14 th NW Tribal Transportation Symposium Pete Field, Transportation Planner FHWA – Western Federal Lands Developing a Long Range Transportation Planning

Presentation Objectives  Describe planning processes  Provide background on writing a transportation plan

Developing a Transportation Plan  Transportation planning is a decision process  All steps are interrelated  The public and elected officials must be involved throughout the process  The process does not equate to complexity

Why Develop a Transportation Plan?  It is a process that can be applied within the context of “good planning”  Develops appreciation of how Tribes connect to other planning activities  Help define how transportation can help claim the future on your Tribes terms.

The Transportation Plan Data Info Politics Data Info Politics Data Opinion Stuff

 Community process Inclusive process Public involvement techniques  Define community issues Community’s values Community’s perceived transportation needs  Non-technical

What is your Goal?

Public Involvement  Inclusive process  Difficult to get full participation  Involve outside agencies Bureau of Indian affairs State DOT Other federal agencies

Example Public Involvement Techniques  Focus groups Staff, specialists (consultants)  Community meetings Staff, specialists  Surveys Staff, universities, specialists  Charettes Specialists, staff  Newsletters Staff, other dept., Specialists  Press release Staff  Community displays Staff  Council meeting presentations Staff, specialists

 Conducting a conditions analysis is the process of determining how your community or rural area will measure the condition of the system and the service provided by the transportation system

What is your system?

Existing Conditions  Physical infrastructure  Technical and analytical Quantitative and qualitative  Existing conditions Land use and zoning, infrastructure, current traffic trends, and population demographics

AADT Map

Future Conditions and Deficiencies  Develop future projections Land use Infrastructure Population Traffic Modeled, straight line projections Finances

Sources of Future Land Use and Economic Development Info  Local Comprehensive Plans Tribal Agencies, BIA, City or County Plans Local School District  Rural Development Plans Federal, State, Local (e.g., HUD, Water District)  Census Bureau Population Statistics County Business Patterns Indian Health Service  US Geological Survey Land Use and Other Mapping Data Infrastructure Land Use Population

Population Statistics Sioux County, North Dakota

 Evaluate the gap between the goals and objectives that are established for the transportation system and the baseline system conditions. The needs are the planned actions for addressing this gap.

Identify Deficiencies  Identify deficiencies Public involvement Results from public involvement Mostly subjective Technical analysis Structural factors  Age, current deterioration, non-existence, etc Projected needs vs. Existing capacity

Estimating Costs  Planning Environmental review  Engineering Design, construction  Right of way Property Relocation Settlement costs  Construction Use “Rough” Unit Prices, e.g. $3,000/linear foot of new Roadway, $800/linear foot of new shared Bike/Ped Path FHWA and DOT’s have schedules  Maintenance Costs Cost/Year

 Given the often overwhelming number of potential improvements it is important that the planning process has an agreed upon approach to project prioritization.

Example of Priorities

What is your priority? Tribal Priority Number 1

 Identify existing funding sources Federal BIA, FHWA, FTA, FAA, HUD, etc. State Gas tax, registrations, bonds, etc. Tribal Usage fees, registrations, casino revenues, bonds  Identify future revenues Anticipated federal, state, tribal “Innovative” techniques

What is your financial plan?

Identify Alternatives  Matrix based on goals and objectives Quantification-based evaluation Technical approach Ranks benefits on points system Quality-based evaluation Check-off approach All or none approach Compares alternatives based on its addressing a criteria

Estimate Costs and Benefits  Identify alternatives Identified deficiencies Viable alternatives Mode choice  Identify costs Unit costs Include all aspects of project Design, Right of way, Construction Engineering, etc

 Developing the plan document or "putting it all together" can be a difficult process if not approached in a systematic fashion.

Finalize the Transportation Plan  Public involvement  Tribal council adopts the final transportation plan document  Share the plan

 Programming refers to a series of activities carried out by planners, including data assessment, appraisal of identified planning needs, and consideration of available or anticipated fiscal resources to result in the drawing up, scheduling, and planning of a list of identified transportation improvements for a given period of time.

 For a plan to be successful it must be implemented effectively and progress against plan objectives monitored, this provides "the feedback loop“.

Final Words of Advice  Transportation planning is a decision process  All steps are interrelated  The public and elected officials must be involved throughout the process Technical data should be prepared and presented so that the non-professional understands  The process does not equate to complexity One size does not fit all Make it fit your situation