BETA

This draft website and its contents were developed by ICF International; TRB makes no representation or warranty of any kind (see disclaimer).

Transportation for Communities - Advancing Projects Through Partnerships


Applications - Long Range Transportation Planning

Reference Links

Long range planning provides the foundation for all other aspects of transportation decision making by establishing the vision and goals for transportation within a region and identifying strategies and project concepts for implementation. Long range planning is the only part of decision making where the transportation system as a whole, all modes and all roads, is analyzed and evaluated comprehensively. It is the starting point for ensuring that land use decisions and transportation improvements are coordinated and integrated to support overall community goals. Finally, the region-wide scale and integration of transportation and land use sets up the opportunity for decision makers to understand the broader environmental implications, both impacts and potential enhancements, of their transportation and land use decisions.

There are many challenges to planning and implementing transportation decisions effectively and efficiently. Long range planning can help overcome some of these challenges by laying the foundation for "decisions that stick". The outcome of long range planning should be broad based consensus and support for the transportation strategies and project concepts that are recommended. Collaboration with formal partners and stakeholders is essential if these decisions are to be recognized and built upon during subsequent planning and project development. Transportation for Communities can assist transportation planners by identifying how to increase collaboration at specific key decisions, as well as when and how to use long range planning information as the starting point for corridor planning or NEPA/permitting decisions.

Click on the key decisions in the graphic below for further information on each; including links to relevant case studies as well as links between these key decisions and others in the programming, corridor planning, and environmental review phases.

To get a snapshot of each Key Decision, roll over the Decision Guide graphic below. Click on any individual Key Decision to access detailed information including: purpose and anticipated outcomes; partner roles; integration with external planning processes; linkages across phases; questions to assist decision makers; and data, tools, technologies that support the decision.

Key Decisions that are grayed-out have no specific relevance to the individual application or topic area but are still accessible from this graphic.

Dg-darkgrey-titlebar-corner-left LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

LRP-1

The scoping key decision involves a broad assessment of the data, decisions, and relationships to consider, acquire, or make throughout the entire long range transportation plan (LRTP) process.

LRP-1 Approve Scope of LRTP Process
LRP-2

At this key decision, the community's values, whether stated as a vision and goals or simply agreed upon by the stakeholders for the planning area, are used to guide the transportation-specific vision and goals.

LRP-2 Approve Vision and Goals
LRP-3

At this key decision the evaluation criteria, methodology and performance measures are approved that will allow decision-makers to compare scenarios to the vision and goals and to one another.

LRP-3 Approve Evaluation Criteria, Methods and Measures
LRP-4

The approved list of specific corridors, roads and areas which are deficient identified at this key decision serves as a basis for problems and opportunities addressed in both the corridor planning and environmental review processes.

LRP-4 Approve Transportation Deficiencies
LRP-5

At this key decision information from the Programming / Fiscal Constraint Phase is introduced into the LRTP decision making process.

LRP-5 Approve Financial Assumptions
LRP-6

Strategies are developed to address the deficiencies identified in LRP-4. A strategy is a specific tactic or policy employed or recommended by an organization.

LRP-6 Approve Strategies
LRP-7

Scenarios are based on approved strategies and are compared using the evaluation criteria, methodology and performance measures.

LRP-7 Approve Plan Scenarios
LRP-8

At this key decision, a preferred plan scenario is adopted for inclusion in the Draft LRTP.

LRP-8 Adopt Preferred Plan Scenario
LRP-9

Air Quality conformity analysis is done within the air quality process in order to validate that the preferred scenario meets current conformity requirements.

LRP-9 Adopt Finding of Conformity by MPO
LRP-10

At this key decision a final plan is adopted by the MPO board.

LRP-10 Adopt LRTP by MPO
LRP-11

This is a legally required decision consisting of the federal approval of conformity of the LRTP.

LRP-11 Approve Conformity Analysis

Dg-darkgrey-titlebar-corner-left PROGRAMMING

PRO-1

This key decision establishes the revenue basis for both the fiscal constraint of the long range plan as well as the funding sources for the TIP.

PRO-1 Approve Revenue Sources
PRO-2

This key decision establishes a consistent methodology for estimating project costs for both the long range transportation plan and the TIP.

PRO-2 Approve Methodology for Identifying Project Costs and Criteria for Allocating Revenue
PRO-3

This key decision establishes the list of projects drawn from the long range plan or corridor planning process that will be considered for funding in the TIP.

PRO-3 Approve Project List Drawn from Adopted Plan Scenario or Solution Set
PRO-4

At this key decision, the approved project list is prioritized using the methodology previously developed.

PRO-4 Approve Project Prioritization
PRO-5

At this key decision project priorities are compared to available funding within program restrictions to select those projects to be included in the TIP.

PRO-5 Reach Consensus on Draft TIP
PRO-6

At this key decision, the MPO adopts the TIP. Before the MPO can do this, comments on the draft TIP must be addressed and a final TIP must be produced.

PRO-6 Adopt TIP by MPO
PRO-7

The Governor or designee should ensure that the TIP meets other state and federal requirements so that the TIP can be incorporated into the STIP and be in agreement with the state document.

PRO-7 Approve TIP by Governor and Incorporate into Draft STIP
PRO-8

At this key decision the draft STIP is developed to release for public comment.

PRO-8 Reach Consensus on Draft STIP
PRO-9

In order to meet federal requirements, the STIP must meet conformity and fiscal constraint, where required.

PRO-9 Approve STIP with respect to Conformity and Fiscal Constraint

Dg-darkgrey-titlebar-corner-left CORRIDOR PLANNING

COR-1

This is a crucial first step of corridor planning.

COR-1 Approve Scope of Corridor Planning Process
COR-2

The full range of deficiencies and opportunities within a corridor are defined at this key decision.

COR-2 Approve Problem Statements and Opportunities
COR-3

At this key decision a broad range of transportation, community, and environmental goals are considered which are specific to the corridor.

COR-3 Approve Goals for the Corridor
COR-4

In order to provide a clear linkage to the environmental review process, this key decision defines the acceptable level of detail for the corridor study analysis.

COR-4 Reach Consensus on Scope of Environmental Review and Analysis
COR-5

At this key decision, evaluation criteria, methodology and performance measures are approved that will allow decision-makers to compare solutions that address the corridor's opportunities and problems and are consistent with the approved corridor goals.

COR-5 Approve Evaluation Criteria, Methods and Measures
COR-6

A range of approved solution sets for the corridor results from this key decision.

COR-6 Approve Range of Solution Sets
COR-7

At this key decision, a preferred solution set is adopted for inclusion in the Corridor Plan.

COR-7 Adopt Preferred Solution Set
COR-8

At this key decision priorities for implementation of the individual solutions are established.

COR-8 Approve Evaluation Criteria, Methods and Measures for Prioritization of Projects
COR-9

Individual projects within the adopted preferred solution set are ranked in order to identify the appropriate sequencing for implementation.

COR-9 Adopt Priorities for Implementation

Dg-darkgrey-titlebar-corner-left ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW/NEPA MERGED WITH PERMITTING

ENV-1

Consensus is reached on the data, decisions and relationships that need to be considered, acquired or made throughout environmental review and permitting. The scope is informed by the adopted plans and current information from plans in process. Relationships with planning partners are formed.

ENV-1 Reach Consensus on Scope of Environmental Review
ENV-2

This key decision is required to satisfy the legal requirement of publishing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform partners and the public of the commencement of the environmental review phase.

ENV-2 Approve Notice of Intent
ENV-3

Document the agreed to purpose and need for both NEPA and the Section 404 permitting process. Integration with land use partners and stakeholder input are important at this step, to substantiate and refine the project purpose and need. There is a strong relationship between this key decision and the planning processes.

ENV-3 Approve Purpose and Need/Reach Consensus on Project Purpose
ENV-4

Consensus on an initial geographic area of study (the area within which any alternatives will fall) is reached. The study area is closely linked to the purpose and need and is informed by transportation and other planning processes.

ENV-4 Reach Consensus on Study Area
ENV-5

Evaluation criteria, methods and measures are used to compare how alternatives meet the purpose and need. The criteria used in long range and corridor planning as well as land use, ecological planning and capital improvement data are considered.

ENV-5 Approve Evaluation Criteria, Methods and Measures
ENV-6

A full range of possible project alternatives to meet the purpose and need is identified. Information about both selected and eliminated scenarios and solution sets from long range transportation planning and corridor planning inform the range of alternatives approved at this step.

ENV-6 Approve Full Range of Alternatives
ENV-7

This shared step between the NEPA and permitting processes involves the approval of the alternatives that are suggested to be carried forward. There is essential information created in long range planning and corridor planning that informs this decision.

ENV-7 Approve Alternatives to be Carried Forward
ENV-8

This is a formal approval point at which the Draft EIS with conceptual mitigation is approved and circulated for public review. Land use partners indicate their support of any land use policy changes that would be required to implement the recommendations in the Draft EIS.

ENV-8 Approve Draft EIS with Conceptual Mitigation
ENV-9

This key decision is required to satisfy the regulatory requirement for Section 404 permitting that the public receive notice of a permit application.

ENV-9 Approve Resource Agency Public Notice
ENV-10

Decision makers approve a preferred project alternative/LEDPA using input from stakeholders, planning partners, and detailed information about potential impacts, and validate that the preferred alternative is consistent with the LRTP and TIP/STIP.

ENV-10 Approve Preferred Alternative/
LEDPA
ENV-11

This decision is a required procedural step in the Section 404 permitting process. At this step, a final determination of jurisdictional waters of the United States in the project area is made.

ENV-11 Approve Final Jurisdictional Determination
ENV-12

Following selection of the preferred alternative/LEDPA, partners reach consensus on additional avoidance and minimization measures not included in the preliminary design.

ENV-12 Reach Consensus on Avoidance and Minimization for the LEDPA
ENV-13

A final EIS is approved that meets all legal requirements and addresses comments received on the Draft EIS.

ENV-13 Approve Final EIS
ENV-14

At this step in the environmental review phase, the Record of Decision is issued.

ENV-14 Approve the Record of Decision
ENV-15

At this final step in the environmental review phase, the final permit decision is rendered.

ENV-15 Render Permit Decision and Approve Avoidance and Minimization
 

The Transportation for Communities Approach
The goal of Transportation for Communities is to integrate collaborative practices into the long-range transportation process that is implemented under the federal planning regulations. Supporting information is provided through a framework of key decisions, the Decision Guide, which includes:

Read More...
  • Establishing a vision and goals that shape the entire decision making process.
  • Identifying what success means by establishing evaluation criteria and performance measures and using coordinated metrics to inform corridor planning and project development.
  • Ensuring projects selected for programming in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) are drawn from the fiscally constrained long range plan.
  • Including resource agencies and other interested and appropriate partners early on in a substantive role.
  • Ongoing and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
For more about this approach, see Decision Guide. How can the Transportation for Communities site help me...

Effective use of limited staff resources
The Decision Guide provides a standardized framework for conducting long-range planning, which can be customized to meet the needs of particular users. This framework consists of key decisions where collaboration can be enhanced. The first three-scope, vision and goals, and evaluation criteria/methodology/performance measures-are best-suited to addressing scheduling and resource issues. Transportation for Communities also outlines the specific roles and interests of MPOs, State DOTs, FHWA, and Resource Agencies (such as EPA, Corps of Engineers, USFWS, and state agencies) with regard to the long-range planning process. This can help planners focus resources more effectively.

Several special topics have been developed into applications to support more efficiency in decision making. Applications that are specifically relevant to long range planning include Integrated Planning and Linking MPO Planning and NEPA.

Tough decisions due to limited funding availability
The Decision Guide integrates the requirement for a fiscally constrained long range plan with the programming process to identify funding for specific projects. This approach ensures that the fiscal constraint requirement for the long range plan is not compromised during programming. In addition, it provides a greater opportunity and likelihood that programming decisions will support the implementation of the adopted plan. The key decisions from this phase are closely related to long-range planning, including: the approval of revenue sources, the development of cost methodology and revenue allocation criteria, and the approval of a project list for funding.

Anticipating volatility in public sentiment and political will
Transportation for Communities provides case studies of planning processes that have successfully incorporated collaboration and other innovative practices. Some of the case studies that address public sentiment and political will include:
  • Maricopa Regional Transportation Plan - the MPO, the business community, and the legislature worked together to create a plan and pass a referendum to fund the plan recommendations
  • Idaho Vision Plan - a State DOT used public involvement as a way to develop a statewide vision document to guide transportation planning and programming decisions
  • Interstate 710 Corridor Study and Kelly Parkway Corridor Study - officials were able to address opposition to road improvements by structuring the public involvement process to better address community concerns
  • US 131 S-Curve Replacement - the city and MPO were able to partner to leverage a "fast track" transportation improvement to advance community development and enhancement goals

Stakeholder Collaboration is an essential part of Transportation for Communities. The Stakeholder Collaboration application and the Collaboration Assessment for Stakeholders provide support for planners interested in strong collaborative engagement with stakeholders.

Examples of Collaboration in Long Range Planning
Transportation for Communities provides case studies of planning processes that have successfully incorporated collaboration and other innovative practices. Several case studies are particularly relevant for long-range planning in general, including the Maricopa Regional Transportation Plan and the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study.

We invite your comments/concerns about this website and its contents. Please send us an email at transportationforcommunities@gmail.com.