RSG's experts and a community of VisionEval users guided attendees through the unique attributes and practical planning applications of this important tool.

What tools are required to answer today’s policy and planning questions?

State departments of transportation and regional planning agencies increasingly need to justify and quantify the impacts of their planning decisions. This requires tools that can transparently demonstrate how plans and policies contribute to reductions in vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions while supporting other objectives and aligning with equity goals. Traditional scenario planning is useful but often resource-intensive and lacking in quantifiable measures. Moreover, compatibility with existing tools is often a prerequisite.

VisionEval measures outcomes that traditional tools cannot.

VisionEval is an open-source strategic travel modeling tool designed to measure outcomes beyond the reach of traditional tools. A key difference and enabler of VisionEval is its ability to help planners “goal seek” by illuminating key drivers of change. This allows practitioners and policymakers to focus on what inputs they think may change (and by how much). VisionEval also complements and enhances existing tools like statewide and regional network-based travel models. Its capabilities make it an ideal solution for planners seeking precise and timely insights into the effects of real-world policy decisions. It analyzes hundreds of future scenarios across multiple variables with speed and accuracy. As a transparent, open-source tool created by the Federal Highway Administration and state-level partners, VisionEval benefits from industry-wide expertise and knowledge.