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

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

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.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Regeneration of contaminated industrial land used for waste dumping, West Midlands, UK, 2006 .

EPA Awards $267 Million to Clean Up and Reuse Contaminated Sites

The EPA is investing the funds to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites nationwide, supporting economic growth, community revitalization, and environmental restoration.

5 hours ago - Environmental Protection

Archway made of bikes in Knoxville, Tennessee over Tennessee River.

Knoxville Dedicates $1M to New Greenway

The proposed greenway would run along North Broadway and connect to 125 miles of existing trails.

7 hours ago - WATE

25mph speed limit sign with digital "Your Speed" sign below it.

Philadelphia Launches ‘Speed Slots’ Traffic Calming Pilot

The project focuses on a 1.4-mile stretch of Lincoln Drive where cars frequently drive above the posted speed limit.

May 18 - WHYY