| Week 1 |
Lecture theme:
Course Overview. The Planning Method
Required:
- One-page email on who you are and your primary interests on transportation, together with a digital photo of yourself
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| Week 2 |
Lecture theme:
Thumbnail history of Boston transportation & analysis of historical developments: interstate system, aviation, rail and transit Discuss methods of traffic analysis, how to count traffic, discuss quantitative methods. Assignment 1: Gateway Project
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| Week 3 | Lecture theme:
Highway Revolt. Resurgence of transit. Was the revolt a rebellion or a revolution?
Discussion of emerging transportation issues & strategic planning model to "map" different approaches |
| Week 4 |
Lecture theme:
Class discussion on modes and characteristics & speed, capacity, LOS, external impacts Assignment I Due
Presentation and Discussion of Assignment I Assignment II: Millenium Database
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Week 5
TBD: Walking tour of nearby highway and transit sites | Lecture theme:
Quantitative methods: GIS, 4-step model, traffic models, NEPA |
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Week 6 OPTIONAL Skill session: mind-mapping, GIS, modeling
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Lecture theme:
Transportation and Land Use -
Chicken and Egg
The Transit Challenge Assignment II Due
Discussion of Assignment II Assignment III: Central Square
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| Week 7 |
Lecture Theme: Project Selection; cost-effectiveness, prioritization, institutional roles; MPOs and modal agencies.
FTA cost-effectiveness; FHWA system completion method
Transportation planning as urban design
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| Week 8 |
Lecture theme:
Spending other people's money-what are the rules? Economic evaluation. Financial evaluation, Programming, Fiscal constraint, Job generation, industrial policy, Constituencies, Jack Sprat, and organization choices Assignment IV: South Boston Project - Transportation and the Local Economy
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Week 9 |
Lecture theme:
Environmental concerns-air quality, energy consumption, global warming, NEPA Infrastructure sufficiency analysis Assignment III Due - Discussion with Cambridge officials
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| Week 10 |
Lecture theme:
Legislation as cause of process. Legislation as reflection of public sentiment Legislation and delayed implementation by institutions Assignment IV due
Assignment V: Final Project: Alewife, Suburban Transit Oriented Development
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| Week 11 | Lecture theme:
Intelligent Transport Systems
Modeling and Policy
Discuss Assignment IV |
| Week 12 |
Modeling exercises
Congestion pricing
Parking Policy. Employment policies.
Housing Finance. Tax Code
Transportation and industrial policy
Assignment V due
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Week 13 | Discussion of Alewife Project |
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Week 14 See note on IAP modeling workshop
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Lecture theme: Infrastructure reconstruction
Operations & maintenance
Airport access and international access
New Surface Transportation and New Aviation Legislation
Privatization Final Assignment Due
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