US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

LRP-4: Approve Transportation Deficiencies

Long Range Transportation Planning

Description:

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.

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 identify transportation deficiencies within the planning area that should be addressed in the LRTP. Transportation deficiencies are where the current or future system is expected to experience congestion, safety issues, lack of interconnectivity, or other operational problems as well as inadequate roadway capacity.

Outcome

A list of specific corridors, roads, and areas that are deficient or need improvement.

Partner	Role Type	Description
MPO	Decision Maker	Ensures transportation deficiencies are technically sound and represent the true needs of the region
FHWA/FTA	Observer	Observes that the LRTP is developed from established needs
State DOT	Advisor	Ensures identified deficiencies are clearly defined and include state needs
Resource Agency	No Role	The deficiencies approved only represent transportation needs.
Public Transportation Operator(s)	Advisor	Ensures identified deficiencies are clearly defined and include transit needs.

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 Corridor Planning	COR-1 - Approve Scope of Corridor Planning Process	Transportation deficiencies at the regional level	To provide the foundation and understanding of transportation problems identified in the corridor. This provides the regional context for the development of corridor deficiencies.
To Corridor Planning	COR-2 - Approve Problem Statements and Opportunities	Transportation deficiencies at the regional level	To provide the foundation for development of the problem and opportunities statement
To Environmental Review/NEPA Merged with Permitting	ENV-3 - Approve Purpose and Need/Reach Consensus on Project Purpose	Transportation deficiencies at the regional level	To provide the foundation for development of the purpose and need statement.

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	How were deficiencies determined? Are they well supported by data and/or analysis? What is the justification for each of the deficiencies that were not approved?
Programming	Has an active project been identified to address any of these deficiencies? Do identified deficiencies provide support for project ranking or prioritization?
Corridor Planning	Are deficiencies in corridor planning studies being addressed in the planning process?
Environmental Review	Have deficiencies been identified through individual planning efforts?
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Are there existing or potential barriers that limit the ability to use pedestrian or bicycle transportation? Do the deficiencies include those specific to bicycle and pedestrian networks and specific population needs? Are there significant gaps in the walking and bicycling network that present safety concerns?
Capital Improvement	Have Capital Improvement partners identified transportation deficiencies that are related to planned Capital Improvement projects? Is there an opportunity to address a Capital Improvement need concurrent with addressing the transportation deficiency?
Economic Development	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Freight	Do the deficiencies include those identified and/or validated by freight stakeholders or existing freight plans? How are deficiencies identified by freight stakeholders viewed by other stakeholders?
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Health in Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Human Environment and Communities	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Land Use	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Linking Planning and Operations	Are there any identified operational deficiencies? Have operational partners been asked for input on problems and deficiencies, as well as opportunities for improvement?
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures	What performance measures were used previously that are still relevant? What performance measure data exists to help measure and/or validate deficiencies? What new transportation deficiencies have been identified? Are the data and tools to address these available?
Planning and Environment Linkages	Have the deficiencies identified, and methods used to identify deficiencies, been documented for use in subsequent corridor planning processes and/or in environmental review?
Public Private Partnerships	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Transportation	Are there existing or potential barriers that limit access to public transportation?
Safety	What are the safety issues in the current transportation system and potential future safety needs?
Stakeholder Collaboration	Are the stakeholders’ perceptions of the deficiencies consistent with the technical data/list of deficiencies? If not, how can that be addressed? What transportation improvements do stakeholders want? Do stakeholders have solutions to recommend? What transportation problems are stakeholders facing? Can the approved deficiencies be expressed clearly to stakeholders?
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.

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	Data and/or analysis from individual planning efforts such as the previous regional plan or other studies
Programming	Project data and schedules for completion
Corridor Planning	Data and/or analysis from individual planning efforts such as the corridor and sub-area plans
Environmental Review	Data and/or analysis from project development
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Pedestrian and bicycle crashes and injuries Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection Systems http://www.pedbikesafe.org/ Corridors appropriate for implementing safety projects for bicycles and pedestrians Bicycle and pedestrian-related deficiencies (such as sidewalk gaps, poorly timed signals, intersections without pedestrian crossing islands, and bridges without pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. Deficiencies identified through a road safety audit including: Pedestrian Road Safety Audits (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/ped_rsa/) Bicycle Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/fhwasa12018/)
Capital Improvement	Capital Improvement projects
Economic Development	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Freight	Freight traffic data Freight-related safety issues Information on deficiencies important to freight stakeholders
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Health in Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Human Environment and Communities	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Land Use	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Linking Planning and Operations	Operations and maintenance plans or identified improvements Operational partner input Data and specific examples to support operational issues and needs
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures	System performance data across all modes Performance data from recently completed projects
Planning and Environment Linkages	Transportation deficiencies and supporting analyses
Public Private Partnerships	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Transportation	Operations data for public transportation (headways, fares, route changes, etc.) Public transportation service needs and limitations
Safety	Crash history, planned safety improvements, locations of high safety interest
Stakeholder Collaboration	Gathering input from a broad range of stakeholders on transportation problems and issues provides a more comprehensive understanding of the current multimodal transportation system and services. Identifying deficiencies, both targeted and system-wide, will help to uncover solutions that address multiple deficiencies.
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.

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	Gather feedback on transportation system deficiencies specific to bicycle and pedestrian transportation.
Capital Improvement	Comparison to other community plans such as Land Use changes proposed or Economic Development designated areas will allow coordination of planning activities and indicate supportive opportunities for improvement.
Economic Development	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Freight	Consider how the transportation deficiencies related to freight movement might interact with the needs and deficiencies identified in other considerations, such as Safety, Transit, and Bicycles and Pedestrians, where vehicle speed, lane width, and other factors may represent conflicts.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	This Key Decision is not associated with this Application.
Health in Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with this Application.
Human Environment and Communities	This Key Decision is not associated with this Application.
Land Use	This Key Decision is not associated with this Application.
Linking Planning and Operations	TSMO problems often have a relationship to Safety. Other modes such as Bicycles and Pedestrians and Public Transportation may rely on TSMO.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	This Key Decision is not associated with this Application.
Performance Measures	Traditional deficiencies such as congestion and Safety will be a significant part of performance measurement, but goals at the state, regional, and national level may increase the number of performance characteristics to be evaluated. Applications such as Linking Planning and Operations (for reliability), Freight, Bicycles and Pedestrians, and Public Transportation system needs should also be considered.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Document deficiencies and supporting analyses for use in corridor planning and/or environmental review
Public Private Partnerships	This Key Decision is not associated with this Application.
Public Transportation	Consider public transportation system deficiencies Identify where public transportation service may help meet existing or future deficiencies.
Safety	Transportation deficiencies in the existing and future transportation system include locations and types of potential safety issues. Linking Planning and Operations, Bicycles and Pedestrians, and Freight Applications may have additional safety implications.
Stakeholder Collaboration	Stakeholder input on transportation deficiencies
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application
Visioning and Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application

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:
None.

Other Examples:
None.