Access Management Curriculum for University Planning and Engineering Programs

Williams, Kristine; Boyd, Tia; Dixon, Karen · 2024 · ROSA P / University of South Florida. National Institute for Congestion Reduction

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Summary

This report presents a comprehensive, research-based curriculum designed to integrate roadway access management education into university planning and engineering programs. The project addresses a critical gap in transportation workforce development: while extensive research demonstrates that access management improves safety, reduces congestion, and enhances livability, few universities currently teach these concepts. Consequently, emerging professionals enter the field with insufficient knowledge of how poorly managed land access contributes to systemic transportation failures. The curriculum aims to rectify this by providing adaptable instructional resources that align with accreditation standards for both engineering and planning disciplines. The curriculum was developed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida and the Texas A&M University Transportation Institute, funded by the National Institute for Congestion Reduction. The methodology involved reviewing key literature, guidance documents from agencies like the Federal Highway Administration and Transportation Research Board, and existing university syllabi. The resulting structure consists of nine modules covering topics such as the effects of access management, land development, access location and spacing, design, policy, corridor planning, legal considerations, and public involvement. Each module includes learning objectives, readings, assignments, and evaluation methods modeled after active learning techniques and aligned with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) criteria. The curriculum is designed for flexible implementation, allowing instructors to use modules as "plug-and-play" supplements for existing courses or as a standalone multidisciplinary course. Specific learning outcomes enable students to define access management principles, distinguish between access, accessibility, and mobility, and evaluate the impacts of access on safety, equity, and operations. Students are trained to identify planning and design techniques for managing multimodal access and to develop corridor access management plans that incorporate smart land use and complete streets concepts. Assessments include technique reports, corridor plan projects, and quizzes that measure student proficiency in applying these concepts to real-world scenarios. The significance of this work lies in its potential to standardize access management education across the United States and abroad. By bridging the disconnect between proven transportation practices and academic training, the curriculum ensures that future planners and engineers are equipped to proactively address congestion and safety issues. The materials also benefit transportation agencies and local governments seeking to train their current workforce. Ultimately, the project supports the broader mission of optimizing the transportation system for all users by fostering a generation of professionals who understand the critical role of access management in sustainable and equitable urban development.

Key finding

The project successfully developed a comprehensive, research-based curriculum consisting of nine modules that can be readily adapted into university planning and engineering programs to educate students on roadway access management.

Methodology

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Provenance

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