Transportation plan update readied for November adoption
Highway investment plan reflects constrained resources
After months of reviewing highway investment needs, identifying available resources and hearing from local officials, the Metropolitan Council is poised to adopt a 2010 update to the region’s long-term transportation investment plan.
Expanding the miles of bus-only shoulder lanes is one way the region can squeeze more capacity out of the highway system. In the future, some of these lanes will likely be converted to dynamically priced MnPASS lanes.
Council officials say the draft Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) update takes a different approach to highway system investment, focusing on preservation, improvements that squeeze more capacity out of the existing system, down-sizing major expansion projects and establishing a broader network of MnPASS lanes that can be priced to help manage congestion.
“It’s an approach that, in part, has been forced upon us by constrained resources,” said Council Chair Peter Bell. “Though in reality, we’ll never be able to build our way out of congestion. As a result, our response has been to identify strategic, targeted investments that will improve traffic flow and safety, and better manage traffic as well as expectations about what we can do with what we have.”
Plan update is ‘honest and realistic’
Estimates show that building enough capacity on the metro-area highway system to significantly reduce anticipated congestion would cost more than $40 billion over the next 20 years. After taking preservation projects into account, the Council estimates only $900 million will be available for major capacity and safety investments to address congestion.
“A couple of large expansion projects could eat up all the available resources in no time,” said the Council’s Metropolitan Transportation Services Director Arlene McCarthy. “We wanted to be thoughtful and creative about spreading limited expansion dollars system-wide to provide greater benefit across the region.
Real-time signs can alert motorists to travel times and traffic accidents, allowing commuters to take alternative routes and reducing the risk of further incidents.
“Perhaps most important, we needed a plan that is honest and realistic about our expectations going forward,” said McCarthy. “We need to let communities know what we think is really possible, so they can plan accordingly. Communities plan and make investments, in right-of-way, for example, based on the region’s long-range plan. To send anything other than a clear signal about the realities of future investment would be a disservice.”
Plan update is result of study, collaboration, stakeholder input
The plan was developed in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), which is also updating its long-range plan for the Metro District.
"This innovative plan positions the region to apply available resources to the greatest benefit for the region's residents, businesses, and visitors," said Scott McBride, Mn/DOT Metro District engineer. "It is forward-thinking in its approach and should serve the region over the next 20 years and beyond."
After nearly a year of study, stakeholder outreach and public meetings, Council staff are incorporating and responding to public comments on the draft that were due earlier this month. A Public Comment Report will be compiled and available before the draft TPP update goes before the Council’s Transportation Committee on Oct. 25 and Nov. 8, and the full Council on Nov. 10 for final adoption.
The TPP was last updated in 2009 in compliance with federal law. Because results from a couple of highway studies were not yet complete at the time, the 2009 update removed a dozen major expansion projects from the plan and committed the Council to updating the plan this year to include future highway investment.