Philadelphia Streets Department Capital Project Prioritization Methodology

PROJECT SUMMARY: The Philadelphia Streets Department Capital Project Prioritization Methodology comprises the Departments tools and processes for evaluating and ranking projects for advancement toward various funding opportunities. As of February 2024, the methodology used a combination of spatial analysis and policy filters to assess projects across 27 criteria.

The prioritization methodology builds from multiple sources: several previous scoring prototypes since 2018; reviewing peer cities’ capital projects prioritization rubrics; and, recent academic literature on prioritization for transportation equity. The most prominent source is the City’s Connect Plan. Prioritization criteria are grouped into two categories – Project Values and Project Development – composed of the Connect Plan’s values of transportation equity though safety, opportunity and access, sustainability, and health, along with key project development metrics. The criteria aim to operationalize the City’s recognition of the link between transportation infrastructure and social, economic, and health impacts, through data-driven assessment of our capital project pipeline.

The Capital Planning Team developed the capital project prioritization methodology by assessing capital needs, engaging internal stakeholders, assessing alignments of City goals and objectives, and developing and iterating data models. The prioritization methodology supports development of the Streets Department Capital Budget Proposal and external grant pursuits, and continues to be evolved by the Streets Department Transportation Planning and Analysis Unit today.

TEAM: Philadelphia Streets Department Capital Planning Team

ROLE: I led a team of transportation planners in developing the capital project prioritization methodology. This included project management, stakeholder coordination, writing, and editing. I supervised planners in conducting geospatial analysis, data collection, model development, peer best practice research, and writing.

TOOLS USED: Microsoft Word, Excel, and SharePoint; ArcGIS;