About TMIP

TMIP Goals and Activities

"...as transportation planning evolves, it is crucial that TMIP support enhancements in other analysis techniques as well..."

TMIP provides a wide range of services to help planning agencies improve their travel analysis techniques. TMIP activities focus on a well-defined set of goals that are flexible enough to adapt to the changing needs of transportation planners.

Goal 1. To help planning agencies build their institutional capacity to develop and deliver travel related information to support transportation and planning decisions.

Maintain clearinghouse and web site
Deliver training and technical assistance
Facilitate communication
Conduct outreach

Goal 2. To develop and improve analytical methods that respond to the needs of planning and environmental decision making processes.

Identify analytical needs
Conduct basic research
Develop tools, techniques, procedures

Goal 3. To develop mechanisms to ensure the quality of technical analysis used to support decision making and to meet local, state, and federal program requirements.

Compile forecasting requirements
Provide support for Federal reviews
Provide incentives for exemplary practice

TMIP Activity Testimonials

Providing travel forecasting training for planning staff

Caltrans improves staff capabilities by utilizing TMIP seminars and training courses

"TMIP has been very valuable to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) both in providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and in providing training opportunities. One item of particular note was the recent TMIP Model Validation and Calibration seminar. This class provided many of the students with their first opportunity to learn these important skills, which are often overlooked in the rush to complete projects. We appreciate these training opportunities and look forward to many more."

–Charles Chenu, Senior Transportation Planner, Caltrans

Providing a forum for expert peer exchange

Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) recognizes benefits from participation in the TMIP email list, an email-based peer exchange.

ARC, the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Atlanta, Georgia region, is continuously improving their travel forecasting models. "To ensure that we are spending our funds wisely, our staff needs to know what travel forecasting techniques have been successful in other areas before we initiate model improvement projects. Our staff utilizes the TMIP email list, to keep up with the state of the practice in travel forecasting."

–Guy Rousseau, Program Manager, Transportation Division, ARC

Informing new model deployments

TMIP gives New York Metropolitan Transportation Commission (NYMTC) information they can use in creating an enhanced new model system.

NYMTC recently completed development of the New York Best Practice Model (NYBPM). NYMTC chose to develop a journey-based forecasting system that simulates individual travelers’ decisions and behavior. Included within the NYBPM is a population synthesizer based on the TRansportation ANalysis SIMulation System (TRANSIMS), a highly advanced travel modeling technology created by TMIP with the Department of Energy and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

"We chose the micro-simulation approach for our region primarily due to the huge size of the transportation system and the complexity of travel behavior in the New York region. We quickly discovered, however, the benefits of the more logical and defensible behavioral models that stem from this disaggregate approach. Being aware of the TRANSIMS experience through TMIP, certainly helped us in making this and other important decisions in the development of the advanced components of the NYBPM."

–Kuo-Ann Chiao, Director of Technical Service, NYMTC

Providing technical assistance to Federal staff

FHWA, FTA and EPA staff benefit from travel forecasting workshops

Over the past year, TMIP staff has conducted 1-day workshops for Federal field staff who are responsible for transportation conformity determinations. The goal of the workshop is to give the staff a background in travel demand forecasting applied to conformity analysis so they can make more informed decisions.

"The workshop was very useful in introducing how travel demand modeling supports transportation conformity determinations. I would highly recommended this workshop as an introductory session for any Federal staff associated with transportation and air quality planning."

–Mark Bechtel, Community Planner, Federal Transit Administration, Region VII, Kansas City, MO