Regional Workshop on Performance-based Planning and Programming - Workshop Summary
4. Next Steps
Advancing performance-based planning and programming will take a concerted effort from all groups involved in the planning process. Some of the key steps identified by participants included:
- Increase efforts towards collaboration. Implementing performance-based planning and programming will require agencies working closely together to break down institutional barriers. This includes coordinating on the planning process specifically, but also coordinating agency operations, where appropriate. In many areas, transit agencies have overlapping or adjacent service areas that would benefit from increased coordination. In addition, coordination of roadway and transit operations can be critical to delivering a transportation system that best supports the needs of the residents. Fundamentally, participants noted that agencies need to be accountable to one another, as well as the public and their Federal partners.
- Tell the story. Performance-based planning and programming is founded on quality data and information, but it is also critical to "tell the story" of what is possible and what can be delivered at different funding levels. More broadly, whatever the performance results, there will be a need to explain the results in simple language, and the explanation, in many cases, will go beyond just funding considerations. Telling the story will require writing performance reports that speak to the public at large. Participants noted the need to write to a 3rd grade level to make sure that anyone can quickly explain the purpose of the program and what it means.
- Put transportation in context of broader objectives. Successfully communicating the value of transportation requires making clear connections to broader societal priorities such as economic growth, quality of life, and other similar issues. Focusing on making these connections in transportation plans and programs will help the public and decision makers understand the value of transportation investments.
- Share best practices. Successful performance management will grow from agencies learning from one another. Providing a mechanism to identify and share best practices will go a long way to helping agencies implement the approach described at the workshop. Providing funding both for data and data sharing may help
