Chapter 2 - Project Origination and Planning

Project origination and planning is the first step in DelDOT’s project development process. Project origination refers to the creation of the project, including initial development and conceptualization of a transportation project. It involves the identification of transportation needs and deficiencies, assessment of alternatives, and the initiation of a project planning process. Project origination typically includes activities such as conducting feasibility studies, evaluating potential impacts, determining project scope, and identifying potential funding sources. It is the starting point for formally defining and advancing a transportation project from an initial idea to a well-defined concept that can be further developed and eventually implemented.

Transportation project planning and programming is regulated at a federal-level and conducted through regional, state, and local-scale to ensure implementation of a process and improvements that consider the needs and desires of the end users. Understanding a project’s origination and purpose and need is crucial to ensure the development of contextually sensitive solutions that effectively address the underlying transportation deficiency. This chapter describes the mechanisms, processes, and associated standards that are used to plan, prioritize, and program projects within the State of Delaware.