Indicators For Comprehensive And Sustainable Transport Planning

A new paper provides guidance on the selection of indicators for comprehensive and sustainable transportation planning.

1 minute read

April 3, 2005, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


This paper provides guidance on the selection of indicators for comprehensive andsustainable transportation planning. It discusses the concept of sustainability and therole of indicators in planning, describes factors to consider when selecting indicators,identifies potential problems with conventional indicators, describes examples ofindicators and indicator sets, and provides recommendations for selecting indicators foruse in a particular situation.

...Comprehensive and sustainability planning rely on measurable indicators. Theseindicators have many uses for planning and management regardless of whether or not adecision-making process is called “sustainability planning.” This information can helpestablish baselines, identify trends, predict problems, assess options, set performancetargets, and evaluate a particular jurisdiction or organization. Which indicators areselected can significantly influence analysis results. A particular policy may rank highwhen evaluated using one set of indicators, but low when ranked by another.

Thanks to Todd Alexander Litman

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 in Victoria Transport Policy Institute

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

July 2 - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

July 2 - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square