Statewide Opportunities For Linking Planning and Operations: A Primer

3.0 Self Assessment

The following table is designed as a self-assessment tool to help State DOT planning and operations groups to consider their current level of coordination and identify areas where addition attention can be brought to the agency. Key findings from the guidebook presented above were used in preparing the following questions for State DOT to use in assessing their status in linking planning and operations. The indicators are generic and not exhaustive. As such, these questions should be regarded as only the starting point for subsequent discussion focused on the five project categories detailed in the Quick Reference and discussed at length in Chapter 2.

While answering these questions may illuminate issues and opportunities, perhaps the greatest value of this work is in the resulting discussion among State DOT planning staff and staff involved in operations activities. The checklist may be applied effectively in facilitated group settings, as a useful catalyst to discussion, and with less attention to scores. “Yes” responses generally suggest progress toward linking planning and operations, and the more “Yes” responses the further the agency is in linking the important functions.

1.	Linkage Opportunity: Performance Measures, Data, Analysis Tools	YES	NO
1.	Have the benefits of using and sharing operations data been communicated with potential partners and stakeholders?	Yes	No
1.	Have data needs for planning, performance measures, and other purposes been identified and compared to available data for possible use?	Yes	No
1.	Is there a task force, committee, or other team/group composed of both Operations and Planning staff who consider the use and issues with operations data?	Yes	No
1.	Is there a task force, committee, or other team/group composed of both Operations and Planning staff who work together to develop and refine performance measures?	Yes	No
1.	Is there training available for the use of operations data for planning applications?	Yes	No
1.	Do the traffic analysis tools and methods used for planning applications consider operational strategies or projects?	Yes	No
1.	Have Planning staff been educated on the capabilities and benefits of using traffic analysis tools, particularly those that can analyze operational strategies and/or produce more realistic results (e.g., optimization and simulation models)?	Yes	No
1.	Are performance measures generated on a regular basis?	Yes	No
1.	Are some of the State’s performance measures operations-oriented (e.g., crashes, travel time reliability or variability)?	Yes	No
1.	Were experiences and lessons learned from other States or agencies obtained and used for establishing performance measures?	Yes	No
1.	Are roles and responsibilities for developing, implementing, evaluating, and publicizing performance measures documented and clear?	Yes	No

2.	Linkage Opportunity: Operations in Transportation Plans and Corridor Studies	YES	NO
2.	Do the State’s plans and studies include a vision, goals, and/or objectives that reflect operational considerations (i.e., provide safe and reliable transportation system)?	Yes	No
2.	Do technical advisory committees for statewide, corridor, and regional planning studies include operations staff?	Yes	No
2.	Do statewide planning studies include consideration of operations investments as well as major capacity investments, access management, and other strategies?	Yes	No
2.	Do planning staff have easy access to information about the long term needs for operating the state highway system?	Yes	No
2.	Do planning staff conduct implementation activities as part of the long range planning process?	Yes	No
2.	Do planning studies make use of rigorous analysis tools to evaluate transportation projects and investments?	Yes	No

3.	Linkage Opportunity: Institutional (Coordination, Partnerships, Training, Organization, and Education)	YES	NO
3.	Are project champions from the State DOT formally identified on projects or programs?	Yes	No
3.	Are there regularly scheduled meetings or task force meetings for the Planning group and Operations group to discuss shared activities?	Yes	No
3.	Does the Operations group issue a newsletter or have a web site to share operations based activities and information?	Yes	No
3.	Does the Planning group issue a newsletter or have a web site to share planning activities and information?	Yes	No
3.	Does the State DOT have formalized systems to catalog and maintain memorandum of understanding with project partners?	Yes	No
3.	Are there regularly schedule learning or training session focused on operations in the State?	Yes	No
3.	Are there regularly schedule learning or training sessions focused on planning activities in the state?	Yes	No
3.	Are there internal periodic meetings, conferences, or events where planning staff and operations staff have the opportunity to share program successes throughout the State DOT?	Yes	No
3.	Does DOT staff participate in external meetings, conferences, or events where planning and operations staff interact?	Yes	No

4.	Linkage Opportunity: Regional Considerations	YES	NO
4.	Does the State DOT consult with and provide awareness to MPOs, regional/local planning agencies, or neighboring State DOTs of planning or operational activities occurring within their jurisdiction?	Yes	No
4.	Does the State DOT coordinate and/or collaborate directly with MPOs, regional/local planning agencies, or neighboring State DOTs on planning or operational activities?	Yes	No
4.	Are there scheduled meetings, committees, or other activities designed to coordinate with regional/local planners and operations personnel?	Yes	No
4.	Does the State DOT actively work with or provide guidance to MPOs and/or local planning agencies on how to include operations in planning?	Yes	No
4.	Are any formal agreements between the State DOT and MPOs, regional/local planning agencies, or neighboring State DOTs regarding a shared vision or approach to operating and managing the transportation system in place?	Yes	No
4.	Are any formal arrangements or agreements between the State DOT and MPOs, regional/local planning agencies, or neighboring State DOTs regarding standardizing data management, storage, or performance measures in place?	Yes	No

5.	Linkage Opportunity: Regulation and Policy	YES	NO
5.	Does your agency have a policy to work with MPOs on the Congestion Management Process (developed by MPO)?	Yes	No
5.	Does your agency have a policy for revisions to the Statewide or Regional ITS Architecture?	Yes	No

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Statewide Opportunities For Linking Planning and Operations: A Primer 3.0 Self Assessment

Statewide Opportunities For Linking Planning and Operations: A Primer

3.0 Self Assessment