The first phase in preparing a TSP involves identifying your community's objectives and defining the steps, tasks, and budget needed to meet them. Note: Your community's objectives will be different if you are part of a metropolitan area.
Your Scope of Work
City and County TSPs must be consistent with one another. If elements of a regional TSP have not been adopted, a city or county must coordinate preparation of the local TSP with the regional transportation planning agency. As part of this coordination effort, cities and counties should clearly define which TSP will govern county facilities located within the city's Urban Growth Boundary.
Local TSPs must also be consistent with regional TSP of the applicable MPO. Jurisdictions within a metropolitan area must adopt TSPs that reflect regional goals, objectives, and investment strategies specific to the area and demonstrate how local transportation system planning helps meet regional performance targets. The TPR also provides direction on certain equity and climate change actions that must be addressed in TSPs located within a metropolitan area. For best results, consult with ODOT and the MPO during the scope phase to determine specific topics to be updated or included in the TSP to ensure consistency with state and regional plans.
Before assigning staff and/or hiring a consultant, a jurisdiction should:
- Assess available resources to determine the level of in-house expertise.
- Evaluate staffing options and determine the appropriate mix of staff/consultant expertise:
- Use existing staff expertise or new staff,
- Use a combination of staff and consultant expertise,
- Use predominantly consultant expertise (local staff to review, not complete, work).
- Identify and secure sufficient funding for staff/consultant work to develop and adopt the TSP.
- If using a consultant, issue a request for proposals and select the consultant, accounting for time needed to execute a contract or work order and issue a notice to proceed.
ODOT has limited funding to assist local jurisdictions with transportation planning projects through the Transportation and Growth Management Program and through individual Region Statewide Planning and Research funding allocations. Generally, ODOT considers TSP project funding requests from jurisdictions that:
- Are required to have TSPs or ready for a TSP update
- Are in critical transportation areas, non-exempt locations, or have unique transportation circumstances
- Have an identified local agency project manager
Occasionally, an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between ODOT and the local jurisdiction may be required. As a condition of funding, the IGA and the scope of work must be approved by ODOT. ODOT may require project team members to possess specific licenses or certifications to demonstrate necessary expertise. An ODOT project manager—typically a Region or Statewide Policy and Planning Section planner—can provide technical assistance with the IGA and the scope of work. ODOT has several contracts in place that can expedite consultant selection for ODOT-funded TSP processes.