Complete Streets & Your Local MPO

IL APA ConferenceSeptember 23, 2010

John A. ChambersSenior Planner

Tri-County Regional Planning Commission

Complete Streets & Your Local MPOMPO Basics

The MPO and Complete Streets

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPO

Policy Results

Strategies to Use in Your Community

MPO BasicsMPO = Metropolitan Planning Organization

Sets Transportation Policy

Local Government & Transportation Representatives

Required in urban areas > 50,000 pop.

MPO BasicsManages the 3-C planning process

◦Comprehensive◦Cooperative◦Continuing

Creates Planning Documents◦Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)◦Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)◦Unified Planning Work Program (UWP)

Programs Federal Transportation $ (in part)

The MPO and Complete StreetsThe MPO sets Transportation Policy

Policy Directs Expenditures & Infrastructure

Bicycling/Walking Infrastructure is a policy-level issue

The MPO and Complete Streets

IF YOU WANT BIKE/PED FRIENDLY INFRASTRUCTURE…

YOU MUST FIRST HAVE BIKE/PED FRIENDLY POLICY!

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPOBike/Ped-Friendly Planning Activity (UWP)

◦Trail Planning◦Bike-to-Work-Week◦Clean Air Action

Regional Transportation Plan (LRTP)◦ Integrate Bike/Ped Plans with Roadway Plans◦Complete Streets for all, ESPECIALLY State Routes!

Quality Control (TIP)◦ In Progress!

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPOSurface Transportation Program – Urban (STU)

◦Policy Pre-2006: Qualitative Criteria – “Does your project provide

access to cyclists and pedestrians?”

◦Policy Post-2006: Quantitative Criteria – “HOW does your project

provide access to cyclists and pedestrians?”◦Rankings advisory, not binding

Three Categories: Roadway, New RoadwayNon-Roadway

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPOExisting Roadway Project Scoring:

1. Regional Significance – 30 points2. Local Priority – 15 points3. Safety – 23 points4. Existing Conditions – 17 points5. Multi-Modal – 15 points (10 Bike/Ped)

100 points total – 10% for Bike/Ped

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPONew-Roadway Project Scoring:

1. Regional Significance – 60 points2. Local Priority –15 points3. Planning/Environment – 10 points4. Multi-Modal – 15 points (10 bike/ped)

100 points total – 10% for Bike/Ped

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPONon-Roadway Project Scoring:

1. Regional Significance – 30 points2. Local Priority – 15 points3. LRTP Conformity – 5 points4. Project Merit – 50 points

Project Merit points determined by Sub-Committee of the MPO

◦ Utilize IDOT’s Enhancement Program criteria

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPOMulti-Modal: Pedestrians (6 maximum)

Improvement Points Received

Sidewalk on both Sides 4

Sidewalk on one Side 2Right of Way Preservation w/ Flattened groundwork 1

No access 0Ped-Activated Signals and Crosswalks + 1

Median and Corner refuge islands + 1

(A multi-use 10’ separated sidepath counts as a sidewalk)

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPO

Improvement Points Received

10-foot wide multi-use separated sidepath on at least one side

5Minimum of 5-feet wide on-road, marked bicycle lanes on both sides

Paved shoulders on both sides w/minimum of 3 feet clear of rumble strips

14’ wide curb lanes 3Right-of-Way preservation w/flattened ground work 1

No access 0

Multi-Modal: Bicyclist (5 maximum)

Case Study: The Peoria-Pekin MPO

Multi-Modal: Mass Transit (4 maximum)

Receive 1 point for each criteria fulfilled

Criteria

• An existing transit route• An existing transit stop• A transit turnout is included in project Scope• A proposed route is part of a formally-adopted transit

plan

Policy ResultsGeneral Results of the New STP-U Policy:

◦Hard rankings = fewer politics (but not zero politics!)

◦Rankings weed out the weakest projects

Policy ResultsSpecific Bike/Ped Results:2005 Funded Projects

◦Last round Pre-Policy update◦Total roadway applications – 11

Excellent or good access – 0 Marginal access (sidewalk only) – 1 Minimal access (2’ earthen shoulders)– 2

No Access – 8!!!

Policy Results2007 Funding Round

◦Several “revised” applications

◦Total Roadway Applications – 7 Excellent or good access – 5 (3 funded) Minimal access (earthen shoulder) – 2 (2 funded) No Access – 0

◦Non-Roadway Applications – 1 Public Trailhead Facility – funded!

Policy Results2010 Funding Round

◦Total Roadway Applications – 7 Excellent or good access – 6 (4 funded)

◦Multi-use path – 4 (All funded)◦Bike lanes & Sidewalks – 1 ◦Pedestrian bridge w/sidewalk – 1

No access – 1

Strategies to Use in Your CommunityBiking & Walking is Transportation, not

simply an Amenity

Policy Not Working? Change the Policy!

Engage Your MPO!

Strategies to Use in Your CommunityGo Beyond Your MPO – Local Streets

Integrate

Plans are not enough – Regular Coordination with Public Works/Engineering

Put Complete Streets into development ordinances

Complete Streets & Your Local MPO

Thank you!

John A. Chambersjchambers@tricountyrpc.org

309-673-9330