Planning Tools

Transportation planners at Caltrans and other agencies use many tools to assist them in making decisions. Some of these tools do calculations based upon input from the planner. Other tools provide data in a format that can be used for analysis.

The following tools are used within the Transportation Planning Program and are available for your download and use. The user of these tools must be aware that these tools are to be used in conjunction with other planning analysis practices and that Caltrans cannot be held liable for the information derived from the use of these tools.

• The Life-Cycle/Benefit-Cost Analysis Model (Cal-BC.xls) is a spreadsheet that provides a method for preparing economic analysis.
• The Intermodal Transportation Management System (ITMS) is a performance-based decision support system operating on a personal computer allowing alternatives analysis using performance measures. It has intermodal system elements for freight and person movements using a spatial and attribute database associating transportation systems under existing and forecasted conditions.
• The California Transportation Investment System (CTIS) is a customized Geographic Information System (GIS) application that runs on ArcView 3.1, or higher. The purpose of this sketch-level Tool is to display transportation projects (including highway, local, rail, aviation, transit, bicycle and pedestrian) programmed and planned statewide over the next 20 years for use in analyzing the multi-modal transportation system throughout California.
• Intergovernmental Review (IGR) Program Guidelines include some of the training materials utilized by Headquarters IGR managers. These materials, which are often shared with local development agencies and other CEQA lead agencies, include the Traffic Impact Study Guide (TIS) and the Transportation Mitigation Monitoring Submittal Guidelines (TMMSG).
• The purpose of the Transportation Trend Analysis and Demographic Projection Study was to analyze past population and travel trends, and project future trends, in order to support the state infrastructure and development planning process.