2.3.2 Performance-Based Design Guiding Principles

The principles that guide PBD allow designers to create usable, practical, and long-lasting highways and streets.
Intended Outcomes:
The foundational step in PBD is to determine and document a project’s purpose, need and problems. This is followed by establishing the desired project outcomes and goals.
Connection to Project Development Process:
Designers should consider the opportunities to apply performance-based analysis during each stage of project development (project initiation, planning, preliminary engineering, and final design). The ability to recognize the benefits of performance-based analysis is greater in the earlier stages of project development (planning and preliminary engineering), and harder to influence project outcomes during final design activities.
Performance Categories:
The goal of PBD is to focus on actual project performance instead of the traditional dimension-based design approach. Areas of performance characteristics include, but are not limited to:
  • Quality of service;
  • Safety;
  • Reliability;
  • Accessibility;
  • Infrastructure integrity;
  • Ease of use;
  • Ease of maintenance;
  • Visual quality; and
  • Fit to context and community.