**MID-YEAR MEETING MINUTES**

**TRB TASK FORCE A5T55**

**TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS**

Board Room

Vail Marriott Mountain Resort

Vail, Colorado

**Welcome**

Co-chairs called the meeting to order at 8:30 am. Chuck Manning
graciously agreed to take minutes.

The chairs reviewed task force status and breadth of interests that have
been represented on task force including planning, highway maintenance
and condition, highway design, safety, alternative fuels, environmental
impacts, historic impacts, application of advanced technologies, and
research on the above.

Purpose of meeting was to form strategic plans and vision, other
committees' plans have been reviewed.

The problem facing the task force was framed as trying to apply the
disciplines represented by the 280 different TRB topics to national
parks and public lands. This broad scope led to a need to establish a
focus for the task force.

**General Discussion on Focus for Task Force**

A focus will generate sustainability and interest on the task force and
can lead to full committee status. Suggestion was made to reverse
engineer based on the outcomes and products to be produced for the next
year. A number of points were made:

-   Alan Pisarski has been very helpful in promoting Task Force TRB
    sessions, he thinks topic has significant potential.

-   Goal should be keeping ecological integrity and protecting the
    resources within the parks. This must be balanced with providing a
    positive visitor experience and a functioning and safe
    transportation system.

-   There needs to be recognition that there are more and more visitors,
    protectionism to exclude visitors will not work. Alternative
    transportation systems need to be implemented to cope with
    increasing burden, transportation solutions can enhance the visitor
    experience. Finding these is the role of skilled planners and
    engineers.

-   Task force needs to consider other non-NP public lands. Priorities
    may be different between FS, BLM and NP. These other lands may not
    have the same level of intense use but they need to be considered.

-   Task Force should inform other TRB members about problems and issues
    of federal lands and then apply TRB knowledge to those issues.

-   Need to consider safety as another topic to be addressed by Task
    Force. Currently very limited data on crashes on Federal Lands.

-   Every location has a capacity and there are limits to the carrying
    capacity. National Parks has some tools to calculate this. There is
    very limited baseline information on air quality, vegetation impact,
    and sociological/experiential carrying capacity. Changing the way
    people see the parks is an option. Natural resource planning needs
    to be linked to transportation system.

-   What are we doing that is unique ? There are conferences already
    covering transportation on public lands. What can we do that is
    different ? Audience for task force is outside TRB and value of TRB
    to these outside groups needs to be demonstrated. Data may be the
    area to focus on but we need to bring agencies to TRB. Challenge is
    to convince agencies of need to have federal lands people attend.

-   Alan Pisarski suggested that the task force role could include: a)
    Letting state agencies know about importance of transportation
    planning for federal lands; b) discuss with Mark Norman about how
    the Task Force can reach users and c) have a synthesis prepared on
    current data availability and practice of transportation planning on
    federal lands. Task Force should identify other committees with whom
    we should interact. Participate in relevant AASHTO sectorial
    studies.

    There was a discussion on Carrying Capacity:

-   Some parks have evaluated capacity from surveys and have defined the
    number of visitors that are appropriate for specific sites. NPS has
    a complex prediction model that is infrequently fully utilized.

-   Carrying capacity associated with other resource extraction demands
    on federal lands should be considered.

-   A fundamental objection raised is that carrying capacity is not an
    absolute number. From a transportation perspective it can be changed
    with reduced impacts e.g. bus service instead of cars.

-   Solution is different for dead end vs. through parks one way loops,
    parking lanes, high use area demand management.

-   Issues broader for non-park land with numerous unpaved local roads

    **Specific Task Force Focus**

    Stephen Albert presented the table below which addressed focus areas
    and topics.

    He began with the illustration of a stool with a resource and
    cultural protection leg, visitor experience leg, and a
    transportation and information systems leg supporting funding.

    Task Force Topics Products

    Activities

    (Priorities)

    Outreach & Training (2) Awareness Conferences

    Education Newsletters

    Operations Technology Transfer Tools

    emails/Web

    Planning (3) Baseline Data Data Summit

    Data requirements TRB Sessions

    Performance req.

    O-D

    Statewide/Federal Lands Planning

    Integration

    Research (1) Safety & Infrastructure Research Problem Statements

    Maintenance Procedures Calls for Papers

    Funding Syntheses

    Carrying Capacity

    Intercept Surveys

    Regional Organization

    Economic Impacts

    Trans. Opportunity or threat

    Technology (4) Demand Management

    Demand Forecasting

    Technology Enhancement for

    Visitor Experience

    Each of the potential task force activities was discussed. Their
    priority was ranked by a vote and the ranking is shown (in
    parentheses) in the table.

-   Outreach and training: This is a normal role of TRB as illustrated
    by the specialty conferences. The Task Force could sponsor one of
    these. We could identify needs for training. There is a need to have
    someone do outreach to other organizations such as NP and FS. They
    put on their own sessions and are doing one now on transportation
    planning. Western States Tourism Policy Council is a possible
    organization for outreach. The task force should co-sponsor sessions
    in other organizations' conferences. WASHTO meeting is another good
    candidate. Field practitioners and central staff form different
    audiences. Need to connect with recreation and tourism groups.

    Task Force should coordinate with the national data committees and
    other TRB committees. Tourism may not be excited about talking to
    TRB. Alan P. suggested that the Task Force could add review of
    transportation on federal lands to the TRB Annual Planning
    Conference. This conference is a peer review of 4 or 5 states
    planning activities. It is held after the mid-year meeting.

-   Planning: An enormous contribution could be made in the data area.
    How can this topic area evolve: talk to groups first or bring in
    users to specialty conference such as a data summit conference. This
    could come from Synthesis that is prepared. Could do survey over the
    internet based on small workshop first. Make survey on data needs
    small enough for invited conference or forums. Ideal would be to
    give land managers what data they need. Coordinate with TRB
    committees on Transportation Planning Needs and Requirements of
    Small and Medium-Sized Communities with a link to the needs of
    Gateway communities. Also the Task Force should coordinate with the
    Low Volume Roads Committee.

-   Research: A number of research questions were raised. How does
    social assessment science relate to transportation planning for
    national lands e.g. highway construction on national lands? Is
    transportation an opportunity or a threat to Federal Lands? What
    funding sources should be used ? What data is needed to determine
    appropriate funding sources ? Criteria for closing lightly used
    roads is an issue that has not been addressed. Should address data
    needs and demand management. Models for forecasting demand and
    relating on-road volumes to visitations need to be developed. ITS
    organizations may have more money for research. Another topic is
    public acceptance of demand management. Research on crashes on roads
    on federal lands is needed to quantify costs, characteristics, and
    relationship to the acceptance of reduced design standards. Another
    safety research topic is development of aesthetic treatments for
    safety appurtenances.

-   Technology: There was a consensus that the task force should not
    address issues of alternative fueled vehicles because other groups
    are addressing this extensively. Technology may be useful in
    identifying short-term peaks and then relating this to demand
    management during peak periods. Existing technology can be applied
    to parking management, fleet management, visitor information and
    smart cars. Could do synthesis; work with partners from other
    organizations, and technology sharing.

    **Conclusions on Focus and Short Term Actions**

    1\. Call for Papers: The Task Force agreed that there would be a
    call for papers on data needs and research that could form the basis
    for a specialty conference. Steve Albert will prepare draft call for
    papers. This will need to be approved by TRB before issuing. The
    conference should be done in combination with other events that are
    on going. Having it at a National Park would be appropriate. The
    Presidio in San Francisco is a potential site. Funding should be
    sought for expenses.

    2\. TRB Sessions: The Task Force has two slots in January 2002.
    Given the timing requirement for papers, it was decided that these
    would be presentation sessions. Topics considered were: a) data
    research needs for national lands; b) reauthorization and
    funding; c) research opportunities; d) inter-jurisdictional issues;
    and e) demand management. It was concluded that the sessions would
    be on data needs and case studies on demand management.

-   Data Needs Session -- Co-chairs for arranging panelists will be
    Stephen Albert and Mary Devine. Joel Krause will get representative
    from Forest Service for this session. Coordinate with national data
    committees. It was suggested that Bill Withuhn moderate session and
    give overall historic perspective. Alan Pisarski will find someone
    from the national data committee to participate in data session.

-   Case Studies on Demand Management Session -- Same team of Steve and
    Mary will co-chair. Go beyond federal perspective and bring in
    representative from Disney or I-70 if possible. Other possible case
    study examples are Mt. Hood, Grand Canyon, Acadia, Mammoth Mountain.

    3\. Synthesis: One of the synthesis topic proposals submitted by the
    Task Force, Including Tourism and Recreational Travel in
    Metropolitan and Statewide Transportation Plans, has been selected
    as a new synthesis topic to be done by the National Cooperative
    Highway Research Program (NCHRP) under Project 20-5, Synthesis of
    Information Related to Highway Practice. The research sub-committee
    will prepare one synthesis proposal by January.

    **TRB Report---Kim Fisher**

    Kim discussed the following:

-   Annual meeting planning well underway, web site open for papers,
    TRB.ORG, all papers and reviews should come in electronically but
    they will accept on disk. Reviews should also be submitted
    electronically. Deadline for papers is 08/01/01.

-   The Task Force has one committee meeting slot and 2 session slots
    designated.

-   Mid-year meeting on east coast for 2002 considering Saratoga
    Springs, Providence, and Florida Keys. 2003 meeting will be in
    Portland, OR. TRB will be preparing a 5 year plan for mid-year
    meetings.

-   TRB is working on Strategic Plan. Division A is working on quality
    improvement plan that will reduce volunteer and committee
    administrative tasks so committees can focus on research. Some areas
    for improvement have been identified.

-   A Newsletter to chairs has been started, this can be forwarded to
    members

-   Annual meeting presentation sessions are "maxed out". Task Force
    should consider poster sessions. TRB will have electric drop for
    poster sessions. Provides opportunity for non-traditional groups to
    participate. TRB is addressing problem of no permanent record and
    they are also considering short presentation at beginning of poster
    sessions.

-   What committees do -- Help plan annual meeting, solicit papers, set
    up conference sessions, decide on papers peer review, set up
    specialty conferences, generate research statements for NCHRP (\$30
    M available), propose synthesis research, TCRP projects as well
    (\$9M available), create web sites and compilations, co-sponsor
    sessions, set up email list serves, TRB web board accommodates
    posting and Q/A or list serve. TRB does not maintain but will serve
    as the framework.

-   New committee on Native American Transportation Needs has been
    formed that relates to Task Force

-   Process of co-sponsoring meetings with outside groups \-- TRB has no
    funds for this but it helps committees find other funding sources.
    Task Force would provide proposal and set up steering committees.
    TRB conference planning staff can help and Kim can offer assistance.
    Other committees are doing this by coordinating with State DOTs and
    AASHTO committees.

Meeting Adjourned at 4:00 PM

**MEETING ATTENDEES**

NAME AFFILIATION EMAIL

Brendan Chan Public Works and Brendan.chan@fwgsc.gc.ca

Government Services,

Canada Steve Albert WTI/MSU steveA@coe.montana.edu Paul Schneider FHWA
Federal Lands paul.Schneider@fhwa.dot.gov

Highways Mary Devine National Park Service mary.devine@nps.gov Donald R.
Durkee FTA Donald.durkee@fta.dot.gov Bill Withuhn Smithsonian
wwithuhn@aol.com Chuck Manning Creighton Manning cmanning@cmellp.com

Engineering

Gene Wilson University of Wyoming wilsonem@uwyo.edu Ron Eck West
Virginia Ronald.Eck@mail.wvu.edu

University

Joel Krause USDA Forest Service jkrause@fs.fed.us

Kim Fisher TRB

Alan Pisarski