Functional Classification for Multimodal Planning

Abstract

Recent trends in federal laws and regulations have indicated the need to develop tools for multimodal transportation planning to replace “highway-only” techniques. The Vermont Agency of Transportation, as part of its Long Range Transportation Plan, initiated a study to develop Multimodal System Classification (MSC). The MSC approach considers both highway- and nonhighway-based modes of transportation, intermodal connectivity, and transportation and land use relationships. As a basis for this approach, broad-band corridors are defined that include all modes, including pedestrian and bicycle transport. In addition to corridors, urban, town, village, and other growth centers are defined as high-accessibility subareas where transit- and pedestrian-oriented development may be given priority. Five classes have been defined that reflect corridor and subarea needs: Class 1, major multi-modal corridors and transport centers; Class 2, other major routes and facilities; Class 3, minor routes and collectors; Class 4, local ways; and Class 5, town, village, and urban centers. Early consideration of social, environmental, and economic factors is achieved through definition of a series of land use overlays—scenic and aesthetic resources, historical and cultural resources, natural resources, and air- and noise-sensitive areas. As part of the development effort, the MSC concept was applied in two planning regions in Vermont. Not only did the concept of MSC prove useful, but the process was invaluable as a basis for public outreach and consensus building. Regional professional staff found MSC to be useful in development of regional transportation and land use plans.

Cite this work

No public copy is stored for this record, so only the metadata is cited.

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 9 citations exist upstream.