Position within network development and management
Transport system development typically occurs in a top-down process, where the higher levels inform the lower levels, and feedback is provided upward. Network operation planning fits at a mid-level in the process. It should be informed by strategic and network wide approaches, but a NOP aims to align localised and detailed outcomes with these plans. NOPs link strategic plans to day-to-day decision making.
Transport system development is generally a top-down approach. This approach typically follows six steps:
- policy settings and government priorities
- strategies, objectives and targets
- city / state level modal networks
- area / corridor
- place / link
- node.
Network operation planning tends to occur at the area / corridor level. As such, it should be informed by the levels above (policy and strategy), and in turn inform the levels below (place / link and node). Network operation planning activities should include upward feedback so that issues and opportunities are fed back to the levels above as part of their iterative improvement.
Network operation planning is not the only transport activity occurring at, and through, the area / corridor level. Section 2.1 of Austroads Road Transport Management Framework and Principles (2017) states that “network operation planning plays a critical role in aligning road transport activities at the traffic operation and management levels with other road transport activities such as strategic transport planning, demand management strategies, road planning and asset management planning.”
Another activity commonly informed by network operation planning is signal operation and coordination. Network operation planning often provides the translation of network level objectives into the operational requirements at the place / link and node levels. A NOP provides a proactive means of managing a network rather than a reactive one.
The figure below outlines where NOPs and other common transport planning, management and design activities sit within the top-down approach to the development and management of the transport system.
Network development and management levels and activities
Source material
Source | Position within network development and management |
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Not specifically set out, but the Framework provides clear linkages to other network processes, see Figure 2 p18 (reproduced in Development processes and Development steps). | |
Signal Management Techniques to Support Network Operations (2015) | Section 3.2.1 - Network Operation Planning p6-7 states: "The Austroads Guide to Traffic Management: Part 4, as well as the VicRoads’ SmartRoads method, clearly identifies improvements to signal operation as a key type of management and operation (M&O) option to help deliver NOP objectives such as maximising traffic flows through high productivity corridors. Where a number of changes to signal management are required across an area, a signal management plan might be developed to facilitate a strategic management approach." |
Guide to Traffic Management Part 4: Network Management Strategies (2020) | Section 5.9 - Use of Network Operation Plans for Designing for Operations p70-71 states: "As Network Operation Plans describe the operational objectives, strategies, road-use priorities and treatments for the network, the development of an aspirational NOP prior to design assists in defining the operational requirements which are incorporated in roadway design." Section 5.10 - Use of Network Operation Plans in Asset Management p71 states: "NOP can aid in the application of Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) through designating the road use priorities for each route. Once the priority is identified, the criticality of a failure of a road asset can be determined based on the asset itself and the priority of the route. Other factors such as volumes and road type can also be considered to determine the criticality of an asset failure." |
Section 1.1.2 - Levels of Integrated Transport Planning and Figure 1.2 p2 indicates the different typologies and how the transport network is planned for, namely corridor and area planning involves the development of strategies, while route and link planning involves the development of plans Section 2.1 - Multimodal Network Operation Planning p4-6 notes: "Network operation planning does not exist in isolation and is closely related to integrated transport and land use planning as well as transport mode/theme-specific planning documents. Network operation planning plays a critical role in aligning road transport activities at the traffic operation and management levels with other road transport activities such as strategic transport planning, demand management strategies, road planning and asset management planning." | |
Guide to Traffic Management Part 9: Transport Control Systems – Strategies and Operations (2020) | Section 6.3.1 - Role in Network Operation Planning p64 states: "Network operation planning establishes the road use priorities for particular road user groups, which can include general traffic, public transport, pedestrians, cyclists and freight. The road use priorities are based on the link and place function of the road." |
Source | Position within network development and management |
|---|---|
Section 3.2 - Multi-modal network planning p36-40, Figure 3.1 p37 indicate a top down approach to network planning through the following levels, but also with an upwards feedback loop:
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Road Network Planning Urban Design ‘Place’ Character Assessment Methodology and Guidance Notes (2019) | Appendix A, Section 1.5 - Road Network Planning and Figure 6 p9 sets out a top down process to the overall network development as follows:
Appendix A, Section 1.5 - Road Network Planning and Figure 7 p9 provides the following steps as part of its corridor strategic planning:
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MRWA Network Operation Planning Framework (2014) | Section 1.1 - Background p1 states: "Network operation planning contributes to the 2020 Strategy by providing an evidence-based and participatory approach to the planning of traffic management and operation of the road network consistent with government and community requirements." |
Facilitating Network Operations Planning: A Case Study of the VicRoads SmartRoads Framework (2018) | Section 4.1.2 - Facilitates decision-making p5-6 notes:
"According to the VicRoads team, through the Road User Hierarchy, SmartRoads was able to provide a set of clearly defined strategic priorities along various arterial roads. This was very helpful to the VicRoads engineers because they themselves could see there is a strategic direction to follow. The engineers in the regional offices provided feedback to the VicRoads team that with the SmartRoads Road Use Hierarchy, they had something solid to follow. Therefore, SmartRoads allows VicRoads staff to see if proposed changes align with VicRoads’ objectives because it can show engineers exactly how much of an impact such changes would have, i.e., in terms of gap in Level of Service (LOS) as determined by the Network Fit Assessment." |
Section 2.1 - Managing the road network outcomes p10-13 and Figure 2.3 outline the coverage and overlap of the following three documents in achieving the high level transport outcomes of the Mayor's Transport Strategy:
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Section 2.2.2 - Policy aspects p31-37 and Figure 2.2 p37 sets out the following three level approach:
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Source | Position within network development and management |
|---|---|
Sits under the Perth Transport @ 3.5 Million and Beyond (Transport Plan, RNDP and PTA documents. | |
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Warrigal Road Movement and Place – Intersection Operating Principles |
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