Statewide transportation planning

A new framework for managing statewide transportation planning is suggested here. The framework consists of two parts: technical (or substantive) and management. The framework recognizes that the day-to-day work of policy planning, communication, programming, and monitoring is a form of planning. The two parts are not independent--management cannot function without the technical content because the what and how of transportation affect policies and programs; technicians must be attuned to needs of decision makers and to financial realities. The management side of statewide transportation planning is the area in which some of the greatest changes and improvements have been made in recent years. The synthesis presents examples of good practice by various agencies in strategic planning, estimating financial resources, regulation, communications, productivity, energy, and environment. On the substantive (or technical) side, there are no strong trends or new techniques. The synthesis gives examples of good practice for planning highways, intercity and rural buses, railroads, freight, waterways and ports, aviation, and pipelines. Recent statewide transportation plans are giving more attention to financial policy, communications, and project scheduling; two examples of good statewide transportation plans are presented here. (Author)