Opening Plenary Session, Part 1 -- Purpose-Driven Plans: Why it matters

Moderator: Mr. Howard Glassman, Executive Director, Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council
Ms. Gloria Shepherd, Associate Administrator for Planning, Environment, and Realty, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Mr. Bob Romig, Director, Office of Policy Planning, Florida Department of Transportation
Mr. Tom Deardorff, Director of Long Range Planning, Polk County

• Video Presentation (wmv file, 38.4 Mb)

Howard Glassman opened the session by outlining what would occur: brief opening statements from each speaker; responses by the speakers to a series of questions; and then questions and comments from the audience.

Gloria Shephard provided a federal perspective, describing why she believes that SAFETEA-LU places more requirements and expectations on MPOs than on the States, but pointing out that States must step up to assist the MPOs as needed. She also said that FHWA sees Florida as first among equals – often holding Florida up as a good example.

Bob Romig provided a state perspective - looking over the last 16 years, here is what we have learned: trust your process; don’t be afraid of compressed timeframes [to update plans]; make sure you have the right people at the table to receive input from and to inform for them to take back to their constituents; have professional facilitation and technical expertise available, as well as a strong project manager; and have management support and engagement, demonstrating their commitment to the process and the importance of the outcomes.

Tom Deardorff provided an MPO perspective, first pointing out that he (and probably others in the room) is approaching the horizon year of the first long range plan he was involved in! He then observed that when these plans are updated every five years, you might think “we’ve done this before.” But there’s always something different that you have to address. Right now it’s increased emphasis on regional coordination and visioning. We need to determine how that will change how we do business.

What are the major challenges in developing a long range plan? Responses included:

• Bringing diverse interests together and striving for consensus; difficult, but with facilitation and clear roles and responsibilities, doable.
• Need to be visionary, but not illusionary; also need to address laws and regulations.
• Fiscal constraint is big – plan needs to be real, not wish lists.
• Consultation and public participation is big – almost need to involve the world, to the extent practicable.
• Plan needs to be relevant: show how to spend available dollars; look at 20-25 years, but address near term, too, by having a pot of money for short term solutions; and try to look beyond 20-25 years.

How would you address creative finance techniques, climate change, and integrating transportation and growth management – three things the 2007 transportation bill and Governor’s signing message emphasize? Responses included:

• Climate change is being discussed in the Gulf States, but needs to be expanded in the United States – we’re way behind others parts of the world.
• Need to address climate change at the front end (planning) and at the back end (operations and maintenance).
• Look for increased expenditures for research at the federal level. And we need more data.
• The counter measures we’ve used for air quality can be used for climate change – in Florida, we’re emphasizing alternative modes, etc.
• Need to use MPOs to help bridge the transportation/growth management gap.
• The call in new legislation for MPOs to be autonomous will help, but there are advantages to MPO staff ‘rubbing elbows’ with land use and growth management staff at the county office.
• Another challenge is to better incorporate MPO long range plans into local government comprehensive plans.
• More than anything else, we need to integrate with planners implementing growth management – transportation planners can help translate.

How do we better involve underserved organizations in daily operations? Responses included:

• Need flexibility in public involvement processes; Native Americans is one area, especially in addressing safety (hard to get data). We need specific techniques, especially to develop context sensitive solutions.
• Need to go to people at their convenient times and locations; learn about their issues beforehand.

How do we better use visioning techniques? Responses included:

• It’s easier at the project level; we have to find a way to create visions of long range plans.
• Can’t just use the web – who’s the audience? Use their language – bring planning terms to life.
• Need to marry our vision and their vision, or there’ll be an ugly divorce.
• Consider using small brochures.
• Need to link vision and visualization.

How do we address the mature driver? Responses included:

• Shouldn’t treat as a stand-alone subject.
• Their political strength holds politicians back.
• Not all states have as an issue.

How can long range plans address mobility and long term needs? Responses included:

• Plans have to establish how dollars are to be used per defined roles and responsibilities.
• Need a long term vision of what needs to be funded – need to translate regional vision into a transportation vision.
• Note that new planning regulations require cost of projects in the year of construction.

What elements should be contained in a top-notch plan? Responses included:

• Need a process that produces an action plan at the end.
• Need great graphics and maps.
• Need statements of what visions are being addressed and how, so resource agencies know why the projects are needed.

Audience comments and questions:

• We need to address hurricane evacuation – have you seen the Gulf temperatures?
• We need to figure out the MPO’s role related to increased costs – it’s a partnership.
• It’s good to see the multiple levels of government on the panel.
• It’s obvious that planning is not dead in Florida – Florida partners are working together to address issues – congratulations to everyone in Florida!
• We also need to look at mature non-drivers.
• How do we get more money for planning???
• Travel demand management needs to play a bigger part in seeking solutions.

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