A Survey of Transportation Planning Practices in State Departments of Transportation
A Survey of Transportation Planning Practices in State Departments of Transportation

Author: E. D. Arnold

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 66

ISBN-13:

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The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), and now its successor the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), fundamentally altered the transportation planning process, providing new opportunities and new challenges for state and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). In Virginia, the Transportation Planning Division (TPD) of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is the lead state agency for transportation planning. TPD is charged with satisfying state and federal requirements for transportation planning, including ISTEA and TEA-21 requirements; however, it is assisted in the delivery of transportation planning services by various levels of activity and responsibility in VDOT's district offices. There are numerous ways in which any given state department of transportation (DOT) can organize itself, allocate responsibility, manage personnel, and establish procedures and practices to perform tasks associated with the planning process. The purpose of this project was to survey the transportation planning practices in state DOTs, document the findings, and identify practices that might be considered for use by VDOT. The practices investigated included: organization and management of transportation planning; coordination between the DOT and MPOs; public involvement procedures for transportation planning activities; intermodal planning and congestion management procedures; use of consultants for transportation planning activities. Thirty-eight DOTs responded to the survey. Summary findings are presented, a comparison of VDOT and other DOT practices is made, and potential practices to enhance transportation planning in Virginia are identified.

Information Needs to Support State and Local Transportation Decision Making Into the 21st Century
Information Needs to Support State and Local Transportation Decision Making Into the 21st Century

Author: National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board

Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 80

ISBN-13: 9780309062060

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The conference provided an opportunity for participants to (a) identify the types of data that are critical for planning and policy analysis; (b) identify data-collection requirements; (c) discuss the appropriate roles of and relationships among federal, state, and local agencies in the context of data collection and dissemination; and (d) review the impact of technological advances on data collection and dissemination. The invitation-only conference included participants from state departments of transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and federal agencies providing broad representation of the transportation planning and policy communities. Significant effort was made to include a full spectrum of policy, management, and front-line analysts who have extensive experience in answering policy questions, supporting the planning process, and responding to federal reporting requirements.

Metropolitan Travel Forecasting
Metropolitan Travel Forecasting

Author: National Research Council (U.S.). Committee for Determination of the State of the Practice in Metropolitan Area Travel Forecasting

Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Published: 2007-10-18

Total Pages: 147

ISBN-13: 0309104173

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TRB Special Report 288, Metropolitan Travel Forecasting: Current Practice and Future Direction, examines metropolitan travel forecasting models that provide public officials with information to inform decisions on major transportation system investments and policies. The report explores what improvements may be needed to the models and how federal, state, and local agencies can achieve them. According to the committee that produced the report, travel forecasting models in current use are not adequate for many of today's necessary planning and regulatory uses.

Linking of Mobility Performance Measures to Resource Allocation
Linking of Mobility Performance Measures to Resource Allocation

Author: Jeremy Klop

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 27

ISBN-13:

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The objective of this study is to provide a summary of the best practices of state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) throughout the country regarding the linkage between mobility performance measures and resource allocation.

Analysis of the Governance of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in the United States for Potential Application to North Carolina
Analysis of the Governance of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in the United States for Potential Application to North Carolina

Author: Larry R. Goode

Publisher:

Published: 2001

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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North Carolina has seventeen different metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) responsible for transportation planning. Many of these MPOs face problems in both representation and governance. These include: boundary issues associated with city, county and state boundaries; representational issues concerning a city dominating, or being dominated by, the MPO; structural issues surrounding committee and voting structures; and so on. The goal of this study was to consider recommendations for restructuring the governmental frameworks for North Carolina's MPOs in order to improve their ability to deal with regional issues. The research team conducted a Web-based survey of MPOs across the country. In addition, we performed a series of case studies involving interviews, detailed secondary research, and direct observations of actual MPO policy meetings.