Transportation Projects Don't Need to Take as Long as They Do

Why are new car models released every calendar year? How come there's a new iPhone every 6 to 12 months? And, why do those apps on your phone download updates every few days? These consumer products are the outcomes of a design and production process that values prototyping, rapid iteration, and a learn-from-mistakes approach to production that minimizes the costs of design while increasing the end value to users. These concepts represent what has come to be known as "lean production," or simply "lean."

So why should transportation planners, engineers, or even the public at large care about lean? At an event last month, SPUR and the Young Professionals in Transportation asked attendees that same question. Transportation projects have a reputation for taking an inordinate amount of time to complete and don't keep up with the pace of change people expect. As professionals serving the public in a sector with limited and uncertain funding, transportation planners can better serve their communities by embracing a more nimble and proactive process.