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Tag: Transportation

Navigating the Future of Transportation with SEMCOG’s Multimodal Tool

In a world where transportation demands are continuously evolving, the competition for space on our roads has never been fiercer. Urban planners and transportation professionals face the challenge of accommodating diverse travel modes within limited right-of-way areas. Enter SEMCOG's Multimodal Tool, developed by Blue Raster in partnership with Fehr & Peers and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). This innovative digital planning tool is transforming how communities plan, design, and evaluate complete streets for autos, freight, pedestrians, bikes, and transit.

Understanding the Multimodal Tool

The Multimodal Tool was designed with clear objectives in mind:

  • Address Growing Competition: It helps local communities manage the increasing competition between different travel modes for the limited space within the right-of-way.
  • Clarify Project Limitations: The tool assists users in understanding what is allowed for each project within different road jurisdictions.
  • Prioritize Modes Efficiently: It provides a framework for communities to collaborate with SEMCOG and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to prioritize travel modes on specific corridors or districts while adhering to operational standards.

With these goals, the tool supports county and local jurisdictions in Southeast Michigan, various stakeholders, community organizations, and staff from SEMCOG and MDOT. It can be used for state, county, and local roads within Southeast Michigan, promoting a balanced and inclusive approach to transportation planning.

The Four Steps of Using the Multimodal Tool

Step 1: Modal Network Viewer

The first step involves using the Modal Network Viewer. This feature allows users to:

  • View geospatial modal networks and tiers
  • Identify project corridors
  • Review modal priorities
  • Determine land use contexts

This comprehensive map view helps planners understand the existing transportation landscape and plan accordingly.

SEMCOG Multimodal Transportation Planning Tool

Map-centric landing page starts the project set up process

Step 2: Project Setup and Street Builder

Once a street segment is selected from the map, information stored in the GIS features is imported into the project set up panel. This information informs project set up and cross-section design to best accommodate the prioritized travel modes. The tool integrates Streetmix, an open-source technology that allows users to design their street cross-sections with ease. This step ensures that the design aligns with the specific land use context and serves all users effectively.

SEMCOG Multimodal Transportation Planning Tool

Project set up panel is populated with modal network information

SEMCOG Multimodal Transportation Planning Tool

Drag and Drop Components to Design a Complete Streets Cross Section

Step 3: Project Scoring

After designing the street cross-sections, the tool provides a level of service by mode, enabling users to evaluate how well the design meets the needs of all travelers. This scoring system is crucial for ensuring that the final design is not only functional but also equitable and efficient.

SEMCOG Multimodal Transportation Planning Tool

User's Inputs are Reflected in the Scoring and Cross Section Design Sections

Step 4: Share Your Project

The final step is sharing the constructed street segments with the wider team. Users can export their designs as printable PDFs or share them via a link. This feature fosters collaboration and ensures that all stakeholders are on the same page.

SEMCOG Multimodal Transportation Planning Tool

PDF Report of Scoring Summary based on User Input

Why This Tool Matters

The Multimodal Tool aids analysis and decision making around larger discussions covering economic development, livability, environmental sustainability, safety, and equity in local communities. By providing a structured approach to multimodal planning, the tool supports these broader goals and helps communities thrive.

Behind the Technology

The Multimodal Tool was built using cutting-edge technologies to ensure robust performance and usability:

  • ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript: An application development framework used to develop rich mapping and spatial analysis applications for web.
  • React and NodeJS: These technologies provide a seamless user interface and efficient back-end processing.
  • Streetmix: This open-source software allows users to construct detailed street segments.
  • PostgreSQL: Databases handle the complex data management required for GIS analysis and transportation planning.

Join the Future of Multimodal Planning

The demands on our roads are evolving, and so must our approach to transportation planning. By leveraging advanced technologies, GIS, and a collaborative framework, SEMCOG's Multimodal Tool offers a promising solution for the challenges facing today's transportation professionals.

Learn more about how the Multimodal Tool can transform your transportation planning efforts and sign up for a demo today!

Driving Forward with VDOT’s Integrated Directional Signing Program

While driving on the highway you likely find yourself looking at signs lining the road to determine your next meal, gas stop, or a place to stay. You probably do not consider that there is a directional signing program that manages the accuracy of these signs, but you trust the information and services they provide. 

In Virginia, Blue Raster partnered with Directional Signing Program (DSP) to put in place Esri workflows that help ensure you can trust these signs. Using ArcGIS Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Workforce, and Dashboards, the signing program at VDOT has never been more interactive and in real-time. The Integrated Directional Signing Program (IDSP) includes over 16,000 signs across the State and is comprised of:

  • Logo Guide Signs - Blue highway signs with gas, food and lodging company logos
  • Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs - Blue highways signs with directional information, no company logos
  • Supplemental Guide Signs - Cultural, recreational, education and historic guide signs
  • General Motorist Service Signs - Generic symbols representing Gas, Food, Lodging, Hospitals and Camping
  • Historic Markers - Signs depicting historic information about places, people or events

directional sign

Blue Raster's workflows for field GIS allow DSP and other VDOT contractors to inventory and update the status of every sign in the IDSP. The initial inventory of all 16,000 signs was completed in just 5 weeks with the help of Field Maps and offline capabilities. Since then, routine inspections for condition and retroreflectivity, construction inspections, or maintenance work orders for signs has been managed in GIS with Esri's field applications. Data from the field crews feed a series of dashboards configured to show key metrics and status to VDOT in real-time.

Beyond just VDOT, the IDSP is made up of the customers on the signs and the public. Through hosted web maps and Survey123 forms, there is now the ability for both customers and the public to view an interactive map of all the signs in the IDSP (with current image), provide general feedback on the program, and report sign issues or knockdowns.

directional signing program

Integrating ArcGIS into the IDSP allows for significant improvements to data collection, understanding of assets, efficiency, reporting and tracking goals. Continued work with DSP and VDOT includes developing StoryMaps around the Historic Marker Program, leveraging Business Analyst to attract new customers and understand interchange saturation and vacancies, and better use of imagery including 360 degree capture. All of this work makes the IDSP better, and provides a better experience to drivers in Virginia.


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