FTA and FHWA have initiated a series of joint Enhanced Planning Reviews (EPRs) to assess the impact of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) on the planning processes conducted by the transportation agencies serving metropolitan areas. The EPRs also are intended to determine the effects of planning on transportation investment processes. The EPR for the Washington, DC metropolitan area included federal site visits on December 12 and 13, 1994 and February 14 and 15, 1995. At the conclusion of the visit the federal team presented preliminary observations and recommendations to the local agencies taking part in the review. This final report describes the EPR in detail and provides summary conclusions as well as a complete set of observations and recommendations.

FTA and FHWA have initiated a series of joint Enhanced Planning Reviews (EPRs) to assess the impact of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) on the planning processes conducted by the transportation agencies serving metropolitan areas. The EPRs also are intended to determine the effects of planning on transportation investment processes. The EPR for the Washington, DC metropolitan area included federal site visits on December 12 and 13, 1994 and February 14 and 15, 1995. At the conclusion of the visit the federal team presented preliminary observations and recommendations to the local agencies taking part in the review. This final report describes the EPR in detail and provides summary conclusions as well as a complete set of observations and recommendations.

Recommends future strategy for open space planning in the Washington, D.C. area, with emphasis on objectives and policies, priorities and selection of areas for acquisition and preservation, implementation techniques, assignment of jurisdictional responsibility, criteria to enhance Council grant-in-aid application review procedures.