Evolution of Metroplan Orlando

ITE JOURNAL / SEPTEMBER 2005 INTRODUCTION METROPLAN ORLANDO is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Orlando, FL, USA, metropolitan area. Linking planning and operations came of age at the agency during the recent update of the Year 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Measuring the benefits of using technology to manage and operate a transportation system enabled additional funding for management and operations (M&O) strategies. In this context, M&O refers to intelligent transportation systems (ITS), traffic incident management and congestion management systems. Safety is a planning factor that MPOs are to consider in the planning process. It also is counted under M&O because it can thread any of these strategies together through a single incident. Placing more emphasis on M&O is further supported by the public’s desire for better traffic signal coordination. Staying with the concept of understanding market trends along with current and future investments, METROPLAN ORLANDO is looking to operations data collected through a regional and innovative project to enhance modeling estimates and report on system performance. This feature provides a summary of the potential challenges and opportunities that have resulted from the agency’s effort to link planning and operations.