Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services

TO:	David Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Transportation Planning Staff
CC:	Scott McCullough, Planning and Development Services Director
DATE:	December 31, 2007
RE:	Transportation Planning Activities

Since reaching full staffing status in June of 2007, the Transportation Division of the Planning and Development Services Department has been very active learning about the City’s transportation issues and facilitating the T2030 Long-Range Transportation Plan update. We thought we would provide a status report on projects the Transportation Planning Division is working on.

The following is a summary of the progress of transportation planning activities including Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) activities. This memo will outline the status of current transportation projects, highlight specific endeavors, and will reveal what to expect from transportation planning efforts during the first half of 2008.

T2030 Long Range Transportation Plan - MPO Activity

Transportation 2030 (T2030) is the long range transportation plan for the urbanized region that includes the City of Lawrence and surrounding area of Douglas County.

T2030 identifies future transportation investments for all modes of transportation.

T2030 updates and replaces the T2025 Long Range Transportation Plan.

• T2030 Draft scheduled to be finalized by December, 2007.
• T2030 Draft scheduled to be presented to the MPO Board in January, 2008 with T2030 committee recommendation.
• T2030 Draft scheduled to be released for 30-day public comment pending MPO Board approval at their January regularly scheduled meeting. (Press release will be provided to Lisa Patterson for approval).
• T2030 Final Draft presented to City and County Commissions in February.
• T2030 Final Draft presented to the MPO Board in March, 2008 for final adoption.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) - MPO Activity

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a multi-year listing of federally funded and regionally significant non-federally funded improvements to the region's transportation system, based on the Long Range Transportation Plan.

• Develop FY 2008-2011 TIP for approval by spring of 2008 (cannot be approved until T2030 is approved).
• Draft copy of FY 2008-2011 TIP will be presented to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the MPO Board in January, 2008.
• Final FY 2008-2011 TIP will be presented to TAC and the MPO Board in spring of 2008 for final adoption.
• Develop TIP Policy (in concert with approval of new TIP). The Transportation Improvement Program Policy describes the TIP development process, methods in amending the TIP, and defining what a “regionally significant” project shall consist of. This policy provides an overview of the guidelines to be used in the development and maintenance of the TIP along with the activities involved in these processes.
• Draft copy of the TIP Policy presented to TAC in December, 2007.
• Final copy of the TIP Policy will be presented to TAC and the MPO Board in January, 2008 for final adoption.
• TIP database completed by January 2008: This database contains information regarding all projects in the TIP.

Other MPO Tasks

• Reorganize the MPO membership - expected to begin in spring 2008 (after T2030 is adopted).
• Create new MPO By-Laws to reflect reorganization (drafted after reorganization).
• Develop and complete Public Participation Plan in summer 2008 (requirement of SAFETEA-LU).
• Develop a RFP for on-call travel demand modeling assistance in spring 2008.

Completed Transportation Planning Activities (June to December)

• Reviewed proposed Sector Plans.
• Reviewed Traffic Impact Studies for new projects in coordination with Public Works and KDOT.
• Provided staff support or coordination effort to T2030 (data collection, data analysis, revenue forecast, etc.).
• Provided staff response to T2030 related inquiries from the public, steering committee members, and elected officials.
• Provided staff support to Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Plan.
• Provided staff support to Bicycle Advisory Committee and reviewed site plans related to proposed bicycle facilities improvements.
• Completed Downtown Bicycle Facilities Assessment - report will be finalized and submitted March 2008.
• Completed FY 2008 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for MPO.
• Prepared amendments for FY 2006-2009 Transportation Improvement Program.
• Add project: Intersection improvements at 19^th St.  & Louisiana.
• Delete project: Cancel roadway improvements on 31^st St. from Ousdahl to Louisiana.
• Add project: Brick street restoration on Ohio St. from 6^th to 8^th streets.
• Add project: Engineering to reconstruct 23^rd St. bridge over former BNSF east of Learnard.
• Delete project: Eastern Connection River Bridge.
• Shifting Funds: Multiple transit projects for capital improvements.
• Add project: Baldwin City Safe Route to School Program Phase I.
• Add project: University of Kansas, purchase of 3 new buses.
• Add project: Regional ITS Architecture.
• Add project: Bridge replacement at 964 E 1000 Road.
• Add project: Route 442 from N 1700 to E 050 County Road, Engineering to add shoulders, guard rails, and flatten roadside slopes.
• Add project: Route 442 from N 1600 to E 050 County Road, Engineering to add shoulders, guard rails, and flatten roadside slopes.
• Add project: Route 6 from N 1150 to E 550 County Road, engineering to reconstruct a curve in the road to improve safety.
• Add project: U.S. Highway 40 Closed-Loop Traffic Signal System. Install ITS equipment to synchronize lights along U.S. 40 (Sixth Street) - Massachusetts to Iowa.
• Provided staff support to Burroughs Creek Trail Transportation Enhancement Grant application.
• Provided staff support to ongoing transit coordination and the development of RFP with University of Kansas.
• Provided staff support to on-board transit survey.

Transportation Planning Activities (ongoing and other)

• Review Sector Plans.
• Review Traffic Impact Studies.
• Begin to update of Lawrence-Douglas County Bicycle Plan - Winter/Spring 2008.
• Complete Chapter 8 of H2020 (after T2030 as been approved) - Spring 2008.
• Develop uniform language and standards regarding transportation in all major planning documents (i.e. T2030, H2020, Sub Regs, Development Code, etc.) - 1^st quarter 2008.
• Provide staff support to ongoing transit coordination with University of Kansas.
• Develop City of Lawrence access management guidelines to be adopted by the Planning and City Commissions.