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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNewsline - Tranplan 21 Update• Newsline SPec AL EDITION Montana Department of Transportation From now until Septem- ber of 2002 Montanans TR will see a lot of activity associated with the first update of TranPlan 21, Montana's transportation plan. MDT has hired the consultant team of Dye Management Group Inc., Cambridge Systematics Inc., and Economic Development Re- search Group for this important project. This special edition of Newsline provides background on the project, highlights the road ahead, and collects your feedback W i what you think are the most portant issues facing Montana's transportation system. Adopted in February of 1995, TranPlan 21 is Montana's first statewide multimodal transporta- tion plan. TranPlan 21 is also an ongoing process that identifies transportation issues in Montana, evaluates future transportation concerns, and establishes policy goals and actions to guide MDT in addressing these issues. This on- going process includes biennial telephone and stakeholder surveys and the publication of a TranPlan 21 Annual Report that reports on transportation conditions and pro- gress towards meeting Montana's transportation policy goals. In the six years since TranPlan s adoption, over seventy per- ent of the plan's actions have ei- ther been implemented or are un- derway. Updating TranPlan 21 will ensure that MDT continues to ANPLAN 21 UPDATE meet changing needs and expectations and allow MDT to address new policy priorities and customer concerns. At the request of the legislature, a major focus for the update is determining how we can best support efforts to im- prove Montana's economy through transportation policies and programs. Updating the plan will also ensure that TranPlan 21 provides direction to MDT's performance-based process for selecting projects that address pavement conditions, congestion, bridge condition, and safety. TRANPLAN 21 POLICY DIRECTION Overall, TranPlan 21 has set the fol- lowing transportation policy priori- ties: • Preserve the transportation system (all modes). • Maintain mobility. • Increase multimodal trans- portation options. • Improve intermodal connections. Under these overall priorities, Tran- Plan 21 sets MDT's policy direction in seven key areas: economic devel- opment, freight mobility, roadway system performance, access manage- ment, land use planning and transpor- November 2001 tation, public transporta- tion, and bicycle and pedes- trian transportation. rouowmg I ranFlan 21's di- rection, MDT has been able to preserve and improve Montana's highway system. However, MDT receives limited funding from state sources and is heavily dependent on federal dollars to meet new demands. A key pol- icy consideration is the availabil- ity of funding to preserve and maintain the system in its current condition while addressing in- creases in demand. For more information about TranPlan 21 goals and actions, refer to the TranPlan 21 Over- view or the TranPlan 21 Annual Report. These free publications can be requested by calling 1- 800-714-7296 and can also be viewed at www.mdt.state.mt.us. KEY ISSUES FOR TRANPLAN • Vehicle Registration: Automobile and truck regis- trations in Montana have increased by about one 21 UPDATE percent per year over the last five years . One of the products of TranPlan 21 was the es- tablishment of biennial telephone and stakeholder surveys through which MDT could get feedback from users of and stakeholders in the state's transportation system. These feedback mecha- nisms have revealed that, although overall satis- faction with Montana's transportation system is good, MDT''s customers want: 1. Better roads and streets. 2. Year round access to rest areas. 3. Better, more frequent, and more available pas- senger rail services. 4. Greater investments in bicycle and pedestrian facilities. 5. More out-of-state airline service. 6. To be kept more informed about transportation issues. Customers also believe economic development issues should be addressed in the highway project selection process. The TranPlan 21 Update public involvement process will provide the opportunity to clarify and amplify those issues that concern Montanans. RECENT TRENDS IN MONTANA'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM The TranPlan 21 Update will address the follow- ing basic transportation trends facing Montana since TranPlan 21 was adopted: • Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled: In 2000, 20.9 million miles per day were driven on the state's roads, up from 19.9 million miles per day in 1995. While total miles traveled have increased throughout the state, growth has slowed in the last five years compared to the early 1990s. From a regional perspective, the western and south-central regions of the state saw steady growth, while the rest of the state has seen little or no growth over the last five years. • Safety: Driver safety on Montana roads remained steady between 1993 and 2000. Fatalities rose less than one percent per hundred million miles trav- eled, while injuries decreased by 0.10 percent per hundred million miles driven. • Congestion: Measurements of congestion indicate that over the last several years, rural roads have re- mained relatively free of traffic congestion. How- ever, there is localized congestion in some of Mon- tana's urban areas and select rural corridors. • Roadway Infrastructure: The total lane miles that MDT is responsible for have increased to almost 130,000 miles in 2000. • Pavement Conditions: Overall, MDT has pre- served roadway pavement conditions, while traffic volumes have increased. Current average pave- ment conditions range from good on Interstates and other major highways to fair on Secondary High- ways. • Bridge Conditions: MDT has focused efforts on improving the condition of bridges. The number of bridges needing improvements has decreased by 25 percent over the last few years. • Transit: Transit operators provide scheduled and on-demand services in both rural and urban areas of the state. Ridership has grown at a significant rate over the last few years. Between 1994 and 1999, ridership grew at an annual rate of 4.4 per- cent statewide. Great Falls and Missoula experi - enced annual growth in ridership of six percent or more. • • 0 commuting to work in Montana has decreased • • Bike/Pedestrian: Pedestrian commuting in Montana has decreased over the last ten years. The 2000 Census indicates that pedestrians by over 14 percent. Air Transportation: Seven commercial air- ports serve the bulk of air transportation needs of the state. These airports experienced six percent growth per year since 1995. Overall, 1.4 million passengers were handled by these airports. Essential air service airports had slight growth over the same period. Rail Transportation: Both passenger and freight rail activities increased in Montana over the last five years. Amtrak's Empire Builder continues to serve Montana's Hi-Line, provid- ing essential services to rural and tourist desti- nations. Over the last 8 years, rail freight has increased in carloads and tonnage. However, continued consolidation of railroad ownership and development of larger freight handling fa- cilities has forced many shippers to move freight greater distances by road to ship Mon- tana-produced commodities. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRITI- CAL FOR THE 2002 TRANPLAN 21 UPDATE TranPlan 21 was the result of a collaboration be- tween Montana residents, business owners, federal and state agencies, local governments, tribal offi- cials, and transportation system users. The 2002 TranPlan 21 Update will involve these same peo- ple and agencies. Extensive public participation allows MDT to determine and address major trans- portation issues. Customer input will be solicited before updating policy goals and actions, before drafting a plan up- date, and before finalizing and adopting the plan. These opportunities will give citizens the chance to identify and refine issues and concerns, provide in- put on alternative policy goals and actions, and re- view and comment on the draft plan update. As Montana's primary transportation policy docu- ment, the 2002 TranPlan 21 Update will benefit from input from ALL of Montana's citizens. You can help by filling out and returning the enclosed survey or by participating in the opportunities listed on the enclosed flyer. PLAN UPDATE TIMELINE TranPlan 21 Update schedule beginning September of 2001: Economic Development Panels Technical Review Team meetings Q Q Q Q Q Q Steering committee meetings© Q Q Q Q Q -SEPT QCT"' Nov, DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG ' - 7ask1 - Task J i a P[hen'95 entk apraxagwaissuas^` Task6 Task SD Canducttacrifllo Reflne anal be ;, - Prepare Finalize W brk. - Draft and Plan, Plan adopt -Ronduct .'Y3sk Cv !- Task5 Task6 uptlate TranPlan 21 prulact, 'InIteduisrr ' -' 70ndppt" Prepare Prepare policy goals, actions, and Update arl '8t4g E Strategic develop alternatives msRag4 'fAUhl p. ? _ trends •Review/valitlation of misting goals& prgjeat -Igvaharnewt:: and actions Issues paper • Economic development F that l f t Task 9 iASk2' i.: - defines Issues for • (Potential y sa e y) .Ensure P3 linkage Conduct Conduct Stage Ill tp®T-iitl°`i"- plan •ONer issues Public -;emergiad' uptlate Involvement 1 a iii • 15500 copies of this public document were published at an estimated cost of 200 per copy for a total of $1142.02 which includes $592.02 for printing and $550.00 for distribution. Alternative accessible formats of this document will be provided upon request. TTY number is (406) 444-7696 or 1-800-335-7592. i Montana Department of Transportation Transportation Planning Division 2701 Prospect Avenue P.O. Box 201001 Helena, Montana 59620-1001 1-800-714-7296 LAUREL CITY COMMISSION PO BOX 10 LAUREL MT 59044-0010 ll - sriii you waft pilaw • 53644+GG1`:? °.: Pre Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Helena, W Permit No. 141 !?;!i[.I, 71fI I;i Ul;llalii1i71,ir. ",,,,;!i!!il'?te ii 3l ltil As Montana's primary transportation policy document, the 2002 Tranplan 21 Update will benefit from input from ALL of Montana's citizens. You can be in- volved in a variety of ways: • E-mail comments or suggestions to tranplan2l a@state.mt us • Call the TranPlan 21 toll-free number at 1-800-714-7296 • Read the Department's Newshne and complete any feedback forms • Attend an open house meeting in your area (see schedules below) • Keep checking the website at www.mdt.state.mt.us for new information DUBLx? Gy??O ?o1?1 Usk'. All open houses are scheduled for 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm O Monday, November 26, 2001 - Great Falls at the Civic Center- Gibson Room O Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - Missoula at the Court House Annex- Room 201 O Monday, December 3, 2001 - Butte at the Butte-Silver Bow Court House- Council Chambers O Wednesday, December 5, 2001 - Billings at the Parmly Library- 3rd Floor Conference Room O Thursday, December 6, 2001 - Miles City at the Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Regional Office • .r *V November 2001