A Guide to Transportation Decision Making

Different Transportation Plans and Programs

Before transportation planners start their work, the residents and officials of a region or a State must have a long-term vision for transportation in that area. A vision provides broad goals for what the region or State will look like and reflects what is important for the future.

To develop a vision, consider the characteristics of your region and State, and how you expect these characteristics to change over the next several years. Here are some characteristics to consider:

• Projected population growth.
• Projected economic changes.
• Current and future transportation modes and their unique needs (air, bicycle, bus, rail, roads, pedestrian, and water)
• Safety.
• Maintenance, operations, and management of transportation facilities.
• Preservation of the human and natural environment.
• Freight movement.
• Community livability and quality of life.

Once a region or State has reviewed and established goals for its vision, it has also developed a foundation for improvements to that area's transportation system. Long-range plans outline transportation solutions that cover 20 or more years. Solutions might include a new traffic signal system, a pedestrian pathway, a new bus line, or a completely new road project.