Function of Planning Branch

Manages the divisional traffic data collection to meet information and reporting requirements; conducts field surveys of traffic volumes, traffic characteristics and physical inventory of the State Highway System; prepares statistical reports.

Prepares maps under the Special Maps Program and graphic displays.

Coordinates the divisional portion of the urban and rural transportation planning processes and other planning efforts by state and county agencies; coordinates the divisional review of land use change proposals; manages the divisional innovative financing, transportation enhancement and scenic byways programs; formulates and coordinates the establishment and/or revision of the State and Federal-aid Highway Systems.

Provides the Planning Branch with typing, filing and other clerical services.

Conducts studies of route locations and performs preliminary engineering work for highway projects through advanced planning procedures; establishes basic conceptual design; prepares project reports incorporating findings including user benefit/cost analysis, social, economic and environmental evaluations relating to alternatives, and project justifications.

Project Planning Units A, B, C

Administers the consultant planning projects to include the selection, negotiation, development of work programs, time schedules, supervision and review of the consultants' work for compliance with State and/or Federal requirements; coordinates the obtaining of the necessary environmental documents for project clearances to include the preparation of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements; coordinates activities and acts as the liaison between the State and other governmental agencies, public, utilities and private agencies; coordinates with and assists the County in performing similar tasks for Federal-Aid County projects.

Prepares preliminary engineering studies and plans for in-house highway projects in conformity with planning project requirements and design standards; prepares project cost estimates; coordinates structural, geotechnical and hydraulic requirements; coordinates preliminary right-of-way estimates to include advisory relocation assistance and payments; conducts public meetings and hearings; coordinates with and obtains necessary permits and clearances from other County, State and Federal agencies.

Provides technical information and comments regarding land use requests, zoning changes, right-of-way disposition and construction permit plan reviews and their interrelationship with future highway projects.

Designs and maintains traffic data collection facilities; retrieves data from automated data stations and processes data into usable form; conducts field surveys for traffic and road inventory data on a statewide basis; prepares highway inventory data records such as photolog files, road diagrams and highway maps; compiles traffic survey data and prepares reports of traffic survey statistics and estimates; conducts traffic research for planning needs; coordinates data collection of planning information from divisional offices and county agencies; prepares reports and furnishes reports to State, Federal and other agencies; prepares project-level traffic forecasts and traffic assignments for project development purposes.

Engineering Support Unit

Reviews and updates the State Highway System records; coordinates with the Road Inventory Subunit to ensure that the highway route and location referencing files are current and accurately reflect the State Highway System; coordinates the development and modification of project information files, highway facility inventory files and computer software related to the inventory of the State Highway System with divisional offices and county agencies; prepares required reports such as mileage statistics, annual certification of Public Road Mileage, Highway Performance Monitoring System and other special reports; designs, prepares plans, specifications and cost estimates for the construction and instrumentation of automated data collection systems.

Evaluates existing manual methods, computerized data collection methods and data processing procedures for the section; coordinates the development of systematic and automated processes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the section; conducts research on traffic flow to investigate and determine improved means to evaluate changes in traffic flow and traffic flow quality.

Field Survey Unit

Conducts road inventory surveys to include photographic inventory surveys (photologs), field measurement surveys, and document reviews to capture and record physical features of the State Highway System; maintains inventory record of physical features in the State Highway System on road diagrams and other records in hardcopy and electronic (computerized) media; prepares and maintains map files (electronic and hardcopy) of the State Highway System; maintains linkage of database to features on the digitized map files.

Prepares layouts, exhibit maps, photographic slides and other graphic visual aids; prepares and updates various types of maps.

Coordinates the divisional portion of the urban and rural transportation planning processes and other planning efforts by state and county agencies to include input into the overall work programs for each county, the short and long range highway master plans, and the Statewide Transportation Plan; directs the divisional review of land use and zoning changes and prepares recommendations on the proposals; evaluates and recommends divisional positions on traffic impact analyses; prepares the divisional portion of the State Transportation Functional Plan; formulates and coordinates the establishment and/or revision of the State and Federal-aid Highway Systems; manages the divisional innovative financing, transportation enhancement and scenic byways programs; coordinates the divisional portion of the Statewide Planning and Research Program; conducts special studies required by the Division; provides technical assistance to branches, district offices and other government agencies; coordinates transit matters related to land transportation.