1. Office of Systems Planning, Iowa Department of Transportation
Transportation and the Role of the Planner
Civil Engineering 451/551
Fall Semester 2008
Presented by:
Phil Mescher, AICP
Office of Systems Planning, Iowa Department of Transportation
Des Moines, Iowa

2. Purpose of Today’s Presentation
Overview of the Role the DOT plays
Discuss Jurisdiction over Transportation Infrastructure
Discuss System Performance Measures
Tour the DOT Organizational Structure
Define the Steps in the Statewide Planning Process
Cover the Planners Role in Transportation
Discuss Areas of Planning Expertise
Job Requirements and Opportunities

3. Role of the State DOT
The State Department of Transportation is responsible for the overall connectivity of all modes of transportation in the state, even if the DOT does not have direct jurisdiction

4. Highways-- Jurisdiction
State Highway System
County Road System
City Road System
Federal Aid System
State
City
County

5. DOT Covers All Modes
Highway
Rail
Aviation
Transit
Water

6. Iowa Facts Iowa has: 114,194 miles of roads 24,598 bridges
9,393 maintained by the DOT
79% of the roads are county roads
Roughly 30,000 miles are paved (35%)
13th highest in the nation
24,598 bridges
5th highest in nation

7. DOT Organization Governor Transportation Commission DOT Director
(7 Members appointed by Governor)
DOT Director
General Counsel
5 Divisions
Highway Division
Information Technology
Planning, Programming, Modal
Motor Vehicle
Operations and Finance
6 Transportation Districts

9. Statewide Planning
The purpose of statewide transportation planning is to outline strategic investments in facilities and services that are necessary to meet expected future deficiencies and to identify the operational and technological changes in the existing network that will improve transportation service.

10. Definition of Statewide Planning
Statewide Multimodal Transportation Planning is the process of identifying the most cost-effective and appropriate set of transportation strategies that will provide a DESIRED LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE for the state’s transportation system in relation to a set of desired goals and outcomes, thus helping the state meet the needs of its citizens and of those dependent upon the state’s products for their livelihood

11. Iowa Goal
The transportation goal of Iowa is to provide and preserve adequate safe, and efficient, transportation services based on the use by and benefits to the public.

12. Performance Measures Highways Transit Airports
V/C ratio, minutes of delay, crashes/hmm
Transit
passengers/vehicle hour, operating ratio (revenue/cost)
Airports
Airside, landside, terminal
System performance is the ultimate test --quality of life, environmental quality

13. Iowa Policies
5. Promote financing the system through user and non-user sources
6. Administer the land and resources under the State’s jurisdiction in a manner that protects the rights of individuals and considers the effects on the environment
7. Promote a transportation research and technology transfer program to develop and improve services, methods, and materials.
1. Address user needs and maximize the economic and social benefits for Iowa
2. Provide a participatory planning process
3. Encourage and support programs to provide commodity movement and mobility for all citizens
4. Develop, promote, administer, and enforce just and equitable procedures for the registration, regulation,and operation of motor vehicles, aircraft, and common carriers of passengers and freight

14. Statewide Transportation Plan
Focus on needs that concern the state
Include all modes
Financial Resources
Coordinated and Integrated
Shared and consistent data collection strategy
Common set of assumptions
Common performance measures
Each plan should serve as input to others
Formal public participation process
Relate all plans to realistic financial strategies

15. Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan
Capital projects (highways, bridges, buses) and operating projects (transit operating) that require federal funding
“Regionally significant projects” must be in
Must be financially constrained
Must maintain performance levels

16. Information in a STIP Project description Estimated cost
Federal funds by year and category
Non-federal match for year 1
Responsible agency
Air Quality conformity -- for non-attainment areas

17. Steps in Statewide Planning
Vision, Goals, and Objectives
Performance, Linkages, and Deficiencies
Identify Issues
Identify and Analyze Alternatives
Financial Planning and Programming
System Monitoring
Traffic Forecasting/Modeling

18. The Transportation Planner
Can fill a multitude of roles to aid in reaching goals
Entry Level Planner
Senior Level Planner
Office/Division Head

19. The Transportation Planner
Education Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree
Planning
Engineering
Accounting
Geography
Economics

20. The Transportation Planner
Job Responsibilities
General Planning
Write Plans
Economic Analysis
Policy Analysis
Grant Writing/Administration
Financial
Environmental/ NEPA
Modal
Public Involvement
Technical
Travel Demand Modeling
Traffic Forecasting
Pavement Analysis
GIS
Air Quality
Safety

21. The Transportation Planner
District Transportation Planner
Liaison with Locals
Public Meetings
Project Coordination
Public Speaking!
Meetings

22. The Transportation Planner (outside the DOT)
Consulting
FHWA/US DOT
Metropolitan Planning Organization
Regional Planning Affiliation
University Research/Education
City/County
Other Governmental Entities
Census Bureau

23. Transportation Areas of Knowledge
This is a list of areas of interest where a transportation planner should be knowledgeable.

24. Planning Process Metropolitan, Regional and Statewide Planning Process
LRTP, TIP, UPWP, PTDP
Legislation (SAFETEA-LU)
Funding Mechanisms
Gas Tax, registration, bonding, tolls
(Time 21)
Federal Funding Flowcharts/STP/TE Distribution

25. Planning Process Programming Grant Administration NEPA Systems
TIP/STIP/5-year program
Grant Administration
NEPA
CE, EA(FONSI), EIS(ROD)
Systems
FFC
F2M
NHS
Interstate
CIN

26. Planning Process Modal Planning Boundaries Bike/Ped Rail Transit
Highway
Water
Planning Boundaries
Urbanized Area (Census)
Urban Area (FHWA)
Planning Area (Local)

27. Planning Process Data Census Survey Reebie/Transearch REMI CTPP NHTS
NPTS
Reebie/Transearch
REMI

28. Planning Process Traffic Forecasting/Modeling System Monitoring
Traffic Count Program
Geographic Information Systems
Cartography/Map Making
Engineering Basics/Terminology
Traffic Impact Studies
Interchange Justification

29. Planning Process Safety Analysis Asset Management Access Management
Crash Data
Asset Management
Pavements/Infrastructure
Access Management
Land Use and Development
Real Estate Basics

30. Planning Process Civil Rights Title VI – Discrimination
Impact on the Human Environment
Environmental Justice
DBE/On Job Training
JARC

31. Questions?
Contact Information:
Phil Mescher, AICP
Office of Systems Planning
Iowa Department of Transportation