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The upcoming year promises many challenges and opportunities for transportation planning within Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) throughout the State of Indiana.  Many MPOs will be updating their transportation plans to a horizon year of 2030.  In addition, the Indiana Department of Transportation is currently in
the process of updating the statewide transportation plan.  These transportation plans are developed through a cooperative effort involving citizens, elected officials, public transportation providers, all levels of governments and other interested parties.

Socioeconomic changes, new development and economic growth foster the need to consider and evaluate future travel demands of the transportation system.  A transportation plan serves as the dynamic tool that guides transportation decisions concerning project selection, implementation, and community growth.  It must be flexible enough to accommodate change, yet provide a solid foundation of transportation system improvements and strategies to support present and future transportation needs.

The reality that limited resources and environmental concerns will not support massive highway improvement projects is a recognized concept in the transportation planning profession.  An emphasis on maximizing the efficiency of the existing transportation infrastructure and resources is a primary objective. The planning process incorporates non-traditional transportation strategies and policies to improve system efficiency.  These include strategies and
policies designed to reduce congestion through better management of traffic operations, access control, enhanced transit services and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.  When these strategies cannot safely meet the travel demands, highway expansion projects must be considered.

The primary goal of a transportation plan is to achieve an efficient and safe transportation system for the movement of people and goods, while simultaneously improving the economic and environmental conditions of the community. The planning process pursues the most efficient and cost effective strategies to improve all modes of transportation.  The desire for an efficient transportation system includes accountability for environmental and social costs.   The result is a plan that preserves neighborhood tranquility, minimizes environmental disruption, improves air quality, reduces energy consumption, encourages economic growth, supports desirable land use developments, and safely satisfies existing and future travel demands.  This is not a simple task.  

Developing such a plan requires commitment and participation from all levels of government, but more importantly, it requires participation from all users and affected parties of the transportation system.  Community and citizen involvement is a critical component of the transportation planning process that leads to the development of a transportation plan.  I encourage all interested parties to contact their Metropolitan Planning Organizations and get involved in the transportation planning activities in their communities.  Together, we can meet tomorrows’ transportation needs through a well-designed plan that is safe, efficient and supports desirable community growth.


Dan Avery
Executive Director, NIRCC
260.449.7309
fax 260.449.7682
dan.avery@co.allen.in.us