Transportation Planning 101virginiadot.org/VDOT/About_VDOT/asset_upload_file58... · 2014-11-18 · transportation planning. – Each Rural PDC currently receives $58,000 annually

Transportation Planning 101 An Overview of the Role and Functions of

Transportation Planning at VDOT

April 2007

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Overview

• This presentation will provide a general overview of the transportation planning process at VDOT. Specifically, we will cover: – Metropolitan Planning (MPO / Cities) – Rural Planning (PDC / County / Town) – Comprehensive Plans – Bike and Pedestrian – Special Studies

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What is transportation planning?

Textbook: Transportation planning is a field involved with the evaluation, assessment, design and siting of transportation facilities (generally streets, highways, footpaths, bike lanes and public transport lines). Definition that better describes planning at VDOT: Transportation planning is the process of identifying and understanding current and expected transportation problems and working with decision makers and citizens to reach consensus on solutions to those problems.

Programming PE/Design Construction Maintenance

Planning is here

and here and here

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Metropolitan Planning

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What is an MPO?

• Metropolitan Planning Organization – Once the population of an urbanized area exceeds

50,000, as identified by the U. S. Bureau of the Census, an MPO must be designated through an agreement between the Governor and the local governments that together represent at least 75 percent of the affected population

– This agreement designates the policy body that is the forum for cooperative decision making and federally required actions

– Conducts a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3C) transportation planning process

– This group is generally known as the “Policy Board” or “Policy Committee”

Presenter

Presentation Notes

A Metropolitan Planning Organization is established when a region has an urbanized area population exceeding 50,000 as determined by the latest census. A MPO conducts what’s referred to as a 3 C process – continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning process. The process is continuing due to the consistent need to review and revisit plans and planning assumptions. The process is cooperative because it requires local, regional, and state officials, as well as operators of various modes of transportation to work together to develop an integrated transportation system. The process is comprehensive because it includes consideration of all modes of travel (air, rail, walking, biking, highway, freight, etc). This process results in plans and programs considering all transportation modes and supports metropolitan community development and social goals.

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MPO Areas in Virginia

Presenter

Presentation Notes

There are 14 MPO areas in the Commonwealth. They are: Northern Virginia (Multi-state) Hampton Roads Richmond Tri-Cities Roanoke Lynchburg Charlottesville Danville Bristol (Multi-state) Kingsport (Multi-state) Fredericksburg Winchester Blacksburg/Christiansburg Harrisonburg

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MPO Authority

• The MPO, in cooperation with the State and transportation operators, is responsible for carrying out the metropolitan transportation planning process within the MPO study area

• Required MPO products: – Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) – Constrained Long Range Transportation

Plan (CLRP) – Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The MPO is responsible for conducting the 3-C process, along with that comes some authority or responsibility for carrying out the process including producing three necessary documents = unified planning work program, long range transportation plan, and the transportation improvement program.

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MPO Planning Process

Unified Planning Work Program

Outlines the planning activities to take place within the MPO study area

Long Range Transportation Plan

Financially constrained document outlining recommended improvements to the regional transportation system over next 20+ years

Transportation Improvement Program

Document includes all regionally significant projects – Document submitted to

FHWA/FTA reflecting obligation amounts of federal funds for select transportation

projects – projects must come from adopted Long Range Transportation Plan

Air Quality Conformity

In non-attainment areas, the Federal Highway Administration and Federal

Transit Administration give a conformity finding based on an EPA

determination

Certify Planning Process

Every three years, FHWA and FTA conduct certification reviews of the MPO and its planning processes to assure that all the federal planning

requirements are met

State Transportation Improvement Program

VDOT compiles TIPs and other federally funding projects to create the STIP.

Submitted to FHWA/FTA for approval. STIP obligates federal funds

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is a document containing the MPO’s planning priorities and all metropolitan planning activities to be conducted within the fiscal year. Specifically the UPWP must document all activities to be performed with Federal funding. Once prepared and approved by the policy board, the UPWP is submitted to the State and FHWA for approval. One of the activities typically included in the UPWP is the Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan. The CLRP must address a 20 year planning horizon. Specifically, this means that the plan must extend twenty years from the year of adoption by the MPO. Upon completion the plan must be approved by the MPO. The state and FHWA do not approve the regional plan. If the MPO area is designated are an air quality non-attainment area then the region must demonstrate air quality conformity. Non attainment area in Virginia include NOVA, Richmond and Hampton Roads. The TIP is a financial programming document covering at least four years. The TIP must be financially constrained by year and demonstrate the sources of funding to be used to construct projects. The TIP document itself must include all transportation projects or phases of a project to be Federally funded or regionally significant projects funded with state funds. The projects included must be consistent with the long range transportation plan. In Virginia, the TIP is derived, in part, from the Six-Year Improvement Program. VDOT uses the MPO TIPs and adds other federally funded projects (outside the MPO areas). This document is submitted to FHWA/FTA to obligate federal funding. FHWA, FTA and VDOT must regularly certify that the MPO has met all the federal planning requirements

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Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan

Federal Requirements • Maintain (at a minimum) a twenty year planning horizon • Outlines long-range and short-range strategies to develop an

intermodal transportation system that facilitates the movement of people and goods

• Must include a financial plan (demonstration of financial constraint) indicating that sufficient resources will be available to fund plan recommendations

• Show projected year of completion for recommendations • Must be reviewed, updated and approved by the MPO every four

or five years, depending on air quality status • For a project to receive Federal funding, it must first be in the

CLRP • A project cannot move forward to design, right-of-way or

construction unless it is included in the plan and TIP adopted by the MPO

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The CLRP must address a 20 year planning horizon. Specifically, this means that the plan must extend twenty years from the year of adoption by the MPO. If you adopt a plan in 2007, the minimum planning horizon would be 2027. However, it is advisable to extend the planning horizon up to five years to account for the intermediate years before the next plan revision is adopted. This gives you more flexibility in making changes to the plan. The long range plan must include both long term and short term strategies to develop an intermodal transportation system to facilitate the movement of people and goods. The plan must be reviewed and updated every five years to ensure validity. Upon completion the plan must be approved by the MPO. The state and FHWA do not approve the regional plan. Some of the key items that must be reflected in the CLRP are: projected transportation demand (traffic volumes), congestion management strategies that have been adopted by the region such as ridesharing or teleworking policies, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, capital investment necessary for system preservation, operation and maintenance, and multimodal evaluation of transportation, socioeconomic, environmental, and financial impacts of the plan. The plan must be financially constrained, meaning that you must be able to document through a financial plan that the region can reasonably expect to have the funding necessary to support the plan improvements through the horizon year. The plan must also demonstrate public involvement in the development of the plan. A project cannot move forward to design, right-of-way or construction unless it is included in the plan adopted by the MPO

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Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan

Federal Requirements (Continued) • Must consider all modes of transportation • Must follow 3C process (Continuing, Cooperating

and Comprehensive) • Must address eight planning factors

– Support economic vitality – Increase safety – Increase security – Increase accessibility for people and goods – Protect and enhance environment – Enhance connectivity across modes – Promote efficient operation of existing transportation network – Emphasize existing system preservation

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The CLRP must address a 20 year planning horizon. It must consider all modes and address eight planning factors Some of the key items that must be reflected in the CLRP are: projected transportation demand (traffic volumes), congestion management strategies that have been adopted by the region such as ridesharing or teleworking policies, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, capital investment necessary for system preservation, operation and maintenance, and multimodal evaluation of transportation, socioeconomic, environmental, and financial impacts of the plan. The plan must be financially constrained, meaning that you must be able to document through a financial plan that the region can reasonably expect to have the funding necessary to support the plan improvements through the horizon year. The plan must also demonstrate public involvement in the development of the plan. A project cannot move forward to design, right-of-way or construction unless it is included in the plan adopted by the MPO

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Rural Planning

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Background of Virginia’s Rural Transportation Planning Program

• Almost 70% of Virginia’s state maintained roads are located in rural areas.

• A disproportionate amount of traffic

fatalities occur on rural roads. • Many disadvantaged groups live in rural

areas, and have fewer transportation options

• A considerable amount of freight moves

through rural areas impacting highway facilities (safety, maintenance, capacity) without providing economic benefit.

• Rural areas are experiencing increasing land development outside of urban areas

• Continue to face transportation funding shortfalls

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The Rural Transportation Planning Program was created by TMPD in 1993 to provide funding to the 20 rural regions for transportation planning.

– Each Rural PDC currently receives $58,000 annually + $14,500 local match = $72,500 to conduct rural transportation planning

– Since the inception of the Rural Planning Program, VDOT has invested over $20,000,000 to support rural transportation planning activities throughout the Commonwealth

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Not eligible for rural planning funds

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Rural Planning Program

Rural Transportation Planning Program • District Planning Sections oversee the rural

planning program for their respective PDCs – Reviewing/Approving Annual Work Programs – Reviewing/Approving/Processing Invoices

• District Planning Sections represent VDOT on Rural Technical Committees and oversee the development of Rural Long Range Plans

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Rural Planning Program

Regional Long-Range Plans for Transportation • VDOT instituted a new initiative for the Rural

Transportation Planning Program aimed at creating regional transportation plans in rural areas that complement those in the metropolitan areas of the state

• By partnering with Virginia’s PDCs and the local governments each represents, VDOT is better able to coordinate with local governments to identify regional needs and priorities

Link to RLRP Webpage

http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/rural_regional_long-range_plans.asp�

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Comprehensive Plans

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Comprehensive Plans

• Landuse Linkage

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Comprehensive Plans

•Comprehensive Plan and Plan Amendment Reviews •Chapter 527, 2006 (§15.2-2222.1 and 24 VAC 30-155) •VDOT focus: potential impact to state highway network •http://www.virginiadot.org/info/traffic_impact_analysis_regulations.asp

•Transportation Plan Review for Consistency •Chapter 729, 2012 (§15.2-2223 and §33.1-12) •VDOT focus: consistency with SYIP, VTrans, location of routes •http://www.virginiadot.org/info/local-state_plan_and_program_consistency.asp

•Comprehensive Plan Preparation Assistance •Chapter 691, 2004 (§15.2-2223 ) •Generally accomplished through:

Grants to PDCs Providing project cost estimates (district offices)

Presenter

Presentation Notes

State Code Requirements

http://www.virginiadot.org/info/traffic_impact_analysis_regulations.asp�

http://www.virginiadot.org/info/local-state_plan_and_program_consistency.asp�

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VTRANS

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VTRANS

•Required by Code – § 33.1-23.03 –CTB to develop statewide multimodal long range plan –Facilitate by Office of Intermodal Planning & Investment and modal agencies

•VTrans creates policy framework –Policy document that frames the vision for the future and identifies critical steps that must be taken to make that vision a reality

•Provides framework for other planning efforts –Surface Transportation Plan –Transportation agency plans –Rural long range plans –Regional/MPO plans

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Surface Transportation Plan

•Provides recommendations to support VTrans goals and corridor strategies Secretary of Transportation directed VDOT and DRPT to coordinate the development of a Surface Transportation Plan that:

–Identifies highway, transit, travel demand management (TDM), and rail recommendations –Identifies concurrent recommendations –Improves the coordination of recommendations –Represents recommendations from state agency staff to Secretary of Transportation

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From a Plan to a Program

Constrained Long-Range Plan (CLRP)

Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP)

Transportation Improvement

Program (TIP)

20+ Years

6 Years

4 Years

Projects Plan

Recommendations

Going from a long range plan to the construction program

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Project Level Planning

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Planning’s Role in Project Development

• Transportation Planner’s are the source of traffic forecasts and analysis used for project-level design and environmental analysis (air and noise studies) – LD-104 – Environmental traffic requests

• Planner’s are responsible for overseeing and approving the forecasts and traffic analysis used in NEPA documents and Interchange Justification Requests (IJRs)

http://vdotforms.vdot.virginia.gov/SearchResults.aspx?strFormNumber=LD-104�

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Statewide Planning Activities

• Highway Needs Assessment • Surface Transportation Plan • Travel Demand Model

Development/Maintenance • Office of Intermodal Planning/VTrans Support • Bicycle and Pedestrian Program • Safe Routes To School Program • STARS Program • Functional Classification\NHS • Maintain Statewide Planning System (SPS)

http://vtrans.org/2035_surface_plan.asp�

http://insidevdot/sites/VirginiaTransportation ModelingProgramTeamSite/default.aspx�

http://insidevdot/sites/VirginiaTransportation ModelingProgramTeamSite/default.aspx�

http://www.vtrans.org/�

http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/bk-default.asp�

http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/ted_Rt2_school_pro.asp�

http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/fxn_class/home.asp�

http://insidevdot/sites/StatewidePlanningSystemUsersTeamSite/default.aspx�

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Quick Recap – Core Functions of District Planning Sections

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Responsibilities of District Planning Section

Core Functions – Represent Commonwealth in metropolitan planning

process – Ensure federal planning requirements are being

met – CLRP development (recommendation development,

model application, funding projections, recommendation cost estimates, project list for air conformity)

– TIP amendments/updates

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Core Functions – Bike and Pedestrian Coordination – Technical Assistance to localities (traffic, comp

plans, cost estimation) – Maintenance of data in Statewide Planning System

(SPS) – Assistance with Federal Certification Reviews – Recommending future Park and Ride Lot sites – Park and Ride Lot inventory maintenance

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Core Functions – Project Development

• Document Purpose & Need info in planning phase • Scoping Meetings (traffic data needs for project) • Traffic forecasting for scoping, roadway design, signal

design, environmental studies (data collection, analysis, forecasting, capacity analysis, etc)

• Representation at project and public meetings – Support statewide / District planning initiatives

• VTrans/Surface Transportation Plan • STARS • Bike/Ped Program/SRTS • Prioritization

Questions?

Transportation Planning 101 An Overview of the Role and Functions of

Transportation Planning at VDOT

Documents

Transportation Planning 101virginiadot.org/VDOT/About_VDOT/asset_upload_file58... · 2014-11-18 · transportation planning. – Each Rural PDC currently receives $58,000 annually