Office of Operations
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21st century operations using 21st century technologies

Planning for Operations

An image of a sign: "Historic New Mexico U.S. 66 Route"

Planning for Operations is a joint effort between the FHWA Office of Operations, Office of Planning and FTA's Office of Planning, and was developed to promote multimodal planning practices that support 21st century transportation system management and operations. In order to link 21st Century operational services into the transportation planning and programming process, transportation planners and operators should have a common understanding of the mobility, safety, and efficiency benefits of linking planning and operations.

Planning for Operations includes three important aspects:

  1. Regional transportation operations collaboration and coordination activity that facilitates Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations,
  2. Management and operations considerations within the context of the ongoing regional transportation planning and investment process, and
  3. The opportunities for linkage between regional operations collaboration and regional planning.

Linking planning and operations is vital to improving transportation decisionmaking and the overall effectiveness of transportation systems. Coordination between planners and operators helps ensure that regional transportation investment decisions reflect full consideration of all available strategies and approaches to meet regional goals and objectives.

Learn more about this joint effort by visiting the U.S. Department of Transportation Planning for Operations Web Site.

Publications

  • An Interim Guidebook on the Congestion Management Process in Metropolitan Transportation Planning (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-08-008) (HTML, PDF 853KB) - This Interim Guidebook provides information on how to create an objectives-driven, performance-based congestion management process. While the focus of this interim guidebook is on the congestion management process (CMP), the principles of objectives-driven, performance-based planning can also be applied to other aspects of regional concern (safety, economic development, environment, etc.) in an MTP. The CMP represents the "state-of-the-practice" in responding to the growing challenge of congestion on urban transportation networks.
  • A Primer - Statewide Opportunities For Linking Planning and Operations (Publication Number FHWA-HOP-08-028) (HTML, PDF 6.4MB) - This primer is designed to raise awareness of the benefits and opportunities for coordinating planning and operations activities within State DOTs, targeted at mid-level DOT planning and operations staff.
  • Capital District Transportation Committee Albany, New York Case Study (HTML, PDF 323KB) (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-043)
  • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Philadelphia Metropolitan Region Case Study (HTML, PDF 306KB) (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-044)
  • Getting More by Working Together - Opportunities for Linking Planning and Operations: A Reference Manual (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-05-016) (HTML, PDF 5MB) - This resource guide is designed to help planning and operations managers understand the value of working together and realize the benefits of pursuing management and operations strategies at the regional scale.
  • Management & Operations in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan: A Guidebook for Creating an Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Approach (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-08-007) (HTML, PDF 1.79MB) - This Interim Guidebook is designed to provide a basis on which to integrate transportation system management and operations (M&O) into the metropolitan transportation planning process and to assist MPOs in meeting Federal requirements under SAFETEA-LU calling for M&O strategies to be incorporated into the metropolitan transportation plan (MTP). It highlights effective practices that result in an MTP with a more optimal mix of infrastructure and operational strategies, founded on the inclusion of measurable, performance-based regional operations objectives.
  • Metropolitan Transportation Commission San Francisco Bay Area Case Study (HTML, PDF 455KB) (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-047)
  • Regional Concept for Transportation Operations: A Tool for Strengthening and Guiding Regional Transportation Operations Collaboration and Coordination (HTML, DOC - 205KB) - This white paper is the first step in introducing and framing the idea of a Regional Concept for Transportation Operations. Subsequent work is planned, involving many stakeholders and interest groups to explore its implications and more fully develop its scope in various settings. The result will be more detailed guidance for developing and using a Regional Concept for Transportation Operations.
  • Regional Concept for Transportation Operations Fosters Planning For Operations in the Tucson Metropolitan Area Case Study (HTML, PDF 403KB) (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-048)
  • Regional Concept for Transportation Operations: The Blueprint for Action - A Primer (HTML, PDF 5MB) - A Regional Concept for Transportation Operations (RCTO) is a management tool to assist in planning and implementing management and operations strategies in a collaborative and sustained manner. Developing an RCTO helps partnering agencies think through and reach consensus on what they want to achieve in the next 3 to 5 years and how they are going to get there. The purpose of this document is to explain what an RCTO is, the development of its elements, and its applicability.
  • Regional Transportation Operations Collaboration and Coordination: A Primer for Working Together to Improve Transportation Safety, Reliability, and Security (Publication Number: FHWA-OP-03-008) (HTML, PDF 4.98MB) - This primer was written for transportation professionals and public safety officials from cities, counties, and States who are responsible for day-to-day management and operations within a metropolitan region. It is intended to help agencies and organizations, and the operations people within them, understand the importance of regional collaboration and coordination, how it happens, and how to get started.
  • The Collaborative Advantage: Realizing the Tangible Benefits of Regional Transportation Operations Collaboration (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-08-001) (HTML, PDF 3MB) - This manual uses nine collaborative efforts across the U.S. to illustrate the tangible benefits gained through key strategies such as sharing resources and expertise, performing joint operations, using common operations procedures, and exchanging real-time information. The manual includes a six-step process to allow agencies to estimate their benefits of collaboration.
  • The Denver Region Traffic Signal System Improvement Program Case Study (HTML, PDF 324KB) (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-046)
  • Wilmington Area Planning Council New Castle County, Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland Case Study (HTML, PDF 340KB) (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-045)

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