Criterion Examples
Criterion Examples are user-submitted examples to showcase how an agency or project accomplished points within a particular criterion.
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Transportation Agency For Monterey County - SPR‐01
Download the full TAMC Criterion Example.
TAMC is the regional transportation planning agency for Monterey County, California, responsible for developing and updating a long-range vision of the regional transportation system. TAMC used the INVEST System Planning for Regions (SPR) module to review a broad spectrum of its planning efforts – including its 2014 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) – and evaluate how well-defined and comprehensive its sustainability efforts have been. TAMC attained a perfect score for SPR-01 showcasing the agency’s ability to integrate transportation planning with economic development and land use. TAMC modeled the Policy Element of its current RTP on the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Smart Mobility Framework, which emphasizes the integration of transportation and land use planning. This element is also consistent with the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) Monterey Bay 2035: Moving Forward plan. In the future, TAMC plans to build upon its current approach for integrating economic development and land use plans to achieve even greater sustainability in this area.
Criterion Information
Scorecard: N/A Criterion: SPR-01 Points Earned: 15 Link: https://www.tamcmonterey.org/regional-transportation-plan
Requirements
SPR‐01.1 Develop and Adopt Goals and Objectives : (2/2)
- SPR‐01.1a: Develop Goals and Objectives (1/1) TAMC scored one point in this area for developing goals and objectives to integrate state and regional transportation planning with economic development and land use planning. TAMC aligned its goals with the Caltrans Smart Mobility Framework with the mission of investing in transportation improvements that will improve the Monterey County economy. These goals will ensure that transportation investments are cost‐effective while improving travel time reliability and speed consistency.
- SPR‐01.1b: Goals and Objectives Consistent with Economic Development and Land Use Plans (1/1) TAMC also scored one point for the consistency of its goals and objectives with current economic development and land use plans. In fact, TAMC’s economic goals and objectives listed in its RTP go above and beyond current requirements by adding provisions to support the development of healthy communities, preserve the environment, and ensure equitable distribution of transportation investments. As part of these objectives, TAMC strives to use sustainable funding sources, including grants, long‐term funding opportunities, and road pricing strategies (taking into consideration equity impacts), to ensure continued streams of financial support.
SPR‐01.2 Engage Partner Agencies: (3/3)
- SPR‐01.2a: Engage Land Use and Economic Development Agencies (2/2) TAMC received all available points for SPR-01.2a. The agency consistently meets with local agencies who oversee land use and economic development decisions to ensure effective communication and collaboration. These partners also have representatives on various TAMC committees, including the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, Rail Policy Committee, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors.
- SPR‐01.2b: Utilize Institutional Mechanisms (1/1) TAMC utilizes institutional mechanisms to facilitate stakeholder engagement through public meetings, ad‐hoc committees, targeted presentations, transportation forums, and general public outreach. TAMC also utilizes online outreach platforms such as its website to reach stakeholders, and ensures the media is kept up‐to‐date on agency actions.
SPR‐01.3 Use Best Practice Quantitative Methods: (2/2) TAMC earned full points under this sub‐criterion. To evaluate different combinations of transportation and land use strategies that could lead to achieving the GHG targets established by the California Air Resources Board for the tri‐county region, AMBAG and TAMC developed and evaluated scenarios that included various land use assumptions and transportation system improvements and investments. Each scenario was analyzed using AMBAG’s recently upgraded transportation model and land use modeling software.
SPR‐01.4 Provide Leadership: (2/2) TAMC received two points for this sub‐criterion through its leadership in encouraging sustainable land use and economic development decisions. The agency encourages mixed-use developments, promotes growth in areas that can easily be connected to existing transportation infrastructure, and strives for a balance between employment opportunities and housing in urban planning processes. TAMC also requires new developments to contribute to their proportional impact to the transportation system.
SPR‐01.5 Demonstrate Sustainable Outcomes: (6/6)
- SPR‐01.5a: Integrate LRTP with Land Use and Economic Development Plans (1/1) TAMC scored one point for the integration of its RTP with long-term land use and economic development plans. TAMC also implements transportation investments that encourage sustainability principles.
- SPR‐01.5b: LRTP Includes Sustainability Performance Measures (2/2) TAMC scored full points in this sub‐criterion for its inclusion of sustainability-related performance measures in its RTP. TAMC’s current RTP includes performance measures for the integration of transportation planning with economic development and land use planning, such as the percentage of jobs near transit service.
- SPR‐01.5c: Monitor Progress and Demonstrate Sustainable Outcomes (3/3) The agency achieved three points in this sub‐criterion for its monitoring of progress of goals and objectives against its performance measures. TAMC documents project‐level mitigation measures as part of its Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program on a regular basis, including during the environmental review process, before issuing a grading permit, during construction of the project, and after construction of the project.
Sustainability Improvements
As illustrated by its perfect score for SPR-01, TAMC is fully committed to land use and economic development strategies that sustainably support the existing and future transportation system. Moving forward TAMC plans to continue to strengthen Monterey County’s progress in sustainable economic development and land use planning. For example, the agency will release a 2018 RTP that reflects updated goals and objectives in this arena and will continue to build upon local agency partnerships and cooperative programs in the future.
