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What We Do Home>Transportation Planning>Twin Cities Area Transportation Study>TwinCATS Documents

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TwinCATS Documents

Long Range Plan

A Long Range Plan (LRP) is developed to set the goals and objectives for the future of transportation in the TwinCATS boundary.  The LRP is updated every 4 years, though the process of collecting data for the update is nearly ongoing.  If you have a comment on the LRP, please send to Kelly at getmank@swmpc.org or by calling (269) 925-1137 extension 23.

 

 

The SWMPC is currently in the process of updating the TwinCATS LRP.  Draft goals and objectives for the plan have been developed and are available below for public comment.  Written feedback can be provided to Kelly Getman-Dissette at getmank@swmpc.org or 185 E. Main St., Suite 701, Benton Harbor, MI 49022.  Comments can be made in person at the St. Joseph City Council meeting, Monday July 21 at 6:00 p.m. at 700 Broad St. in St. Joseph or at the July 21 meeting of the TwinCATS Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) at 9:30 a.m. at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor, MI.   

 

This is the first of three opportunities to comment on the TwinCATS LRP.  Additional meetings will be held in the fall and winter to accept comment on the proposed LRP projects and on the full LRP document. 

 

 

Transportation Improvement Program

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is developed to document road and transit projects that will be occuring in the near future within the NATS boundary.  The current TIP is valid for fiscal years 2008-2011. 

 

Project selection for the FY08-11 TIP began in January 2007 and progressed as follows:

 

January-February: Local agencies completed project selection forms.

February meeting: Local agencies submitted project selection forms.

February-March: Project Selection Committee reviewed and prioritized projects.

March meeting: Project Selection Committee presented their proposed list of projects for FY08-11 to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).  The TAC and Policy Committee reviewed the proposed list and voted to accept the proposed projects.

March-June: SWMPC staff composed the FY08-11 TIP Document and Urban TIP tables.

June meeting: The TAC and Policy Committee reviewed the FY08-11 TIP Document and Urban TIP table and voted to accept the document.

July SWMPC Quarterly meeting: The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission reviewed and voted to accept the TIP document.  After the document was accepted, it was sent to MDOT and FHWA for review.

July 2007-February 2008: FHWA reviewed the document and requested several changes.  Staff edited the document accordingly.  FHWA approved the document late February.

 

Unified Work Program

The Unified Work Program (UWP) is updated yearly and spells out what the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) will be working on for the fiscal year.  Fiscal years run from October 1st - September 30th.  Work tasks are broken down in the UWP between 5 program elements:

 

  1. Program Management
  2. Database Management
  3. Long Range Planning
  4. Short Range Planning
  5. Other Planning

 

Budgets for the fiscal year are spelled out and broken down by program element in the UWP.

 

 

Environmental Mitigation and Consultation

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in August of 2005, established new requirements for the preparation of transportation plans.


One of these new provisions requires Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to discuss "types of potential environmental mitigation activities and potential areas to carry out these activities, including activities that may have the greatest potential to restore and maintain the environmental functions affected by the plan.  This discussion shall be developed in consultation with Federal, State, and tribal wildlife, land management, and regulatory agencies."  

 

Because of this requirement, SWMPC developed Environmental Mitigation and Consultation chapters to be added to the long-range transportation plan.  The approved Environmental Mitigation and Consultation chapters are available below.  Click the links to view the text, spreadsheet, and maps. 

 

Contact SWMPC Transportation Planners with any comments or questions.  You may e-mail Kelly Getman-Dissette at getmank@swmpc.org. 

 

 

This page last updated on 7/1/2008.
 
 
Southwest Michigan Planning Commission  185 East Main Street  Suite 701  Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Phone: 269.925.1137  Fax: 269.925.0288  Email: swmpc@swmpc.org
  

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