Transportation Planning Process

INDOT is responsible for project selection and for compliance with state and federal planning requirements; as head of INDOT, the commissioner is ultimately responsible for agency priorities. The transportation planning process is structured by INDOT's Annual Program Development Process, which provides a comprehensive set of procedures that formally structure the evaluation, ranking and programming of proposed projects. The process begins with an internal INDOT review of currently programmed projects. Then a formal INDOT "call for new projects" is extended to all counties, cities and towns and to INDOT's district offices. A series of early consultation meetings follows, to solicit input from MPOs, regional planning organizations and local elected officials. The final product of this process is the Indiana State Transportation Improvement Program (INSTIP). Annual Open House District Meetings are held after the draft INSTIP has been published. At these meetings, the public hears presentations about the INSTIP, the Long-Range Plan and other transportation issues.

Legislative Role in Transportation Planning

Limited role. The General Assembly does not select projects in general, but does set overall funding levels and establishes the legal framework for INDOT. Also, Ind. Code Ann. art. 8-15.5 and art. 8-15.7 establish legislative approval requirements for public-private partnership projects.