9

The role of computers in transportation planning has been firmly established in recent years. A need for the capability to efficiently and economically perform analysis of multi-modal transportation systems has been met by increasingly sophisticated processing methods and data collection procedures. To aid the Transportation Planner in these analyses, TRANPLAN has been developed. TRANPLAN currently envelopes the ideas pioneered in the earlier versions of TRANPLAN, extends many of them, and introduces new capabilities not previously permitted because of limitations in earlier computers. It also contains programs developed by public agencies for other machines and converted for the various machines which currently run TRANPLAN. TRANPLAN is designed as a fully integrated, user-oriented package. Unlike other transportation planning software, English language syntax and uniform function controls are used in all programs. Highway and transit programs are fully compatible with each other, thus simplifying the procedures of multi-modal systems planning. These features, and many others, enab1e the planner to devote more time to planning rather than to the details of computer applications. TRANPLAN minimizes the need for specially trained computer personnel since most transportation planning analysts should be able to quickly acquire a working knowledge of the system. TRANPLAN is structured as a dynamic tool for the planner. The entire set of programs is separated into modules, referred to as "functions", each of which has specific capabilities. The modular structure enables new and improved techniques to be incorporated without affecting existing modules of the library set. This feature is extremely important because of the rapid progress inherent in the art of transportation planning. The speed and size of most of the computers, for which TRANPLAN has been specifically designed, make this package extremely cost effective. Dynamic central memory core allocation, available on most TRANPLAN computers, makes TRANPLAN efficient for both large and small transportation systems. Cost effectiveness of TRANPLAN is further enhanced by such optional features as extensive options for generating selective reports.