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Wisconsin TransLinks 21
Click HERE for graphic. TRANSLINKS 21 WHAT IS IT: A comprehensive 25 year intermodal vision and plan for 21st century transportation in Wisconsin. It will encompass key issues. Assist MPO's in urban planning. Be comprehensively multimodal. Develop all mode goals for intercity freight and passenger transport. Include an environmental evaluation. Financial backdrop. Intensive public involvement. WHY DO IT: Clean Air Act New Multimodal Technology Private Sector Enterprise Environmental Movement Congestion Public Desire for Choice But Most of All ISTEA! 1 WHAT ISTEA SAYS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ISTEA requires, for the first time, that states develop a STATEWIDE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN. That it be a process and plan that looks at transportation as an INTEGRATED SYSTEM, rather than individual modes. The plan shall consist of all forms of transportation in a UNIFIED, INTERCONNECTED manner. Develop transportation systems embracing various modes to SERVE ALL AREAS OF THE STATE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. Efficiently maximize MOBILITY OF PEOPLE AND GOODS within and through urbanized areas. Sets forth some 15 factors that are required to be considered in METROPOLITAN PLANNING. And 23 factors that must be considered in STATEWIDE PLANNING. Very extensive PUBLIC PARTICIPATION requirements. 2 TRANSLINKS 21 SCOPE DOT'S 25-YEAR TRANSPORTATION VISION STRATEGIC ISSUES ANALYSIS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ASSISTANCE MULTIMODAL INTERCITY FREIGHT PLANS MULTIMODAL INTERCITY PASSENGER PLANS FINANCIAL PLANNING SYSTEM LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATIONS 3 TRANSLINKS 21 MILESTONES OVERALL PLAN MARCH, 93 DEVELOPMENT NOVEMBER, 94 ANNOUNCE TL 21 PROCESS JULY, 93 INITIAL PUBLIC OCTOBER, 93 OUTREACH FEBRUARY, 94 PUBLIC REVIEW OF JULY,94 PLAN ALTERNATIVES AUGUST, 94 PUBLIC REVIEW OF SEPTEMBER, 94 DRAFT SELECTED PLAN NOVEMBER, 94 SECRETARY ADOPTS DECEMBER, 94 FINAL TL 21 PLAN 4 TL 21 STRATEGIC ISSUES ANALYSIS PURPOSE: Step back from current practices and habits, to relook and rethink those issues and state strategies that may significantly influence the future of Wisconsin transportation and development. Following a background evaluation, several alternate strategies are posed for the public to consider and select. ISSUE PAPERS: Transportation and Land Use Transportation and the Environment Transportation and Economic Development Impacts of Highway Improvements on Travel and Regional Development Transit in Wisconsin Transportation Demand Management Local Transportation Financial Partnerships Role of Urban Highways Specialized Transportation Quality Highways Relating the Cost of Automobile Use with Travel Behavior 5 METROPOLITAN PLANNING PARTNERSHIP TL 21 ROLES: ISTEA assigns metropolitan transportation planning responsibilities to the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (11 MPO's for the 14 urbanized areas in Wisconsin), to be done in partnership with state DOT's and the transit systems. WisDOT, in partnership with the MPO'S, provides technical assistance, guidance to encourage statewide consistency, and financial help. GUIDANCE: Bicycle Planning Pedestrian Planning Public Participation Environmental Evaluation Corridor Preservation Long Range Plan and Access Management Alternatives Urban Performance Multimodal Prioritization Measures Financial Analysis Congestion Management Systems Interim Planning Process TIP Development Transportation Needs Assessment 6 INTERCITY MULTIMODAL FREIGHT PLAN PURPOSE: Address freight transportation needs in Wisconsin in an entirely new way. First, estimate total commodity flow movements expected in future years, regardless of modes. Next, with the advice of private sector freight managers, determine how the marketplace would select the most efficient modal method. Develop a multimodal freight plan that takes advantage of the best of each mode, and the role of the state to help make it happen. While WisDOT staff plays the catalytic role, the use of expert consultants, Reebie and Wilbur Smith, and a Wisconsin-based expert freight panel, brings an advanced level of insight and expertise to the complex multimodal freight planning process. FREIGHT PLANNING ELEMENTS: Intermodal Facilities Freight Rail Air Cargo Waterborne Motor Carrier NEXT STEPS: Following the development of the somewhat generalized multimodal freight plan, the next steps will be to prepare more detailed statewide modal system plans and more specific multimodal plans for the more densely traveled corridors. 7 INNERCITY MULTIMODAL PASSENGER PLAN PURPOSE: Address intercity passenger transportation needs in Wisconsin using a full multimodal evaluation process. Historic and base year data is assembled for each mode. A multimodal passenger travel demand model has been developed, and via the use of preference surveys and the design of alternate scenarios, the total travel demand and mode shares are estimated to the year 2020. Translinks 21 will then identify the modal and intermodal investments that are needed to bring about the preferred scenario. PASSENGER PLANNING ELEMENTS: Amtrak Rail Service High Speed Passenger Rail Intercity Bus Air Passenger Auto (Highway System) Cross Lake Ferries Intermodal Connections NEXT STEPS: Following the preparation of the somewhat generalized, or "sketch plans" for intercity passenger travel in Translinks 21, the next steps will be to prepare more detailed statewide individual modal system plans and multimodal corridor plans. 8 FINANCIAL PLANNING PURPOSE: While ISTEA does not financially constrain statewide transportation plans (in contrast to STIP's and MPO plans and TIP's), financial considerations now are emphasized much more than ever before. Thus, financial planning will be a major component of Translinks 21. FINANCIAL PLANNING ELEMENTS: ISTEA/Other Federal Funding Federal Reauthorization Prospects Bonding Capacity Public/Private Financing Options State User Fee Stability Impact of New Technologies Plan Cost Analysis Local/State Financing Strategies Options for New Revenues 9 SYSTEM-PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION (SEE) PURPOSE: is a broad and comprehensive environmental review at the planning level. TL 21 ROLES: TRANSLINKS 21 has a lot of firsts, and this is one of them. The SEE is a new concept. Few, if any other state or federal agencies have similar environmental considerations at the planning level. These considerations will be achieved by specifically examining impacts on: Air quality Energy consumption Land use Traffic congestion Economic development Community impacts Sensitive land and Overall costs and benefits water resources SEE guidance is complete and will soon be available. Separate environmental guidance for MPO's is complete and available now. NEXT STEPS: Our next task in fulfilling the SEE requirements is to review how each of four transportation alternatives will affect the environment in Wisconsin. 10 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION -- THREE STAGES INITIAL OUTREACH -- Defining the Scope and Issues Newsletters Issue Papers Key Statewide Organizations Regional Forums Topical Forums MPO Conference CHOICES -- Considering Alternatives; Selecting the Best More Newsletters Technical Papers Plan Choices Book Video Choices Explanation Media Outreach Regional Information Meetings Key Community Visits Focus Groups MPO/RPC Preferences PLAN ADOPTION-- Fine Tuning/Consensus Building for the Final Plan Draft Plan Report Refined Video Regional Meetings III Key Group Briefings Media Outreach II Community Visits Legislator Briefings Focus Groups Statewide Organizations 11 TRANSLINKS 21 CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY #1 TODAY'S POLICIES WORKING FOR THE FUTURE Current policies, program, and investment levels would be continued to the year 2020 with minimal change. Transit, rail, bikeways, air and other programs would be continued in present form. Because the vast majority of passenger and freight trips are by highway, so too, most resources would continue to be directed to state and local highways. #2 TAKING NEW DIRECTIONS WITH CURRENT FUNDING Current investment levels would be continued, but with somewhat reduced resources for state highways, and more for urban transit, passenger and freight rail, bikeways, special transportation, and local transportation initiatives. Pricing policies might be introduced. Greater land use controls might be sought. #3 FINANCING BETTER HIGHWAYS AND MORE CHOICES More investments in all forms of transportation are needed to ensure mobility, choice, accessibility, and economic enhancement. More resources would be devoted to highways preservation and selected expansion. And more resources would be directed toward transit, passenger and freight rail, intercity bus, high speed rail, and air service. Current resources could be increased as much as 15%-20%. #4 TOWARD A WORLD CLASS SYSTEM Combining all the best elements of the world's technology -- pavements, rail systems, aviation, smart highways, and so on -- could become the 21st century look for Wisconsin's transportation. High quality highways would be complemented with an extensive array of new and enhanced mobility choices. World class choice and technology carry a higher price -- perhaps on the order of 30% to 50% more than current investments. 12
