An introduction to Transportation planning in montana

1. An introduction to Transportation planning in montana Joint Engineers Conference 11/07/2014

2. Introduction Helena, MT

3. Goals of Presentation • Provide an overview of the transportation planning process • Review Montana communities that have and use LRTPs • Briefly discuss “lessons learned” for LRTP development in Montana’s small- and medium-sizes communities

4. About the Presenter • Jeff Key, P.E. • 20 years of experience • Large, comprehensive LRTP projects • Recently completed the Great Falls Area Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) • Currently leading the update to the Greater Helena Area LRTP • Registered professional engineer in MT, ID, OR and WA Source: Fort Peck Reservoir

5. General Overview Great Falls, MT

6. Why Develop LRTPs? • Identify needs, constraints and opportunities • Develop projects and justify expenditures • Respond to increasing public interest in transportation matters • Correlate land use decisions to transportation impacts • Mandated for MPOs! • Greater than 50,000 in population

7. Federal Guidance (MAP-21) Metropolitan Planning Organizations Significant provisions include……… • MPO minimum population more than 50,000 • Update LRTP every 4 years in non-attainment areas and areas under a maintenance plan • In other areas, update on a 5-year cycle • Covers a minimum 20-year planning horizon, with air quality conformity and fiscal constraint • Public involvement remains a hallmark of the process • TIP updated every 4 years in conjunction with LRTP adoption

8. State Guidance Non-Metropolitan Planning Organizations Similarities to MPO’s, but……… • No fiscal constraint requirement • No freight, security or environmental mitigation requirement • No air quality conformity determination • Yes to identification of issues • Yes to development of recommendations • Generally update every 10 years as a guideline • Public involvement remains a hallmark of the planning process

9. State GuidanceNon-Metropolitan Planning Organizations • Existing and projected conditions analysis • Needs based • Address quantifiable issues • Rely on local land use planning • Comprehensive safety analysis • Focusing on Four E’s • Link to Montana’s Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan (CHSP) • Robust public outreach

10. Montana’s Urban AreasGreater than 5,000 People Urban Area / Cluster Population – 2010 Census • Anaconda • Great Falls * • Livingston • Belgrade • Hamilton • Miles City • Billings * • Havre • Missoula * • Bozeman * • 6,170 • 65,207 • 8,172 • 13,797 • 6,182 • 9,604 • 114,773 • 9,657 • 82,157 • 43,164 Yes LRTP * Current MPO * Year 2020 MPO?

11. Montana’s Urban AreasGreater than 5,000 People Urban Area / Cluster Population – 2010 Census • Helena * • Sidney • Butte • Kalispell • Whitefish • Columbia Falls • Laurel • Glendive • Lewistown • 45,055 • 5,438 • 30,287 • 31,785 • 6,300 • 6,029 • 8,505 • 6,494 • 6,090 Yes LRTP * Year 2020 MPO?

12. Overview of Transportation Planning Laurel, MT

13. Transportation Planning Process • INVENTORY the existing transportation system • ANALYZE data to determine performance • FORECAST future conditions • EVALUATEexisting and projected conditions to determine recommendations EXISTING FUTURE

14. Transportation Planning Process • Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategies • Alternative Travel Modes (Bicycle/Pedestrian/Transit) • Traffic Calming Measures • Corridor Preservation and Access Management Guidelines • Roadway Typical Sections Source: Great Falls Area LRTP - 2014 Source: Great Falls Area LRTP - 2014

15. Study Area Boundary • Develop Study Area Boundary • Include all outlying land expected to develop • Include areas expected to impact or influence the regional community and growth needs • 20-year planning horizon • Consider previous and anticipated land use changes

16. Review and Collect Data and Reports • Existing traffic data • Collect turning movement count data • Assemble historic crash data • Five-year period • Collect geometric data • Complete pavement condition inventory • Review recent and on-going relevant planning documents Source: Laurel LRTP - 2014

17. Identify Goals and Objectives • Provides guidance for the LRTP • Review / reaffirm with the public • Correlate to eight planning factors contained in Title 23 USC 134 • Also HUD/EPA/USDOT FTA Livability Principles Source: Great Falls Area LRTP - 2014

18. Socioeconomic and Land Use Forecasts • Develop socioeconomic and land use data • Forecast population, housing, and employment • Where will housing & jobs go? • Existing business and employment information important for baseline TransCad model Source: Great Falls Area LRTP - 2014

19. Travel Demand Modeling • Initial model run includes the “no build” model • Analyze results on a network-wide basis • Identify specific locations with capacity-related deficiencies or opportunities Source: Great Falls Area LRTP - 2014

20. Existing and Projected Conditions Analysis • Identify traffic-related problems • Operational conditions for major intersections • Levels of service • Assess crash data • Examine safety from a proactive, rather than a reactive, manner • Results provide direction to the planning process Source: Laurel LRTP - 2014 Source: Laurel LRTP - 2014

21. Non-Motorized Mode Share Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

22. Non-Motorized Mode Share • The National Household Transportation Survey indicates: For every bike commute trip, there are: 1.6 other utilitarian trips 0.5 bike to school trips 4.8 social/recreational trips • Meaning: overall bike mode share is likely much higher than just the measured commute mode share. Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

23. Types of Bicycle Facilities • Paved Shoulder Canyon Ferry Road Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

24. Types of Bicycle Facilities • Shared Roadways (urban and rural conditions) Helena, MT Lewis & Clark County, MT Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

25. Types of Bicycle Facilities • Bike Lanes Canyon Ferry Road Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

26. Types of Bicycle Facilities • Buffered Bike Lanes Billings, MT Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

27. Types of Bicycle Facilities • Shared Use Paths Custer Avenue Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

28. Types of Bicycle Facilities • Cycle Track Missoula, MT Missoula, MT Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

29. Types of Bicycle Facilities • Bicycle Boulevards • Pavement markings • Wayfinding • Potential for: • Flipping stop signs • Volume management • Speed management Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

30. Transit Analysis • Review existing transit documents and data • Review existing transit system and ridership • Identify transit needs • Develop transit recommendations • Develop transit improvement cost estimates • Identify transit funding sources Source: Mountain Line Transit website (accessed 09/30/2014) Source: Mountain Line Transit website (accessed 09/30/2014)

31. Alternative Network Modeling and Assessment • Examine possible alterations to network • Test effectiveness of: • Individual major projects or policies • Groups of similar projects • Network-wide investment strategies • Alternative growth projections • Review, post-process and evaluate model run results and report the findings Source: Greater Helena Area LRTP - 2014

32. Freight Considerations • Assess overall goods movement • Identify major truck/rail freight destinations, hubs, and travel routes • Analyze roadway system for trucks • MAP-21 also has significant implications for freight planning • Freight projects formally identified are eligible to compete for funding in the Freight Project of National and Regional Significance Program • Projects must be identified in state freight plans to compete for this funding • Inclusion in local LRTPs is an obvious first step to consideration for the state freight plan Source: Montana Freight Value by Mode (2007, Billions of U.S. Dollars)

33. Security Considerations • Spatial analysis to assess system redundancy, capacity, and related factors • Ability to effectively respond to natural and man-made disasters • Identify policies or longer term investment suggestions Source: Great Falls Area LRTP (March 17, 2014)

34. Environmental Mitigation • MAP-21 requires environmental mitigation opportunities • Requires coordination & outreach with federal, state and local agencies • List of potential environmental mitigation methods and opportunities • Mitigation measures may include: • Avoidance • Minimizing impacts by limiting scope • Rehabilitating or restoring the affected environment • Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources Source: Great Falls Area LRTP (March 17, 2014)

35. Other Considerations • Corridor Preservation • Traffic Calming • Typical Sections • Transportation Demand Management Strategies • Livability and Context Sensitive Design Source: Greater Bozeman Area LRTP – 2007 Update

36. Develop Recommendations and Major Street Network • Transportation System Management (TSM) improvements • Major Street Network (MSN) improvements • Develop engineering and construction cost estimates • Complete final model run for the 20-year planning horizon Source: Greater Bozeman Area LRTP – 2007 Update

37. Air Quality Conformity Determination • Air quality conformity determination • Limited maintenance plan • Attainment areas • Non-attainment areas • Travel demand modeling • Air quality emissions modeling • Review air quality regulations and documentation • Transportation-related criteria pollutants may include the following: • Ozone • Carbon monoxide (CO), • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), • Particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM10); and • Particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) Source: Great Falls Area LRTP (March 17, 2014)

38. Transportation Funding • Evaluate transportation funding mechanisms • Federal and state gas tax revenue, impact fees, transportation bond issues, local option gas taxes, etc. • Prepare order-of-magnitude forecasts • Review peer communities and innovative funding approaches • Demonstrate fiscal constraint

39. Transportation Funding Source: Great Falls Area LRTP (March 17, 2014)

40. Report Preparation • All aspects of the planning process • Address all of the issues identified during the process • List all of the recommended projects and programs • Administrative draft, public draft, and final versions (for adoption)

41. Public Participation • Educate the public on critical elements of the transportation system; • Respond to increasing interest of the general public to participate in planning of the community; and • Increase the public’s investment in the LRTP

42. Lessons Learned Helena, MT

43. Lessons Learned • Emphasize role of public in strategic visioning • Embrace emerging topics: • Livability and sustainability • Climate change • Transit, pedestrian and bicyclists • Security • Need strong local land use policies

44. Lessons Learned • Make sure local elected officials are involved throughout! • Use all tools available for public engagement • Facebook • Twitter • Website • Newsletters • Look to Federal regulations to instigate action

45. Conclusion / Questions Questions or comments Follow-up: Jeff Key (406) 447-5000