DID YOU KNOW...
How Planning & Projects Come Together
The Long Range Planning process should answer some vital questions like:
- "How can we improve our transportation system?"
- "What are our priorities for tomorrow?"
- "How should projects be funded?"
In order to answer those questions, every five years ODOT reviews the current status of transportation in the State - from highways to transit to freight rail, and examines them alongside the current and future needs of its population and the economy.
People studies - where people live, how they travel and where they want to go enter into the planning process.
Balancing the needs of the economy and environment are factors in the Long Range Plan as well.
The needs and desires of the citizens, gathered through public meetings and comments received help shape the vision of transportation for the state.
Public comments can help ODOT answer questions like:
- "Where are the gaps in transportation?"
- "What do we need to be doing to improve the system?"
When the planning process is complete, a report is prepared that outlines the key transportation priorities of the state from mobility to air quality to economic opportunities. The plan will also discuss the gap between needs and available federal, state, and local funding, along with suggestions on how to prioritize the needs.
Elected and government officials use the Long Range Plan as a guide in their transportation decision-making process.
Remember that a safe transportation system is essential to protect the lives of our citizens, and officials need to weigh those factors too. They must consider what businesses need in transportation improvements in order to grow and keep jobs here for its citizens. They must also determine the best use of the state's transportation financial resources.
In the end, it is a balancing act for decision makers, but the Plan allows the public the opportunity to voice its opinion on what they believe is important for our state.