Organizing for effective transport planning

All of the Australian capital cities have recently conducted or are initiating some form of regional transportation planning process. All of these endeavours refer to a continuous approach to longer term transportation planning. The most effective planning to provide a sound basis for making appropriate decisions requires the establishment of an overall organizational form which allows for the efficient use of available resources - funds, personnel, planning tools etc - and provides a basis for adequate communications with persons involved in planning other regional activities as well as with decision makers. The paper reviews the evolution of transportation planning organizations in the last couple of decades and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of each type. The two most effective organizational forms resulting from this evolution are further discussed. The principal objectives of a transportation planning organization are outlined. The basic organizational requirements for properly fulfilling the functions are described. A suggested organizational form is described which is considered to best fulfil the basic organizational requirements. The application of such an organizational form in a larger urban region is then briefly discussed.