Center Identification Number:  77703     

 

Project Title:  Performance Measures and Best Practices for Incorporating Transit into the FDOT DRI Review Process   

 

Co-Principal Investigators:

        

Karen Seggerman, Senior Research Associate
Phone: (813) 974-8755
E-mail: seggerman@cutr.usf.edu

Ann Joslin, Senior Research Associate
Phone: (813) 974-9183
E-Mail: joslin@cutr.usf.edu

Sara Hendricks, Senior Research Associate
Phone: (813) 974-9801
E-Mail: hendricks@cutr.usf.edu

 

Institution:                             

 

Center for Urban Transportation Research

University of South Florida

Fax: 813-974-5168

 

External Project Contact:     

 

Amy Datz and Susan Sadighi

Public Transportation Office / Transit Planning

850-414-4500

E-Mail: amy.datz@dot.state.fl.us

 

 

I.  Project Objective/Problem Statement

A development of regional impact (DRI) is subject to a review process in which the regional planning council, the state and other agencies have an opportunity to provide recommendations to a local government development order for assuring that regional impacts have been properly addressed. The primary purpose of the DRI review process is to provide the opportunity for multiple agencies to communicate and cooperate in identifying and addressing DRI impacts that cross jurisdictional boundaries.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) staff participates in DRI reviews throughout the state using the Site Impact Handbook to evaluate their impact on the state transportation system. Consideration of transit is one aspect of the DRI review process. Currently, there are no statewide performance measures to use in evaluating the consideration of transit in the DRI review process or the effectiveness of FDOT staffs’ consideration of transit in DRI review. In addition, the FDOT is interested in identifying and documenting best practices for emphasizing transit in developments of regional impact.

II.  Objectives/Tasks

One of the many tasks assigned to staff within each FDOT District is that of reviewing developments of regional impact (DRI), local comprehensive plans, and other documents regarding their impact to the state transportation system. This project will focus on FDOT’s collaboration with transit agencies and Regional Planning Councils (RPC) in their review of developments of regional impact, and, specifically, the inclusion of transit This is to ensure a better of fit of resulting recommendations in correspondence with FDOT’s collaborative partners. The objective of this project is to identify and define performance measures to evaluate the consideration of transit in the FDOT DRI review process and how effectively FDOT staff reviews developments of regional impact regarding their impact to the state transportation system, particularly with consideration of transit.

Florida Statutes include regulatory language for reviewing developments of regional impact. Recently, the Florida Legislature adopted changes that affect the DRI process. This project will include an analysis of existing state legislation regarding the DRI review process.

Data used for the performance measures should be easily obtainable by all FDOT Districts. These performance measures will then be applied to District 5 as a pilot project. In addition, this project will identify (statewide) best practices for incorporating transit into the DRI process that would benefit the state transportation system and can be recommended throughout the state.

This project will include the following:

• Literature review of performance measures related to assessing processes;
• Assessment of existing FDOT guidelines or procedures for DRI review;
• Assessment of the DRI review process, particularly how FDOT staff interacts with local governments, RPCs and transit agencies;
• Assessment of data collected;
• Assessment of FDOT staff resources and expertise regarding their adequacy to complete a thorough analysis of DRIs and to make appropriate recommendations for the inclusion of transit in a DRI;
• Assessment of the content of DRI development orders regarding the inclusion of transit and related multimodal considerations; and,
• Assessment of FDOT staff’s participation in final development order conditions and follow-up.

From this review, best practices for incorporating transit into the DRI process that benefit the state transportation system will also be identified and documented.

The proposed scope of services for this project consists of the following tasks.

Task 1. Summary of State Regulations

A comprehensive review of existing Florida Statutes will be conducted to identify State of Florida development of regional impact review requirements specifically regarding impacts to the state transportation system. This review will include requirements for bolstering connectivity to pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Task 2. Summary of Performance Measure Literature Review

A comprehensive literature review will be conducted to identify related research efforts regarding transit-related performance measures of project review tasks. The information will be used to guide the research methodology and focus the results.

Deliverable: Technical Memorandum 1 – Summary of State of Florida Development of Regional Impact Requirements and Performance Measure Literature

Task 3. Data Collection and Assessment of Current DRI Processes and Procedures

Senior CUTR research staff will conduct telephone interviews and on-site visits with representatives of all FDOT Districts within the State of Florida regarding their DRI review procedures. The interviews and on-site visits will focus on each District’s experience with the review process and lessons learned; best practices will be identified and documented. Additional interviews will be conducted with coordinating agencies, including the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO), regional planning councils and local transit agencies as needed, using on-site interviews only when telephone and web conferencing are insufficient. Staff will seek to schedule any needed additional on-site interviews with coordinating agencies to combine with scheduled travel for meeting with FDOT District staff. If combined travel scheduling is not possible, up to three additional site visits will be accommodated. The FDOT project manager will assist in scheduling on-site interviews with FDOT District staff, given two months advance notice.

It is anticipated that some of the specific areas to be addressed could include:

• Chronology/timing of the DRI review process;
• Procedures/criteria used for review;
• Interface between FDOT District offices and coordinating agencies;
• Staffing/departmental organization for DRI review;
• Data collection regarding DRIs;
• Lessons learned;
• Identification of best practices for inclusion of transit;
• Training needs;
• Other related issues.

Based on data collected from the FDOT District offices, a generalized assessment will be made of how transit and multimodal considerations are addressed in DRI review processes and procedures. General trends will be identified and efforts to measure performance will be identified. CUTR researchers will also attend at least one meeting of the Site Impact Coordinators and a Florida Transit Planning Network session held in conjunction with the Florida Public Transportation Association’s mid-year Professional Development Workshop. Additionally, best practices for incorporating transit into the DRI process that would benefit the state transportation system will be identified, researched and documented.

In addition, CUTR will seek similar review procedures in select agencies (other state DOTs) throughout the nation that have actively integrated transit into their review activities. Out-of-state travel may be warranted.

Task 4. Development of Performance Measures

Using findings of the previous tasks, CUTR will identify and define performance measures to evaluate the FDOT DRI review process and effectiveness of FDOT staff’s review of DRIs. The emphasis will be on performance measures for integrating transit and multimodal considerations into the review process, although some findings may be equally applicable to other aspects of the DRI review. This task will include the identification of data collection methods for the performance measures.

Deliverable: Technical Memorandum 2 – Proposed Performance Measures to Evaluate the FDOT DRI Review Process and the Effectiveness of FDOT Staff’s Review of DRIs.

Task 5. Test Performance Measures: District 5 Pilot Project

The performance measures developed in Task 4 will be applied to the DRI review process and FDOT staff review of a representative number of individual DRIs in District 5. Results will be analyzed with adjustments made to the performance measures as needed. Final results and recommendations will be documented in a technical memorandum.

Task 6. Assessment and Documentation of Best Practices for Incorporating Transit into the DRI Process

Information collected in Task 3 regarding best practices for incorporating transit into the DRI process will be documented, including any recommendations for updating the FDOT Site Impact HandbookA 3-5-page summary of how transit can be incorporated into the DRI review process will be prepared for inclusion in the revision of Accessing Transit Handbook. Additional interviews with FDOT, local government, or transit agency staff will be conducted as needed.

Task 7. Internal Review

An internal editorial review of the end products for Tasks 5 and 6 will be undertaken by CUTR staff, including a technical editor.

Deliverable: Final Report 1 –Performance Measures to Evaluate the FDOT DRI Review Process and the Effectiveness of FDOT Staff’s Review of DRIs: District 5 Pilot Project

Deliverable: Final Report 2 - Best Practices for Incorporating Transit into the DRI Process

III. Deliverables

There will be four (4) deliverables for this project.

1. Technical Memorandum 1 – Summary of State of Florida Development of Regional Impact Requirements and Performance Measure Literature;
2. Technical Memorandum 2 – Proposed Performance Measures to Evaluate the FDOT DRI Review Process and the Effectiveness of FDOT Staff’s Review of DRIs;
3. Final Report 1 – Performance Measures to Evaluate the FDOT DRI Review Process and the Effectiveness of FDOT Staff’s Review of DRIs: District 5 Pilot Project; and,
4. Final Report 2 - Best Practices for Incorporating Transit into the DRI Process.

Deliverables will be provided on the last day of the month as indicated by the Schedule for Deliverables below.

Quarterly Progress Reports

Progress Reports will be submitted on a quarterly basis to the Research Center for processing. The first Quarterly Report will become due 3 months after a Notice to Proceed is issued to the consultant by the Department.

They may be sent in MS Word or PDF format to Sandra Bell, Research Coordinator at Sandra.Bell@dot.state.fl.us. or mailed to Sandra Bell, 605 Suwannee Street, MS 30, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450.

Quarterly reports must include the following information:

1. Contract Number, Work Order Number and Title
2. Work performed during the quarter
3. Work to be performed next quarter
4. Requested modifications (i.e., to funding, schedule, or scope)
5. An updated schedule

Draft Final Reports

The draft final report will be edited for grammar, clarity, organization, and readability prior to submission to the Department for technical approval. The editor providing the review will sign a cover sheet attesting to such review prior to submission. The provision for editorial services will be the Principal Investigator’s responsibility (the author or a designated party may perform the review). It is expected that a well-written, high-quality report will be submitted. Reports failing to meet this requirement will summarily be rejected. The only changes allowable between the draft final report and the final report will be those changes requested by the Project Manager and the Research Center.

Final Reports

A minimum of twelve (12) paper copies of the final report will be delivered to Sandra Bell, Research Coordinator, 605 Suwanneee Street, MS 30, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450. In addition, one (1) electronic copy of the final (in MS Word). Note: these 12 paper copies are for national distribution by the Research Center. Additional paper or CD copies of the Final Report for use by the Project Manager should be added to this amount.

The final report must include the following:

1. Disclaimer: “The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in
this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Florida Department of Transportation.”
2. Technical Report Documentation Page (available on the Research Center’s website)

One (1) electronic copy (MS Word) of the summary that includes the following sections: Problem Statement, Objectives, Finding and Conclusions, and Benefits. The summary should be prepared using the template provided by the Research Center (available on the Research Center’s website).

Schedule of Deliverables

J06

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J07

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

Qtrly. Report #1

X

Tech. Memo #1

X

Qtrly. Report #2

X

Qtrly Report #3

X

Qtrly report #4

X

Tech Memo #2

X

Qrtrly. Report #5

X

Final Report #1 Draft

X

Final Report #2 Draft

X

Final Report #1 Draft with Revisions

X

Final Report #2 Draft with Revisions

X

 

Once approved by the FDOT Project Manager and the Research Office, 12 copies of “Final Report 1” and “Final Report 2” an electronic version of each, and an electronic version of each project summary will be submitted to the Research Office. 

 

IV.  Project Schedule

 

RESEARCH	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
TASK	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S
Task 1	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Summary of state regulations	50%	100%
Task 2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Literature review of performance measures	24%	51%	76%	100%
Task 3	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Data collection and assessment of current DRI processes				19%	38%	56%	73%	85%	100%
Task 4	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Development of performance measures								19%	36%	54%	69%	85%	100%
Task 5	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Test performance measures: District 5 pilot project											12%	24%	39%	51%	61%	72%	82%	94%	96%	98%	100%
Task 6	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Assessment and documentation of best practices				3%	6%	10%	15%	20%	25%	30%	35%	40%	46%	51%	56%	63%	75%	96%	97%	98%	100%
Task 7	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1
Internal editorial review																		100%

 

V.  Project Budget