By Barbara Feeney, AICP and Kassandra Walbrun, AICP
Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Land use and transportation are significantly connected to each other and have an effect on virtually everyone in a community. While land use decisions are generally considered local and regional issues, the transportation impacts that accompany land use decisions can transcend the boundaries of communities and regions.

Many communities often decide how to handle automobile and truck traffic, transit connections, bicycle and pedestrian movements, and access on a reactionary basis to a specific development proposal. Often there is not enough time or information to address the long-term needs in the community with one development decision. Over time, decision after decision made outside the context of a long term plan can have detrimental effects to a community�s transportation system.

A decision to allow a new commercial shopping center, for example, will impact the traffic along adjacent roads. To what extent will depend on the volume of traffic the development will generate and the existing roadway conditions. If congestion or safety problems already exist on the road, that new development may compound the problem.

Decision makers need to have an appropriate amount of information and a long-term vision for the community�s transportation system when approving development proposals. Developers need to provide adequate information on their proposal to assist the decision-making process. So how should a community accommodate economic development while not causing unbearable congestion or safety troubles?

Transportation issues reach everyone and are often the most controversial parts of land use decision-making. If policies and standards are in places that apply to all development proposals, it is easier for local officials to make sound decisions, and ensures a fair process for all.

To prepare communities and local officials to make well-informed decisions, the best plans do the following:

WisDOT�s Transportation Planning Resource Guide, which can be found at   www.dot.state.wi.us/localgov/land/resourceguide.htm , gives detailed recommendations for developing the transportation element of the plan. Below is a general list of things that, at a minimum, the plan should accomplish related to transportation and land use in order to be complete and useful:

2.  Identify existing safety problems.
The local planning process should identify safety problems associated with the existing road system and seek ways to resolve those problems.

3.  Address access management issues.
Access management is one of the most cost-effective measures a community can take to maximize the usefulness of its roadway investments. WisDOT District staff can provide educational materials that will help your community understand the value of managing access properly.

4.  Plan the local transportation system to meet the needs of various planned land uses. Seek balance.
Communities often want to concentrate certain land uses, especially commercial development, along the main arterials. Lining up all the development along a few arterials doesn�t just affect the local traffic patterns - it also can affect regional traffic. From an aesthetic perspective, stripping out a highway with development does little to enhance a community�s visual character and sense of identity. For safety, mobility and visual appeal, communities should consider a planned approach that builds development in blocks or groups, instead of strips, with multiple pathways and connections for all modes to move into and out of the development. Planning to accommodate residential development in the vicinity of commercial and business uses (with appropriate buffers) also provides a customer and employee base nearby, encouraging walking or bicycle trips.

5.  Propose standards for meeting bike and pedestrian needs and consider transit options.
There is increasing anecdotal evidence that successful communities address the needs of non-motorists. Many surveys show that transportation is considered part of the set of quality of life issues. Children, the disabled, and many elderly people rely on modes other than the automobile for mobility. Additionally, many people would prefer to use other modes for some of their trips if routes are safe and efficient. Meeting these needs and desires requires that communities plan for and make investments in these modes.

6.  Identify missing connections for all modes.
Most communities have broken links in their transportation systems. Sometimes relatively small investments can make big improvements in the overall system. Congested roads may point to broken links in the road network. Users are the best source of information about missing links in the pedestrian and bike networks.

7.  Propose connectivity standards.
The best way to avoid the retrofit activities discussed above is to require new development to connect to the existing transportation system and include a logical street grid. Even if curvilinear streets are preferred over a more traditional rectangular grid system, internal neighborhood connectivity is achievable and should be required. Including these standards in the subdivision ordinance gives upfront direction to developers.

Most communities cannot afford to address all potential community issues in depth in the comprehensive plan and, indeed comprehensive plans generally are not intended to do this. However, the �plan collecting dust on the shelf� syndrome is often the result. The solution is to include an implementation section that is specific about tasks to accomplish and identifies lead agencies or departments to take responsibility for implementation.

On the next page is an example of how a chart in the Implementation element might look for a small, incorporated community�s plan.

WisDOT staff in eight district offices across the state are ready to help your community in the development of your comprehensive plan. For WisDOT staff contact information for your community, go to www.dot.state.wi.us/localgov/land/contacts.htm or call 608-261-8618 for more information.

Your community can request that WisDOT staff be involved in your planning process in a number of ways. Some of these include participating on a technical committee, meeting with your community and/or consultant to discuss transportation issues and reviewing your community�s draft transportation element. This coordination helps you to ensure your community�s plan is coordinated with WisDOT and various state and regional transportation plans. WisDOT staff can help in many ways including:

Data and Information. WisDOT has a number of transportation data and information resources useful for your community�s inventory and analysis process, such as traffic data, functional classifications and maps. This can reduce the time and cost of your data gathering. WisDOT District staff can help to identify state and regional transportation plans and assist in determining how to �incorporate� these plans into your community�s comprehensive plan.

State and Local Transportation Issues. WisDOT District staff can identify planned state transportation projects that may affect your community and comprehensive planning process. These projects often involve improvements to state highways in your community, however project information regarding other transportation modes will also be available. Your community will be able to share its vision and local transportation plans with WisDOT as well as WisDOT sharing the state�s transportation issues that directly affect your community. Coordination helps improve your comprehensive plan and foster long-term cooperation between your community and WisDOT.

State Planning Grants. Discussing your community�s transportation issues and coordinating with WisDOT District staff will help your community to better address grant application questions relating to transportation. If you have received a state grant, staff can assist you in the requirements of the grant including coordinating with a Metropolitan Planning Organization, where applicable.

For more information visit WisDOT�s website on Transportation and Land Use found at:   www.dot.state.wi.us/localgov/land/index.htm.

For WisDOT staff contacts, go to   www.dot.state.wi.us/localgov/land/contacts.htm or call 608-261-8618.