Sustainable Transportation Analysis & Rating System (STARS) - Creating Better Outcomes

1. APA’s 2012 National Planning Conference S475:Sustainable Transportation Analysis and Rating System Peter Hurley; Portland Bureau of Transportation George Dondero; Santa Cruz County RTC Sine Adams, AICP; Parsons Brinckerhoff

2. Agenda STARS 101 Application: Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Plan Application: C-TRAN Bus Rapid Transit Project STARS Next Steps Q&A

3. Key Learning Objectives • Triple Bottom Line • Performance Outcomes • Innovative Analysis

4. STARS 101

5. Why STARS? Create Better Outcomes

7. What is STARS? Voluntary, national system For use by public & private sector Process to focus and simplify alternative analysis and decision-making

8. STARS’ Foundations planet STARS people prosperity Sustainability as defined by The Natural Step and organized by the Triple Bottom Line

9. STARS Four Step Process

11. Outcome: Local Economic Benefit

12. Seven performance areas cover the triple bottom line: Integrated process Access and mobility Safety, health, and equity Climate and energy Ecological function Cost effectiveness Economic benefit Plus “Community Context” for local customizing

13. STARS-Plan

14. STARS - Project

15. STARS Safety, Health, and Equity Credits

16. STARS Applications • Regional Transp. Plan • Transit Corridor Project • City Transportation Plan • Station Area Plan • EcoDistrict Transp. Plan • Bike/Ped Trail Project • Safety, Health & Equity Analysis

17. STARS-Plan Pilot Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Plan

18. Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission 2014 Regional Transportation Plan Approach: • Laundry list • Align with community values: integrated goals • Shrinking revenues • Meet state mandates for GHG emissions • Build on prior STARS Project work

19. Significance of the RTP • Engage public • Declare policies, goals & objectives • Develop alternatives • Guide funding decisions • Comprehensive guide to coordinate

20. Steps Completed • Workshops for – • agency partners • Public • Online survey for public input • Draft Policies, Goals & Targets

21. Integrating Sustainable Principles into Regional Transportation Plan

22. Next Steps • Draft Goals, Policies and Targets to RTC board – May 17 • Analyze projects for meeting goals • Develop scenarios • Prioritize projects & programs • Complete Draft Plan and circulate – Feb. 2014 • Adopt Regional Transportation Plan – May 2014 • Submit RTP to STARS for rating

23. Data needs • Takes time to explain • Learn from LEED • Political support Challenges

24. Benefits • Compliments existing tools • eg: Green Roads, Smart Mobility Framework • Longer planning horizon – 50 year • Requires Evaluation = credibility • Includes all modes

25. Benefits • Is context sensitive • Adaptable • Expandable • Accounts for full life-cycle costs

26. Benefits • Encourages strategies of all types –“soft” and “hard” • Supports known strategies • Encourages innovation • Foundation is solid, easily explained • Inclusive of all major stakeholders-environmental, economic, social equity

27. Observations Fits description of planning’s “Emerging 4th Wave” or Era of Sustainable Growth (Timothy Chapin, JAPA Winter 2012)

28. STARS-Project Pilot C-TRAN Fourth Plain Transit Improvement Project

29. Fourth Plain Transit Improvement Project

30. Fourth Plain Corridor

31. Why We Chose to Use STARS • Client identified sustainability throughout the RFP • Shows non-typical project benefits and costs, including: • Net cost to taxpayers • Lifecycle costs • Social costs of GHG emissions • Up front or behind the scenes

32. Community Priorities

33. Transit Project Goals • Goal 1: Improve Corridor Transit Service • Goal 2: Create a cost-effective, long-term transit solution • Goal 3: Meet Current and Projected Corridor Travel Demand • Goal 4: Enhance the Safety and Security of the Corridor • Goal 5: Support Economic Vitality and Corridor Revitalization Efforts • Goal 6: Support a Healthy and Livable Community

35. C-TRAN Goal 2: Create a Cost-Effective, Long-Term Transit Solution Objective: Develop a cost-effective project Photo source: http://howtolivelocal.com/2011/05/why-should-you-move-your-money-to-a-local-bank/

36. C-TRAN Goal 6: Support a Healthy and Livable Community Objective: Avoid or minimize adverse impacts to the natural environment Photo source: http://alansmoneyblog.com/2008/05/09/top-13-most-fuel-efficient-cars-that-save-you-money/

37. C-TRAN Goal 6: Support a Healthy and Livable Community Objective: Avoid or minimize adverse impacts to the natural environment

39. Next Steps

40. STARS Phased Development

41. How Does STARS Compare?

42. Potential Plans or Projects? Create Better Outcomes

43. Visit the STARS Website www.transportationcouncil.org Sine Adams, AICP – Parsons Brinckerhoff (503) 274-8772 |adamssi@pbworld.com Peter Hurley – Portland DOT/STC (503) 823-5007 |peter.t.hurley@portlandoregon.gov George Dondero – Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (831) 460-3200 |gdondero@sccrtc.org