Cross-functional Integration into Transportation PlanningJennifer Carver, Heather Garcia, and Brian ten Siethoff

Session Overview

• FDOT’s Planning Processes Project• Jennifer Carver, FDOT Office of Policy Planning

• District 5 Planning for Implementation• Heather Garcia, FDOT District 5 Planning and Corridor Development Manager

• Notable Planning Practices and Results• Brian ten Siethoff, Cambridge Systematics

FDOT’s Planning Processes ProjectJennifer Z. Carver, AICP

FDOT Office of Policy Planning

Key Points

• Origins of the Planning Processes Project

• Purpose of Transportation Planning and Defining Success in Planning

• Interviews with Central Office and District Staff

• Opportunities for Cross-Functional Integration

• Resources and Next Steps

Streamlining and Process Improvement

Planning & Environmental Linkages (PEL)

Future Corridors

Origins of the Planning Processes Project

Notable Practices and Tools

Planning…

is the careful

use of limited

resources

begins prior to

inception and

extends through

the entire

lifecycle of

a project

is directly

tied to and

influenced by

public input

Purpose of Transportation Planning

Consider and address trends,

needs and opportunities

Formulate policy

Guide decision-making

Feed project implementation

Defining Success in Planning

Process

Transparent

Well documented

Consistently applied

Efficient

Implementation

Reduced duplication of effort

Better communication and handoffs

Effective analysis and decision support tools

Results

Planning products that inform project

development

Streamlined project implementation

Summary of Interviews with FDOT Central Office Staff and District Staff

• Consistent scopes of planning studies/products

• Guidelines on level of effort for outreach, data collection, analysis

• Improved scheduling and tracking of planning efforts

Need a well-defined and more consistently applied planning

process

• Screen alternatives and identify highest priority segments of larger corridors to advance into PD&E (with logical termini)

• Support clear and concise Purpose and Need statements

• Clearly define next steps, with assigned roles and responsibilities

Planning should produce information

to:

Summary of Interviews with FDOT Central Office Staff and District Staff

• Coordination, information gathering, and analysis early in the planning process

• Track input from communities and affected stakeholders

• Follow through from initial concept development through design and implementation

• Tools to manage data generated by planning efforts to provide consistent and reliable data for every step (example: Environmental Screening Tool)

Improve and more consistently apply analysis and decision support

tools

Key Themes Emerged from “Wishes”

Provide More Funding and Create New Staff Positions for Planning

Create Templates and Resources for Planners

Improve Training and Staff Development

Improve Coordination and Communication

Improve the Planning Process and its Products

Integrate TSMO into Planning

Support Planning with Better Data, Tools, and Information Systems

Resources and Next Steps

Research and documentationof planning processes

Staff development

Coordination, collaboration, and relationship-building

Data, information systems, and decision support tools

ONLINE RESOURCE FOR PLANNERS

Cross-functional Integration into Transportation PlanningJennifer Carver, Heather Garcia, and Brian ten Siethoff