MATS’ Long Range Transportation Plan
Towards 2045
The 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan serves as a decision-making guide for the Midland MPO, stakeholders, funding agencies, and other transportation partners. The plan helps pinpoint and address the future transportation related needs of our region by identifying issues and deficiencies within the system and recommends strategies to mitigate those issues.
The Long Range Transportation Plan prioritizes funding allocations; directs the transportation improvement program; and focuses on the relationship between the transportation network and regional land uses. The plan is projected over a horizon of at least a 20-years and is updated every 5 years in accordance with changing needs and new transportation related legislation.
LRTP Process Overview
The process for the creation of this plan involved many aspects, beginning with the vision, goals, objectives. Next, the area’s background and history, land use, and demographics were all analyzed relative to the transportation system. Previous reports were reviewed related to non-motorized transportation, air travel, freight and traffic safety. Data was gathered regarding the current and past condition of our streets and roads, traffic volumes and patterns. Then, travel demand modeling was performed analyzing the effect of expected growth and pinpointing areas of traffic deficiencies.
Based on the findings from these aspects the overall long-range strategy was developed focusing on critical local factors. Finally, the implementation plan, i.e. the prioritized project list, was carefully prepared.
A thorough financial resource analysis was conducted, comparing expected revenues to project costs. This is a requirement to ensure a fiscally constrained plan. Environmental mitigation analysis and environmental justice analysis were conducted, as required.
Finally, MATS has aimed to ensure a broad and inclusive level of public input for this plan. Open houses, public notice of meetings, surveys, and advertising were all utilized in this process. The input gleaned from all of these interactions has been instrumental in the development of Towards 2045 and will be central to the activities of MATS going forward as well.
Findings & Conclusions
This process supported the synergistic approach developed early in the visioning phase for the LRP, and the analysis of the data gathered subsequently. The resulting four integrated core strategies of the Plan were: Preservation, Maintenance, Safety, and Livability.
The goals and objectives of the Plan therefore truly promote an integrated multi-modal transportation system focused on addressing the needs of all users.
The travel demand model forecasted only occasional congestion issues, with few segments showing daily capacity deficiency and even fewer showing current or projected peak period capacity deficiency. This largely validates the focus on maintenance and reconstruction and led to the development of the prioritized project list, which strives to address the goals of the plan by utilizing the four core strategies. The prioritized projects in this plan thus address the primary issue of aging infrastructure, and have an identified source of funding, thereby ensuring a fiscally constrained plan.
The conclusions reached clearly indicated that the existing network was not urgently in need of expansion; that operations (traffic flows), were overall very good; and that demographic forecasts predicted low but steady growth.
Prioritized Projects 2022-2045
The Plan identifies the investments that we will need to make in our transportation system. Due to the expansiveness and the age of our transportation system, the emphasis is toward projects that rebuild and preserve our existing system.
The prioritized 2022-2045 transportation projects are located throughout the MATS planning area. Thus the environmental review showed that no environmental resources or population groups are disproportionately neglected or overexposed in relation to these projects. The needs of the minority and low-income population are being taken into consideration with respect to future transportation improvements.
In light of Federal requirements, performance measures were introduced that, over time, will be fully integrated into the MATS planning process. This further reflects the fact that plans are more effective if their outcomes can be measured, and therefore projects can be more effectively programmed.
Lastly, the plan presents a large number future transportation projects which fall outside of estimated reasonably expected transportation revenues, but which are still needed to maintain the transportation infrastructure at adequate levels. This strongly indicates that needs will continue to exceed resources in the near term at least.
Achieving the goals laid out in the pages of Towards 2045 will require a concerted, coordinated effort on behalf of elected officials, local agencies, and the public. The result will be a more sustainable, equitable, and innovative region that is ready to compete and prosper on the national and global stage.
OUR LONG-TERM VISION
“A transportation system which promotes the region’s attractiveness to live, work, and visit.”
In order to fulfill that vision, we use goals that emerged from our long-range planning process. These broad, primary themes are oriented towards promoting an integrated multi-modal transportation system that addresses the needs of all users.
Objectives were then developed for each goal to achieve measurable progress of the plan over time. This process allows for the analysis of future development scenarios which focus on enhancing the transportation network by improving integration, connectivity, and efficiency.
MATS’ goals and objectives are arranged into seven areas which correspond to the recommended federal planning factors.
1. Accessibility and Mobility
Support transportation infrastructure improvements for all modes
Promote system continuity across the region
Increase access to the transportation system for people with special needs, undeserved or disadvantaged
Increase access to specialized services like health care facilities
2. Safety and Security
Strive towards zero transportation related deaths and injuries
Incorporate systemic approaches into safety planning
Reduce conflicts between modes to minimize accidents
Enhance the safety of non-motorized users
Increase security through better emergency response practices and handling of hazardous materials
3. Integration and Connectivity
Promote an integrated system with efficient connections between modes
Implement the Complete Streets Program; promoting transit and non-motorized travel options
Encourage the integration of land use and transportation during the planning process
Develop transportation projects in coordination with local plans
4. Operations and System Management Efficiency
Encourage land development patterns that promote transportation efficiency
Relieve traffic congestion and minimize travel times
Enhance capacity and operations of existing facilities
5. Preservation of Transportation System
Encourage efficient preservation of the existing transportation system
Encourage multi-agency and public-private partnerships in transportation improvements and maintenance
Support new technologies optimizing the use of the existing system
6. Environmental Protection and Enhancement
Reduce air, water, light and noise pollutant emissions
Encourage public and non-motorized transportation as well as ride-sharing
Preserve natural and cultural qualities of the region
7. Economic Vitality
Promote cost effective transportation improvements that maximize long-term benefit
Improve access to employment and retail centers; enhance movement of freight
Promote investments in the transportation system (including private sector)
The result is an overall Long Range strategy that focuses on 4 key factors; Preservation, Maintenance, Safety, and Livability.