TRANSPORTATION
Long-Range Transportation Plan
Project Presentation Information
Transportation Plans
Thank you for your project and/or plan request to the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) earlier this year. We are proud to have developed a single vision and direction to guide the region forward over the next 25 years. This is the first time that a comprehensive land use, farmland preservation, economic, environmental, infrastructure, community facilities, parks and recreation, cultural, health and equity strategy has been linked to transportation planning and investment.
A link to the draft plan can be found at https://www.lvpc.org/futurelv.html
The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study voted at its joint meeting of the Technical and Coordinating Committees on August 7, 2019 to release the draft FutureLV: The Regional Plan for a 45-day public review and comment period. As part of this review and comment period, project sponsors are invited to present to the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study. The presentations are scheduled for August 26, August 28 and September 3, from 9 am to 3:30 pm each day, at the 1002 Hamilton Street, Allentown office of The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 5. Please see the project presentation guidelines and schedule link below for your date, time, format and detailed instructions of what the presentations should include and how they’ll be evaluated.
There are several key points that all project requestors need to know:
1. ALL ELIGIBLE/POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE PROJECTS
2. THE DRAFT FUTURELV: THE REGIONAL PLAN IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING PROCESS
3. LESS MONEY AVAILABLE
4. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHANGES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY, HAVE AFFECTED THE PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS
5. FUNDING REQUEST DISCLOSURE
On behalf of the LVTS, we look forward to learning more about your transportation project requests and thank you for your patience as we navigate these funding cuts and federal policy changes. We also thank you for your assistance, contributions and partnership in developing a strategic vision and path forward for the entire Lehigh Valley. Together, we will balance the pressures of growth and development with preservation of both our land and our infrastructure system.
OPEN CALL FOR PROJECTS DIRECTIONS
This FutureLV Open Call for Transportation Plans and Projects is the opportunity to propose a plan or project to be included in the Lehigh Valley’s Regional Plan. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) and the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) are currently preparing FutureLV, which will be the Lehigh County and Northampton County comprehensive plan and Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for the region. As part of this effort, we are seeking input on transportation plans and projects to be considered for inclusion in FutureLV.
LVTS is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Lehigh and Northampton Counties. The FutureLV Open Call for Transportation Plans and Projects is a required function of LVTS as the MPO, under the administrative function of LVPC. LVPC and LVTS will use the information gathered as part of the input to developing both policy and project funding strategies.
Inclusion of a plan or project in FutureLV is a necessary step toward potentially being included for funding. Plan/project proposers should be aware that the inclusion of a plan/project in the long range plan is illustrative and does not guarantee that a plan/project will necessarily be funded for advancement in the Transportation Improvement Program or any other funding mechanism.
The purpose of the FutureLV Open Call for Transportation Plans and Projects is to identify plans and projects that address transportation needs in the region. Proposed plans/projects will be evaluated using a set of evaluation criteria. Because available financial resources are limited for transportation plans/projects, the screening process utilizes a set of evaluation criteria to ensure that available revenues are used effectively and efficiently.
By law, federally designated MPOs such as the LVPC/LVTS are required to prepare an LRTP in order to receive federal funding for transportation plans/projects. The federal government requires that the LRTP list of transportation plans/projects be fiscally constrained. The LRTP is typically updated every 4 years, based on new data and changes to regional priorities since that last update.
The LRTP list of transportation plans/projects is updated and refined as part of planning process for the four-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). To be placed on the TIP, the plan/project must align with the region’s vision, established in the of the Region’s LRTP. Therefore, all plans/projects to be placed on future LVTS TIPs, shall meet the goals of FutureLV: The Regional Plan.
FutureLV: The Regional Plan will be the combined comprehensive plan and LRTP for the Lehigh Valley. It will be the official, legal plan setting the regional vision, goals, policies and implementation strategies for the next 20 years. As part of the LRTP update, process goals are currently being formulated for FutureLV. The FutureLV working goals are:
• A VIBRANT REGIONAL ECONOMY
• EFFICIENT, PREDICTABLE DEVELOPMENT
• CONNECTED MULTIMODAL REGION
• SAFE AND RESILIENT BUILT ENVIRONMENT
• HEALTHY, INCLUSIVE AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
KEY DATES
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
FutureLV Open Call for Transportation Plans and Projects begins.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
4:00 pm: Submit any questions in writing about the Open Call to planning@lvpc.org
Friday, January 4, 2019
6:00 pm: Answers to questions will be posted on the LVPC website, www.lvpc.org
Friday, January 25, 2019
4:00 pm EST: FutureLV Open Call for Transportation Plans and Projects Submission Forms Due.
August 26, August 28 and September 3, 2019
Plan/project Presentation to LVTS; Appointment to Present will be Communicated to Plan/Project Sponsors. See schedule above
2019 Year End
FutureLV: The Regional Plan adoption
The LEHIGH VALLEY TRANSPORTATION STUDY (MPO) is committed to compliance with nondiscrimination requirements of
civil rights statutes, executive orders, regulations and policies applicable to the programs and activities it administers.
Accordingly, the MPO is dedicated to ensuring that program beneficiaries receive public participation opportunities without
regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or economic status. Meeting facilities are accessible to persons with
disabilities and the location is reachable by public transit. The MPO will provide auxiliary services for individuals with
language, speech, sight or hearing impediments provided the request for assistance is made 14 days prior to the meeting.
The MPO will attempt to satisfy other requests, as it is able. Please make your request for auxiliary services to
planning@lvpc.org 610-264-4544. If you believe you have been denied participation opportunities, or otherwise discriminated against in relation to the programs or activities administered by the MPO, you may file a complaint using the procedures provided in our complaint process document or by contacting planning@lvpc.org or 610-264-4544.
El ESTUDIO DE TRANSPORTE DE LEHIGH VALLEY (Organización Metropolitana de Planificación [MPO, Metropolitan
Planning Organization]) está comprometido con el cumplimiento de los requisitos de no discriminación de las leyes de
derechos civiles, los decretos ejecutivos, los reglamentos y las políticas correspondientes a los programas y las actividades
que administra. Por ende, la MPO se dedica a garantizar que los beneficiarios de un programa reciban oportunidades de
participación pública sin tener en cuenta su raza, color, país de origen, sexo, edad, discapacidad o situación económica. Las
instalaciones para reuniones son accesibles para las personas con discapacidades y se puede llegar a su ubicación usando
el transporte público. La MPO brindará servicios auxiliares para personas con impedimentos lingüísticos o problemas de
habla, vista o audición, siempre y cuando la solicitud de asistencia se haga 14 días antes de la reunión. La MPO intentará
responder a otras solicitudes, según sus posibilidades. Solicite servicios auxiliares llamando a planning@lvpc.org o al
610-264-4544. Si cree que le negaron oportunidades de participación o que lo discriminaron de otra manera en relación con
los programas o las actividades que administra la MPO, puede presentar una queja siguiendo los procedimientos que figuran en nuestro documento de proceso de queja o comunicándose con planning@lvpc.org or 610-264-4544.