How do you ensure regional connectivity in multimodal transportation planning?

1 Identify regional goals and needs

The first step in ensuring regional connectivity is to understand the vision, objectives, and priorities of the region and its stakeholders, such as local governments, businesses, residents, and travelers. This involves conducting a comprehensive analysis of the existing and future conditions, opportunities, and challenges of the region, such as population, land use, economy, environment, and transportation demand and supply. Based on this analysis, you can define the desired outcomes and performance indicators for the regional transportation system, such as accessibility, reliability, safety, equity, and environmental quality.

2 Coordinate with multiple agencies and partners

The second step in ensuring regional connectivity is to coordinate and collaborate with multiple agencies and partners that are involved in or affected by the multimodal transportation planning process, such as state and federal agencies, neighboring regions, transit operators, freight carriers, utility providers, and advocacy groups. This involves establishing effective communication, consultation, and decision-making mechanisms, as well as aligning policies, regulations, standards, and funding sources. By coordinating with multiple agencies and partners, you can ensure consistency, compatibility, and integration of the multimodal transportation system across different jurisdictions, modes, and functions.

3 Evaluate and prioritize multimodal projects and strategies

The third step in ensuring regional connectivity is to evaluate and prioritize the multimodal projects and strategies that will contribute to the regional goals and needs. This involves using various tools and methods, such as scenario planning, cost-benefit analysis, multi-criteria analysis, and public engagement, to assess the impacts and trade-offs of different alternatives on the regional transportation system and its performance indicators. Based on this evaluation, you can prioritize the multimodal projects and strategies that will maximize the benefits and minimize the costs for the region and its stakeholders.

4 Implement and monitor multimodal projects and strategies

The fourth step in ensuring regional connectivity is to implement and monitor the multimodal projects and strategies that have been selected and prioritized. This involves developing detailed plans, designs, and specifications for the multimodal projects and strategies, as well as securing the necessary resources, permits, and approvals. It also involves establishing a monitoring and evaluation system that will track the progress and performance of the multimodal projects and strategies, as well as identify any issues, risks, or opportunities for improvement. By implementing and monitoring the multimodal projects and strategies, you can ensure their effectiveness, efficiency, and adaptability to the changing needs and conditions of the region.

5 Promote multimodal awareness and behavior

The fifth step in ensuring regional connectivity is to promote multimodal awareness and behavior among the users and providers of the transportation system. This involves developing and implementing various programs, campaigns, and incentives that will educate, inform, and encourage the users and providers to use and support the multimodal transportation system. For example, you can promote multimodal awareness and behavior by providing information on travel options, costs, and benefits; by offering discounts, rewards, or subsidies for using transit, carpooling, or biking; or by creating a supportive culture and environment for multimodal travel. By promoting multimodal awareness and behavior, you can increase the demand and supply of the multimodal transportation system, as well as enhance its acceptance and satisfaction.

6 Innovate and adapt to emerging trends and technologies

The sixth step in ensuring regional connectivity is to innovate and adapt to the emerging trends and technologies that will affect the multimodal transportation system. This involves conducting research and analysis on the potential impacts and opportunities of the emerging trends and technologies, such as smart mobility, shared mobility, electric mobility, autonomous mobility, and digital mobility. It also involves testing and piloting new solutions and approaches that will leverage the emerging trends and technologies to improve the multimodal transportation system. By innovating and adapting to the emerging trends and technologies, you can ensure the resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of the multimodal transportation system.

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?