Lec 3. Ch.2P1 TP and Decision Making

1. Lec 3. Ch.2P1 TP and Decision Making Part 1: Topics • 2.1 Institutional framework for transportation DM • 2.2 Evolving perspective of the planning and DM process • 2.3 Conceptual models of DM • 2.4 The elements of DM: Development of a transportation planning process Part 2 covers: 2.5 and 2.6

2. 2.1 Institutional framework for TP DM A common characteristic of all transportation decision making is that it occurs within an institutional framework that is often similar from one metropolitan area to another. • Organizations created to provide and manage transportation services • Formal process of interaction among, and production from, these organizations, that is often mandated by other levels of government • Informal personal and group dynamic relationships that make the process work • Political, legal, and fiscal constraints • Positive or negative roles of specific individuals or groups

3. 2.1 Institutional framework for TP DM (Example – Utah Commuter Link by UDOT) Multiple organizations SL Co Informal personal & group dynamic relationship WFRC Formal process Div. Of Public Safety Political, legal, fiscal constraints SLC See Fig 2.1 Institutional barriers.

4. 2.2 An evolving perspective on the planning and DM process A concise history describing how the characteristics of transportation planning process evolved. Read and get a feel of how it evolved, or it was forced to evolve in the past few decades. * TP process evolved from the rational approach to participatory approach Public involvement Consensus building Amelioration project impacts The paradigm has changed: from simply accommodating demands for increased personal mobility to more sustainable transportation system planning.

5. The rational approach – typical steps • Note that these steps still must exist. The differences between the rational approach as used in 60’s and the participatory approach in later years are, in the original “rational” approach: • More concern on the personal mobility or lowest travel cost, not much concern on its impacts on the society and environment • Process itself was the goal • Not much involvement by the public • “Comprehensive” “large scale” Define goals and objectives Identify problems Generate alternatives Evaluate alternatives Select optimal alternatives (Often a lowest cost alternative)

6. 2.3 Conceptual models of decision making Region-wide rail network TDM-type planning Trans. planning A wide variety of decision makings takes place in transportation planning. And the DM process is affected by many factors  Make it difficult to categorize DM types. Type, frequency, structure, complexity of the decisions Characteristics, capabilities, needs of the DMs Organizational and political context Here the authors try to categorize DM approaches. They apply not just transportation planning but to any DM situations. Find a DM situation that involves multiple agencies and people and analyze which approach best describes its DM process.

7. 5 DM approaches

8. 2.4 Major characteristics of the DM process 1. Pluralistic 2. Resource allocative 5. Uncertainty- avoiding Compromise, Negotiation, Bargaining 4. Problem- simplifying 3. Consensus- seeking Or constituency- building Special interest groups, short-term issues Hence, providing DMs with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions is the duty of the planner.

9. Examples • Pluralistic: Referendum on transportation sales tax (like, commuter train ¼ cent/$1 tax) • Resource-allocative: Adoption of a transportation budget (lack of state budget, cancellation of a highway project connecting Alpine and Draper) • Consensus-seeking: Use of market research to gauge the attitudes and opinions of voters facing a referendum; advisory committees to develop plans • Problem-simplifying: Defining transportation problems as being too many cars • Uncertainty-avoiding: Use of scenarios in community visions; staged implementation of transportation projects to develop more certain portions first

10. In summary… (for ch2 part 1) • UTP process evolved from the concept of rational choice to the participatory or advocacy planning approach • The characteristics of a decision-oriented planning process depend on the type of decision-making approach assumed. 5 processes were presented: the rational actor approach, the satisficing approach, incremental approach, organizational process, and political bargaining approach. • The major characteristics of the DM process identified in this book are: pluralistic, resource-allocative, consensus-seeking, problem-simplifying, and uncertainty-avoiding.