Has the MPO convened a peer review or other independent assessment of their travel forecasting methods?
A peer review can effectively diagnose deficiencies in an MPO’s travel forecasting methods, and can inoculate the MPO against frivolous legal challenges, if improvements recommended by the peer review are actually implemented. Alternatively, unimplemented recommendations provide an obvious target for legal challenges. In general, peer reviews provide good indicators of the MPOs’ commitment to its travel forecasting technical process. If a peer review was convened, the following information should also be obtained: • The date of the most recent peer review • The stated purpose of the peer review • A list of participants • Recommendations arising from the peer review • The MPO’s plan and/or schedule to address the peer review recommendations Documentation Most of the questions raised with respect to travel forecasts can be addressed by adequate technical documentation of the input assumptions and the methods used to develop the forecasts. In addition, federal transportation planning regu