Societal planning: Identifying a new role for the transport planner—Part I

Abstract

It has been amply demonstrated over the last three decades that public planning is subject to rapid change and great uncertainties, both in dealing with political objectives as well as in dealing with new technologies. The Rational Planning Model (RPM), which is still the mainstay of the planning process, is becoming increasingly problematic. After an introduction about the planning of complex systems and planning approaches, this paper examines three topics: (1) the question of rationality and uncertainty; (2) the relationship between rationality and meta‐methodology; and (3) a new role for the planner, both as a technician and as an effective communicator. In the paper the notion of ‘unbounded uncertainty’ is set forth as a relevant concept. The concept is used collectively to point to and explain the many obstacles faced by planners in carrying out planning as prescribed by the RPM. It is concluded that acceptance of planning as essentially tied to such unbounded uncertainly indicates the need for the planner to integrate and master skills both from the ‘hard’ quantitative approach as well as the ‘soft’ qualitative one. This challenge demanded of the planner with regard to his/her professional education and practice is recognized as constituting a new role for the transport planner.

Notes

Revised and expanded version of Khisty, C.J. and Leleur, S. (1993), ‘Identifying a New Role of the Future Planner’. In Gifford, J. L., Uzarski, D. R. and McNeil, S. (eds), Infrastructure Planning and Management, Proceedings, pp. 422–431, American Society of Civil Engineers.