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From page 40... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-1 CHAPTER III SHAPING TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS "I've always been in the right place at the right time. Of course, I steered myself there." Bob Hope, Comedian Summary  It is important to be in the right place at the right time to influence transportation decisions. Read the entire page →
From page 41... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-2 STEER TO THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME One of the most common and serious public complaints is that citizens frequently first learn about a project when it is already in the design phase. Citizens feel powerless and irritated when the DOT engineer arrives with preliminary project designs before they have discussed the underlying problem the design presumably addresses. Read the entire page →
From page 42... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-3 Stage #1: POLICY AND VISIONING (National , State and Local) In Stage 1, the play is just an idea in the executive producer's mind. Read the entire page →
From page 43... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-4 (continued)  Don't "go it alone." National, state and local policy can be regarded as the special purview of public interest groups with paid professional staff who advocate for transportation. Read the entire page →
From page 44... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-5 (continued)  State -- Governor, state legislature, department of transportation, air quality planning agency. Read the entire page →
From page 45... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-6 Stage #2: LONG-RANGE PLANNING & PROGRAMMING Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plans (LRTP) Metropolitan Transportation Plans (MTP) Read the entire page →
From page 46... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-7 CITIZEN'S ROLE  Seek participation in citizen advisory committees, obtain and comment on public participation plans, meet with transportation officials to discuss your expectations of the planning process, identify other participants, review background information, and provide your perspectives. Transportation planning has steadily improved since Congress first passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) Read the entire page →
From page 47... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-8 (continued)  Public involvement specialist  Transportation engineer  Transportation planner  Travel demand modeler KEY DECISION-MAKERS  Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) Read the entire page →
From page 48... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-9 PRODUCTS and PROGRAMS Common plans available from state DOT or other state agencies (names may vary by state) :  Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Read the entire page →
From page 49... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-10 (continued)  Do the plans recognize the importance of transportation design in achieving seamless connections between modes of travel, freight, and freight intermodal connections; energy efficiency and green house gas emissions; and other environmental and community conservation priorities? Read the entire page →
From page 50... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-11 Stage #3: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES & PRELIMINARY DESIGN In Stage 3, the play goes into rehearsal. Citizens -- the unpaid actors in the play -- need to show that they can carry lead roles in the fast-paced dialogue about how specific transportation projects will impact community quality of life. Read the entire page →
From page 51... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-12 CITIZEN'S ROLE  Projects that have a significant impact on the community or the natural environment are required to undergo major studies to disclose the nature and extent of those impacts to citizens as well as federal, state, and local agencies that have a role in transportation decisions. For these projects, the citizen's role is defined by the required public involvement plan. Read the entire page →
From page 52... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-13 (continued)  Geographic Information System specialists or other spatial analysts help model data so that it is more easily understood. Read the entire page →
From page 53... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-14 TEST QUESTIONS TO EVALUATE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES & PRELIMINARY DESIGN  How does this project fit into the priorities set forth in Phase 2, Planning and Programming?  How do the options and alternatives reflect your Community Context? Read the entire page →
From page 54... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-15 In Stage 4, the play reaches the end of rehearsals, the set designer and stagehands complete their work, and everyone prepares for opening night. The director and playwright may tweak the script, but it is too late to rewrite it. Read the entire page →
From page 55... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-16 PRACTITIONER'S ROLE  Reconfirm the commitments made in the planning stage.  Complete the design, undertake value engineering, and prepare the construction contract specifications package. Read the entire page →
From page 56... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-17 TEST QUESTIONS TO EVALUATE FINAL DESIGN AND RIGHT-of-WAY  Does the final design fulfill your understanding from preliminary design? Are the results of environmental review reflected? Read the entire page →
From page 57... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-18 Stage #5: CONSTRUCTION Show Time! In Stage 5, the show is on and there is no turning back. Read the entire page →
From page 58... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-19 Stage #6: OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE In Stage 6, the final stage, the transportation show becomes a big hit in the community! Over its long and successful run, crews are constantly at work maintaining the set and the costumes, and the actors continue to refresh their lines. Read the entire page →
From page 59... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-20 PRACTITIONER'S ROLE The role of the practitioner in this phase is to ensure that the system is operated and maintained to the highest standards possible with existing funding.  Consider the community context, vision, values, and plans in identifying, evaluating and implementing operational alternatives for the region, a single transportation corridor, or a local project. Read the entire page →
From page 60... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-21 (continued)  City or county DOT or public works departments are responsible for maintenance of locally owned transportation facilities. Read the entire page →
From page 61... ... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-22 TEST QUESTIONS TO EVALUATE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE  Do the planned operations implement the direction and policies as provided in federal, state, and local policy?  Does the proposed project fully recognize the importance of operations during final design and construction? Read the entire page →

From page 40...

... Chapter III – Shaping Transportation Decisions III-1 CHAPTER III SHAPING TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS "I've always been in the right place at the right time. Of course, I steered myself there." Bob Hope, Comedian Summary  It is important to be in the right place at the right time to influence transportation decisions.