Danville Area Transportation Study

Fundamentals of Metropolitan Planning Organizations Adam Aull Danville Area Transportation Study MPO ASCE Presentation September 25, 2006 Credit to: Latoya Jones, FHWA Georgia Division

What is Transportation Planning? Transportation planning provides the information, tools and public involvement needed for improving transportation system performance Transportation planning is a continuous process that requires monitoring of the systems performance and condition

Transportation Planning Involves More than Roadways Transit Pedestrians Non-motorized vehicles Freight Motorized vehicles

What is an MPO? Federally designated urbanized areas with populations in excess of 50,000 people to carry out the metropolitan transportation planning process Areas with populations in excess of 200,000 are referred to as Transportation Management Areas (TMA) Metropolitan planning process involves many contributors (Federal Government, State Agencies, Regional Agencies, Local Government, Public, etc)

Urbanized Areas of Illinois There are 14 urbanized areas with an associated MPO in each area As of the 2000 Census two MPOs were added –De Kalb-Sycamore Area Transportation Study –Danville Area Transportation Study

MPO Structure Basic design of an MPO is 3 components Required to have a decision making policy body or Policy Committee Technical Committee Director and Staff

Policy Committee Membership usually consists of State DOT and local elected officials Sets regional long-term transportation policy and approves plans Prioritizes and programs specific transportation projects for funding Takes approval actions

Technical Committee Membership usually consists of transportation professionals such as highway engineers, transit coordinators and transportation planners Provides information and technical advice to the Policy Committee Provides recommendations to the Policy Committee on specific strategies or projects

Staff Usually hosted in local government agency or RPC Provides information and technical support to committees Prepares documents Facilitates public input and feedback Manages the planning process

MPO Process and Products Planning –Developing a Vision –Creating policies and strategies to support the Vision –Long-term horizon Transportation Planning and Programming Programming –Prioritizing proposed projects –Matching projects with available funds –Short-term horizon

3-C Planning Comprehensive –HERE Cooperative –HERE Continuing –HERE

MPO Products Unified Planning Work Program –UPWP Long Range Transportation Plan –LRTP Transportation Improvement Program –TIP Public Involvement Plan –PIP

UPWP Planning tasks and studies to be conducted Any transportation-related air quality planning tasks All Federally funded studies State/local planning activities conducted without Federal funds Agency responsible for each task or study Updated Annually

LRTP Describes vision for the region, along with policies, operational strategies and projects to achieve it Planning horizon at least 20 years Contains a financial plan and is fiscally constrained Updated ever 4-5 years

TIP Staged multi-year program of prioritized projects consistent with the LRTP Covers at least a 4-year period Contains a financial plan and is fiscally constrained Projects not included in the TIP cannot receive FHWA or FTA funds Update every 4 years

Transportation Planning Process

Public Involvement Public involvement ensures that transportation investment decisions reflect the communitys priorities and needs The involvement process should be –Proactive –Early and continuous –Open and collaborative

Public Involvement Plan (PIP) PIP –Required of all TMAs –Documents the MPOs program for engaging the public in the transportation planning process Participation Plan –More involvement of interested parties in the transportation planning process –Inclusion of other methods to reach the public (Internet & visualization techniques)

Who provides funding for MPO projects? Federal Government (FHWA, FTA) State Government Local Governments Transportation Agencies Public-Private Partnerships

SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) –August 10, 2005 Authorizes Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety & transit for 5 years $286.4 Billion from Highway Trust Fund

Federal Funds Many types including: –Major FHWA Programs (e.g. Surface Transportation Funds (STP), Interstate Maintenance (IM) etc) Most pass to the MPO through the State DOT Transit agencies generally receive their funds directly from the Feds Nearly all Federal funding programs require matching funds from State or local sources

Additional Information FHWA – Questions