REPORT ON WORKSHOP 2: POLICY PLANNING

This workshop which was set up to identify current strategies adopted by the states to develop and implement multimodal transportation policies and the importance of those policies in the transportation planning and decision-making process at the state level, and to recommend improvements in policy development as an essential element of the statewide transportation planning process, also recommends a program of research in statewide transportation policy planning that considers the varying nature of state organizations. The structure in defining policy planning is set forth, 6 policy areas are identified, and policy and subpolicy issues are classified in 4 areas: allocating responsibilities for providing transportation facilities and services and developing procedures for reaching transportation decisions; integrating privately provided transportation services into the statewide system; changing the nature and magnitude of the demand for transportation instead of the supply of facilities and services; and financing and charging for transportation. The two aspects of institutional arrangements, the techniques for analysis and evaluation, the responsibilities of policy planning, and the needed skills and background are discussed. The other policy and subpolicy issues are also discussed. Recommendations are presented which are based on the study. Policy planning should be the basic function of a special group identified with the highest agency in state government. The policy planning staff should be equipped to perform the variety of analyses applicable to the differenet types of transportation issues. The types of most applicable skills are listed. Recommendations are also made which relate to the roles of the transportation planning professional, the legislative programs of the transportation department, and the function of the policy groups as a resource for public information personnel relating to policy matters.