TITLE: Title
Presentation on the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Alternative Analysis
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the Board of Aldermen with an update on the development of the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, with a focus on the Alternative Analysis. Andy Henry with the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC-MPO) will make the presentation.
body
DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Christina Moon - 919-918-7325, Patricia McGuire - 919-918-7327, Andy Henry, DCHC-MPO - 919-560-4366, extension 36419.
INFORMATION: The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC-MPO) is in the process of developing the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) to guide transportation investment in the western half of the Triangle region during the next thirty years. The DCHC-MPO area includes all of Durham County, a portion of Orange County including the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough, and northeast Chatham County.
The MTP lists highway, transit and bike-ped transportation projects to address future transportation infrastructure needs (Attachment B). Unlike the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP), the MTP is fiscally constrained and a federal requirement for MPOs. Projects must be included in the MTP for consideration in the prioritization process for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
The development of the MTP involves a series of detailed steps, each one building on the information generated from the previous one, to determine transportation needs based on future land uses, population and employment. An overview of the process with updates on the steps that have already been completed may be found on the DCHC-MPO website at the following link: <http://www.dchcmpo.org/programs/transport/2045mtp.asp>. In summary, after defining transportation goals, objectives, and targets for the region, socioeconomic data is reviewed to understand future population and employment changes. A deficiency analysis and needs assessment is completed to determine where investment is needed based on different scenarios: potential needs based on the anticipated growth using existing transportation networks, and potential needs based on the anticipated growth using existing networks and transportation projects that are committed but are not yet completed (referred to Existing plus Committed or E + C). During the alternative analysis step, four future scenario are considered taking into account a combination of infrastructure investment and potential land use development-such as “moderate development” or “aspirational with enhanced transit.” Potential alternatives are analyzed and a preferred option selected (Attachment C). The preferred option is then used to develop the list of transportation improvement projects. While the modeling aspects of the MTP analysis helps inform where infrastructure improvements may be warranted, the selection of projects is guided by local policy.
The alternative analysis phase of the MTP is currently underway, and the DCHC-MPO is receiving public comment until September 20th, 2017. An informal informational drop-in session on the MTP process with a focus on the alternative analysis will be held prior to the Board of Aldermen meeting, in the Board Room from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Members of the public are encouraged to attend, ask questions and offer comments. The next step in the process is to identify a preferred option which will likely be a combination of the various alternatives.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: No fiscal impacts are associated with receiving the presentation.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board receive the presentation.