METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES (ABRIDGMENT)

This paper describes a four-step alternatives generation methodology for use in urban transportation planning. The four steps are (a) assess costs of any contemplated high-capital transit alternatives using locale-specific descriptors and apply capital cost feasibility tests, (b) identify generic alternatives that are responsive in the local context, (c) generate responsive site-specific configurations of selected generic alternatives, and (d) test for operational feasibility to ensure internally consistent and workable alternatives for later analysis. Overall, the process combines efficiency, ease of use, and responsiveness of output to produce alternatives for the planning process. The four steps are designed to minimize the information output and testing necessary for producing a responsive set of alternatives. These alternatives are described in sufficient detail so that they may be distinguished by their expected impacts, on the basis of which appointed and elected officials and the public will eventually make decisions. (Authors)