Managing Transportation and Infrastructure

This section of the toolbox presents methods and techniques to effectively direct and manage the development and improvement of transportation and infrastructure systems. Although I-69 will be the major transportation investment in each community, other systems will be influenced by its construction. Careful planning is essential to ensure that transportation and infrastructure systems are capable of handling the changes in local travel demand associated with I-69.

Select the tools below. Tools in gray boxes are not recommended for that level of planning capacity.

LEVEL 1:	LEVEL 2:	LEVEL 3:	LEVEL 4:
See Increasing Local Fundamental Planning Capacity	Capital Improvement Plan: City of Fort Wayne City of Indianapolis Town of Highland	Capital Improvement Plan: City of Fort Wayne City of Indianapolis Town of Highland	Capital Improvement Plan: City of Fort Wayne City of Indianapolis Town of Highland
	Access Management Plan & Policies	Access Management Plan & Policies	Access Management Plan & Policies
	Areawide Thoroughfare Plan	Areawide Thoroughfare Plan	Areawide Thoroughfare Plan
	Comprehensive Corridor Plan	Comprehensive Corridor Plan	Comprehensive Corridor Plan
	Interchange Area Plan	Interchange Area Plan	Interchange Area Plan
	Areawide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan *	Areawide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan *	Areawide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan *
	Traffic Calming Plan & Policies: City of Indianapolis	Traffic Calming Plan & Policies: City of Indianapolis	Traffic Calming Plan & Policies: City of Indianapolis
	Design and Construction Standards for Infrastructure *	Design and Construction Standards for Infrastructure *	Design and Construction Standards for Infrastructure *
	Traffic Impact Study Guidelines *	Traffic Impact Study Guidelines *	Traffic Impact Study Guidelines *
	Urban Growth Boundaries / Urban Service Area	Urban Growth Boundaries / Urban Service Area	Urban Growth Boundaries / Urban Service Area
	Traffic Control Device / Signal Warrant Studies *	Traffic Control Device / Signal Warrant Studies *	Traffic Control Device / Signal Warrant Studies *
	Impact Fees	Impact Fees	Impact Fees

* Tools Under Construction

Transportation planners typically work with land use planners to predict future patterns of demand. In most cases, various alternatives are considered for meeting this demand, leading to the development of a transportation plan. The link to the land use plan is key to the development of an effective transportation plan. Good planning practice extends beyond the function of the system, however. It considers the broader effect of the transportation system on the community, addressing historic preservation, environmental protection, aesthetic appeal and other issues.

Proper working water, sewer, and other utilities are also vital to the smooth operations of a community. As growth occurs, existing system and facility conditions must be evaluated according to current and predicted use. The availability of infrastructure plays a key role in guiding the type and density of development into rural areas. Development should be encouraged only where existing and new infrastructure improvements can support it. In addition to identifying future functional needs in terms of system capacity, infrastructure planning must address alternative options for growth considering environmental protection, construction and operating costs, and development policies.

If addressed before development occurs, transportation and infrastructure improvements can influence development in a positive way. Transportation and infrastructure planning can strongly influence:

Where growth occurs
What scale and type of growth occurs
How much growth occurs

Various tools are included in this resource to identify and address future infrastructure needs and to manage urban and rural growth. These tools relate specifically to transportation and infrastructure development, but to be most effective, they should be linked with other tools such as land use planning and overall community visioning. As with all planning resources, the tools should serve as a guide for communities wishing to manage their growth and development and should be shaped to fit each individual community’s needs and desires.