14th NW Tribal Transportation Symposium

Pete Field, Transportation Planner

FHWA – Western Federal Lands

Developing a Long Range

Transportation Planning

Presentation Objectives

Describe planning processes Provide background on writing a

transportation plan

Developing a Transportation Plan

Transportation planning is a decision process All steps are interrelated The public and elected officials must be

involved throughout the process The process does not equate to complexity

Why Develop a Transportation Plan?

It is a process that can be applied within the context of “good planning”

Develops appreciation of how Tribes connect to other planning activities

Help define how transportation can help claim the future on your Tribes terms.

The Transportation Plan

Data

InfoPolitics

Data

DataData

DataInfoInfo

Info

Politics

Politics

Data

Opinion

Opinion

Stuff

Stuff

Community process Inclusive process Public involvement techniques

Define community issues Community’s values Community’s perceived transportation needs

Non-technical

What is your Goal?

Public Involvement

Inclusive process Difficult to get full participation Involve outside agencies

Bureau of Indian affairs State DOT Other federal agencies

Example Public Involvement Techniques

Focus groups Staff, specialists

(consultants)

Community meetings Staff, specialists

Surveys Staff, universities, specialists

Charettes Specialists, staff

Newsletters Staff, other dept., Specialists

Press release Staff

Community displays Staff

Council meeting presentations

Staff, specialists

Conducting a conditions analysis is the process of determining how your community or rural area will measure the condition of the system and the service provided by the transportation system

What is your system?

Existing Conditions

Physical infrastructure Technical and analytical

Quantitative and qualitative

Existing conditions Land use and zoning, infrastructure, current

traffic trends, and population demographics

AADT Map

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WAHPETON

D8a streams.shpperennial streamintermittent streamdrainage ditchdam

D8 state roads.shp11501 - 150008301 - 115004701 - 83002601 - 4700675 - 2600

D8 roads.shp8901 - 143004001 - 89002501 - 40001401 - 2500150 - 1400No Data

State highway.shp

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TRAFFIC FLOW

Prepared by FHW A - North Dakota Divis ion, March 2002.Source: NDDOT Basemap 1.1a, Whapeton 2001 Traffic Volume Map.

Future Conditions and Deficiencies

Develop future projections Land use Infrastructure Population Traffic

Modeled, straight line projections Finances

Sources of Future Land Use and Economic Development Info

Local Comprehensive Plans Tribal Agencies, BIA, City or County Plans Local School District

Rural Development Plans Federal, State, Local (e.g., HUD, Water District)

Census Bureau Population Statistics County Business Patterns Indian Health Service

US Geological Survey Land Use and Other Mapping Data

Infrastructure Land Use Population

Population StatisticsSioux County, North Dakota

Age Distribution

0500

10001500200025003000350040004500

1990 1995 1999

Year

Num

ber

of P

eopl

e

Ages 66+

Ages 61-65

Ages 51-60

Ages 41-50

Ages 31-40

Ages 21-30

Ages 11-20

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1990 1995 1999

Ages 0-10

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Ages 61-65

Ages 66+

Evaluate the gap between the goals and objectives that are established for the transportation system and the baseline system conditions. The needs are the planned actions for addressing this gap.

Identify Deficiencies

Identify deficiencies Public involvement

Results from public involvement Mostly subjective

Technical analysisStructural factors

Age, current deterioration, non-existence, etc

Projected needs vs. Existing capacity

Estimating Costs

Planning Environmental review

Engineering Design, construction

Right of way Property Relocation Settlement costs

Construction Use “Rough” Unit

Prices, e.g. $3,000/linear foot of new Roadway, $800/linear foot of new shared Bike/Ped Path

FHWA and DOT’s have schedules

Maintenance Costs Cost/Year

Given the often overwhelming number of potential improvements it is important that the planning process has an agreed upon approach to project prioritization.

Example of Priorities

What is your priority?

Tribal Priority Number 1

Identify existing funding sources Federal

BIA, FHWA, FTA, FAA, HUD, etc. State

Gas tax, registrations, bonds, etc. Tribal

Usage fees, registrations, casino revenues, bonds

Identify future revenues Anticipated federal, state, tribal “Innovative” techniques

What is your financial plan?

Identify Alternatives

Matrix based on goals and objectives Quantification-based evaluation

Technical approach Ranks benefits on points system

Quality-based evaluationCheck-off approachAll or none approachCompares alternatives based on its addressing a

criteria

Estimate Costs and Benefits

Identify alternatives Identified deficiencies Viable alternatives

Mode choice

Identify costs Unit costs Include all aspects of project

Design, Right of way, Construction Engineering, etc

Developing the plan document or "putting it all together" can be a difficult process if not approached in a systematic fashion.

Finalize the Transportation Plan

Public involvement Tribal council adopts the final transportation

plan document Share the plan

Programming refers to a series of activities carried out by planners, including data assessment, appraisal of identified planning needs, and consideration of available or anticipated fiscal resources to result in the drawing up, scheduling, and planning of a list of identified transportation improvements for a given period of time.

For a plan to be successful it must be implemented effectively and progress against plan objectives monitored, this provides "the feedback loop“.

Final Words of Advice

Transportation planning is a decision process All steps are interrelated The public and elected officials must be involved

throughout the process Technical data should be prepared and presented so that

the non-professional understands The process does not equate to complexity

One size does not fit all Make it fit your situation