integRating Planning with oPeRations and PRoject imPlementation

the PRofession. As A kickoff for this ITE Journal issue featuring a transportation planning theme, itE’s transportation Planning council (tPc) Executive committee felt it would be valuable to identify a selected number of topics that are currently of special interest to many members due to their particular relevancy to national, state and local interest. other articles in this edition of ITE Journal provide details and examples of many of the issues and practices touched on here. transportation planners are more in the mainstream of itE than ever before. itE has defined transportation planning as “the confluence of many different disciplines coming together in the first stages of the development of plans, policies and legislative activities, funding, and project development.” however, the historic lines between project implementation or operations and planning are blurring—and in many instances are gone. Planners often find themselves involved in multiple project phases and dealing with current operations data. this changing role is reflected in that the tPc is leading several major emphasis areas for the institute and is contributing to most others in cooperation with itE members from different backgrounds and focus areas. this article is structured with four major topics: 1. integrating planning with operations and project implementation; 2. integrating land use and transportation; 3. addressing climate change and energy needs; and 4. securing transportation system funding.