Metropolitan Planning Organization for Blair County (Altoona MSA) Regional Long Range Transportation Plan Draft Agency Coordination Meeting (ACM) Presentation December 9, 2015

Blair MPO Transportation Staff Presenting  Wes Burket – Transportation Planner Blair County Planning Commission  Tina Enderlein – Strategic Planner Blair County Planning Commission

Presentation Overview  Blair MPO Regional Transportation Plan  MPO Region and Population  Transportation Network  Roadway & Bridge Condition  Existing & Future Land Use  Highway & Bridge Projects  Highway & Bridge Projects  Significant Projects & Potentially Impacted Resources  Mitigation Strategies

Blair County MPO Regional Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)  Purpose – State’s and MPO’s are required to have long range transportation plans prior to receiving federal transportation funding.  Preparing long range transportation plans is valuable because transportation issues and solutions are typically regional in nature. Considering transportation trends, challenges, goals, and projects on a regional basis results in a more effective use of limited transportation funding.  Document the status of the existing transportation system, identify long-term needs, and projects to meet those needs.  Provide a minimum 20 year planning horizon  Update the plan every 5 years  Use the latest population, land use, travel, employment, congestion, safety and economic data  Provide for capacity increases where needed  Assess environmental impacts  Projects are constrained by limited funding  Provide public participation

Blair County MPO Region Population  County: 127,089  1 % of Total PA Population of 12.7 million  Urbanized Area: approximately 80,000  City of Altoona: 46,320 Land Use  Area Total 526 Square Miles; 26 Municipalities;  Forest/Game Lands %  Agricultural – 20%  Residential – 8.4%  Transportation/Utilities – 3%  Source: 2010 US Census & Blair County 2007 Comprehensive Plan

Blair County Population Density by Planning Region

Blair County MPO Roadway Network  1,236 Total Linear Roadway Miles  767 miles local & 463 miles state  I-99 Highest ADT is 34,000  2.7 Million Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled (DVMT) in 2013 : 0.3 million on local roads and 2.4 million on state/other roads  13% decline in DVMT since 2007 Source: PennDOT Pub 600 (9-14)

Roadway Condition (IRI)  1,234 Total Linear Roadway Miles  83% Roads = Excellent/Good IRI  17% Roads = Fair/Poor (majority of local roads)

Bridge Condition  436 Bridges in the Risk Assessment – 6% of State Bridges and 35% of Local Bridges are Structurally Deficient  2 State Bridges > or = to 8 feet and 20 Local Bridges > or = 20 feet are posted

Existing Land Use Features

Farmland Soils and Agriculture

High Quality and Exceptional Value Streams

Wetlands and Floodplains

Wildlife Habitats

Community Facilities & Cultural Resources

Other Protected Lands

Hazardous Waste Sites

Blair County TIP and TYP Projects

Potential Environmental Impacts * T&E Score calculated by a geographically dispersed PNDI search sample resulting in 13 of 20 (65%) of sample projects receiving a hit or score of 10 - hence 65% or (68 projects of 105 total projects) have T&E impact.

US 22 Frankstown Intersection Farmland Soils Section 4(f) Historic or Archaeological Resources Floodplain Wetlands Wild or Stocked Trout Streams T&E Species Water Trail

1011 Canoe Creek to US 22 Farmland Soils Section 4(f) Historic or Archaeological Resources Floodplain Wetlands Hazardous Waste Wild or Stocked Trout Streams T&E Species HQ/EV Streams

Environmental Mitigation Goals  Retain project consistency with the long range transportation and the Comprehensive Plan.  Apply consideration for existing built and natural environments during project design.  Discourage major highway and interchange projects in areas designated for natural features or agricultural preservation.  Express a preference for existing highways, roadways, and rights-of-ways over relocations or bypasses.  Apply current environmental regulations to the study, design, and construction of major highway and bridge projects.  Utilize current technology that lessens or minimizes impact to ecological and biological features.  Ensure that a wide range of recreational opportunities are available including community parks, neighborhood parks, special use facilities, and county parks.  Maintain and improve existing park and recreational facilities and identify opportunities for the creation of new facilities.  Long Range Plan Goals and Policies

Environmental Mitigation Strategies  Consult with local, regional, state, and federal organizations and agencies to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts from TIP and LRTP projects through the use of the LPN system.  Support the PA Farmland Preservation Conservation Easement purchase program and encourage municipalities to establish and increase enrollment in Agricultural Security Areas (ASAs).  Encourage municipalities through the involvement of the Blair County Conservation District to develop and implement agricultural zoning for areas with prime farmland and land that has traditionally been used for farming.  Implement the Blair County Greenway Action Plan which includes greenways corridor for recreation and water trails, conservation areas, and water supply protection.  Preserve environmental, natural, cultural, and historic, features through the Blair County Greenway network.  Protect and preserve core natural areas using open space preservation tools and sustainable forest management practices.  Work with local historic preservation societies and municipalities to develop and maintain a historic site survey to track historic properties recognized under the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC).  Promote the County’s historic and cultural heritage through tourism and economic development programs.  Establish connections with historic societies and support their historic preservation and outreach efforts.

Environmental Mitigation Strategies  Work with PennDOT and other relevant agencies as necessary to utilize existing wetland mitigation banks that serve the watersheds in Blair County.  Continue early consultation with PA Game Commission, PA Fish and Boat Commission, PA DCNR, and US Fish and Wildlife Serve and observe seasonal work restrictions for projects associated with the Indian Bat and Northern Long Eared Bat.  Continue working with municipalities and landowners to preserve areas designated as biological diverse areas and limit the type and intensity of development in areas identified as landscape conservation areas.  Increase education and awareness on the importance of protecting sensitive environmental features in the County including the financial and ecological benefits.  Continue support to the Blair County Conservation District’s Erosion & Sedimentation control program and Best Management Practices (BMPs).  Provide support to municipalities to develop and implement floodplain management ordinances and mapping.  Promote education efforts to raise awareness among residents and developers on the importance of floodplain protection and stormwater management efforts.  Support environmental education and awareness raising awareness of the benefits of environmentally sensitive design, brownfield, and infill development “green buildings”.  Support the implementation of the Blair County Solid Waste Management Plan.

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