices and geographic information systems, enable the collection of disaggregate built environment and travel behavior data. To integrate pedestrian planning into transport operations at local and regional scales, it is necessary to develop systems to rank and prioritize zones and corridors for pedestrian infrastructure investment. Best practices for pedestrian planning suggest that jurisdictions prioritize pedestrian projects based on a variety of concerns, such as high pedestrian activity, pedestrian safety, accessibility to transit and mobility for persons with disabilities, children and older adults. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology developed and piloted an automated system to assess the quality of sidewalks, utilizing an Android™ App that collects GPS-enabled video, accelerometer, and gyroscope data. Researchers collected pilot sidewalk data within the City of Atlanta to evaluate the accessibility and walkability of pedestrian facilities. This research proposes a weighted ranking system to prioritize pedestrian projects using App-collected pedestrian facility data collected in the field using a mobile Android application, pedestrian safety indicators, pedestrian activity data and demographic data. The ranking system uses a set of block-level pedestrian potential and deficiency indicators to prioritize planning investments within a subarea of Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia, combining available data sources with app-collected sidewalk width data. The results of these rank-order prioritization analyses indicate that blocks near rail stations and Georgia Institute of Technology/Technology Square should be prioritized for pedestrian investments. However, further refinements are needed to extend the application of this methodology to larger geographic scales. Additionally, this research did not consider the cost constraints of pedestrian project alternatives within the study area. Future availability of comprehensive pedestrian activity and pedestrian network data will enable planners and engineers to prioritize corridors and intersections for pedestrian project implementation.