Desk Reference User's Guide
This desk reference is meant to assist you, the reader, in cultivating an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to planning for operations in your region. This quick user's guide will help you in accomplishing your goals as you turn to this desk reference.
The desk reference is organized into five sections:
Section 1
Introduction: Provides a quick overview of the objectives-driven, performance-based approach to planning for operations.
Section 2
Developing Operations Objectives: Gives the fundamentals of developing operations objectives, a cornerstone of the objectives-driven, performance-based approach.
Section 3
Menu of Operations Objectives: Offers the reader numerous examples of operations objectives and their associated performance measures, data needs, and other related information. The operations objectives are displayed in reference tables and on one- to two-page "fact sheets."
The objectives are organized in the following categories:
- System Efficiency
- System Reliability
- System Options
- Arterial Management
- Emergency/Incident Management
- Freeway Management
- Freight Management
- Special Event Management
- Transit Operations and Management
- Travel Demand Management
- Travel Weather Management
- Traveler Information
- Work Zone Management
Section 4
Model Metropolitan Transportation Plan: Provides excerpts from a model metropolitan transportation plan (MTP) to illustrate what operations-related elements of a plan could look like when developed with an objectives-driven, performance-based approach.
Section 5
References and Resources: Lists other sources on which to rely for additional information or assistance.
The remainder of the user's guide will lead you to specific sections of the desk reference based on your purpose for going to this tool. On the next page are a list of reasons for going to the desk reference and descriptions of how to use the tool based on those reasons.
| Purpose for Going to the Desk Reference | Recommended Actions |
|---|---|
| Answer the question "What is an objectives-driven, performance-based approach?" | Read Section 1.2. |
| Get ideas for operations objectives to be included in the MTP (or supporting operations planning documents) | Go to Objectives Summary Table on page 19. This table lists all operations objectives found in the fact sheets. |
| Find an operations objective for a specific operations area such as traveler information. | Go to Cross-Reference Table on page 14. Look for a column heading matching the operations area of interest and look up the fact sheets corresponding to that operations area. |
| Find operations objectives for a specific mode such as transit. | Go to Cross-Reference Table on page 14. Look for a column heading matching the mode of interest and look up the fact sheets corresponding to that operations area. |
| Learn what performance measures and data would be needed to track an operations objective. | Find the operations objective in Objectives Summary Table on page 19 and then go to the fact sheet containing the operations objective. |
| Find potential M&O strategies to help improve transportation system efficiency, reliability, or options. | Examine the M&O strategies listed on fact sheets in the category of system efficiency, reliability, or options. Refer to Cross-Reference Table on page 14 and look for operations objective fact sheets that correspond to the system outcome category of interest. |
| See an example of how to shape the operations-related portions of the MTP to incorporate selected operations objectives and performance measures. | Read Section 4 to see excerpts of a model plan incorporating operations objectives. |