American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT traditionally included in the planning process?

1. Select goals and objectives

2. Clarify values

3. Forecast infrastructure costs

4. Formulate alternatives

The correct answer is: Forecast infrastructure costs

The planning process involves a variety of essential steps, each contributing to the development of a comprehensive plan. Typically, selecting goals and objectives is foundational as it defines the overarching vision and desired outcomes of the planning effort. Clarifying values ensures that the plan reflects the priorities and principles of the community or stakeholders involved. Formulating alternatives is a critical part of exploring various strategies to achieve the set goals and objectives, allowing planners to evaluate different paths forward. Forecasting infrastructure costs, while important for the implementation of a plan, is often considered an aspect of the budgeting or financing stage rather than a traditional planning step. This entails assessing the economic feasibility of proposed projects and exploring funding mechanisms, which can occur after the main planning components have been completed. Thus, while infrastructure cost forecasting is significant in the overall planning and implementation process, it does not traditionally belong to the core steps of the planning process itself.