What are the key elements of a comprehensive planning framework for transportation and mobility?

1 Vision and objectives

The first step in a comprehensive planning framework is to define your vision and objectives for your transportation and mobility system. What are the desired outcomes and benefits that you want to achieve? How do they align with your broader community values and priorities? How do they address the current and emerging challenges and opportunities in your context? Your vision and objectives should be clear, concise, and measurable, and should guide your decision-making throughout the planning process.

2 Data and analysis

The second step in a comprehensive planning framework is to collect and analyze data on your existing and projected transportation and mobility conditions and performance. Data can include quantitative and qualitative information on travel demand, supply, patterns, behavior, preferences, costs, benefits, impacts, and risks. Analysis can include methods such as scenario planning, modeling, forecasting, evaluation, and benchmarking. Data and analysis can help you identify the gaps, issues, trends, and potentials in your transportation and mobility system, and inform your strategies and actions.

3 Strategies and actions

The third step in a comprehensive planning framework is to develop and prioritize strategies and actions that address your vision and objectives, and respond to your data and analysis. Strategies and actions can include policies, programs, projects, investments, partnerships, regulations, incentives, and innovations that affect the planning, design, operation, maintenance, and management of your transportation and mobility system. Strategies and actions should be feasible, effective, efficient, equitable, and adaptable, and should consider the trade-offs, synergies, and impacts among different modes, sectors, and stakeholders.

4 Implementation and monitoring

The fourth step in a comprehensive planning framework is to implement and monitor your strategies and actions, and track your progress and performance. Implementation and monitoring can include activities such as budgeting, financing, scheduling, contracting, delivering, communicating, engaging, reporting, and auditing. Implementation and monitoring can help you ensure the quality, accountability, and transparency of your transportation and mobility system, and identify the challenges, successes, and lessons learned along the way.

5 Evaluation and feedback

The fifth step in a comprehensive planning framework is to evaluate and provide feedback on your transportation and mobility system, and its outcomes and impacts. Evaluation and feedback can include methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, indicators, metrics, and dashboards. Evaluation and feedback can help you measure the extent to which your vision and objectives have been achieved, and how your transportation and mobility system has contributed to your economic, social, and environmental goals. Evaluation and feedback can also help you identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in your transportation and mobility system, and inform your future planning and improvement.

6 Learning and adaptation

The sixth and final step in a comprehensive planning framework is to learn from your evaluation and feedback, and adapt your transportation and mobility system accordingly. Learning and adaptation can include activities such as revising, updating, refining, scaling, replicating, or discontinuing your strategies and actions, based on the evidence and insights from your evaluation and feedback. Learning and adaptation can help you enhance the relevance, responsiveness, resilience, and innovation of your transportation and mobility system, and cope with the changing needs, expectations, and conditions of your community.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?