Tennessee has been selected by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) to participate in the Policy Academy on Shaping a New Approach to Transportation and Land Use Planning.
The state will develop a Corridor Management Agreement in one of the state's urban areas that will later be applied to other transportation corridors across the state. The goal is to create a system that helps local planning agencies learn how to make land use decisions that better coordinate with transportation decisions made at the local and state level.
Colorado, Maryland, Washington and West Virginia have also been selected to participate in the program.
"As Tennessee continues to grow, both economically and in population, a coordinated approach to land use and transportation planning will help avoid the gridlock and pollution problems seen in other cities and states," said Governor Phil Bredesen. "I'm pleased Tennessee is working with NGA to develop new strategies for better coordination between local, state, public and private industries when it comes to economic growth and the transportation infrastructure needed to support it."
As part of the Academy, Tennessee will benefit from the experiences and knowledge of experts from across the nation who have studied the issue of land use and transportation planning. The Tennessee team will be composed of state, local, public and private leaders involved in transportation and land use decisions including representatives from the Tennessee Departments of Transportation, Environment and Conservation, Economic and Community Development, Agriculture and Tourist Development.
"Improved linkages between transportation and land use planning are essential in beginning to address the growing problem of congestion on our roadways," said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. "With state and local communities working together, we can better serve the needs of our citizens while also promoting economic development in our state."
Through the Policy Academy, Tennessee and the other selected states will work over a 10-month period to:
· Establish new governance models that work to align infrastructure development and state goals;
· Create a new planning framework that addresses the state's unique needs and concerns for mobility, accessibility, emissions, financial stability, demographics, climate and topography;
· Adapt new funding and financing approaches that better reflect user costs and benefits, manage demand and help pay for transportation system management and maintenance; and
· Develop enhanced goals and metrics that best reflect the state's transportation goals.
For more information about this and other initiatives of the NGA Center Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Division, visit www.nga.org/center/eenr.