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Home My WebLink AboutItem B: Regional Transportation Planning ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Regional Transportation Planning Meeting Date: April 28, 2008 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Rob Inerfeld www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5343 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this work session is to provide an overview of the transportation planning framework that governs local, state, regional, and federal transportation plan compliance. An overview of transportation plans, timelines, and interrelationships will be provided, along with an outline of items that will be brought back to the City Council for future policy direction, action, and updates. BACKGROUND At the council work session, staff will provide an overview of the different transportation plans that serve the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area including what geographic areas they cover, what functions they serve, and what bodies approve them. There are at least four key regional transportation planning issues that will come before the Eugene City Council and other local elected bodies over the next few years: 1.On November 8, 2007, the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) adopted an updated Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) with a 2031 horizon year. This action triggers a state requirement that one of the following must happen within one year: ·TransPlan, the metropolitan area’s Transportation System Plan (TSP), must be updated to be consistent with the RTP; or ·The state Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) must approve a local work plan for making TransPlan consistent with the RTP. The most significant differences between TransPlan and the RTP are that TransPlan has a planning horizon of 2015 and includes projects associated with the West Eugene Parkway, while the RTP’s planning horizon is now 2031 and it no longer includes projects associated with the West Eugene Parkway. 2.Besides the federally required Regional Transportation Plan, the state requires that the metropolitan area have two other types of transportation plans: ·A Regional Transportation System Plan (RTSP) that covers the same geographical area as the RTP – Eugene, Springfield, Coburg, and metropolitan Lane County. ·A Transportation System Plan that covers one or more local jurisdictions. TransPlan currently serves Eugene, Springfield, and metropolitan Lane County, and Coburg has a separate TSP. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080428\S080428B.doc Although not currently done, it is possible for each jurisdiction to have its own TSP under the umbrella of a single, regional RTSP. When TransPlan was adopted in 2002, the Regional Transportation Plan covered the same geographic area covered by TransPlan. However, following the 2000 Census, the federal government designated the metropolitan area as a Transportation Management Area (metropolitan areas exceeding 200,000 population) that also included Coburg. TransPlan currently serves as both the TSP and RTSP for Eugene, Springfield, and metropolitan Lane County. However, this will need to change relatively soon so that the RTSP can also include Coburg. One scenario for accomplishing this change is for TransPlan to evolve into an RTSP that includes Coburg and for Eugene, Springfield, and Coburg to each have their own TSP. 3.Every other year, the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) adopts a new State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP is similar to a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and its purpose is to identify, prioritize, fund, and schedule transportation projects and programs. The OTC adopted the 2008-11 STIP in the fall of 2007. The MPC has already approved regional priorities for the 2010-13 STIP and has provided guidance to the OTC for the STIP cycles that cover 2010-15 should a large transportation funding package be passed by the state legislature. Work on the 2012- 15 STIP would typically begin in early 2009 with OTC approval in late 2011. The STIP is intended to be consistent with TSPs that have been approved by local elected bodies. However, because the horizon year for TransPlan is 2015, it is problematic for the 2010-15 STIP to program funds in our metropolitan area. The TransPlan horizon year was chosen because the Eugene-Springfield population was projected to reach 286,000 by 2015 and both the Metro Plan and TransPlan are based on accommodating this population. However, due to slower than projected population growth, it is now expected that the city’s population will not reach that number until around 2023. 4.The Comprehensive Lands Assessment that is being conducted by the Planning Division in part to meet the requirements of House Bill 3337 may lead to proposed amendments to the Metro Plan. It will be important for any TransPlan updates to be consistent with land use assumptions or policy direction the council provides following the conclusion of the comprehensive lands assessment and analysis. Since the MPC approved the RTP update, staff from Eugene and other local jurisdictions have held numerous meetings with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) staff to develop a proposed work plan for addressing all of these issues over the next several years. While the work plan has not been finalized, it is likely to include the following elements: ·Complete a report on the progress of the TransPlan Alternative Performance Measures. ·Initiate a Post Acknowledgement Plan Amendment (PAPA) to (1) remove the West Eugene Parkway from the TransPlan project list with the understanding that the project lists will be made entirely consistent through a full TransPlan update to take place within the next several years, and (2) extend the Metro Plan and TransPlan horizon year until around 2023 which is consistent with observed population growth in Eugene and Springfield. ·Determine the framework of TSPs and RTSP that will serve the metropolitan area. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080428\S080428B.doc ·Develop a work plan for a full TransPlan update that will include major work items, public involvement opportunities, critical milestones, and products. Some of these items could be initiated before the Eugene and Springfield Comprehensive Lands Assessments are complete while others would be coordinated with any amendments to the Metro Plan that result from these studies. The following items will come back to council for policy direction, action, or additional updates: ·Adopt amendments to update the TransPlan project list and extend the planning horizon of Metro Plan and TransPlan ·Update on LCDC-approved regional transportation planning work plan RELATED CITY POLICIES As both the TSP and RTSP for Eugene, TransPlan serves as a policy document for local and regional transportation decision making. TransPlan contains two goals, seven objectives, and 38 policies that relate to transportation issues. COUNCIL OPTIONS This item is presented for information purposes and does not require action by the council. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION There are several key regional transportation issues that will require council action at some point in the future including the need to make TransPlan consistent with the RTP and any necessary transportation planning to coordinate with future Metro Plan amendments. At this time, no council action is needed. SUGGESTED MOTION No motion is required. ATTACHMENTS None; a PowerPoint presentation will be presented at the work session. FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Rob Inerfeld Telephone: 682-5343 Staff E-Mail: rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080428\S080428B.doc