TRANSIT AT THE TABLE: A GUIDE TO PARTICIPATION IN METROPOLITAN DECISIONMAKING

This report presents the observations, perspectives, and recommendations of a cross-section of transit agencies from large metropolitan areas on how to secure positions in the metropolitan planning process. More importantly, the report can be a guide on how to use those positions to win policy and program support for priority transit services. The challenges to achieving full decision-making partnerships in regional settings, the most effective strategies for addressing these challenges, and the rewards of partnerships are presented by transit industry leaders using their own experiences. While the primary audience for this report is transit general managers and transit senior staff, important messages are included for other key stakeholders. Because the overall effectiveness of a Metropolitan Planning Organization rises and falls with the depth of the decision-making partnerships, suggestions and strategies presented in this report represent significant opportunities for improving current practice. Key findings of the report were also used in preparing a self-assessment checklist for transit operations in assessing their profile and participation in metropolitan planning. The indicators are generic and not exhaustive. As such, the questions should be regarded as only the starting point for subsequent discussion focused on local issues. This checklist is located in Appendix A of the report. This report is a product of the Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program and can be found at www.planning.dot.gov as a metropolitan planning technical resource.

• Record URL:
  http://www.planning.dot.gov/Documents/tat.htm
• Record URL:
  http://www.planning.dot.gov/Documents/TransitAtTable.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Parsons Brinckerhoff, Incorporated

  One Penn Plaza
  New York, NY  United States  10119

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hoover, J
  • McDowell, B
  • Sciara, G-C
• Publication Date: 2004-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 88 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision making; Metropolitan areas; Metropolitan planning organizations; Partnerships; Public transit; Strategic planning; Transit operating agencies; Urban areas
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00988047
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: VA-90-1004-04-1
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 4 2005 12:00AM