1. Mobility Plan Update February 24, 2016

2. What are we discussing today?
TPO background
Transportation funding
Importance of long range transportation planning
Project selection criteria
We’d like to give you a brief overview of the TPO’s functions and structure.
We’ll give some basics on funding issues, and why the Mobility Plan is so important.
We are in the midst of developing the framework for the next plan, and want your input on how to prioritize projects.

3. by involving residents and decision makers in our plans, forums and
Our Region
Advise and assist our region to improve and expand transportation choices
by involving residents and decision makers in our plans, forums and
outreach.
The Census Bureau uses the term "urban area" to refer to both Urbanized Area (UZA) and Urban Cluster (UC).
This is the area in which we are responsible for programming and planning
Is the required "forum for cooperative transportation decision making for the metropolitan area”
Is the engine driving regional collaboration and coordination
Must meet regional transportation needs while being responsive to community interests and local by-laws and policies

4. Our Structure This should look familiar to most of you.
It’s the basic structure of our organization.
The decisions you make here guide the work of our entire organization.

5. Where does our agency funding come from?
80% to 90% - federal and state resources
10% to 20% - Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission
This is the funding that provides suupport for the planning process (staff and studies).

6. What type of projects receive funding?
interstates, state routes, local roads, bridges
bike & pedestrian projects
transit projects
We fund a wide variety of programs and projects.
State legislature and TDOT set the priorities on all state and federal highways.

7. Average Costs by Type of Project
A new traffic signal = $200,000
One mile of resurfacing = $121,000
A new KAT bus = $375,000
One mile of new greenway = $500,000
One mile of sidewalk = $1 million
Here are few numbers to give you a sense of the cost of some of the projects we fund in your jurisdications.
One mile of sidewalk on an existing road is very expensive but 7 times less than one mile of new roadway.
One mile of new, two lane road = $7 million
** all costs are estimates.

8. Why is long range transportation planning important?
So, why is long range transportation planning important?

9. Population change over a 10 year period = 33%
Our region is growing
Population change over a 10 year period = 33%
Our region is growing.
Ove the last 10 year period our urbanized area has grown by 33%

10. 2010
2014
2024
2040
2034
East Tennessee in…
Based on our projections we anticipate that growth will continue through 2040 and beyond.
This dot density map is a good illustration of what our region will look like with 300,000
More people calling East TN home.

11. What is the Mobility Plan?
The big picture for our transportation system over the next 20 years.
Includes any major federally funded project
Multi-modal
Financially constrained
Projects of regional significance
The Mobility Plan provides the foundation for all the work we do here at the TPO.
It’s our guiding document for the allocation of transportation funding.
Not just local driven projects - must include TDOT managed projects as well.
Most importantly we cannot spend more than we have.

12. What is the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)?
The short-term program that implements the projects in the Mobility Plan.
4-year program
Continually updated
Consistent with the Mobility Plan
Financially constrained by year
Is financially constrained by year
Is approved by the MPO and Governor
Becomes part of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
An initiative not listed in the TIP cannot receive FHWA or FTA funds
To receive funding, projects must first be in the Mobility Plan and then the TIP.

13. Project Implementation
Planning, Programming & IMPLEMENTATION
Project Implementation
TIP
Mobility Plan
The plan as the foundation informs all the steps to implementation.
This is where the local jurisdictions and/or TDOT step in to move the projects forward.

14. How are projects selected for the Mobility Plan?
Call for projects
Public and stakeholder input
A technical scoring process
Staff recommendations
Air Quality Conformity Model run with proposed projects
TPO Board approves selection

15. Why do we prioritize projects?
Many worthy projects limited funding
need to prioritize projects to realize our shared vision for the region.
Through an established process, the MPO solicits or identifies top priority projects for funding
The total cost of worthy projects always exceeds available funding – hence the need to set priorities
Programming decisions are documented in the TIP and Statewide TIP (STIP)

16. Project Evaluation What should be most important to our region & your community?
We’ve been asking this question in various ways over the last three years.
We’ll review again what we’ve heard and ask you for your input today as well.

17. Public Survey I (2012) & II (2013)
Overall top priorities for the region:
Reducing air & water pollution
Protecting the region’s natural resources
Top two spending priorities:
Attracting high quality jobs
Improving the transportation system
We conducted two statistically valid surveys in the region in 2012 and 2013.
As part of the 3-year PlanET process….
Identifying our Collective Priorities

18. Five most important issues
A list of thirteen issues that would be affected by future growth was provided.
Participants were asked to select the five most important from that list.
These five emerged.
Water quality, air quality, local ag, redeveloping land, walking & biking
Congestion, houses on large lots and convenient car travel were some of the priorities that were ranked lowest
Identifying our Collective Priorities

19. Eight goals identified
Based on the input gathered from the previous rounds, eight regional goals were identified.
From this list, participants were asked to identify the five goals that were most important to them.
The chart shows how often each goal was selected in the top five:
Identifying our Collective Priorities

20. GOAL: Efficient Infrastructure
Best ways to reach this goal?
Adequately fund infrastructure
Conserve water & energy resources
Avoid development not supported by infrastructure
Extend infrastructure incrementally
Coordinate across jurisdictional boundaries
Participants were asked to identify the best ways to reach each of the five goals they identified.
In this step, a list of five objectives was presented for each goal.
Listed here in order of importance.
Identifying our Collective Priorities

21. GOAL: Transportation Choices
Best ways to reach this goal?
Create more walking & biking opportunities
Provide more options for people who do not drive
Encourage development that supports transit
Expand transit opportunities throughout the region
Enhance existing transit service
Participants were asked to identify the best ways to reach each of the five goals they identified.
In this step, a list of five objectives was presented for each goal.
Respondents identified their top five strategies.
Listed here in order of importance.
Identifying our Collective Priorities

22. 2013 TDOT Survey Most important factors for TDOT to consider:
Evaluate all projects equally
vs. honoring “historic” projects
Expand the capacity of congested road
vs. build new
Most important factors for TDOT to consider:
Evaluate all projects equally (87%) based on today’s needs rather than honoring projects (13%) on the list for a long time.
Expand the capacity (75%) of an existing road that is heavily congested over building new (25%).
Over 4,000 participated across the state; 646 in Region 1 (26 events)
** Priorities identified within TDOT Region I
Identifying our Collective Priorities

23. 2013 TDOT Survey Most important factors for TDOT to consider:
Focus investments in areas of the state with greatest need
vs. spreading investments equally across the state
Fund more smaller projects in more places
vs. funding fewer larger projects in a few places
Most important factors for TDOT to consider:
Focus investments in areas of the state with the greatest need (82%) rather than spread investments equally across the state (18%).
Fund a larger number of smaller projects (72%) in a more places rather then a small number of larger projects (28%) in fewer places
Over 4,000 participated across the state; 646 in Region 1 (26 events)
** Priorities identified within TDOT Region I
Identifying our Collective Priorities

24. 2013 TDOT Survey – Long-term Priorities
Rank
Residents
Partners
Electeds 1
Maintaining existing highways 2
Relieving congestion 3
Adding shoulders to all highways
Using technology to improve traffic flow
Building new highways for direct links 4
Mobility needs for seniors and disabled
Expanding public transportation
Over 4,000 participated across the state; 646 in Region 1 (26 events)
There are several priorities that are consistent across each constituent group
Maintaining existing highways, relieving congestion, addressing mobility needs of seniors & disabled
Only the elected ranked building new highways in their top long-term priorities.
Identifying our Collective Priorities

25. Identifying our Collective Priorities
Build strong towns
Grow quality places
Improve the health of our people and the environment
Expand choices for all
Invest in what we have
In summary, these are four of the key themes we have heard throughout public input over the last three years
as part of PlanET, other TPO efforts and TDOT’s long range Planning.
The themes, ideas, and body of work that came out of PlanET was adopted
by the TPO Board in 2014 as a guiding body of work.

26. Preferred Growth Concept
Should we grow as we have?
Or, is a new direction needed?
How do our transportation investments impact growth?
With the expected growth in pop. & jobs the potential for long term change within the region is tremendous.
To achieve our vision (endorsed by this body in 2014) of a premier region of choice and opportunity,
we must have a clear strategy for growth and development.
The Preferred Growth Concept provides a strategic focus for how the region can accommodate population
and job growth while balancing prosperity, livability and stewardship.
The focus of this strategy is on a hierarchy of centers ranging in size, scale and function.
This approach maximizes transportation and housing choice,
minimizing the impact on our prized natural resources,
making efficient use of our existing transportation system, and other
Infrastructure benefiting from the existing economic and social capital.
Turn it over to Kelley who will walk you through the framework we have developed based on this input
And get some additional input from you to help us further refine our approach. Feel free to ask questions.

27. Proposed Project Evaluation Framework
Projects fall into one of these categories:
Within Community – sidewalks, traffic calming, intersection improvements
Connect communities to region – regional transit connections, major corridor improvements, new by-pass
Based on all of this input, we have developed the following framework to guide the selection of projects.
The goal of this approach is to decide how to spend transportation funding in a competitive, fair, and open process.
This framework acknowledges the importance of neighborhood connectivity as well as regional access. 
Projects will be evaluated within their category, so smaller projects designed to improve access to community resources
will not be competing against major regional projects.  
We have borrowed heavily from our colleagues in Chattanooga who recently implemented a similar approach.

28. Proposed Framework
Within Community – sidewalks, traffic calming, intersection improvements, corridor improvements
The Within Community category includes smaller, local projects, like sidewalks, traffic calming, intersection improvements, and short corridor improvements. This image shows a complete streets project in a rural area.

29. Proposed Framework Within Community
Here you can see a road diet/complete streets project in a suburban area.

30. Proposed Framework
Connect communities to region – regional transit connection, major corridor improvements, new by-pass
The Community to Region category would include larger projects that affect more people, like a bypass, a regional transit connection, or a longer/major corridor project.

31. How should projects be prioritized in the future?
Help us identify
considerations for
project selection.
We obligate (on avg.) $20 - $100 million federal dollars for transportation projects every yr. in this region.
We plan (on avg.) 114 – 313 million per year in this region.
We know our needs exceed the dollars available.
How do we prioritize those needs to best meet the needs of our communities.
Now we want to hear from you.
We are going to ask you a series of questions.
The questions might seem very similar to you.
But they have been designed to
help us gather enough information about your priorities to help inform
the development of our next Mobility Plan’s selection criteria.
A great community takes vision, effective leadership, and vigilant commitment.

32. How would you spend $ 10 million ?
On one day of fun.
On long-term investments.
Spoiling friends and family.
New toys for me!
I’d retire.

33. Large regional improvements (new roads, adding lanes, etc.)
Considering our dollars are limited; which improvement is the most important? Choose one.
Large regional improvements (new roads, adding lanes, etc.)
Smaller, local projects (sidewalks, intersection improvements)
Maintenance & operation (signal coordination, safety, resurfacing)
As discussed early, our dollars are limited.
Which of these do you think will give us the biggest bang for our dollars?
Which are most important to you?
Just choose one.

34. Which projects do you think are most important. Pick your top three.
Build new roads
Expand transit to areas currently without service
Increase transit service where it already exists
Technology to improve traffic flow
Neighborhood traffic safety
Maintenance of roads and bridges
Widened roads to reduce congestion
Sidewalks, greenways, and bicycle lanes
Out of the priorities listed.
Please pick your top 3. The order does not matter.
Choose only 3.
If you want to change your answer just select three again and it will over-ride your initial choices.

35. Proposed Project Evaluation
Projects fall into one of these categories:
Within community – sidewalk, traffic calming, intersection improvements
Connect communities to region – regional transit connections, major corridor improvements ( e.g. Alcoa Highway), new by-pass
As a reminder before we briefly discussed a proposed project evaluation strategy.
This strategy would evaluate projects in one of two categories.
Within community and connecting communities to the region.
The idea is that projects will be evaluated within their category, so smaller projects designed to improve access
to community resources will not be competing against major regional projects.  
All projects will be assigned to a scale, given the project’s need and purpose, its location and proximity to community or environmental assets, and its functional classification.
The scale of the project will be used to inform the appropriate performance measure weights, enabling the significance of various evaluation criteria to vary given the
geographic scale of each project, and its role in the transportation system.

36. Regional connections: Pick your top three selection criteria (in any order).
Economy and freight
Safety and security
More options
Equitable access
Health and environment
Preservation
Congestion reduction
Maintenance and efficiency
Thinking about the projects that connect our communities to the region:
Which of the following would be the most important criteria when evaluating projects
for funding.
Select your top three – in any order.

37. Within community: Pick your top three selection criteria (in any order).
Economy and freight
Safety and security
More options
Equitable access
Health and environment
Preservation
Congestion reduction
Maintenance and efficiency
These are the same 8 criteria you just reviewed.
Now thinking about the projects that take place within your community.
Which of the following would be the most important criteria when evaluating projects
for funding.
Select your top three – in any order.

38. Questions or Comments?
A great community takes vision, effective leadership, and vigilant commitment.

39. Next Steps Share UT public survey findings
Share input from online public survey, MAC, and Technical Committee
Draft selection criteria for approval
What can you do?
Share our online, public survey
Provide input into our speaker series
Expect the following in March 2016…..
What can you do to help us at this stage in the Mobility Process
Share our online, public survey. A link will be ed to you directly following this meeting
We will send out a link to the Mobility Plan Online Survey directly following this meeting.
Give us ideas on what topics would be helpful for us to cover in a speaker series, specific speaker suggestions are always welcome
Send your ideas to staff.
A great community takes vision, effective leadership, and vigilant commitment.

40. THANK YOU! www.knoxtrans.org (865) 215-2500