Implementing Regional Transportation Planning

The typical metropolitan transportation system focused on the interests of individual jurisdictions rather than cooperatively with regional partners. By overcoming typical barriers and working as a strategic team focused on regional interests, transportation planning can be improved to better serve a region. This article focuses on a recent Federal Highway Authority (FHWA) initiative for early deployment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and reveals lessons learned. Issues include identification of stakeholders, team building, soliciting customer input, constructing a regional information architecture, andpromoting potentialpublic-private partnerships. Specific suggestions on methods for enhancing regional transportation system planning and implementation are provided. Data was gathered while the authors were under contract to conduct an evaluation of the regional transportation-planning initiative. Methods included participant observations, case studies, surveys, and document review. Results of the study validate the strength of strategic planning, evaluation of planning processes, and customerfocus.