Transportation leadership you can trust. presented to presented by Cambridge Systematics, Inc. Key Themes from Day 1 Breakouts National Forum on Performance-Based Planning and Programming September 14, 2010 Lance A. Neumann

Conference Objectives Develop a common understanding of performance-based planning and programming processes and define the next steps for implementation Identify the challenges in developing performance-based planning and programming processes and recommend strategies to deal with them Develop practical, agency specific, guidance for performance-based planning and programming Provide recommendations for a capacity building action plan that reflects the range of needs of a diverse set of agencies 2

Key Topics Disclaimer Positive Vibe Education/Communication Collaboration Planning and Programming Measures Data Targets Tradeoff Analysis Challenges Next Steps 3

No facilitator, recorder, or breakout participant is responsible for any of the observations that follow Disclaimer

Positive “Vibe” about Performance-based Planning and Programming Across breakouts and types of agencies Lots of views about what / how Caution about very real institutional/political barriers Need to move beyond “would of, could of, should of” and barriers to constructive next steps 5

Education and Communication Real opportunity to use performance-based process to improve communication with stakeholders » More informed discussions » Setting expectations » Cost / potential results » More realistic priorities …but public more informed. Elected officials a “special case” » Needs vs. politics » Equity 6

Connection to Funding Performance management as tool to help “make the case” » What you get and don’t get » Set expectations » System performance and agency performance » Not “one shot” exercise, must build confidence/trust over time » Tied to projects Changing rules/eligibility can create incentives for collaboration / new partnerships 7

Collaboration Recognize need for stronger collaboration and opportunity to encourage it » Strategic planning and defining common goals and selected measures » Break down institutional barriers » Needs to be continuous » Don’t forget rural agencies 8

Planning and Programming Lack of connection between LRPs and programs Big variation in state / MPO / transit / rural agency relationships LRP easier to get agreement on broad goals Programs: local priorities take over » Fair share / equity vs. needs / performance 9

Measures May be in good shape for preservations / state of good repair and aspects of mobility Range of opinion on multinational / mode neutral » Multimodal goals vs. Multimodal measures » People vs. vehicles » Some doing it Need more focus on » Environment » Freight » Economic development What about the rurals? 10

Data Better use of data to drive / influence decisions Recognize cost issue Better data sharing / use of national databases Visualization Data gaps 11

Targets Opinions vary about usefulness and practicality Soft vs. hard targets Implications for consequences / funding Need to be achievable / consistent with resources 12

Tradeoff Analysis Many different types of tradeoffs » Within mode or functional areas » Cross functional within an agency » Cross functions / modes / agencies Opinions varied about which are possible Some doing it now even across modes New tools / data, but… » Costs, complexity, technical capacity » No “black box” » Potential rule for U.S. DOT 13

Challenges Institutional » Financial capacity / restrictions » Multiple goals and agencies » Resistance to change » Need for strong relationships and staff buy-in » Sustained collaboration Technical capacity differences » Size of staff » Capabilities » Ability to deal effectively with Big Brother / Sister Shifting from political / equity to performance / needs 14

Next Steps Sense that there is support to move toward more performance-based planning and programming Likely to happen in any case Time to focus on practical next steps » Acknowledge variations in practice and challenges » Build on considerable past work » Define specific actions to move forward 15