US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

PRO-3: Approve Project List from Adopted Plan

Programming

Description:

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. Improvements to be funded with non-transportation revenue are not included in this project list.

There is information developed in prior Key Decisions that informs this step. In order to effectively execute this Key Decision there is essential information created at LRP-8 for projects included in the adopted preferred scenario consistent with revenue availability and COR-9, where applicable. PRO-1 provides revenue sources to be applied to project list/validated from the long range plan.

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 create a list of projects to consider for funding drawn primarily from the adopted plan scenario and/or adopted priorities in corridor planning.

Outcome

An approved list of projects to consider for funding that provide as much detail as currently available.

Partner	Role Type	Description
MPO	Decision Maker	Approves projects that are drawn from the adopted preferred scenario of the LRTP to maintain fiscal constraint
FHWA/FTA	Observer	Observes the identification of specific projects from the adopted plan scenario
State DOT	Advisor	Provides support for project identification as needed
Resource Agency	Observer	Observe the project list drawn from the adopted plan scenario to inform conservation planning of future potential projects.
Public Transportation Operator(s)	Advisor	Provides support for project identification as needed.

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-8 - Adopt Preferred Plan Scenario	Projects included in the adopted plan scenario consistent with revenue availability	To inform the project list created at this Key Decision
From Corridor Planning	COR-7 - Adopt Preferred Solution Set	Improvement projects identified in the adopted solution set with their anticipated costs	To inform the project list in the programming/fiscal constraint phase
From Corridor Planning	COR-9 - Adopt Priorities for Implementation	The project priority list developed in the corridor plan	To ensure that the TIP reflects the desired prioritization of the corridor plan

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 was the public involved in selecting the projects included on the project list? Does the project list contain any new information associated with projects currently in development?
Programming	Was project readiness considered?
Corridor Planning	Was information from active or recent corridor planning studies used to inform readiness of any projects?
Environmental Review	No specific questions
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Are the bicycle and pedestrian components of proposed projects clearly identified, including those that are part of larger projects? Do any of the programmed projects create a barrier to bicycle and pedestrian connectivity or accessibility?
Capital Improvement	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Freight	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Are there any projects in the list that represent completed or candidate PEL studies?
Public Private Partnerships	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Transportation	Does the project list include improvements to the public transportation system?
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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	Projects included in the adopted preferred scenario with associated costs and consistent with revenue availability Projects currently in the TIP or STIP for environmental review
Programming	List of transportation revenue sources identified Information on project readiness
Corridor Planning	Data from active or completed corridor studies, if applicable Corridor planning prioritization
Environmental Review	No specific data
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Pedestrian and bicycle data relative to individual projects
Capital Improvement	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Freight	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Data from completed PEL studies PEL criteria from Final Rule and/or agency procedures
Public Private Partnerships	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Transportation	Public transportation data relative to individual projects
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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	Ensure bicycle and pedestrian costs are included, where applicable
Capital Improvement	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Freight	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Identify projects that have been addressed through a PEL study or where a PEL study is recommended.
Public Private Partnerships	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Transportation	Ensure consistency between public transportation planning and the long range transportation plan in project descriptions.
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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.