**TRB TASK FORCE ADA40T**

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

**MINUTES of TASK FORCE MEETING**

# Washington Hilton and Towers

**Washington, DC**

**January 10, 2005**

**7:30-9:30 PM**

1.  Attendance: 33 in total -- 17 of 22 Members; 16 Friends / Visitors

  ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------
  Members                                   Friends / Visitors

  Steve Albert, WTI                         David Anspacher, BMI-SG

  Robert Bini, FHWA FLH Office              Frank Corrado, FHWA EFLHD

  Brendan Chan, Public Works and Government Gary Danczyk, Glacier
  Service of Canada                         National Park

  John Daigle, University of Maine          Lou DeLorme, National Park
                                            Service

  Ronald Eck, W. Virginia University        Frank DeLuca, HW Lochner, Inc

  Jim Evans, National Park Service          Theodore Ehrlich, Urbitran
                                            Assoc.

  Kimberly Fisher, TRB                      Anne Dunning, Clemson
                                            University

  Sean Furniss, Fish & Wildlife Service     Jim Fincher, USDA Forest
                                            Service

  Franz Gimmler, Rails-To-Trails            Amanda Hardy, WTI
  Conservancy                               

  Lewis Grimm, Cambridge Systematics        Susan Law, Glacier National
                                            Park

  Laura Loomis, NPCA                        Terry Mulcahy, HNTB

  Charles Manning, Creighton Manning        Byron "Barney" O'Quinn,
  Engineering                               Arcadis

  Jeffrey Olson, Alta Planning and Design   Phil Shapiro, BMI-SG

  Kevin Percival, National Park Service     Chris Upchurch, Arizona State

  Gary Ritter, USDOT Volpe Center           Jonathan Upchurch, Mesa Verde
                                            NP

  William Withuhn, Smithsonian              Cynthia Wentworth, US FWS

  Carol Zimmerman, Battelle, Task Force     
  Chairperson                               
  ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------

2.  Agenda (attached)

3.  General Items for the Record

    a.  Task Force has been in existence for two years and intends to
        seek Committee status this year.

    b.  USDA Forest Service has named Ellen G. LaFayette as the
        replacement for Deb Beighley on the Task Force.

    c.  TRB focus for coming year will be on Transportation Needs
        in 2025. The 85^th^ Annual Meeting will be held January 22-26,
        2006, in Washington, DC.

    d.  The Chairperson reminded members that nominations for TRB TCRP
        project panels are due January 17 (applications are available on
        the TRB website; see
        <http://www4.trb.org/trb/crp.nsf/reference/appendices/tcrp+panel+nomination+solicitation>).

    e.  Synthesis topic proposals for NCHRP are due January 31; and for
        TCRP, March 31.

    f.  Kim Fisher distributed a handout on the TRB mission and its new
        organizational structure adopted last year. Similar information
        is available on the TRB website:
        [www.TRB.org](http://www.TRB.org/).

    g.  Kim Fisher distributed a flyer summarizing TRB Cooperative
        Research Programs (NCHRP, TCRP and ACRP). Additional information
        can be found on the TRB website:
        <http://www4.nationalacademies.org/trb/crp.nsf>.

    h.  Kim Fisher mentioned two TRB Paper Awards that are presented at
        the Annual Meeting, and urged paper reviewers to keep these in
        mind when reviewing papers submitted to TRB.

        i.  Nominations for the Fred Burggraf Award may be made by any
            TRB Group. The award recognizes excellence in transportation
            research by researchers 35 years of age or younger, and
            includes a cash prize.

        ii. The Pyke Johnson Award honors outstanding papers on
            transportation systems planning and administration.

4.  Committee Program

    a.  Invited speakers and topics

-   Laura Loomis, NPCA, provided an update on the status of TEA-21
    Reauthorization. A bill or an extension needs to be passed by
    May 31. Congressman Mark Udall (CO) wants a study of bike needs
    included.

-   Federal Land Agency Representatives

    -   Jim Evans, NPS, reported that two new Alternative Transportation
        Systems were implemented in 2004: Heart of the Park transit
        service at Santa Monica National Recreation Area and the Lewis
        and Clark Explorer at Ft. Clatsop National Park.

    -   Kevin Percival, NPS, reported that an effort to define a
        Comprehensive Level of Service (CLOS) measure is underway in
        cooperation with FHWA / FLH and the U.S. DOT Volpe Center. The
        intent is to develop an overall the level of service measure
        that considers the park visitor experience, natural and cultural
        resource protection, and transportation system performance.

    -   Kevin Percival also reported that at Yosemite, transportation
        infrastructure is being viewed as a "carrying capacity"
        constraint in the Revised Comprehensive Management Plan for the
        Merced Wild and Scenic River
        (<http://www.nps.gov/yose/planning/mrp/>).

    -   Sean Furniss, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, reported that the
        transportation staff had recently doubled from 1 to 2, with the
        addition of Nathan Caldwell.

    -   Sean Furniss also noted that the FWS had been part a successful
        orientation tour for 10 Senate staffers that covered National
        Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Refuges in the Southeastern Region,
        which includes Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

    -   Bob Bini, FHWA/FLH, reported that FHWA and FTA are working to
        expand a 2003 Memorandum of Agreement on Planning Cooperation
        and Coordination to include Federal Land Management Agencies
        (FLMA).

    -   Bob Bini also reported that a regulation was issued in March
        2004 that requires FLMAs to have pavement, bridge, safety, and
        congestion management systems.

    -   Bob Bini mentioned that FHWA has published an updated 2004
        Emergency Relief Manual.

    -   Bob Bini indicated that FHWA/FLH has introduced a training
        course (FLH 101) for FHWA staff as a means of building awareness
        of the FHWA Federal Lands Highway (FLH) program and the role of
        FHWA in ensuring close coordination with state DOTs.

    a.  Papers -- none

5.  Committee Business

    a.  Subcommittee reports

-   Research Subcommittee (Steve Albert)

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-   Problem Statements were submitted to NCHRP and TCRP last year
    without success. Topics included: economic impacts of alternative
    transportation on gateway communities; integrating tourism into
    statewide planning, and the relationship between transportation and
    the visitor experience. . Kim Fisher indicated that she would try to
    get feedback on ways past proposals might be enhanced to compete
    better, and requested that titles be provided to her. Consideration
    will be given to submitting synthesis problem statements to NCHRP
    and to TCRP by January 31 and March 31, respectively.

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-   Steve Albert proposed to look for ways to outreach to other
    committees to identify overlapping interests so as to broaden
    support for research topic proposals.

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-   A February teleconference is planned to identify those who may share
    interests of the Task Force and to generate research topic ideas.
    Volunteer participants include: William Withthun; Kevin Percival;
    Lewis Grimm; Daigle; Franz Gimler, Anne Dunning; and Jeff Olson. Any
    others who are interested in participating in the teleconference
    should contact Steve Albert ASAP via email to
    <stevea@coe.montana.edu>.

-   Sean Furniss suggested a need to retain focus by revisiting and
    considering former priorities generated by the Subcommittee as a
    starting point

-   It was noted that the recent workshop recommendations should be
    considered, and Jim Gramann, Texas A&M University and currently
    Chief Social Scientist, National Park Service, should be consulted.

-   Steve Albert will contact other TRB committees and task forces to
    discuss the possibility of future joint research proposals and/or
    technical sessions, including as a minimum:

> Public Involvement in Transportation Committee (ADA60)
>
> Task Force on Ecology and Transportation Task Force (ADC30T)
>
> Environmental Analysis in Transportation Committee (ADC10)
>
> Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation (AP055 ), including
> possible interest in cooperative sponsorship of a biannual conference
> as noted by Anne Dunning

-   Gary Danczyk, National Park Service -- Glacier National Park Manager
    of the Going to the Sun Road reconstruction, noted the importance of
    having methods for collecting baseline data on transportation usage
    to support construction mitigation planning.

-   The review of National Park Scholars research projects was suggested
    as a way to identify topics of current relevance to Park
    Superintendents and possibly other public land managers.

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-   Sean Furniss and Bob Bini noted that the FHWA/FLH Coordinated
    Federal Lands Highway Technology Implementation Program **(**CTIP)
    is a potential funding source for research ideas that may not be
    adopted for funding by the NCHRP or TCRP. (See
    [[http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/flh/ctip.htm]{.underline}](http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/flh/ctip.htm))

-   It was noted that prospective topics could be posted on the Task
    Force website and an indication of the number of interested parties
    could be tallied. Also, it was suggested that this be a topic for
    discussion at the mid-year meeting.

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-   Outreach Subcommittee (Sean Furniss)

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-   Sean Furniss indicated there is not much to report since the
    mid-year meeting; however he noted that the July-August TR News
    Issue as a significant outreach accomplishment for the Task Force
    (see below).

-   TRB is looking to move the Task Force webpage to a TRB server from
    its current location on a USFWS server. Sean will attend to the
    shift, but it will need a designated moderator.

    a.  Activities or accomplishments since last meeting

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-   Research Problem Statements submitted to NCHRP and TCRP

-   Mid-year Task Force meeting at Glacier National Park, which resulted
    in a panel session for the 2005 Annual Meeting.

    -   Members who attended commented that having the meeting in a park
        helped make them aware of park issues that the timeliness of
        generating baseline data in advance of a major reconstruction
        project that will include multiple transportation mitigation
        measures. It was suggested that the brief tradition of having
        mid-year meetings near or in public land units should be
        continued.

    -   Gary Danczyk and Susan Law of Glacier National Park commented
        that it was very beneficial to have the opportunity for
        information exchange with the Task Force at a place where
        "research hits the road."

-   July-August 2004 issue of TR News, which was prepared under the
    leadership of Task Force member Katherine Turnbull, Texas A&M
    University, and includes the following articles:\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Transportation, National Parks, and
    Public Lands: Defining the Challenge, Fostering Research and
    Partnerships\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Transportation Technologies Take to
    the Parks: Context-Sensitive Innovations Improve Aesthetics,
    Communications, and Safety\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Guiding Tourists To and Through the
    Parks: Study Assesses Traveler Information Needs\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Designing a New Vehicle for National
    Parks: Low-Floor, Alternative-Fuel Bus in Testing\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Transportation Partnerships in the
    Parks: Cooperative Initiatives Serve Visitors, Preserve the
    Environment\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Riding with the Jammers\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Scholars Grow in the National Parks\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Making Tracks in Wildlife Refuges\
    ![](media/image1.png){width="0.125in"
    height="0.14583333333333334in"}Up Close and Personal: The Personal
    Transportation Alternative in National Parks

-   2005 TRB Annual Meeting activities

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-   Workshop on [National Parks and Public Lands: Impact of
    Transportation on Quality of Visitor
    Experience](http://trb.org/am/ip/assembly_detail.asp?id=2608)

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-   Task Force member William Withuhn, Smithsonian Institution, presided
    at the workshop and acknowledged Task Force members John Daigle,
    Laura Loomis, Kevin Percival, Gary Ritter and Chairperson Carol
    Zimmerman, as well as Anne Dunning, for their contributions in
    planning and conducting the workshop.

-   About 30 participants listened to panelists and engaged in lively
    discussions leading to a number of research recommendations that
    will be published and available on the Task Force website in March

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-   Lead co-sponsor of workshop on [Invasive Species and Transportation:
    Issues and
    Challenges](http://trb.org/am/ip/assembly_detail.asp?id=2614)

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-   Task Force member and workshop organizer Sean Furniss, US Fish and
    Wildlife Service, reported that during the day there were 30-60
    participants.

-   Success was attributed to a wide spectrum of viewpoints among
    participants and the opportunity for dialogue among the diverse
    stakeholder groups.

-   Participants included representatives from U.S. DOT, state DOT
    agencies (New York, Utah, Washington), USFWS, the US Coast Guard,
    environmental groups, and the shipping industry.

-   Sean noted that the workshop highlighted that road construction
    provides many opportunities for invasive species to take root.

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-   Poster Session on [Experience of National Parks Transportation
    Scholars](http://trb.org/am/ip/assembly_detail.asp?id=2937) and Task
    Force participation in the National Park Foundation reception
    honoring the scholars.

-   Paper Session on [Transit and Intelligent Transportation Systems in
    National Parks: Case
    Studies](http://trb.org/am/ip/assembly_detail.asp?id=2936) -- five
    of six papers received in response to TRB call for papers were
    accepted for presentation.

-   Panel Session on [Managing Change and Maintaining Visitor Experience
    During Reconstruction on Public
    Lands](http://trb.org/am/ip/assembly_detail.asp?id=2935)

-   Co-sponsor of session on [Natural Sounds in National
    Parks](http://trb.org/am/ip/assembly_detail.asp?id=2723)

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-   Friend of the Task Force Nicholas P. Miller, Harris Miller Miller &
    Hanson Inc., discussed: "What Is a Natural Soundscape?"

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-   Task Force issues represented in session on [Planning Research and
    Innovative Services for
    Transit](http://trb.org/am/ip/assembly_detail.asp?id=2741) sponsored
    by the Public Transportation Planning and Development Committee
    (AP025)

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-   Anne Dunning of Clemson University, presented a paper on "Inputs of
    Transit Service Planning for National Parks and Gateway Communities"

    a.  Future plans and assignments

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-   A decision is needed regarding the location of a mid-year meeting of
    the Task Force. With the exception of Boston, the date would be
    determined after the site is selected. Chairperson Zimmerman will
    poll members via email. Members are to indicate their preference by
    January 20. Proposals include:

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-   Boston, MA, July 10-13, 2005, as part of the TRB joint summer
    meeting and including possible NP and FWS field trips.

-   Alaska (proposal field trip on wilderness rail access by the FS and
    FWS)

-   Denver area (e.g. Rocky Mt. National Park, Rocky Mt. Arsenal, etc.)

-   Yellowstone NP

-   Devil\'s Post Pile/Yosemite/King\'s Canyon

-   Grand Canyon

-   Jamestown (VA)

-   Jackson Hole/Grand Teton

-   Assateague/Chincoteague (MD/VA)

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-   TRB continues to be concerned about the weak link between research
    and its adoption in practice. Kim Fisher intends to compile a list
    of 10 planning and environment reports that "should be on everyone's
    bookshelf" on
    [www.environment.transportation.org](http://www.environment.transportation.org/).
    Members are requested to submit suggestions (whether TRB reports or
    others) via the Task Force Chairperson. Comments regarding the
    website are welcome too (items to include, topic categories, links,
    places to host it, etc.). It was suggested that suggestions be a
    topic for discussion at the mid-year meeting.

-   Kim Fisher is prepared to recommend an application from the Task
    Force for conversion to a Committee. Kim will provide copies of
    recent proposals and the evaluation criteria to Chairperson Carol
    Zimmerman. A proposal is needed before July for consideration by the
    Group Council before it can be provided for TAC review and approval
    in January 2006.

-   Sean Furniss and Ronald Eck volunteered to coordinate ideas for
    papers to see if the Task Force might sponsor a session at the 9^th^
    International Conference on Low Volume Roads in 2007 (see below).

6.  Other Business

    a.  Recommendations, motions, requests for Council of Staff action
        -- none

-   Kim Fisher recommended that the Task Force establish formal liaisons
    with other TRB committees.

-   Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Steve Albert, WTI,
    and Susan Law, Glacier National Park for their contributions in
    making local arrangements for the 2004 mid-year meeting.

    a.  Conferences, workshops, other activities of interest to members

> Conferences / Call for Papers:

-   National Association of County Engineers (NACE) 2005 Conference
    **April 17-21, 2005**, Bismarck, North Dakota
    (<http://www.naco.org/NACETemplate.cfm?Section=NACE_Events&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=14042>)

-   10th TRB Transportation Planning Applications Conference, Portland,
    OR, **April 24-28, 2005**
    ([www.trb-portland-05.com](http://www.trb-portland-05.com/))

-   Joint Summer Meeting of the TRB Planning, Economics, Finance,
    Management, Freight, Ports, Waterways, International Trade and
    Transit Committees, Boston, MA, **July 10-13, 2005**
    ([www.trb.org/calendar/](http://www.trb.org/calendar/))

-   Environmental Stewardship in Transportation Through Waste
    Management, Materials Reuse and EMS, Charlotte, NC, **July 17-19,
    2005** ([www.ncdot.org/\~trb](http://www.ncdot.org/~trb))

-   TrailLink 2005 International Trails and Greenways Conference,
    Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN, **July 27-30, 2005**.
    ([[http://www.railtrails.org/traillink2005/]{.underline}](http://www.railtrails.org/traillink2005/))

-   International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, **August
    29 - September 2, 2005**, San Diego, California
    (<http://www.icoet.net/ICOET2005.html>) Call for Papers underway.

-   Green Highways Forum: Integrating Stewardship, Safety, and
    Sustainability into the Planning and Design of Highways, **September
    26-29, 2005**, University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Contact:
    Frank Reilly, Wetlands Working Group, 540-286-0072

-   9th International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, June 24-27, 2007,
    Austin, Texas. (<http://trb.org/conferences/9lvr/>). May 31, 2005
    deadline for synopses,

> Activities of Interest:

-   Carol Zimmerman, Battelle, distributed copies of a newly released CD
    on Traveler Information and Tourism: Assessment of Traveler
    Information and 511 Impacts upon Tourist Destinations and National
    Parks. The research was conducted by Battelle for the U.S. DOT ITS
    Joint Program Office, HOIT-1. For more information visit the ITS JPO
    website: [www.its.dot.gov](http://www.its.dot.gov/), Publication No.
    FHWA-JPO-04-09, EDL Number 14054.

-   David Anspacher, BMI-SG, noted that his firm is working with FTA to
    prepare a Transit Planning Guidebook for public lands, and that he
    would appreciate receiving information on good practices. His
    mailing address is: BMI-SG, 8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 710, Silver
    Spring, MD, 20910-3433; his email address is:
    <danspacher@bmisg.com>; and his phone number is: 301-562-9433.

**TRB TASK FORCE ADA40T**

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

# Annual Committee Meeting

**Washington Hilton and Towers**

**Washington, DC**

**January 10, 2005**

**7:30-9:30 PM**

**AGENDA**

1\. Welcome and Introductions (5 minutes)

2\. Overview of Task Force structure and activities since Jan. 2004 (10
minutes)

*Carol Zimmerman, Battelle*

3\. TRB Report (10 minutes) *Kim Fisher, TRB*

4\. Reports of Subcommittees (20 minutes)

\- Research Subcommittee, *Steve Albert, Western Transportation
Institute*

\- Outreach Subcommittee, *Sean Furniss, Fish and Wildlife Service*

5\. Reauthorization Update (10 minutes), *Laura Loomis*, *National Park
Conservation Association*

6\. Land Units Reports---Recap of 2004 and Looking toward the Future (20
minutes)

\- National Park Service, *Jim Evans and Kevin Percival*

\- Fish and Wildlife Service, *Sean Furniss*

\- Forest Service, *TBD*

\- Federal Lands, *Bob Bini*

7\. Mid-year meeting (10 minutes), *Carol Zimmerman, Battelle*

\- 2004 meeting at Glacier National Park: Model for Future Meetings?

\- 2005 meeting: Where and When?

Joint Committee Meeting in Boston in July

8\. Session Planning for 2006 Annual Meeting (10 minutes), *Carol
Zimmerman, Battelle*

9\. Graduating to Full Committee (5 minutes), *Carol Zimmerman,
Battelle*

10\. Liaison reports (10 minutes), *All*

11\. New Business (10 minutes), *All*

12\. Announcements (5 minutes), *All*

13\. Adjourn