The Changing Landscape of Transportation Decision Making

Abstract

This paper examines the changes taking place in the way transportation policy and investment decisions are made. To provide an understanding of these changes, they are placed in the larger context of major trends in public-sector decision making: devolution, fragmentation, and privatization. The changes taking place in the transport sector are viewed as consistent with larger trends. The changes pose particular challenges in transportation because of its unique characteristics, and they have contributed to four problems: (a) preserving and enhancing system network benefits, (b) avoiding inefficient decisions, (c) solving transportation's externalities, and (d) ensuring accountability. The Alameda Corridor is used as an example of managing the new decision-making landscape. The paper closes with thoughts on improving the transportation decision-making process.