The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have prepared this guide for transportation professionals, elected officials, and policymakers, as well as community and business interests, who want to understand and participate in the transportation planning and decisionmaking process. It has two objectives: first, to provide a framework for linking the various elements of ISTEA's transportation planning process together in a comprehensive manner; and second, to provide information, suggestions, and examples of ways to carry out the metropolitan planning process. Part One describes the changes Congress and the President envisioned in the transportation planning and investment process when they enacted ISTEA. Part Two discusses the products of the transportation planning process: the transportation plan and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Part Three describes the elements of transportation planning and how metropolitan areas can use them to develop transportation plans and TIPs that meet their needs and the expectations of the Federal Government. Part Four provides a reference guide to Federal regulations, guidance, and other useful information that have been published on ISTEA and the planning process.

This synthesis will be of interest to officials and staff of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) representing regional communities of less than 200,000 population. It will also be of interest to state and local highway and transit agencies, administrators, and elected officials. Other officials, such as state legislators and officials in environmental agencies who interact with the MPOs will also have an interest in this synthesis. It presents information on changes that MPOs in smaller urbanized areas have made in response to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). The adjustments in policy and practice in developing transportation plans and programs for the agency and the new requirements necessitated by ISTEA are described. With the advent of ISTEA, many of these small MPOs initiated changes in their role within the region and in the transportation planning process applied to carry out this role. Based on a limited sample of small MPOs, the types of changes in policy, procedure, staffing, intergovernmental relations, resource allocation, and training are discussed in this report of the Transportation Research Board. The issues associated with the changes are also highlighted. The techniques (models) that have been applied are described.

A multi-disciplinary approach to transportation planning fundamentals The Transportation Planning Handbook is a comprehensive, practice-oriented reference that presents the fundamental concepts of transportation planning alongside proven techniques. This new fourth edition is more strongly focused on serving the needs of all users, the role of safety in the planning process, and transportation planning in the context of societal concerns, including the development of more sustainable transportation solutions. The content structure has been redesigned with a new format that promotes a more functionally driven multimodal approach to planning, design, and implementation, including guidance toward the latest tools and technology. The material has been updated to reflect the latest changes to major transportation resources such as the HCM, MUTCD, HSM, and more, including the most current ADA accessibility regulations. Transportation planning has historically followed the rational planning model of defining objectives, identifying problems, generating and evaluating alternatives, and developing plans. Planners are increasingly expected to adopt a more multi-disciplinary approach, especially in light of the rising importance of sustainability and environmental concerns. This book presents the fundamentals of transportation planning in a multidisciplinary context, giving readers a practical reference for day-to-day answers. Serve the needs of all users Incorporate safety into the planning process Examine the latest transportation planning software packages Get up to date on the latest standards, recommendations, and codes Developed by The Institute of Transportation Engineers, this book is the culmination of over seventy years of transportation planning solutions, fully updated to reflect the needs of a changing society. For a comprehensive guide with practical answers, The Transportation Planning Handbook is an essential reference.