Transport Decision Making Framework 2011

Blended learning course, with short course 18-19 August 2011, Brisbane

Learn from practitioners who are doing it.

About the course

An overview of decision making and business case development for major transport projects and programs.

Delivery will be using a blended learning approach, combining pre-reading and reflection questions with a two-day intensive two-day face-to-face short course.

Key benefits

This course will help professionals in transport understand conceptual and tactical aspects of decision making for major transport projects and programs. Course participants will learn key concepts, government investment requirements and business case applications.

  • have an appreciation of the role, scope and practice of transport evaluations
  • learn the key concepts of transport decision making and project appraisal
  • understand practical methods for evaluating road and public transport projects
  • understand current government investment and associated governance requirements
  • be able to estimate benefits, interpret and present results
  • gain an awareness of practical issues through real-world case studies
  • understand emerging trends and developments
  • know where to obtain more information.

Program overview

Day 1: Thu 18 August 2011 Key Concepts

Session 1. Strategic Context
Transport agency perspectives; challenges, desired transport outcomes.

Session 2. Transport System Analysis
Requirements for benefits assessment: generalised cost, willingness to pay; Assessment of demand: fundamentals of transport networks, derived demand, essentials of urban transport modelling.

Session 3. Project Appraisal Concepts
Service requirements (options generation); economic analysis (economic efficiency), multi-criteria analysis (effectiveness of achievement of outcomes); financial analysis, risk and uncertainty.

Group exercise 1 + discussion/feedback: Strategic Assessment of Service Requirements

Session 4. Monitoring Transport Outcomes
Performance measurement.

Group exercise 2 + discussion/feedback: Performance measurement

Day 2: Fri 19 Aug: Business Case Application

Session 5. Business Case Requirements
Infrastructure Australia requirements, Queensland requirements, Project Assessment Framework, Value for Money, Strategic Assessment of Service Requirements, Investment Logic Mapping, Benefits Realisation Framework.

Case studies:
Strategic Assessment of Service Requirements
Benefits Realisation Framework

Session 6. Business Case Practice
Development of a business case

Case studies:
Business case for multi-modal transport
Technical optimisation of options

Group exercise 3 + discussion/feedback : Business case requirements

Who should attend

This course is for professionals involved in planning, designing and evaluating transport infrastructure projects and programs, including state and local government staff, operators, consultants and contractors. It is particularly suited to recent graduates, those new to transport or wanting a refresher, and those wanting a broader understanding of transport appraisal and business case development.

Course details

There are no pre-requisites for attending this course. All participants are expected to have completed the provided pre-course reading and exercises prior to attending the short course. The educational design aims to provide a balance of approaches, taking into account different learning styles and has been designed as a combination of written and visual reference material, lectures on theory and practice, interactive class discussion sessions, worked examples and case studies to illustrate application of concepts. Group exercises aim to get you to reflect on and apply what has been learned. Bringing together a diverse group of participants enables interaction from a variety of perspectives and experience.

Faculty

Professor Phil Charles from the University of Queensland and founder of Transport Futures Institute, has been responsible for developing and implementing transport strategy and policy initiatives across Australia in government, as a consultant, researcher and educator.

Philip Sayeg is the founder of Policy Appraisal Services and has been responsible for applying decision making frameworks and developing business cases for transport projects in Australia and south east Asia.

Guest presenters

A number of industry practitioners will be presenting real-world case studies, including:

Les Dunn Portfolio Investment Division, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland

Greg Fahey from Queensland Coordinator General’s office

Craig Gorlick Portfolio Investment Division, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland

Ian Davies, Gyte Consulting International

Paul O’Brien, Solute Consulting