Title
2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) (20 minutes)
Andy Henry, LPA Staff
Narrative
The MPO Board released the full 2045 MTP report, and Goals, Objectives, Performance Measures and Targets for public input in January, and in February extended the public input period to March 2. Today's adoption includes the SE Data, 2045 MTP projects and financial plan, Goals/Objectives/ Performance Measures/Targets, and the full report by a single resolution, and the approval of the Triangle Regional Model (version 6) by a separate resolution and letter.
Change to Report
There have been several changes to the full report since the January release. Staff does not consider any of the changes to be significant but are nonetheless worth identifying. The changes include:
* A multiuse path between Carrboro and Hillsborough that runs along Old NC 86/Churton St. was added to the regional routes in Appendix 4 -- Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects. This is the only change to the core of the 2045 MTP, i.e., project list and financial plan.
* The resolutions that adopt the new federal Transportation Performance Measures will be added to the 2045 MTP appendices as the resolutions become available. So far, this will include the two resolutions for the transit state of good repair and the roadway safety measures.
* There are three changes to chapter 9, which basically describes the relationship of the 2045 MTP to the community, federal requirements, and other planning processes.
> A table and narratives that shows the strength of the relationship between the MPO's goals and the federal "Critical Factors in the Planning Process" has been added.
> A table has been added to the Environmental Justice section that describes the benefits, burdens and mitigation strategies for various project groups (e.g., highway, transit).
> Some additional information has been added to the section that identifies how the 2045 MTP is FAST Act compliant.
Public Comments
The MPO received about four dozen comments on the Bolin Creek Trail. The great majority of the comments either want the Trail to be removed from the 2045 MTP or want to ensure that the Trail is not paved. There were several comments supportive of the Trail. The Lead Planning Agency (LPA) staff offer the following information with respect to the request to remove the Trail:
* The 2045 MTP does not list bicycle and pedestrian projects, but instead references the local plans. Since the 2045 MTP defers to the local plans, should a jurisdiction or county amend an existing plan sometime in the future, the amended local version would govern.
* Bolin Creek Trail is listed among the regional routes, or corridors, in Appendix 4. This listing helps to coordinate interjurisdictional connections and to identify corridors that are eligible for the DCHC MPO's Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian funding. Removing Bolin Creek Trail from Appendix 4 does not remove the project from the local plans but might make it ineligible for Regional funding.
* Appendix 4 does not identify any specifics for the listed trail project such as surface type (e.g., pavement) or the exact alignment (i.e., trail must only connect Chapel Hill and Carrboro in the vicinity of Bolin Creek).
In addition, the MPO received a resolution from the Town of Carrboro. The 2045 MTP supports the comments in the resolution and thus no further action is required.
The attachments include the following:
* A compilation of the public comments received during the Alternatives Analysis and Preferred Option processes (Note: the online survey gathered public input for the Goals/Objectives process);
* The Town of Carrboro resolution;
* The full report for the 2045 MTP;
* The Goals/Objectives/Performance Measures;
* The Targets;
* The resolution that the Board Chair will sign to adopt the 2045 MTP; and,
* The letter and resolution that the Board Chair will sign in March to adopt version 6 of the Triangle Regional Model (TRM).
The full report and an interactive highway and fixed guideway map are available at the MPO's 2045 MTP Web site, www.bit.ly/DCHC-MTP-Adopted.
Recommendation
TC Action: That the MPO Board receive an update on the 2045 MTP and that the MPO Board adopt the 2045 MTP by resolution, and adopt version 6 of the TRM by letter and resolution.
TC Action: Receive an update on the 2045 MTP and adopt the 2045 MTP by resolution, and adopt version 6 of the TRM by letter and resolution.