Method for Including Societal Issues in Transportation Decisions

A method for including societal and institutional issues in transportation decisions is demonstrated through the use of the multiorganization decision analysis (MODA) process. A modification of decision risk analysis methods that have been successfully used in corporate environments, MODA takes into consideration the diversity of decision makers in transportation implementation decisions who come from public and private sectors and include a mix of agencies, institutions, and interest groups. The MODA process structures a set of interactions among a decision-making team, an analysis team, and facilitators. The steps of MODA include development of a shared vision statement, framing of the problem, generation of alternative solutions, analysis of alternatives, and a decision. Consensus by decision makers is required at each step of the process. The MODA process was demonstrated on the decision of whether a hypothetical community, representative of those in southeastern Michigan, should upgrade its paratransit service to include the use of intelligent transportation system technology. Through the MODA process, the factors and interrelationships relevant to the decision makers were identified. MODA accommodated their disparate views and disagreements, enabling them to agree on one solution in a relatively short period of time.