Regional Planning and Coordinated Project Implementation by Florida MPOs

Regional Planning and Coordinated Project Implementation by Florida MPOs

Introduction

M

etropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) across Florida conduct regional transportation planning activities with neighboring MPOs in coordinated pairs and alliances of three or more MPOs. As a result of MPO collaboration, a variety of regionally significant transportation planning initiatives have been completed including regional long range transportation plans, regional project priority lists, regional freight plans, regional transit plans, regional trails plans, and more. These alliances have also supported a variety of regionally significant projects that have been planned, funded, and constructed all across the state.

Regional Projects

Southeast Florida Transportation Council (SEFTC) Regional Planning Among the regional planning products developed by SEFTC is the

embership: Regional Public Involvement Plan (RPIP). TheSEFTC RPIPMserves as a guide for Broward MPO

the selection and application of public involvement tools and strategies in Palm Beach MPO

regional studies. The RPIP established four public involvement Miami-­‐Dade MPO strategies to ensure the equal treatment of

individual neighborhoods and

SEFTC Supporting Participants

includes the Regional Public

FDOT District 4

Involvement Management Team,

FDOT District 6

the Regional Citizens Advisory

SEFTC Membership: Broward MPO Palm Beach MPO

Florida Turnpike Enterprise

Committee, the SEFTC website,

SFRTA South Florida RPC

and the Integrated Transportation

Treasure Coast RPC

Information System.

Palm Tran

Miami-­‐Dade MPO

Miami-Dade Transit Broward Office of Transportation

Regional Project Implementation SEFTC Intermodal Supporting PCenter articipants The Miami (MIC) is one of many regionally significant FDOT District 4 transportation projects supported by SEFTC. The MIC is a transportation hub under

Miami-Dade Expressway Authority

District constructionFDOT just east of the6 Miami International Airport (MIA) to provide connectivity between various transportation modes Florida Turnpike available in the county.Enterprise The first two phases of the MIC, the Rental Car Center and the MIA Mover (a monorail shuttling SFRTA passengers between the MIC and MIA), were completed in 2010 and 2011. The third phase of the MIC, Miami Central South Florida RPCfirst all-inclusive ground transportation hub.

Station, will be the County’s Treasure Coast RPC

The Central Florida MPO Alliance (CFMPOA) Regional Planning One of the most significant regional planning efforts completed by the CFMPOA is the Central Florida long range transportation plan (LRTP). The Central Florida LRTP is a plan for regionally significant projects in the Central Florida area that includes a variety of information including a description of the need for regional transportation planning, broad regional CFMPOA Membership: Lake/Sumter MPO MetroPlan Orlando Ocala/Marion County TPO Polk TPO Space Coast TPO Volusia TPO

goals, a list of regionally significant priority projects, and the estimated cost to implement those projects.

Regional Project Implementation

Among the regionally significant projects supported by the CFMPOA is the first commuter rail system developed for Central Florida, SunRail. The first phase of SunRail will be 31-miles long and connect the Sand Lake Road area of Orange County (south of the City of Orlando) to the DeBary station in western Volusia County. The second phase of construction will extend the system east to DeLand and south to the Poinciana area of Osceola County. SunRail stations are currently under construction and when the project is finished, it is expected to carry the equivalent of one lane of Interstate 4 traffic during peak travel times.

West Central Florida MPO Chairs Coordinating Committee (CCC) Regional Planning

CFMPOA Supporting Participants: FDOT District 1 FDOT District 5 Florida Turnpike Enterprise

The CFMPOA and the CCC meet annually to discuss projects and issues that affect both regions.

One example of a project that falls in both regions is the Coast to Coast Trail – a project that will result in a continuous multi-use trail linking the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast of Florida.

CCC Supporting Participants:

Among the many regional planning products FDOT District 1 FDOT District 7 developed by the CCC over the years is the Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise 2035 Regional Long Range Transportation Central Florida RPC Southwest Florida RPC Plan (RLRTP). The RLRTP was developed Withlacoochee RPC using public involvement activities and Tampa Bay RPC TBARTA an advisory committee process that

encompassed the entire seven county region.

Each of the CCC members developed their own MPO LRTPs elements of CCC using Membership: Hernando County MPO the RLRTP appropriate to their individual MPO needs, effectively implementing Hillsborough County MPO the policies and project priorities of the RLTP. Pasco County MPO

Regional Project Implementation

Pinellas County MPO Polk TPO Sarasota/Manatee MPO significant projects Citrus County TPO

The Suncoast Parkway Trail, one of several regionally

supported by the CCC, is a paved recreational trail that extends from Hillsborough County, through Pasco County, and into Hernando The TCTC Supporting PCounty. articipants: FDOT D istrict 4

42 mile trail integrates recreational traffic between the three counties. A portion Treasure Coast RPC of the trail runs adjacent to the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, where it crosses Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise

rivers and creeks allowing users to experience the natural environment.

TCTC Membership:

CCC Supporting Participants: FDOT District 1 FDOT District 7 Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise Central Florida RPC Southwest Florida RPC Withlacoochee RPC Tampa Bay RPC TBARTA

CCC Membership: Hernando County MPO Hillsborough County MPO Pasco County MPO Pinellas County MPO Polk TPO Sarasota/Manatee MPO Citrus County TPO

Hillsborough County MPO FDOT District 7 County MPO Florida’s TPasco urnpike Enterprise Pinellas County Central Florida RPC MPO TPO Southwest FPolk lorida RPC Sarasota/Manatee Withlacoochee RPC MPO Citrus County Tampa Bay RPC TPO TBARTA

Treasure Coast Transportation Council (TCTC)

Southeast Florida Transportation Council (SEFTC)

TCTC Supporting Participants: FDOT Dembership: istrict 4 CCC M Treasure C RPC MPO Hernando oast County Florida’s T urnpike E nterprise Hillsborough County MPO Pasco County MPO Pinellas County MPO TCTC MPolk embership: TPO Indian River County MM PO Sarasota/Manatee PO Martin MPO TPO Citrus County St. Lucie TPO TCTC Supporting Participants: FDOT District 4 Treasure Coast RPC Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise

Regional Planning

An example of regional planning performed by the TCTC is the Regional Project Prioritization Criteria document that was used to develop the Regionally Ranked 2030 Needs Project List. The Regional Project Prioritization Criteria assigns a point value to a proposed project according to 24 different categories and ranks them in order of priority according to point values.

Regional Project Implementation One example project of significant importance to the TCTC is the Indian Street Bridge construction and road widening, a project that is listed at the top of the Regionally Ranked 2030 Needs Projects list. This project improves the connection between Palm City and the City of Stuart by constructing a new bridge over the South Fork of the St. Lucie River in Martin County and widening Indian Street to 4 lanes.

TCTC Membership: Indian River County MPO Martin MPO St. Lucie TPO

Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO and Lee County MPO Coordinating Since: 2010 Meeting Frequency: Annually Notable Plan: Joint Lee/ Charlotte TRIP Priorities List Notable Project: Babcock Ranch Interstate Connector

Martin MPO and St. Lucie TPO Coordinating Since: 2006 Martin MPO and St. Lucie TPOAnnually Meeting Frequency: Coordinating Since: 2006 Notable Plan: Joint RLRTP Meeting Frequency: Annually Notable Project: Projects have Notable Plan: Joint RLRTP typically been completed through Notable Project: Projects have coordination with the TCTC typically been completed through coordination with the TCTC Collier County MPO and Lee County MPO Coordinating Since: 2003 Meeting Frequency: Bi-Annually Notable Plan: Joint TRIP Priorities List and Evaluation Criteria Notable Project: I-75 Airport Direct Connect

Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO and Sarasota/Manatee MPO

NWFLRTPO

Coordinating Since: 2004

Meeting Frequency: Quarterly

Meeting Frequency: Annually Notable Plan: Joint LRTP Component

Notable Plan: Regional Transportation Network Priorities List

Notable Project: SR 776 Widening

Notable Project: Mid-Bay Bridge Connector

Coordinating Since: 2004