CONNECT POLICY FORUM

Walter R. Brooks, Executive DirectorRegional Planning Commission

July 21, 2011

REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONBuilding a Sustainable Community

REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

Legal Authority

• State Enabling Legislation• Local Ordinances• Federal Mandates

REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

U.S. DOT Priorities

• Safety• Preservation (State of Good Repair)• Economic Competitiveness• Livable Communities• Environmental Sustainability

RPC as the Metropolitan Planning Organization

• Long Range Transportation Plan• AKA: Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)

• Short Range Transportation Plan• AKA: Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTSAverage Annual Investments1991 – Current $71.9M/year

2040 Plan• System Preservation 42%• Safety & Operations 27%• Bike/Ped 10%• New Capacity 21%

Transit• Discretionary $ Competitive Pot• New Starts 50% Local Share• Operating Cost TMAs 100% Local

Small Urbans 50/50%• Inter-City Rail FRA (not FTA)

TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS – FY-09

Preser-vation49.9%

($220 m)

Capacity28.8% ($127m)

Safety & Op-

erations 3.2%

($14m)

Transit14.4% ($64m)

Bike/Ped3.3% ($15m)

Enhancements 0.4% ($2m)

Total Investments $442m134 Projects

TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS – FY-10

Preservation37% ($75m)

Capacity4.5%

($9m)

Safety & Operations17.7% ($36m)

Transit36.1% ($73m)

Bike/Ped1.3% ($3m)

Enhancements3.4% ($7m)

Total Investments $203m87 Projects

RPC Annual Allocations from the State Transportation Fund for the New Orleans Urbanized Area

in millions$14.0

$14.5

$15.0

$15.5

$16.0

$16.5

$17.0

$17.5

$18.0

$18.5

$15.4

$17.1

$18.2

FY 2009FY 2010FY 2011

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING PROCESS

• Federal Programs Integration• Emphasis on increased public

participation and education• Greater democratization of

decision-making• Renewed Central City Focus

New Directions 2010 and Beyond

RPC’S CITIZENS SURVEY

REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONRecurring Issues and Themes

• Roads• Repair Streets and Sidewalks

• Improve Operational Controls(fix signals, add turn lanes, traffic safety)

• Transit• Service Reliability/Transit Demand

• Greater Transit Connectivity• More Streetcar Lines• Transit shelters and Trip Info

REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONRecurring Issues and Themes

• Bike and Pedestrians• Add Bike Lanes

• Enhance Pedestrian Crossings

• UPWP Projects Feasibility Studies

HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS

Technical Advisory Committee

• Parish & Planning Directors• Parish Department of Public Works• Parish & City Chief Administrative Officers• Local Transit Operators• Louisiana DOTD• New Orleans Public Belt Railroad• Port of New Orleans• LA Motor Transport Association• Louisiana Airport Authority• National Safety Council• Greater New Orleans Expressway

Commission• Crescent City Connection Commission• U.S. Housing and Urban Development

(HUD)• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Advisory Councils• Complete Streets Advisory

Council• Transit Advisory Council• Freight Advisory Council• Regional Livability Advisory

Council

The General Public

RPC Staff

RPC Staff

RPC Transportation Policy Committee

Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan

2007

2010

2011

Prepare & Adopt Coordinated Plan

Prepare Strategic Action Plan for Implementation of Goals

Passage of HCR 131Begin plan implementation

RPC’s Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan

• Identifies transportation needs of the elderly, disabled, and low income

• Provides strategies for meeting those needs

• Prioritizes transportation services for funding and implementation

• Was developed through a process involving representatives from transportation providers, human service agencies, Parish departments, LaDOTD, and advocacy groups

Coordinated Planning Process Quarterly Meetings

1. Provide forum for discussion between human service agencies, advocacy groups, transit providers, LA DOTD, etc.

2. Identify ways to implement strategies in the plan

3. Inform related planning initiatives, such as the Comprehensive Operations Analysis and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)

4. Raise issues, concerns, and needs regarding public transit and human services transportation

5. Prioritize strategies for funding and implementation

6. Develop input into the plan 2012 update

7. Strengthen cooperation and coordination between stakeholders

RPC’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Has Trained

190 Engineers and Planners

31 Police in 8 Jurisdictions

27 Citizens

RPC’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Effectiveness

Bicycle fatalities are 45%

Pedestrian fatalities remain thesame, but reported injuries are

5.64%

Making Livable Communities Happen The Magazine Street Example

Despite the infrastructure improvements…sometimes you can’t teach

an old dog new tricks

TULANE AVENUE

MAGAZINE STREET

HARRISON AVENUE

LEAKE AVENUE

ANDREW HIGGINS DRIVE

ANDREW HIGGINS DRIVE

WISNER BLVD. AND TRAIL

PHASE I – I-10 EAST BEAUTIFICATION

THANK YOU

Walter R. Brooks, Executive DirectorRegional Planning Commission