US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

LRP-8: Adopt Preferred Plan Scenario

Long Range Transportation Planning

Description:

At this Key Decision, a preferred plan scenario is adopted for inclusion in the Draft LRTP. A comparison of the plan scenarios using the evaluation criteria, methods and measures is the basis for the selection of the preferred scenario. This represents the conclusion of the iterative process to evaluate and refine scenarios.

There is information in prior Key Decisions that informs this step. In order to effectively coordinate this Key Decision with integrated plans, there is a need to validate consistency with essential partner plans.

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 evaluate proposed scenarios in order to identify the locally preferred scenario that addresses the deficiencies while supporting the vision and goals. The evaluation of the plan scenarios will include the application of the approved evaluation criteria, methods, and measures.

Outcome

The preferred scenario and documentation of the evaluation of scenarios.

Partner	Role Type	Description
MPO	Decision Maker	Adopts a preferred scenario that meets the regional goals and addresses the transportation deficiencies
FHWA/FTA	Advisor	Ensures the public review of the preferred scenario and subsequent adoption meet the governing requirements.
State DOT	Advisor	Ensures the adopted preferred scenario is compatible with state needs and plans.
Resource Agency	Advisor	Advise the selection of a preferred scenario that is consistent with resource agencies' goals. Advise the selection of a preferred scenario that is consistent with a joint vision for conservation/restoration action. Provide input to transportation agency partners about preferred mitigation strategies.
Public Transportation Operator(s)	Advisor	Ensures the adopted preferred scenario is compatible with transit needs and plans.

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 Programming	PRO-3 - Approve Project List from Adopted Plan	The project list drawn from the preferred scenario	To have consistency between the long range plan and TIP projects
To Corridor Planning	COR-6 - Approve Range of Solution Sets	Documentation of the preferred plan scenario and eliminated scenarios	To provide information on the possible range of solutions that should be considered.
To Environmental Review/NEPA Merged with Permitting	ENV-6 - Approve Full Range of Alternatives	Documentation of the preferred plan scenario and eliminated scenarios	To provide information on the possible range of solutions that should be considered

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	Can the recommended scenario be implemented in the timeframe of the LRTP? How did various scenarios rank across the evaluation criteria? What is the basis for selecting the preferred scenario over the other plan scenarios? Does the preferred scenario meet fiscal constraint?
Programming	Is the project list from the preferred scenario documented to inform project selection and prioritization?
Corridor Planning	Does the preferred scenario impact any active or planned corridor studies?
Environmental Review	Does the preferred scenario impact any projects currently in environmental review? Are direct or cumulative impacts to identified priority areas for conservation/restoration/mitigation anticipated in the preferred scenario? Is the documentation for eliminated scenarios and strategies sufficient for NEPA?
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Will the preferred scenario make a positive contribution to the creation of connected pedestrian and bicycle networks? To what extent have bicycles and pedestrians been considered in the selection of the preferred scenario? What are the positive and negative impacts of the preferred scenario on bicycles and pedestrians?
Capital Improvement	What is the preferred scenario from a Capital Improvement perspective? Is the adopted preferred scenario consistent with Capital Improvement plans for local jurisdictions? How will the preferred plan scenario be communicated to the local jurisdictions?
Economic Development	What are the potential economic impacts of the preferred scenario? What are the potential opportunities? Are there any unavoidable negative impacts on specific populations and/or businesses? Have mitigation strategies been identified?
Freight	Does the preferred scenario support the stated interests of engaged freight stakeholders? Is the preferred scenario consistent with existing freight plans? How will freight considerations that influenced the decision or the tradeoffs between freight considerations and other interests be communicated?
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	How does the preferred scenario compare to any GHG-reduction targets? What are the GHG impacts of various scenarios? What are the likely cumulative impacts? Can the impacts be mitigated?
Health in Transportation	How are tradeoffs between health and other priorities balanced across scenarios? How has the input received from community and health stakeholders in reaching the decision been considered? Is the preferred scenario compatible with existing health plans and policies in the region? How will the reasoning be communicated to health stakeholders? How can relationships with health and community stakeholders be maintained to ensure their ongoing support and involvement while moving toward implementing the plan?
Human Environment and Communities	Do decision makers understand the impacts of individual scenarios on the community and on disadvantaged populations? Is there a preferred scenario relative to human environment interests? If so, how does that compare to the adopted scenario? How will the benefits and potential impacts of the LRTP be communicated to community stakeholders? Are there any impacts to specific populations or community resources that need to be specifically addressed?
Land Use	What are the anticipated direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of scenario on area land use? Does the preferred scenario meet smart growth goals and/or encourage smart growth development patterns?
Linking Planning and Operations	Have operations strategies been considered in the selection of the preferred scenario? Will reliability and system performance be improved?
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	What is the preferred scenario from an ecological perspective?
Performance Measures	How can performance measures inform the selection of a preferred scenario? What are the priority performance characteristics based on the selected targets?
Planning and Environment Linkages	Is information available from an active PEL study to compare with the project concepts? If so, is there any inconsistency that will impact the preferred scenario? Have the project concepts in the preferred scenario been documented to inform programming, corridor planning, and environmental review, as appropriate? Do any of the preferred scenario project concepts need more detailed study before programming? If so, is a PEL corridor planning study appropriate? Is the documentation for eliminated strategies and scenarios sufficient for corridor planning and environmental review?
Public Private Partnerships	Is there likely to be public and political support or opposition for identified P3 projects? What is the fiscal situation with and without P3? How do these compare? What risks might there be to the public and private sector from adopting a scenario with potential P3 projects?
Public Transportation	Will the preferred scenario make a positive contribution to the creation of connected public transportation? Is the documentation for eliminated scenarios and strategies sufficient for New Starts? To what extent has public transportation been considered in the selection of the preferred scenario? What are the positive and negative impacts of the preferred scenario on public transportation?
Safety	Is this the preferred scenario from a safety perspective?
Stakeholder Collaboration	Have preparations been made to respond to stakeholder input received prior to selecting the preferred scenario? How well does the preferred scenario meet stakeholder needs and preferences?
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	Is the proposed preferred scenario supportive of adopted future(s)? If not, what changes to the scenario may be necessary prior to adoption?

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 to support scenario analysis
Programming	Project list from the preferred scenario
Corridor Planning	Data for specific corridor studies
Environmental Review	Data to inform active projects
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Quantitative and qualitative data highlighting the extent to which the preferred scenario will improve conditions for those traveling on foot and by bike
Capital Improvement	Analysis to select the preferred scenario
Economic Development	Economic impacts and recommended mitigation
Freight	Documentation of how freight considerations influenced decisions
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Costs associated with individual scenarios with respect to GHG strategies Level of GHG reduction for each scenario, compared to baseline and target
Health in Transportation	Communications plan Plan for ongoing maintenance of stakeholder relationships
Human Environment and Communities	Assessment of scenario impacts to communities and/or populations Documentation of internal decision making Approach for communicating the decision outcome to human environment and community stakeholders
Land Use	Data from any integrated land use and transportation modeling Data from any sketch planning to consider smart growth policies or strategies
Linking Planning and Operations	Quantitative and qualitative data highlighting the extent to which the preferred scenario will improve conditions TSMO strategies
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Results of the analysis to select the preferred scenario Data regarding direct and cumulative effects and mitigation needs of the preferred scenario
Performance Measures	System performance associated with each scenario
Planning and Environment Linkages	Individual project concepts
Public Private Partnerships	Public and political support or opposition for P3 projects Fiscal situation with and without P3 Risks associated with P3 inclusion
Public Transportation	Quantitative and qualitative data highlighting the extent to which the preferred scenario will improve conditions for those traveling on public transportation
Safety	Data/analyses for evaluating scenarios
Stakeholder Collaboration	Stakeholder support or challenge for each scenario
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	Analysis associated with each scenario Short and long-term outcomes for each scenario Identified conflicts or changes needed

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	Comparison between bicycle and pedestrian stakeholder preferences and the scenario selected
Capital Improvement	At this Key Decision, the tradeoff benefits and opportunities are evaluated between transportation needs and planning for other jurisdictional improvements. The preferred scenario informs other planning efforts such as Land Use, Economic Development, and Public Transportation about where transportation investments will occur.
Economic Development	The preferred plan scenario may have consequences for economic development that are positive and/or negative. Any negative impacts must be identified for mitigation. One commonality with the Human Environment and Communities Application is the interest in specific populations or businesses.
Freight	The selection of the preferred plan scenario is the result of balancing tradeoffs across many regional interests. Freight stakeholders will need to understand how freight considerations were factored into the process to come to the final result. In communicating the outcome, practitioners may consider freight interaction with existing Land Use, Capital Improvement, Economic Development, and Bicycles and Pedestrians plans and other interests.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Evaluation of scenarios with respect to GHG emissions levels to inform decision makers Comparison to the established goals, objectives, and/or targets for both baseline and future years
Health in Transportation	Discussions of the tradeoffs made between health and other interests might be similar to discussions occurring under the Bicycles and Pedestrians, Human Environment and Communities, and Safety Applications. See the Planning and Environment Linkages Application for guidance on documenting the rationale for decisions for use during the environmental review process.
Human Environment and Communities	Adoption of the preferred plan scenario represents a final comparison to the plan vision and goals and balances the needs and interests across all topics of interest in the region. Agencies protecting human environment interests during project development, will need a strong understanding of implications for future projects. Stakeholders representing individual community interests or specific population groups should be encouraged to participate in the future by a full accounting of the benefits and potential impacts. These concerns overlap with Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical and Planning and Environment Linkages Applications.
Land Use	Selection of the preferred scenario will require balancing land use with many other interests, as covered in the various PlanWorks Applications. Input gathered from Visioning and Transportation and Stakeholder Collaboration must be reconciled with the outcome of the preferred scenario decision. Inform land use partners and stakeholders about the basis of the final decision, including trade-offs between land use priorities and other needs. Ensure that land use assumptions made in transportation planning will be supported.
Linking Planning and Operations	In the selection of the preferred scenario, understand the extent to which TSMO strategies can provide benefits to the transportation system, such as reduced cost, improved reliability, support of Performance Measures, and congestion reduction. Stakeholder Collaboration can help ensure that stakeholders are informed about the potential for system improvements using operations strategies, particularly the trade-offs related to capital expansion which could impact the Human Environment and Communities and the Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Analyze mitigation needs and costs for any unavoidable adverse economic impacts of vulnerable populations or businesses.
Performance Measures	Consider each transportation-specific Application, including Safety, Bicycles and Pedestrians, Freight, Linking Planning and Operations when selecting the preferred plan scenario.Also consider the topic Public Transportation system performance.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Document the outcome of scenario evaluation and selection to inform corridor planning and/or environmental review.
Public Private Partnerships	If the preferred plan scenario includes reliance on P3 to any extent, this must inform determination of fiscal constraint. If P3 is not included, future consideration is possible. Documentation is essential, especially with respect to any identified risks. Planning and Environment Linkages may be a good comparison.
Public Transportation	Inform public transportation planning with outcome of the adopted scenario.
Safety	In adopting the preferred plan scenario, supporting changes by safety partners may be necessary. For example, safety countermeasures and spot safety improvements may support delayed implementation of some larger and more costly changes. Consider the implications across many Application topics such as Land Use and Linking Planning and Operations.
Stakeholder Collaboration	The selection of the preferred plan scenario balances many factors, including the needs of a broad range of stakeholders. This is an opportunity to provide information back to stakeholders about the basis for this selection. By understanding how and why this decision was made, stakeholders are encouraged to continue participating in long-range transportation planning. Partners and stakeholders from Land Use, Natural Environment, and Capital Improvement may need to make specific decisions based on the Preferred Plan Scenario in order to ensure support of the transportation solutions as well as protection of environmental resources.
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	If the preferred plan scenario for transportation and the adopted future vision are mutually supportive, it is likely that both funding and stakeholder support will be improved. Consider the Stakeholder Collaboration Application for support in collaborating with the visioning leaders toward mutual benefits. Communicate broadly to stakeholders across all common interests to demonstrate important connections.

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:
I-5 Beltline Interchange Plan - Using Community Values as Performance Measures lrp-8

Other Examples:
Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO’s 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan, Chapter 7 https://campo.tjpdc.org/wp-content/uploads/Chapter7.pdf