Regional Architectures: Strengthening the Transportation Planning Process

The advent of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) has changed the transportation planning world in three ways. First, it has created an information-rich environment, providing transportation managers with a more informed view of the “state of the network.” Second, it has high-lighted the importance of operating and managing transportation systems through the introduction of transportation services. Third, it has enabled the management of transportation systems on a regional scale. These three factors reveal the need for a framework that can (a) guide the distribution of information and (b) govern the deployment of services on a regional scale. A proposed framework for achieving these tasks is a regional architecture, which is conceived as a new output of the transportation planning process. Inspired by the regional architectures in the ITS context, the definition goes beyond ITS, using this concept in planning for the entire regional intermodal transportation system. Five objectives are pursued. First, “regional architecture” is defined. Second, what a regional architecture might look like is illustrated. Third, a frame-work for integrating regional architectures into the transportation planning process is proposed. Fourth, how regional architectures can address shortcomings in existing transportation planning processes is discussed. Fifth, some basic steps that transportation planners can take toward the development of a regional architecture are outlined. In pursuing these objectives, an endeavor is made to advance the state of the art in regional strategic transportation planning.