Transportation planners increasingly are expanding their role beyond the first stages of projects to encompass multiple project phases and even current operations. This paper highlights topics that important to transportation planners in their expanded role. Four major topics are addressed: (1) integrating planning with operations and project implementation; (2) integrating land use and transportation; (3) addressing climate change and energy needs; and (4) securing transportation system funding. Transportation planners have adopted a multimodal philosophy, and most transportation planning now has an underlying assumption that all modes should be considered in the planning process. Transportation planners can play an important leadership role in bringing to life projects that reflect this philosophy.
Abstract