Network Operations Planning Library

Governance, team members and stakeholder engagement

The governance structure, team members and stakeholder engagement should be developed to reflect the scale of activities and range of users influenced by the NOP.


While clearly important, there is little reference material guidance available in relation to the governance, team members or stakeholder engagement required for network operation planning.

Road agencies should collaborate with other government departments, agencies and local councils involved in planning, delivering and managing the transport system.

Source material

Source

Governance, team members and stakeholder engagement

Network Operations Planning Framework (2009)

In Section 2.2 - Overview of Issues, Ref to Main Roads WA (2007) p11 notes:

"Road agencies collaborate with other government agencies involved in planning and delivery of infrastructure, delivery of transport services and community engagement processes."

"Collaboration, engagement and co-ordination with key network operator partners, and engagement of key stakeholders (internal and external) and the community is a key component through all steps in the operations planning framework"

Also, Section 2.3 Conclusions from the Review of Literature p12 note:

"engagement with road users to identify user requirements"

Guide to Traffic Management Part 4: Network Management Strategies (2020)

Section 5 - Network Operation Plan p 56-58:

"Stakeholder consultation as a key input to the planning process

collaboration with transport partners (e.g. bus operators, related agencies, etc.)"

Also noting recommended NOP development process and how it 'fits' within the overall network development and maintenance process.

Source

Governance, team members and stakeholder engagement

ATAP National Guidelines for Transport System Management in Australia - Part 2: Strategic Transport Planning and Development (2006)

Phase 3 - System planning, at a glance box p35 states:

"System planning is undertaken through a combination of studies and stakeholder engagement."

Road Network Planning Urban Design ‘Place’ Character Assessment Methodology and Guidance Notes (2019)

Appendix A, Section 3.1 - Project Stages  p15 includes the below with the development of the Road Network Plans:

"This Plan is developed through a series of stakeholder consultations including Council and the Department of Planning"

MRWA Network Operation Planning Framework (2014)

Section 2.2 - Phase 1: Initiation and Scoping p5 recommends the following be set up at the start of the project / NOP development:

  • organise a Network Operations Coalition (NOC), which is a working group of operational partners when multi-agency and multi-mode operation is involved
  • establish a list of stakeholders and planning partners (internal and external)
  • identify   road user groups

It goes on to note the following regarding the NOC:

"Establishing an NOC early is helpful in getting buy-in from all players for the NOP, which can then be used as the basis for management and operation of the network."

Network operating framework NZ Transport Agency

What does it do and what does it deliver section states:

"The framework is a collaborative process based on a common language. For the Network Operating Framework to work, partnerships are needed across all stakeholders and at all levels."

Who is Involved section indicates the following:

  • Road controlling authorities (RCAs)
  • regional councils
  • stakeholder groups for walking, cycling and freight.

Facilitating Network Operations Planning: A Case Study of the VicRoads SmartRoads Framework (2018)

See Chapter 2 Model Corridors p27

To realize an integrated deployment of the TSMO strategies, Corridor 2 transportation agencies adjust their institutional capabilities under each of the following categories:

  • Culture (...) ensure ongoing dialogue on integrated management activities across   transportation and emergency response agencies. Include additional   stakeholders as needed.
  • Organization/Workforce (...) develop a TSMO management and organizational structure within key agencies (e.g., State DOT and city) equivalent to that of other major agency programs.

Model Transportation Systems Management and Operations Deployments in Corridors and Subareas Primer (2018) US FHWA

Overview of Transportation Systems Management and Operations Planning Within Corridors and Subareas p3 notes the following theme associated with the TSMO process:

"Establishing a collaborative environment that cuts across agencies, jurisdictions, public- private sector roles, and travel modes."

Source

Governance, team members and stakeholder engagement

Albany Highway - Route Operation Plan

The ROPs have been developed within MRWA Operation team and circulated to other departments, including the Network Development Planning team (for long-term strategic planning considerations), Heavy Vehicle Services team (for heavy vehicle operation considerations) and the Public Transport Authority (for public transport considerations). So, in summary, they are:

  • Currently an internal process
  • Typically follows a critical decision making and approval path for engagement

Auckland - Traffic Network Management

Internal and inter-agency engagement activities were conducted.

Hamilton City - Network Operating Plan

Three levels of governance – all working together under a “one network charter” (i.e. Hamilton City Council, Waikato Regional Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency).

From their experience, they noted the following:

  • People who were working on it.
  • Insular but also focus on change
  • More iterative process, with stakeholders, and internal alignment meant starting   points for other groups were clear

Launceston Network Operation - Preliminary Framework

The process began with two workshops to produce the framework with the following stakeholders:

  • City of Launceston
  • Department of State Growth
  • Bicycle Networks Tasmania
  • Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania
  • City of Hobart (involved as observers)

External consultants were used to facilitate these workshops, which the following was noted:

  • No signal people were involved at this phase – Involvement of signal operation staff will be of most benefit in upcoming phases of the NOP, but there would be advantages if they were involved from the outset. Signals in Launceston   are monitored by the Traffic Management Centre (TMC) in Hobart. However, until recently there has been minimal active management in Launceston. A current project is providing greater visibility of the Launceston   network via traffic monitoring cameras and travel time monitoring systems, which will allow greater scope for intervention by the TMC if required.
  • Council operation were involved

Warrigal Road Movement and Place – Intersection Operating Principles

  • The teams vary based on project scope and complexity.
  • For Signal Route Reviews, the project team consists of Signal Operation personnel   at the Department of Transport (DOT) with support from network planning.
  • Specific to Signal Route Reviews, Councils were engaged to help agree on Intersection Operating Principles (IOPs). They are also provided the draft reports indicating proposed actions to review and comment on.