Transportation Planning and Analysis

Transportation Planning and Analysis is a specialized engineering discipline focused on forecasting future travel demand and developing strategies to manage the efficient, safe, and sustainable movement of people and goods. Utilizing a systems approach, this field employs statistical analysis, computer modeling, and extensive data collection to evaluate the performance of existing transportation networks and predict the economic, social, and environmental impacts of proposed improvements, such as new highways, public transit systems, or bicycle infrastructure. The primary objective is to inform policy and investment decisions, ensuring the development of transportation systems that enhance mobility, support economic vitality, and align with community goals.

1. Foundations of Transportation Planning
   1. Definition and Scope of Transportation Planning
      1. Core Definition of Transportation Planning
      2. Planning Boundaries and Geographic Scales
      3. Temporal Dimensions of Planning
      4. Relationship to Urban and Regional Planning
      5. Relationship to Land Use Planning
      6. Multimodal Planning Concepts
      7. Intermodal Planning Concepts
   2. Transportation Planning Goals and Objectives
      1. Mobility Concepts
         1. Definition of Mobility
         2. Mobility Measurement Methods
         3. Mobility Indicators
      2. Accessibility Concepts
         1. Definition of Accessibility
         2. Types of Accessibility
         3. Accessibility Measurement Methods
         4. Accessibility Indicators
      3. Safety Objectives
         1. Safety Performance Metrics
         2. Safety Target Setting
      4. Efficiency Goals
         1. Operational Efficiency
         2. System Efficiency
         3. Economic Efficiency
      5. Economic Development Objectives
         1. Transportation and Economic Vitality
         2. Freight and Commerce Considerations
         3. Regional Competitiveness
      6. Environmental Sustainability
         1. Emissions Reduction Goals
         2. Sustainable Mode Promotion
         3. Climate Change Mitigation
      7. Social Equity Principles
         1. Equitable Access to Transportation
         2. Environmental Justice
         3. Addressing Disadvantaged Populations
   3. Historical Development of Transportation Planning
      1. Early Transportation Systems
      2. Evolution of Urban Transportation Planning
      3. Federal Transportation Legislation
      4. Major Policy Shifts and Reforms
      5. Technological Advancements Impact
   4. Transportation Planning Theory
      1. Systems Theory in Transportation
      2. Rational Planning Model
      3. Communicative Planning Theory
      4. Collaborative Planning Approaches
      5. Incremental Planning Models