Non-Metropolitan Local Consultation Process: A Self-Assessment Tool for States

The primary purpose of this Self-Assessment Guide is for state transportation agencies to evaluate their performance in carrying out the non-metropolitan local consultation process required by Federal law for statewide transportation planning and other state actions. The Tool could also be used by other participants in the process, e.g., to provide the perspective of local officials and/or Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs). While there is a well-established formal consultation process for metropolitan areas to participate and/or interact with in the decision-making process by the state transportation agency, no such process has previously existed for local officials in non-metropolitan areas. It has recently been recognized by state and national interests that consultation with local officials should be an integral part of statewide transportation planning and programming in non-metropolitan areas. Planning and programming involve many steps, including: evaluation of existing conditions; forecasts of future socioeconomic and transportation data; development of alternative transportation projects, programs, and policies for existing and future conditions; evaluation of alternatives; fiscal analysis; and identification of projects for implementation. Each step in statewide planning and programming has its set of parameters and procedures, e.g., the methodologies used for forecasts or the establishment of the criteria used for prioritizing projects. The involvement of local officials should be one of the major elements in the state transportation agency’s planning and programming process. Their input can provide important information, such as local knowledge about future economic development activities or a different perspective on needs, priorities, evaluation criteria, and potential impacts. Through this non-metropolitan local consultation process, both the state transportation agency and the local and regional bodies can make better decisions and, therefore, provide better service to their citizens.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.ruraltransportation.org/files/aashto.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1560513438
• Corporate Authors:

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Publication Date: 2006-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: 28p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Evaluation; Financial analysis; Forecasting; Future; Local government; Policy; Programming (Planning); Regional planning; Rural areas; State departments of transportation; States; Strategic planning; Transportation planning
• Uncontrolled Terms: Local consultation; Local planning; Nonmetropolitan areas; Self assessments
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01047330
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 1560513438
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 2007 8:07AM