Highway System Plan guidance for planning studies

The 2024 Highway System Plan (HSP) provides recommendations for future investments for interstate, U.S. routes, and state routes over the next 20 years. 

Recommendations of planning studies, not including predesign components, should consider:

• The financially realistic investments in the HSP for new Mobility and Economic Vitality capital improvement projects is $1.4 billion. That figure applies to a period of 20 years for the entire state. How do the recommendations in the planning study align with that fiscal constraint? (Consider regional priority if there are multiple studies or plans in that area.)
• How has the planning study described the Highway System Plan priorities for critical programs and to “fix it first”?
• How has the planning study described alternate solutions or complimentary effects of programmatic investments in Safety (I2), Environmental (I4), Public Transportation (V), Active Transportation, and Operations (Q) compared to the role of Mobility and Economic Vitality investments in meeting system needs?

For more information on the HSP or tools to support engagements and study analysis contact hsp@wsdot.wa.gov.

Performance-based criteria

Decisions on comparing investments in the future may be informed by the Performance-based project evaluation model, using Washington state’s six transportation policy goals and scoring criteria.

Consider using similar performance measures and evaluation criteria found in Performance framework, when possible.  This will improve the ability of projects recommended by the planning study to maximize scoring in the model and increase likelihood of projects being recommended for funding.