3. Integrated goals, objectives and targets
Transport system objectives and targets should be integrated with each other and with jurisdiction goals.
Goals are whole of government outcomes that are above the transport network. Objectives and targets for transport initiatives and transport plans should be anchored by goals. This integration between goals and objectives will ensure that the transport system contributes to achieving the jurisdiction economic, social and environmental goals.
3.1 Integration between goals, objectives and KPIs
There should be a cascading relationship between goals, objectives and KPIs. KPIs are linked to objectives, which are linked in turn to goals. This will provide an understanding of precisely how proposed transport plans and initiatives have the potential to contribute towards higher order goals and objectives.
There are likely to be complementary objectives and KPIs across both planning levels and markets. Objectives and KPIs across planning levels and markets need to be consistent with, and reinforce, each other. This can be achieved by translating the objectives and KPIs from higher levels to lower levels, and checking for consistency.
The matrix below provides an example of this integration across the different planning levels.
Figure 3: Examples of integrated goals, objectives and KPIs across planning levels
A ‘line of sight’ strategic planning framework can assist in exploring and testing the relationships between high-level strategic objectives and across different planning levels. This framework identifies the legislation, policies and strategic objectives that apply at local, regional and state levels, providing an integrated ‘map’ to guide the selection and setting of objectives. An example of such a framework - Queensland’s My Street, Our State infrastructure planning framework - is shown in Figure 4. Please note that details in this 2009 example chart are illustrative only and do not represent current Queensland government policy.
Figure 4: Queensland’s
Box 3 Strategic alignment
Strategic alignment with goals, objectives and strategies is critical to the success of transport initiatives.
What is strategic alignment? - When strategic alignment exists, there is a clear relationship between a transport plan or initiative and a jurisdiction’s goals and transport system objectives.
How is it achieved? - Strategic alignment requires practitioners to have a sound understanding of the potential for particular initiatives to impact on government goals. This involves several steps. First, transport system objectives need to align to specific jurisdiction goals. For example, the transport objective to achieve greater network efficiency is aligned with the goal of economic growth. Second, practitioners need to develop transport plans and initiatives that align with transport system objectives, with step one then ensuring they also help achieve broader jurisdiction goals.
Infrastructure Australia’s paper, Better Infrastructure Decision-Making (IA, 2014) includes templates that encourage the proponents of transport initiatives to align their initiative-specific objectives to their jurisdiction’s transport system objectives, national ones, and those of other governments and relevant parties (such as transport agencies and infrastructure providers and operators). These are useful tools for thinking strategically about the broader implications and alignment of particular goals and objectives.
The guide and templates are available at the Infrastructure Australia website.