Needs based planning

"Needs-based planning defines a need as any shortcoming in current performance (or projected performance at current build levels) relative to a set understanding of what is acceptable. Potential remedies are evaluated based on whether the outlay required is less than the cost of imposing the deficiency on system users. However, under needs-based planning, there is limited consideration given to validating needs or questioning whether projected deficiencies would actually occur."

 Needs based planning is an antiquated paradigm--the 'predict and provide', an antiquity from the era when the Feds were paying for all the highway construction. Modern planning requires scenario planning--serious consideration of alternate investment approaches (and not just funding level specific scenarios).