This guide presents the key elements of a performance-based planning and programming (PBPP) process, demonstrates the relationship of these elements within existing processes, and highlights examples of effective practices to help State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Regional Transportation Planning Organizations, transit agencies, and other partner organizations achieve desired performance outcomes for multimodal transportation systems. PBPP is the application of performance management principles within the planning and programming processes of transportation agencies to achieve desired performance outcomes for the multimodal transportation system. Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) placed increased emphasis on performance management and required performance-based approaches within various planning activities and transportation programs.  The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act continues to emphasize and advance these requirements, especially related to multimodal performance.

The PBPP framework consists of strategic direction, programming, implementation and evaluation, and public involvement and data. These elements relate to existing processes to promote the integration and implementation of PBPP processes. This guidance is applicable to long-range transportation plans, state transportation improvement programs, strategic highway safety plans, transportation asset management plans, and many other plans and programs.