Measuring the Performance of Livability Programs
Project Number: 1126
Project Objective
To help determine which performance measures are best-suited to livability programs.
Principal Investigator
Peter Haas, Ph.D., Director of Education, Mineta Transportation Institute, San José State University
Student Assistant
Katherine Estrada, MTI Student Assistant, San José State University
Project Abstract
Livability programs seek to make communities better places to live, for both current and future generations, by influencing the structure and uses of the land and built environment, including the transportation infrastructure. This project explores the question: how should transportation and partner agencies structure the performance measurement of metropolitan livability programs? It will provide an analysis of the performance measurement approaches used by several mature metropolitan livability programs.
Task Description
- Conduct a literature review of performance measurement strategies and techniques to develop criteria for livability performance measures.
- Review and select livability projects for use as case studies.
- Conduct document analysis and telephone interviews with appropriate project staff.
- Distill performance measures from case study projects and apply criteria (as developed in Task 1).
- Derive implications and recommendations for future performance measures.
Technology Transfer
Upon publication, a PDF final report will be available on the MTI website. Additionally, the report will be conveyed directly to the California State University task force on High-Speed Rail (HSR) workforce development and to the California HSR Authority and its staff. The team will seek to present the results from the project at the 2013 TRB meetings and will submit a journal article for publication in the Transportation Research Record and/or other relevant refereed publications.
Potential Benefits of Project
Many major federal, state and local initiatives invoke the “livability” mantra, yet little consensus exists with respect to measuring attainment of associated goals. This project may help steer policy among decision makers in a practical and productive direction.
