Network Operations Planning Library

Be clear about the required outputs and outcomes from the start of the NOP process.

The application of NOPs varies but flexibility should be embraced as it is one of the key benefits of the process.

NOPs can be implemented in a number of ways, for a range of purposes, in various settings and contexts. NOPs have the potential to help align a range of network planning, development and management activities, as well as engage various stakeholders and interrelated disciples, such as strategic planning, operations and Place initiatives.

Further information: Development steps

It is important that a NOP sets a network extent, and the assessment and implementation time horizons.

A network extent is determined by the project sponsor. Noting that there are implications in the network type, size and complexity adopted.

The NOP time horizon is also determined by the project sponsor. It should be considered from both the perspective of how long it will take for a desired aspirational network to be ideally realised and the timing of any potential measures recommended to be implemented.

Further information: Network operation objectives

The objectives and measures being tested as part of NOPs should align with broader government policy settings and priorities. The plans should keep pace with policy changes and have flexibility to reflect specific local priorities, such as sustainability, economic, liveability, customers’ needs, resilience and emergencies.

Clearly demonstrating an alignment with current Government objectives and priorities will help engage with stakeholders, gain support for recommendations, and reflect the local context.

Vehicle traffic measures are well established and can be easily incorporated into NOPs. Measures for non-motorised travel modes and place are less mature but still important and so additional effort is required to ensure they are best incorporated.

Further information:  Network operation objectives & Network performance

Historically, NOPs have had an operational focus. They connect the day-to-day decisions made by network operators with the strategic intent of the system. As cities understand the wider functions of the road network and the need for it to support a range of activities, NOPs are increasingly benefiting strategic planning activities. NOPs are a tool for engaging with urban designers, town planners and developers through the communication of network outcomes (i.e. top-down).

The governance structure should be informed by an understanding of the:

• desired outputs and/or outcomes
• interlinked network development and management activities
• key stakeholders, influencers and decision makers.

NOPs can provide a shared source of truth to a wide range of stakeholders and help inform and align their future activities. However, this is dependent on the stakeholders sharing in the potential benefit and their input being clearly integrated and represented in the agreed aspirational network arrangements.

Further information: Governance, team members and stakeholder engagement

NOPs can be informed by the adopted network framework or road use hierarchy that provides a shared understanding of how the transport network would ideally operate within its given constraints (i.e. give relative priorities to specific activities in limited space).

As such, it is important to determine which network framework / road use hierarchy should be adopted as part of the NOP and how it will be applied. There is a current shift to the use of the Movement and Place Framework. This is preferred over the SmartRoads Framework because it:

• considers place functions
• helps engagement with urban designers and town planners and agreement on a shared vision
• has potential to move away from predict-&-provide to vision-&-validate.

Application should ideally reflect the desired outcomes / outputs, complexity of the current and aspirational network, network objectives and measures, and stakeholders and their future desired activities.

Practitioners could choose to replicate what some of the state jurisdictions are already doing, noting these are whole of network plans designed to inform state network development and management activities. Alternatively, simpler forms of application that reflect the intent and not the detail could be sufficient and more resource efficient in local settings.

Further information: Network Framework / Road Use Hierarchy

The development of NOPs generally follows the same process, which is consistent with the NOP Framework presented in Development processes and Development steps. However, there is no need to always complete all the steps or go to a highly detailed level within them. Rather, NOPs provide the potential for a ‘modular’ application that aligns with the desired outcomes and outputs, and complexity of the current and aspirational network.

This also means NOPs can be further developed at a latter point, allowing for:

• trialling and testing of given aspects
• staging to suit governance and engagement processes
• the changing nature of the network
• available funding and resources.

Further information: Use and implementation

NOPs can benefit from good quality data but not having data should not be a barrier to their development. Instead, focus on what is available, can be used to inform network measures (directly or proxy), test proposals and network changes over time.

NOP activities such as visioning, professional judgement and first-principles application, can be highly informative if facilitated well. However, a process to progressively collect critical data is highly desirable.

Further information: Required input evidence and data

While some jurisdictions have developed NOP assessment tools, they are locally focussed.

The need for a specific tool or use of other GIS and transport modelling packages will depend on the outcomes of the other key components and the resulting complexity of the network and analysis. Early planning for a bespoke tool or other modelling packages will likely see process efficiencies, especially in terms of data requirements, assessment comparisons and recommendation prioritisation.

As with data requirements, the lack of tool availability at the outset should not prevent all NOP activities, because visioning, professional judgement and first-principles application can be highly informative if facilitated well.

Further information: Planning and assessment tools and modelling approaches