Transportation Planning & Programming

Long range transportation planning is about producing policy documents and plans to address transportation opportunities and problems. For instance, Lane County (and most of its cities) has a “Transportation System Plan” (TSP) that provides direction for managing transportation facilities, over a twenty year period. The TSP covers all transportation modes: air, ports, roads, bicycle, pedestrian, transit, major pipelines, as well as freight and passenger rail. It discusses the relationship of land use to transportation, evaluates trends and long term transportation needs, and recommends improvements to meet those needs. It also discusses financing and how to prioritize Road Fund expenditures during times of financial constraint. This document is required by the state, is a land use document, and has policies that have the force of law. You can find it at: http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/PW/TransPlanning/Pages/tspmain.aspx Another example of a transportation plan is a document produced for a specific facility or area. A recent example is the Coburg Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP) adopted by the City of Coburg, Lane County and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), to address congestion and safety problems in the I-5 interchange area at Coburg. This document analyzes the nature of the problems, looks at existing conditions, surrounding land uses, and traffic patterns and volume, and projects future conditions in the absence of addressing the problems. The IAMP then evaluates alternative solutions and recommends which alternative to pursue. The Coburg IAMP was adopted by Lane County in 2011, and recommended improvements for county roads and city streets will be constructed in 2012. They include the addition of turn lanes, bicycle lanes, pedestrian improvements, a realignment of a city street, and an additional ramp lane. These improvements were endorsed by surrounding property owners and will not only improve safety and congestion but make the Coburg industrial area a more attractive place for industrial economic development. “Programming” is about pursuing and allocating transportation funds, such as for the I-5 at Coburg improvements discussed above. Because there are never enough funds for all transportation needs, a process involving multiple jurisdictions and the public helps prioritize projects. For example, in the recent past, Lane County, Eugene, Springfield, ODOT, and a stakeholders group representing a broad cross section of the public prioritized improvements for the I-5 at Beltline Highway and Gateway area in Springfield. A major source of funding for these large projects is motor vehicle fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. The Federal Highway Administration’s website discusses how highway and transit projects are funded: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/onh2p10.htm In 2010, Lane County and its cities formed the Lane “Area Commission on Transportation” (LaneACT). ACTs are advisory bodies chartered by the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC). ACTs address all modes of transportation with a primary focus on the state system. ACTs play a key advisory role in the development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), the funding mechanism for state highways. More information on the Lane ACT is at http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/PW/TransPlanning/Pages/lanecountyact.aspx Due to the interconnected nature of all transportation systems in the county, planning and programming activities involve extensive collaboration between cities, Lane Transit District, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and other agencies. Lane County staff also participates in the Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (CLMPO), which manages federally-mandated transportation planning activities and produces the Regional Transportation Plan, a federal long range planning and fund programming document. http://www.thempo.org/ Transportation plays a major role in the life of every person. Getting to and from work or school, taking the bus to get around or a train to get out of town, and having goods delivered through our ports and by truck are a critical part of everyday life. So, public involvement is an essential piece of developing transportation plans and in prioritizing transportation funds. Contact Celia Barry 541-682-6935

Long range transportation planning is about producing policy documents and plans to address transportation opportunities and problems. For instance, Lane County (and most of its cities) has a “Transportation System Plan” (TSP) that provides direction for managing transportation facilities, over a twenty year period. The TSP covers all transportation modes: air, ports, roads, bicycle, pedestrian, transit, major pipelines, as well as freight and passenger rail. It discusses the relationship of land use to transportation, evaluates trends and long term transportation needs, and recommends improvements to meet those needs. It also discusses financing and how to prioritize Road Fund expenditures during times of financial constraint. This document is required by the state, is a land use document, and has policies that have the force of law. You can find it at: http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/PW/TransPlanning/Pages/tspmain.aspx

Another example of a transportation plan is a document produced for a specific facility or area. A recent example is the Coburg Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP) adopted by the City of Coburg, Lane County and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), to address congestion and safety problems in the I-5 interchange area at Coburg. This document analyzes the nature of the problems, looks at existing conditions, surrounding land uses, and traffic patterns and volume, and projects future conditions in the absence of addressing the problems. The IAMP then evaluates alternative solutions and recommends which alternative to pursue. The Coburg IAMP was adopted by Lane County in 2011, and recommended improvements for county roads and city streets will be constructed in 2012. They include the addition of turn lanes, bicycle lanes, pedestrian improvements, a realignment of a city street, and an additional ramp lane. These improvements were endorsed by surrounding property owners and will not only improve safety and congestion but make the Coburg industrial area a more attractive place for industrial economic development.

“Programming” is about pursuing and allocating transportation funds, such as for the I-5 at Coburg improvements discussed above. Because there are never enough funds for all transportation needs, a process involving multiple jurisdictions and the public helps prioritize projects. For example, in the recent past, Lane County, Eugene, Springfield, ODOT, and a stakeholders group representing a broad cross section of the public prioritized improvements for the I-5 at Beltline Highway and Gateway area in Springfield. A major source of funding for these large projects is motor vehicle fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. The Federal Highway Administration’s website discusses how highway and transit projects are funded: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/onh2p10.htm

In 2010, Lane County and its cities formed the Lane “Area Commission on Transportation” (LaneACT). ACTs are advisory bodies chartered by the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC). ACTs address all modes of transportation with a primary focus on the state system. ACTs play a key advisory role in the development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), the funding mechanism for state highways. More information on the Lane ACT is at http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/PW/TransPlanning/Pages/lanecountyact.aspx

Due to the interconnected nature of all transportation systems in the county, planning and programming activities involve extensive collaboration between cities, Lane Transit District, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and other agencies. Lane County staff also participates in the Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (CLMPO), which manages federally-mandated transportation planning activities and produces the Regional Transportation Plan, a federal long range planning and fund programming document. http://www.thempo.org/

Transportation plays a major role in the life of every person. Getting to and from work or school, taking the bus to get around or a train to get out of town, and having goods delivered through our ports and by truck are a critical part of everyday life. So, public involvement is an essential piece of developing transportation plans and in prioritizing transportation funds.

Contact Celia Barry 541-682-6935