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Advancing Metropolitan Planning for Operations: An Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Approach – A Guidebook

Overview

This guidebook presents an approach for integrating TSM&O strategies into the metropolitan transportation planning process that is designed to maximize the performance of the existing and planned transportation system. Planning for operations is recommended as a means to meet federal transportation planning requirements for promoting “efficient system management and operations” and implementing a congestion management process (CMP), which is required in Transportation Management Areas (TMA).

Operations objectives contained in a metropolitan transportation plan are the drivers behind planning for operations: specific, measurable, agreed-upon statements of system performance that can be tracked on the regional level and inform investment decisions. The benefits of following an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to planning for operations include: illustrating and tying objectives to outcomes and available resources, increased accountability and communication with the public and stakeholders through performance measurement, and engagement of the TSM&O community and partners.

Specific sections of the guidebook focus on:
 

  • Developing operations goals and objectives
  • Developing performance measures, assessing needs, and selecting strategies
  • Plans, programs, and projects resulting from an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to operations
  • The process for ongoing monitoring and evaluation
  • The role, approach, and tool for regional coordination and collaboration

Appendices are included covering:
 

  • Requirements of SAFETEA-LU
  • Components of a CMP
  • Applications of the planning for operations approach to linking planning and NEPA, freight planning, safety planning, and land use integration
  • Operations objectives and performance measures in private and public organizations
  •  

Source Organization Location

Washington
,
DC

Operations Area of Practice

    Performance Management
    Business Processes/Policies and Procedures
    Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
    System Performance Definition, Monitoring and Reporting
    Planning for Operations

Organizational Capability Element

    Project Development
    Performance Management
    Planning
    Programming/Budget/Funding
    Local government/MPO/RTPA cooperation
    Outsourcing/PPP

Content Type

Informational Product

Role in Organization

Transportation Planner
Senior Engineer
Researcher/Academic
Principal Engineer
Manager / First Line Supervisor
Director / Program Manager
Senior Manager

Publishing Organization

FHWA

Maturity Level of Program

Monitoring (L4)
Deployment (L3)
Assessment (L1)
Development (L2)

Objective

Learning
How-To
Available Tools
Prioritization
Prime Contractor
SAIC (ICF International
Author
Michael Grant,
Jocelyn Bauer,
Terence Plaskon, and
John Mason
TOM Chapters
15.1
6.5
View Related
Issue Date
Publication Number
FHWA-HOP-10-026