1. Support for the AASHTO Committee on Planning (COP) and its Subcommittees in Responding to the AASHTO Strategic Plan Prepared for NCHRP 8-36, TASK 138  WSP USA Inc.
October, 2017

2. AASHTO Strategic Plan identifies four strategic goals:
Provide Value to Members: AASHTO provides the highest possible value to its members who provide the backbone of AASHTO’s policy development, advocacy and strong technical services.
Provide Innovative Technical and Professional Services and Products: AASHTO provides state of the art technical services and products that are widely used by members and the larger domestic and international transportation community.

3. Be a Leader in National Transportation Policy Development: AASHTO advances the interests of members by playing a leadership role in transportation policy development.
Communicate the Value of Transportation: AASHTO communicates the value of transportation at the national level, working with members to develop the tools to communicate state and local transportation needs and priorities.

4. Research Design

5. Survey of COP Members --25 State Responses

12. Top-rated Planning Research Needs
Autonomous vehicles/connected systems
Freight planning
Performance measures
Benefits estimation
Asset management
Updated planning methods

17. Committee Charter Role The Committee shall:
Promote a multi-disciplinary planning process that encourages State DOTs to define a long-term vision; establish a framework for system and project-level action; integrate the perspectives of the many and varied stakeholders across modes, sectors, and jurisdictions; and promote an alignment between vision and program implementation.
Assess and recommend national-level policies (laws, regulations and guidance) that affect state DOTs’ ability to conduct transportation planning within their agencies and that support the Board of Directors’ positions on the development of federal policy, programs, regulations, and guidance.
Research, document and disseminate information about national and international trends, innovation, industry practices and advances in the field of transportation planning.

18. Committee Charter Role, cont’d The Committee shall:
Support State DOTs’ understanding and use of models, tools, analysis techniques, methodologies and professional development that are important in implementing a multi-modal transportation planning process.
Champion and advocate the principles and applications of planning concepts with AASHTO forums, councils and committees; and with other partner organizations.

19. Proposed Structure Four subcommittees:
Subcommittee on Research: Responsible for identifying priority planning-related research and for disseminating and implementing research results.
Subcommittee on Professional Development: Responsible for promoting planning professional development and capacity-building opportunities among State DOTs.
Subcommittee on Policy and Rulemaking: Responsible for reviewing and recommending national-level policies that relate to State transportation planning.
Subcommittee on Technical Services: Responsible for hosting, promoting and disseminating information on planning-related tools, methods and analysis frameworks.

20. Rationale for Recommendation Goal 1: Provide Value to Members
Example Format of Work Plan
Strategic Plan
Background
Rationale for Recommendation
Work Plan
Responsibility
Goal 1: Provide Value to Members
1.1 Foster collaborative interrelationships and interactions with AASHTO and other groups
The Committee has historically interacted with other AASHTO committees, often holding joint meetings. The joint meetings have been viewed by Committee members as being very productive and useful.
Committee on Planning members called for an “aggressive” interaction with other AASHTO committees during the development of the Work Plan.
Seek liaison with the AASHTO Forum, Councils and Committees, as appropriate. This could include liaison positions, cross committee reporting, staff updates on committee activities and the like.
Initial priority should be given to:
Enterprise/Cross-Discipline Committees: Funding and Finance; Performance-Based Management; and Data Management and Analytics.
Councils: Highways and Streets, Public Transportation, and Active Transportation and the Freight-related activity
Chairman/Vice Chairman, with advice from Leadership Team
2017
Enhance (and coordinate) research interactions with (initially) the Environment and Sustainability Committee, Public Transportation Council, Highways Council, Active Transportation Council, and the Transportation Research Board to foster multimodal transportation research statements. Seek jointly-sponsored research proposals.
Subcommittee on Research
2018
Jointly sponsor meetings with other AASHTO Committees.
Subcommittee on Technical Services and AASHTO staff
2018/2019

21. Work Plan (2017-2020) Provide Value to Members
Foster Collaborative Interrelationships and interactions within AASHTO and with other Groups
Co-Sponsor Conference Sessions on Transportation Planning Issues with Other Organizations
Participate in AASHTO Conferences and Meetings
Form Task Forces to Focus on Specific Policy and Technical Issues
Provide an Up-to-Date Website
Develop Webinar Series of Topics Identified by Committee Members
Provide Greater Institutional Support for Planning Resources within AASHTO
Monitor the Implementation of the Action Plan and Provide Progress Updates to Committee Members
Highlight the State-of-the-Practice of Statewide Planning

22. Work Plan ( )
Provide Innovative and Professional Services and Products
Foster Peer Exchanges Among State DOT Planning Groups that Focus on Key Planning Challenges
Collaborate with AASHTO Councils and Committees, TRB Committees and other Groups to Develop Research Statements
Propose NCHRP Synthesis Topics
Disseminate the Results of Synthesis and Research Projects
Identify and Propose Proposals for Implementing Planning Research
Host AASHTO Technical Tools and Publications that Provide Support to Planning Processes

23. Work Plan ( )
Be a Leader in National Transportation Policy Development
Provide Policy and Planning Input in Proposed Federal Legislation and Regulations
Use Committee Functions as an Opportunity for Federal Officials to Interact with Committee Members and Receive Input on Proposed Actions
Provide Forward-Looking Ideas and Thoughts that Identify Likely Future Policy Issues
Recognize Best Practices in Statewide Transportation Planning
Promote AASHTO Staff Understanding of State DOT Planning and Policy Efforts
Foster Peer Exchanges Among State FOT Planning Groups the Focus on Key Planning Challenges
Provide Greater Institutional Support for Planning Resources within AASHTO

24. Work Plan ( )
Communicate the Value of Transportation as a System
Identify Successful Efforts at Communicating Value of Transportation
Collaborate with Other AASHTO Committees in Developing Strategy for Communicating Value of Transportation
Disseminate the Results of Synthesis and Research Projects
Provide an Up-to-Date Website

25. Performance Metrics Output Measures
Liaison positions or arrangements made with other AASHTO Councils and Committees
Jointly-sponsored Committee meetings or conference sessions
AASHTO sessions with Committee representation
Interactions with non-AASHTO planning groups and associations
Webinars
Hits on planning website
Peer exchanges

26. Performance Metrics Output Measures, cont’d Award nominations
Research proposals/successful research proposals
Collaborative research proposals/successful collaborative research proposals
Production of a “futures” white paper
Sponsorship of national conference on statewide transportation planning

27. Performance Metrics Outcome Measures
Perception of Committee value and contributions to State DOTs as assessed by State DOT CEOs (periodic survey)
Perception of Committee value and contributions to State DOTs as assessed by Committee members (periodic survey)
Perception of Committee value and contributions to State DOTs as assessed by key stakeholders (periodic survey)
Number of State DOTs joining webinars (surrogate for level of interest)
Evidence of State DOTs using Committee products