Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Planning: Follow-Up Q&A

[NTOC Talks]

On January 25, 2010, there was a Talking Operations webinar, "Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Planning for Operations: A New Resource." The presentation, recording, podcast, full transcript, chat transcript, and closed-captioning file can now be found on this site: http://www.ntoctalks.com/web_casts_archive.php.

Follow-up questions and answers that were not broadcast live during the Webinar are now available below. Feel free to continue the dialogue through this thread.

Sam Belfield, HRTPO: How many travel time runs do you collect?

Metroplan Orlando: We require the consultant to run a minimum of four (4) data collections runs in each direction for both the morning and afternoon peak periods.

Genessee Transportation Council: GTC conducts five travel time runs in each direction for both the morning and evening peak periods and three travel time runs in each direction for the non-peak period between the peak periods. Additional travel time runs are conducted as needed based on a review of the variability of the results within each of the periods.

Peter Sutton: Eric just mentioned monetizing the value of traffic signals, can he elaborate?

Metroplan Orlando: Yes, just that you want to put the benefits or results into a value that motorist can relate to, and what better than in monetary terms.

Jeff Hochmuth: Can you give us some success stories where you have been successful in getting buy in from top executive staff at the operating agencies?

Metroplan Orlando: Several of the representatives on our Committees from our partner agencies are at the Director level and we have a committee of Mayors. Both advise our Board and they vote on action items that fund M&O projects. Our Traffic Incident Management campaign was initiated by our former Chair and County Commissioner. The red-light coordination project was started by the committee of mayors.

Genessee Transportation Council: The greatest success story for GTC has been the continued participation of high-level operations staff in our Transportation Management Committee. We believe that this is the result of GTC, as the MPO, identifying appropriate roles and activities to undertake that add value to the operators' activities. In addition, articulating how incorporating operations at the planning level can translate to federally-funded investments through the Transportation Improvement Program is key.