Intermodal Surface Transportation Planning And Research Work Program

This report documents and presents the results of a study of institutional barriers to intermodal transportation policies and planning. Stakeholder interviews, a literature review and a national survey of 421 transit agencies, MPOs, and state DOTs were utilized to identify 13 organizational, interjurisdictional, and resource barriers to intermodal planning. Findings of the study suggest that building community support, adequate funding, education, and leadership commitment are the primary driving forces that can improve intermodal planning practices. Structure, procedure, and leadership provide the decision-making context for intermodal planning, that is, they enable (or restrict) the regional or local decision-making process. Ten context-shaping recommendations are offered. Action planning sessions held in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; and Queens, New York indicated that a number of attributes can enhance the local intermodal planning process.

This synthesis report will be of interest to department of transportation ( DOT) administrators, planning supervisors, managers, and staffs, as well as to planning consultants that work with them. It provides information for practitioners interested in the results of attempts to apply multimodal considerations at the statewide level and identifies key research findings. It covers post-ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991) processes and projects and both passenger and freight activities. The report examines the application of three multimodal aspects: alternatives, modal mix, and integration into three statewide planning functions, which include state planning, corridor studies, and financing, budgeting, and programming. The emphasis is on implementation. This report of the Transportation Research Board documents processes and research currently under development, using three approaches: a literature review, results of a survey of state DOTs, and five case studies. It cites the following states with exemplary practices in multimodal/intermodal transportation based on a 1998 report by the policy research project at the University of Texas on Multimodal/ Intermodal Transportation: Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

This synthesis will be of interest to transportation department administrators, financial managers, program area managers, and others who are concerned with the financing, budgeting, and funding aspects of managing the transportation infrastructure. It will also be of interest to others outside of the state department of transportation (DOT), including state legislators, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), local government officials, and environmental agencies who interact with the DOTs in programming and project development. The synthesis presents information on changes in the capital programming process instituted by DOTs in response to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and to other factors that affect both policy and practice in developing and managing their capital program. This report of the Transportation Research Board describes key influences on programming, including federal, state, and local regulations, and the changes that have resulted. It also discusses programming and project selection methods used by the states, such as the criteria for setting priorities, use of management systems, tradeoff analyses, and public involvement. The key aspects of revenue forecasting and cash management as they relate to programming issues are also highlighted.