US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

COR-3: Approve Goals for the Corridor

Corridor Planning

Description:

At this Key Decision a broad range of transportation, community, and environmental goals are considered which are specific to the corridor. The Key Decision is informed by the goals approved during long range transportation planning and informs the purpose and need for projects in environmental review. In order to facilitate collaboration, the goals from other plans are rationalized with transportation goals in the corridor.

There is information developed in prior Key Decisions that informs this step.

Basics:

The first table describes the purpose and anticipated outcome of a Key Decision. If the decision is federally mandated, the purpose and outcome will relate to the legal intent.

The second table describes roles for key partners with legal decision making authority in the transportation process. The roles indicate the influence a partner can have on a decision, and show each partner where their input is most needed. For a full understanding of roles see the Partner Portal.

Purpose

To adopt the comprehensive set of goals for the corridor.

Outcome

A comprehensive set of goals for the corridor that will guide the selection of a set of solutions that address the corridor's opportunities and deficiencies.

Partner	Role Type	Description
MPO	Decision Maker (urban), No Role (rural)	Ensures goals for the corridor study address all needs and consider the goals of the region.
FHWA/FTA	Observer	Observes the approval of goals that are consistent with accepted plans as well as community goals.
State DOT	Advisor (urban), Decision Maker (rural)	Provides an understanding of state goals with respect to the corridor.
Resource Agency	Advisor	Advise that environmental goals are considered in the development of the goals for the corridor. Provide input on the most important environmental needs in the planning area and where partners may be able to work together to make a difference across multiple resources of concern.
Public Transportation Operator(s)	Advisor	Provides an understanding of transit goals with respect to the corridor.

Links to Decisions

This table identifies the connection to other Key Decisions. The linkages highlight the importance of collaboration across transportation phases. Practitioners are encouraged to document the basis of the decision and consider information from previous Key Decisions.

Transportation Phases	Key Decision	What is Linked?	Purpose of Linkage
To Long Range Transportation Planning	LRP-2 - Approve Vision and Goals	Information on the vision and goals from the LRTP	To validate consistency between the corridor planning goals and those in the LRTP.
From Environmental Review/NEPA Merged with Permitting	ENV-1 - Reach Consensus on Scope of Environmental Review	The goals for the corridor	To inform the scope of the environmental review and permitting process
From Environmental Review/NEPA Merged with Permitting	ENV-3 - Approve Purpose and Need/Reach Consensus on Project Purpose	Information on the vision and goals from the corridor	To inform the purpose and need

Questions to Consider

Questions are a way to gather input from partners and stakeholders that can be used to inform the decision. Decision makers can discuss the questions provided to ensure a broad array of interests are considered to support a collaborative process. Questions also allow staff to collect stakeholder interests, ensure these are included in the decision, and provide a response based on the decision outcome. Although Public Transportation is not represented by a PlanWorks Application, the information provided may be useful in a collaborative transportation process.

Category	Questions to Consider
Long Range Planning	What are the vision and goals from the LRTP?
Programming	No specific questions
Corridor Planning	Are the goals consistent with other plans and programs? Do the goals enable development of measurable objectives and performance metrics? Are the goals appropriate and broad enough to allow consideration of all the problems and opportunities? Are the goals broad enough to incorporate all partner interests? If not, what interests are not included in these goals and why?
Environmental Review	Are the goals documented to inform the environmental review and permitting process for projects in the solution set?
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Do the goals account for accessibility and the connectivity and safety needs of all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and persons with disabilities?
Capital Improvement	Are there existing capital improvement goals for the corridor that would be relevant for the corridor plan? Have the proposed transportation goals considered local goals for capital improvement? Have capital improvement stakeholders provided any input on the transportation goals for the corridor?
Economic Development	Are the goals consistent with other local and regional economic development and community development plans, priorities, and goals?
Freight	Do the goals reflect the needs and interests of freight stakeholders? Are the goals compatible with existing freight plans that cover the corridor? How do freight stakeholders prioritize their goals for the corridor?
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	How will GHG considerations be reflected in the corridor study goal statements? How specific should GHG goal statements for the corridor be? For example, should they be integrated into a broader environmental goal or emphasized as corridor-specific goals? Do corridor-specific GHG-reduction goals support regional GHG and other goals?
Health in Transportation	Are there relevant priorities and goals included in any existing health plans or policies affecting the corridor? Has this agency and identified health partners adequately engaged the community in the identification of health priorities, goals, and objectives, including goals relating to health equity and the social determinants of health? How can the corridor plan help address health issues and achieve the corridor’s goals and priorities for health? Can health partners provide any technical assistance in developing measurable objectives? Do community and health stakeholders support the transportation goals and objectives identified?
Human Environment and Communities	Do the goals consider potentially disadvantaged populations and equity issues? Do the goals support specific community needs and interests? Is there information needed to provide back to the community on the approved goals for the corridor planning study? Has a strong basis for community stakeholders to remain engaged and participate been provided?
Land Use	Are the goals consistent with other local land use and development plans?
Linking Planning and Operations	To what extent are smart growth principles and goals included? What are the short- and long-term TSMO goals for the corridor?
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Have common goals between transportation and conservation been identified? Have the goals and priorities identified in ecological planning been considered?
Performance Measures	How do the approved goals support performance measurement and reporting?
Planning and Environment Linkages	Are the goals documented adequately to inform the purpose and need and the selection of evaluation criteria, methods, and measures during environmental review?
Public Private Partnerships	Are the goals broad enough to allow consideration of innovative sources of financing, revenues, and procurement through P3? Have any fiscal analyses or economic studies been completed that indicate that the corridor goals would be more effectively accomplished through the use of a P3? What advantages or disadvantages do stakeholders see if private developers were involved in developing the corridor?
Public Transportation	Do the public transportation agencies and stakeholders have any goals for the corridor?
Safety	Are there specific safety goals for this corridor? Do safety plans address these goals within the plan horizon? Have safety goals been incorporated into the approved goals for the corridor? If not, what is the explanation for this action to share with partners and the public?
Stakeholder Collaboration	Are the goals and desired outcomes of stakeholders represented? Are there differences or conflicts among the stakeholder interests? What are the risks of not establishing universally accepted goals? What is the justification for each approved goal? How will this information be communicated to stakeholders?
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	What is the corridor relationship to the goals developed during visioning? Do the corridor planning goals reflect the community’s values and transportation system support for them?

Data

The following list of data may be needed to support the Key Decision. Practitioners collect this information for decision makers to consider. Although Public Transportation is not represented by a PlanWorks Application, the information provided may be useful in a collaborative transportation process.

Category	Data to Consider
Long Range Planning	Vision, goals, and strategies from the LRTP where applicable Fiscal analysis done within the long range plan scenario analysis
Programming	No specific data
Corridor Planning	Goals from other plans, programs, and partners
Environmental Review	Documentation of goal setting and approved goals
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Bicycle and pedestrian goals and data Americans with Disabilities Act transition plans
Capital Improvement	Goals for capital improvement Partner input on transportation goals
Economic Development	Goals and priorities from local and regional economic development plans Data from previously conducted economic studies
Freight	Freight stakeholder input
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Analysis about the potential benefits of and stakeholder interest in GHG reduction-strategies
Health in Transportation	Input from community and health stakeholders on the priorities, goals, and objectives and their relationship to health in the corridor Data, tools, and information to help define the health priorities and potential benefits from transportation decisions Information on potential interactions and impacts transportation decisions may have on community health priorities and goals
Human Environment and Communities	Community input on goals and vision for the corridor Documented basis for the goals
Land Use	Land use and development goals, visions, and strategies for the corridor Analysis demonstrating that the goals are consistent with smart growth policies and principles, when applicable
Linking Planning and Operations	System operations and performance data Specific goals and objectives related to the operation of the corridor Performance targets related to system reliability and other TSMO goals
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Data on ecological goals and priorities for conservation and restoration
Performance Measures	Performance measures, targets, and reporting commitments Data to support performance measures identified
Planning and Environment Linkages	Documented basis for goals to carry forward into environmental review
Public Private Partnerships	Advantages and risks of using P3 P3 support for achieving corridor goals Stakeholder input on P3
Public Transportation	Relevant public transportation goals and plans
Safety	Goals from relevant safety plans, including the National and state goals
Stakeholder Collaboration	Stakeholder input on goal setting Basis for decisions to inform stakeholders
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	Relevant information from visioning, including baseline information, guiding principles, goals, values, and consensus vision for the future

Links to Applications

The interaction between transportation decision making and other planning processes will ensure that important values and goals outside the transportation process are recognized and considered. Although Public Transportation is not represented by a PlanWorks Application, the information provided may be useful in a collaborative transportation process.

Application	Description
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Identify and consider goals from regional and local plans or studies on bicycle, pedestrian, and Americans with Disabilities accessibility.
Capital Improvement	As with other planning processes such as Land Use, Economic Development, Human Environment and Communities, and Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical, it is important to consider external goals for the corridor, and collect input on the proposed transportation goals prior to making the approval decision.
Economic Development	Consider input from economic development partners, stakeholders, and other potential participants along the corridor to inform the development of goals and objectives for the corridor plan that align with the economic vision. Broader community goals may have been identified in Visioning with Transportation.
Freight	To the extent possible, the corridor goals should be consistent with goals from pre-existing plans relating to freight or other topics.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Evaluate GHG reduction as a study consideration and incorporate goals for reducing GHG emissions into the corridor goals, as appropriate.
Health in Transportation	Health goals might overlap or interact with goals being developed by partners working on the Bicycles and Pedestrians, Freight, Human Environment and Communities, Land Use, and Safety Applications. For help engaging appropriate stakeholders, the Stakeholder Collaboration and Visioning and Transportation Applications may be useful.
Human Environment and Communities	The corridor goals will guide the selection of solution sets as the outcome of the study. This Key Decision has a direct impact on the surrounding community – whether metropolitan or rural. It is important that stakeholders remain engaged throughout the process, and the Stakeholder Collaboration Application may provide additional support. Other Application topics of potential interest are Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical, Health in Transportation, Safety, and Bicycles and Pedestrians. Public Transportation is also an important consideration in some corridors.
Land Use	Compare transportation goals with land use and development goals for the corridor. Work to integrate goals across various topic areas to create a holistic approach to land use in the corridor, including goals covered Bicycles and Pedestrians, Economic Development, Human Environment and Communities, Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical, and Visioning and Transportation Applications. Public Transportation should also be considered. Corridor planning can offer an opportunity to develop performance measures for the adopted goals. See the Performance Measures Application for possible connections to land use.
Linking Planning and Operations	Ensure that goals for the corridor reflect TSMO goals and needs. There may be overlap between TSMO goals and objectives and those related to Safety, Economic Development, Capital Improvement as well as targets for Performance Measures.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Consider goals and priorities identified in ecological planning and developed shared vision.
Performance Measures	Goals for the corridor may reflect larger regional or statewide goals and performance measurement commitments. Specific Applications to consider are Freight, Safety, Linking Planning and Operations, Economic Development, Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical, Human Environment and Communities, and Bicycles and Pedestrians. Public Transportation system performance should be considered if applicable to the corridor.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Document approved goals to inform the purpose and need and the selection of evaluation criteria, methods, and measures in environmental review.
Public Private Partnerships	P3 comparison to proposed goals will identify the risks or support of other Application topics such as Human Environment and Communities, Economic Development, Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical and Public Transportation.
Public Transportation	Identify and consider goals from public transportation plans and stakeholders.
Safety	There are potential co-benefits for safety within improvements for other transportation modes and types. See the Freight and Bicycles and Pedestrians Application for relevancy. Corridor planning studies may also support performance measures to meet National Goals. See the Performance Measures Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	Stakeholders provide broad perspectives on goals for the corridor, with an understanding of how transportation interacts with other aspects of the community. See the Visioning Application for additional support. Input from stakeholders can help inform the development of goals that address the problems and opportunities identified, and support other topics such as Economic Development, Safety, and Human Environment. Natural Environment stakeholders will develop a shared vision of regional goals for transportation, restoration, recovery, and conservation if a regional ecological framework is in place.
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	This Key Decision will support evaluation and selection of individual solutions for transportation needs within the corridor. Application topics of potential interest are Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical, Economic Development, Land Use, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Examples

In - depth case studies of successful practices in collaborative decision making were used to develop the Decision Guide.Links in this table point to a specific paragraph or section of a case study that supports a Key Decision. It is not necessary to read through an entire case study to find the example; however, full versions are available in the Library.

PlanWorks Case Study Examples:
US 64 Asheboro Bypass - Merged NEPA and Section 404 Permitting Processes cor-3

Other Examples:
Fletcher Avenue Complete Streets (Hillsborough County, Florida) http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/network_report/page05.cfm