Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT), 2014

1 Transport Planning – CENG 6303

The Transport
Planning
Process

Instructor: Dr. Bikila Teklu

bikilatek@yahoo.com
 The Transport Planning Process
(Transport Policy Making Process)
2

The role of planning

Planning processes

Types of objectives

Planning regulations and actors

Initiating a transport planning process

Several types of measures

Transport planning as a continuous process
 The Role of Planning
3

Transport problems (congestion, delays, pollution and

accidents) are cause of public concern

There usually are several solutions (suggested) to these

problems. Some solutions can be expensive, not very
effective and can introduce other/new problems

There usually are different interests (actors) involved

Limited budgets will usually/always be present

These are (some of) the main reasons for developing and
maintaining transportation planning processes
(Transport Policy Making)
 The Planning Process
4

The concept of planning:

”Planning” is a wide concept that can be difficult to define (as
with art, culture, conflict and power). Because of this, there is
variety of descriptions. But some characteristics are regularly
repeated:

 Preparation to act
 Information about the future
 Solution of conflict
 Consciousness-raising
 Common co-ordination
 Achievement of objective through a rational method
 Control of consequences
 The Planning Process
5

Planning then can be described as a link between

ideology, knowledge and action

Two important issues that influence the design of the

planning-process are the degree of uncertainty and to
what extent negotiations between actors/interests is
important
 The Planning Process
6

The Rational process

Identification of problems Adjustments /
New planning process

Formulation of objectives

Generation of alternatives Monitoring

Consequence analysis

Comparison and choice of alternative

Action plan and implementation

 The Planning Process
7

In a practical planning situation it may be necessary to

go back/repeat earlier stages in the planning process.

E.g. if the objectives are too ambitious, it can be

impossible to make a plan that solves the problem, and
at the same time not viable from an economical point of
view

To analyze a complicated problem, it can be favorable

to start off with a more simplified theoretical system
 The Planning Process
8

To further elaborate this, rather theoretical, introduction to

planning processes we shall now focus on an objective-led
structure for strategy formulation (See next slide)

The formulation of objectives are used to identify problems

Observe that potential solutions often are compared by

means of a predictive model of the transport system
(a transport model)

As measures are implemented, their impact is assessed,

through before and after studies. And, with a description of
achievement against objectives
 The Planning Process
9

An objective-led structure for strategy formulation

 The Planning Process
10

To identify objectives and related problems there are two

different types of approach:
 The problem-oriented approach
 The objective-led approach

The problem-oriented approach starts with describing types

of problems. (See the second box from above Fig.3.1.)
This means that the objectives are implicit in the specified
problem, and may never really be stated

The objective-led approach is as described in Fig.3.1, with an
initial task defining objectives and indicators. This approach
is used in several of the integrated transport studies
 Types of Objectives
11

Statement of vision:
 Broad indication of the type of future politicians or public wish to see
 Serves to identify long-term goals to which more detailed transport
policy objectives can contribute
 E.g.: ”A sustainable future”, ”Opportunities for all”, ”Maintain the cities
role as a regional center”, ”Environmental improvement”.

Higher level objectives:
 Identify attributes of the transport system, or its consequences
 E.g.: ”Accessibility within and outside the city”, ”Reduce congestion”,
”Avoid accidents”
 This implicates the presence of an objective hierarchy

Quantified objectives (lower level/operational objectives):
 E.g.: ”Reduce traffic accidents with 20% by the year of 20xx”

Try to avoid solution-specific objectives, conflicts between objectives, and
double counting
 A Possible Set of Objectives
(rather on a higher level than lower)
12

Economic efficiency

Environmental protection

Safety

Accessibility

Sustainability

Economic regeneration

Equity

Finance

Practicability

And – describe possible conflicts, constraints and double counting

 Quantified Objectives and Targets
13

Noise Thresholds and Attributes

 Planning Regulations and Actors
14

Planning regulations:
 Laws concerning spatial and infrastructural issues
 Planning regulations pursuant to present laws
 Guidelines
 Traditions

Actors:
 Public authorities (all levels)
 Service providers
 Private actors
 Organizations
 User groups
 People, trades and functions affected by the measures
 Planning Regulations and Actors
Public Participation in Road Planning
15

Including the 1960s, transport planners could assume that their

professional expertise and ”unbiased” presentation of facts would
find reasonable acceptance at the relevant decision-making
stage in the development of a road proposal (and the transport
planning process)

In the 1970s these ”uni-lateral” presentations were challenged by

the public. The opinion/public urged a broader influence on road
scheme decisions that affected their lives, which resulted in the
development of processes whereby the public could become
involved in the plan development prior to its presentation for
final decision-making

These processes came to be known as ”public participation”

 Planning Regulations and Actors
Public Participation in Road Planning
16

Advantages of ”public participation” can be:

 A better understanding of community concerns and
values for the planners
 The development of better and alternative alignment
options
 Through the involvement of potential opponents of a
proposal, the planners ability to implement a solution is
strengthened
 The participation process is educational both for the
public and for the transport planner
 Planning Regulations and Actors
Public Participation in Road Planning
17

There are three essential components of public participation:

 Identify the members of the public to be involved
 Two-way communication must be established, concerning:
information about the process, requirements to be met,
participation events, the public’s role in the decision-
making, alternative proposals
 Positive interaction must be encouraged, using techniques
which get people to work together in a positive way on a
shared concern
 Initiating a Transport Planning Process
18

 The problem identification task:

Objectives concerning different issues (Table 3.3)

Objectives and indicators (Table 3.4 next slide)
19
 Initiating a Transport Planning Process
20

The instruments of transport policy:

 How to achieve the objectives? (Measures)
 How do we check if objectives are met?
 Before and after studies
 Documented previous demonstration projects
 Experiments (trials)
 Appraisal methods (delay measurements,...)
 Models
 Several Types of Measures
21

Infrastructure measures
 Provision for car:
New road construction
New car parks
 Provision for public transport:
Terminals, bus-stops, Park-and-ride
Conventional bus (with different sizes/markets) and rail provision
Light rail
Guided bus
 Provision for cyclist and pedestrians:
Cycle routes
Pedestrian areas
 Provision for freight:
Lorry parks
Transshipment facilities
Encouragement of other modes (rail-borne freight, water, pipeline)
 Several Types of Measures
22

Management measures
 Provision for car: Conventional traffic management
Urban traffic control (UTC)
Advanced transport telematics (ATT)
Accident remedial measures
Traffic calming measures
Physical restrictions on car use
Regulatory restrictions on car use
Parking controls
Car sharing
 Provision for Bus priorities
public transport: High occupancy vehicle lanes (HOVL)
Bus (and rail) service levels
Bus service management measures
 Provision for Cycle lanes and priorities
cyclist and Cycle parking
pedestrians: Pedestrian crossing facilities
 Provision for Lorry routes and bans
freight: City logistic regulation
 Several Types of Measures
23

Information provision
 Provision for car: Conventional direction signing
Variable message signs
Real-time driver information systems and route guidance
Parking information systems
Telecommunications
Public awareness campaigns
 Provision for Service information
public transport: Real-time passenger information
Operation information systems
 Provision for Static direction signs
cyclist and Cycle parking facility information
pedestrians: Cyclist and pedestrian information at crossing facilities
 Provision for Fleet management systems
freight: City logistic information
 Several Types of Measures
24

Pricing measures
 Provision for car: Vehicle ownership tax
Fuel taxes
Parking charges
Congestion charging

 Provision for Fare levels

public transport: Fare structures
Concessionary fares for special needs persons

 Provision for (rarely an issue)

cyclist and
pedestrians:

 Provision for (as for cars, and with progressive taxes concerning
freight: vehicle size/weight)
 Several Types of Measures
25

Land use measures

 Application to different modes (usually not mode-specific)

 Types of measures: Flexible working hours

Development densities
Development within transport corridors
Development mix
Travel reduction ordinances
Parking standards
 Transport Planning as a Continous Process
26

Several cause/effect-relations are driving forces for a

continous process: Economic and social development
Socio-economic factors
Land use development
Changes in activity and trade patterns
Others ...

The need for integration – ”Package approach” – focus on a

set of measures in stread of a single one

Potential benefits from integration (complementary measures,

finanancial feasibility, public acceptance, ...)