TRANSPORTATION

Long-Range Transportation Plan

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LVTS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 12 PM

 Attending the meeting can be done by using this link to www.tinyurl.com/LRTP1023
From there, using “the web app instead” function will enable anyone to see the meeting and chat by computer.

Those who would also like to speak during the courtesy of the floor portion of the meeting can do it by calling 610-477-5793 and using the Conference ID: 841 854 041#.

FUTURELV: THE REGIONAL PLAN UPDATE

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) in 2019 released FutureLV: The Regional Plan. It’s the region’s fifth comprehensive plan for the region and in 2023, the Long-Range Transportation Plan portion of FutureLV was updated after an additional public engagement campaign that included a second regionwide survey, and meetings with all 62 municipalities, community organizations, government agencies and residents. FutureLV, with the updated Long-Range Transportation Plan, is provided below. That document was open for public comment September 6 through October 6. Based on those comments, changes were made and a second comment period was open from October 25th through November 8th. The final document was adopted by the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study on November 15th.

 

FutureLV is among the first comprehensive plans in the nation that merges the land use, economic, environmental, housing, preservation and farming policies with the transportation planning and investment policies of the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS). FutureLV covers both Lehigh and Northampton counties, creating a forward-thinking strategy that leads the region into the future, while addressing the needs of today.

process

who

The federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, Lehigh Valley Transportation Study, in coordination with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and US Department of Transportation

what

Revising the Long-Range Transportation Plan elements of FutureLV: The Regional Plan, including the estimated $2.7 billion, fiscally constrained investment plan

when

From January – September 2023

where

The Lehigh Valley, including Lehigh and Northampton Counties

why

To ensure that the transportation system in the Lehigh Valley is maintained, safe, accessible, prepared and resilient in the interest of public health, safety and general welfare of the Lehigh Valley and supporting:

1. Efficient and coordinated development pattern

2. Connected and mixed-transportation region

3. Protected and vibrant environment

4. Competitive, creative, and sustainable region

5. Safe, healthy, inclusive, and livable communities

how

The staff of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission manages the Metropolitan Planning Organization functions for the region. This team, reporting to the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) monthly, is working on the transportation planning for this project. The LVTS Technical Committee serves as the planning board for the LVTS and is lead for the preparation of the Long-Range Transportation Plan revisions. The public is invited to participate in the update through the LVTS Technical Committee monthly meetings as well as through a series of community engagement meetings beginning in late February.

LVTS joint technical + coordinating meetings for lrtp

wednesday, jul 19 | 9 AM

Thursday, aug 3 | 8:30 AM

wednesday, Sept 20 | 9 AM

wednesday, oct 18 | 9 AM

special meeting of the lvts | wednesday, nov 8 | 12 PM

LRTP REview and comment meetings

monday, sept 18 | 12 PM

Municipal Partners Hybrid Meeting at the LVPC Offices and online.

Call-In Option: 610-477-5793 ID: 871 332 002#

 

 

 

 

wednesday, sept 20 | 9 AM

Lehigh Valley Transportation Study Virtual monthly meeting

Call-In Option: 610-477-5793 ID: 841 854 041#

 

 

 

 

tuesday, sept 26 | 7 PM

In-Person Public Meeting at the Fowler Center,
511 E Third St, Bethlehem, PA 18015

 

thursday, sept 28 | 5:30 PM

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s monthly virtual Transportation Committee meeting

Call-In Option: 610-477-5793 ID: 841 854 041#

lrtp project workshops

In June, the LVTS began the selection process for the submitted projects. All of the meetings were open to the public and took place in-person at the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission office at 961 Marcon Boulevard, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109.

 

friday, jun 16 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

 

 

 

friday, jun 23 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

friday, jun 30 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

view the agenda

view the agenda

lrtp workshop 2

project list

view the agenda

lrtp workshop 3

project list

Congestion Management Process
MoveLV: Congestion Management Process

The Congestion Management Process plan includes background information, needs and issues, policies, and recommendations.

 

This plan analyzes current commodity flows, forecasts anticipated growth in goods movement, and identifies potential future investment targets including an inland port and new highway interchanges. Subsequently, LVPC has established a freight advisory committee, which will consider improvements to facilitate safe and efficient goods movement and implementing regional congestion intermodal management programs.

Traffic Safety Plan

 Traffic Safety Plan

The goal of this plan is Zero Deaths resulting from vehicle crashes.

The new update to the traffic safety plan highlights trends, goals, high crash study areas, and high crash intersections in the Lehigh Valley. It is created to be used as a resource for municipalities and a plan here at LVPC. The plan highlights significant crash types in the Lehigh Valley and compares them to goals set in Pennsylvania's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).  It also identifies high priority study areas and intersections from an in-house analysis that will be used as candidates for future projects here at the LVPC. This was created with the use of PennDOT's 2014 crash databases.

Other Reports and Studies

  • System Performance Reports

  • Bath Borough Multimodal Safety and Parking Analysis

    The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, in an effort to promote cooperative planning, provides technical assistance to communities experiencing challenges. The LVPC was invited by the Borough of Bath to conduct a parking analysis to determine whether there are sufficient parking accommodations in the commercial district. The LVPC proceeded with a two-phase approach.

     

    Click here for full report

  • Coordinated Public Transit

    Human Services Transportation Plan 2018

    The locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services plan identifies the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults and people with low incomes. The plan provides strategies for meeting those local needs and prioritizes transportation services for funding and implementation. A coordinated plan must also incorporate activities offered under other programs sponsored by federal, state and local agencies to greatly strengthen its impact.

     

    Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan PDF

  • LVTS Public Participation Plan

    Public involvement is a vital component of the transportation planning process. Providing full disclosure of plans and programs not only during the development phase but also after the adoption of these plans and programs allows the general public the opportunity to be involved, comment on, and influence the development process. Every person, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, disability, or socio-economic status should have the opportunity to take part in and influence the transportation planning process. This Public Participation Plan provides for and documents the methods utilized by the LVTS to achieve this outcome.

     

    LVTS Public Participation Plan 2017 PDF

  • Limited English Proficiency

    (Available in English and Spanish)

    The Lehigh Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) developed a Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan covering Lehigh and Northampton counties. The plan identifi es Limited English Proficient populations by geographic location and by language spoken. A person is considered Limited English Proficient if they do not speak English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English. Federal legislation on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 13166 “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency” and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients’ Responsibilities to Limited English Proficiency Persons are addressed.

     

    Limited English Proficiency Report 2016 PDF

     

    Limited English Proficiency Report 2016 PDF - Spanish

  • Transit Oriented Development

    Transit Oriented Development, commonly referred to as TOD, has become a much discussed development concept in recent years. Nationwide attention has been focused on TODs as a development concept that can be used to achieve multiple smart growth and sustainable development objectives. TODs have been promoted and built in numerous large metropolitan areas across the country.

     

    The purpose of this report is to introduce the TOD concept to the Lehigh Valley and assess its potential local applicability using rigorous data based analysis. The report assesses the conditions, criteria, and design elements necessary to build TODs that establish an actual connection between transit and development, rather than developments that merely use the term for marketing purposes. The goals and policies contained in the Comprehensive Plan The Lehigh Valley ... 2030 agree with many of the smart growth outcomes that TODs seek to produce.

     

    The report contains a critical assessment of potential Lehigh Valley sites with regard to how each site meets the identified criteria.

     

    Transit Oriented Development Report PDF

  • Traffic Operation Studies

  • Traffic Trends for selected Lehigh Valley locations

    March 2014

    The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) annually conducts approximately 100 traffic counts throughout Lehigh and Northampton counties under a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Statewide, 8,000 traffic counts are performed annually. The counts are useful in monitoring traffic flows, determining traffic background growth rates, calibrating the regional travel demand forecasting  model, projecting future traffic volumes, determining road design, allocating Federal funds, determining priorities for improvement projects, assessing air quality impacts, and maintaining congestion management systems. In addition, commercial realtors and developers utilize the data for marketing properties.

     

    March 2014 Report PDF

  • Central New Jersey/Raritan Valley Transit Study

    Pennsylvania Component

    The Central NJ/Raritan Valley Transit Study (CNJ/RV) - Pennsylvania Component is an extension of the NJ TRANSIT CNJ/RV Transit Study, which assessed commuter bus and commuter rail transit improvement alternatives along Interstate 78 (I-78) in New Jersey. The purpose of the Pennsylvania Component Study was to build upon the New Jersey portion of the study (New Jersey Component Study) by identifying and assessing options to improve rail and bus services along the Route 22 and I-78 corridors in the Lehigh Valley and the northern New Jersey/New York Urban Core (Jersey City, Newark, Midtown Manhattan and Lower Manhattan). The rail and bus options were developed to provide local decision makers information to decide whether they warrant more detailed study and development.

     

    Transit Study PDF

  • Land Use - Transportation Policy Review

    Land Use – Transportation Policy Review is a paper that evaluates the coordination between the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s land use and transportation planning.  The coordination is examined both as it relates to policy and implementation efforts.  Impediments to coordination are identified.  The paper includes conclusions and with recommendations about how coordination can be improved.

     

    Land Use - Transportation Policy Review PDF

  • 22 Tomorrow: A Corridor Planning Study- US Route 22

    22/Tomorrow is the successor to 22/Renew, which was Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) successful reconstruction of sections of U.S. Route 22, completed in November 1999. 22/Tomorrow will plan and design traffic solutions for the year 2020. Funds have been budgeted to determine needs, study alternatives, evaluate environmental implications, and do preliminary design for measures that will provide congestion relief and improve safety in the future. The U.S. Route 22 Needs Report is complete. This follow-up report documents the study scenarios and identifies potentially impacted environmental resources.

     

    Click on the links below to access the various sections of this report.

     

    Cover Page/Table of Contents/Acknowledgements/Executive Summary

    Pages 1-2 - Background, Map 1 (Route 22 Study Corridor Limits)

    Pages 3-7 - Map 2 (Route 22 Study Area Boundary), Scenario Development process

    Page 8 - Table 1 (The Concept of Level of Service)

    Page 9-10 - Table 2 (Project Needs & Evaluation Criteria), Table 3 (U.S. Route 22 Corridor Planning Study - Scenario Descriptions)

    Page 11 - Map 3 (General Land Use Plan)

    Pages 12-13 - Scenario 003 (Transpiration Improvement Program (TIP) Base (No-Build) Scenario)

    Pages 14-17 - Scenario A01 (Widen U.S. Route 22 to 8 Lanes and Interchange Improvements)

    Pages 18-21 - Scenario A02 (Optimize Widening of U.S. Route 22 from Cedar Crest Blvd. to Route 33 to 6 and 8 Lanes and Interchange Improvements)

    Pages 22-25 - Scenario A03 (Optimize Widening of U.S. Route 22 from I-78/U.S. Route 22 to Route 33 to 6 and 8 Lanes and Interchange Improvements)

    Pages 26-29 - Scenario A10 (Widen U.S. Route 22 to 6 Lanes and Interchange Improvements)

    Pages 30-33 - Scenario A12 (Widen U.S. Route 22 to 6 Lanes, Interchange Improvements and Remove Interchange at U.S. Route 22 and Fullerton Ave.)

    Pages 34-37 - Scenario A15 (Interchange Improvements from I-78/U.S. Route 22 to State Route 33)

    Pages 38-41 - Scenario B01 (Northern Bypass)

    Pages 42-45 - Scenario B02 (In-Town Bypass)

    Pages 46-49 - Scenario C01 (Widen I-78 to 6 Lanes)

    Pages 50-53 - Scenario D01 (Light Rail, Feeder Bus Routes, and Increase Frequency of Existing Bus Service)

    Pages 54-57 - Scenario D08 (Express Bus Service and Increase Frequency of Existing Bus Service)

    Pages 58-61 - Scenario E02 (Travel Demand Management (TDM) Incentives)

    Pages 62-65 - Scenario F02 (Widen U.S. Route 22 to 6 Lanes and Interchange Improvements, Widen I-78 to 6 Lanes and Interchange at I-78/PA 378 & Widen S. 4th Street)

    Pages 66-69 - Scenario F05 (Interchange Improvements on U.S. Route 22; Widen S. 4th Street and Extend American Parkway to PA 378; Widen Cedar Crest Blvd., Airport Road, Route 512, Route 191; Build In-Town Bypass and Add Interchange at I-78/PA 378)

    Pages 70-73 - Scenario F08 (Non-Road Construction Combination Improvements: Travel Demand Management, Modified Land Use and Light Rail Transit)

    Pages 74-80 - Environmental Overview, Table 4 (Potentially Impacted Environmental Resources)

    Pages 81-82 - Map 4 (Existing Land Use)

    Pages 83-84 - Map 5 (Floodplains and Wetlands)

    Pages 85-86 - Map 6 (Lehigh and Northampton County Municipal Zoning)

    Pages 87-88 - Map 7 (Historic Sites and Parks)

    Pages 89-90 - Conclusions and Recommendations, Table 5 (Evaluation of Project Needs by Scenario for the year 2020)

    Pages 91-92 - Chart 1 (U.S. Route 22 Comparison of Level of Service by Scenario)

    Pages A1-A4 - Appendix A pages 1-4

    Pages A5-A6 - Appendix A pages 5-6

    Pages B1-B4 - Appendix B

     

  • Access Management on Arterial Roads

    Access Management on Arterial Roads explores how we can create a better transportation network through planning, coordination and design. Access management is a means of preserving capacity and improving safety on those roads that carry through traffic by regulating access points and driveways. The report illustrates that numerous best management practices are available to implement access management. They deal with access from alternate roads, lotting and site development, driveway location and design, and arterial road design. These practices can be implemented through zoning ordinance and subdivision and land development ordinance provisions. They can also implement the recommendations of plans like corridor studies and neighborhood circulation/access plans. Actions for improving access management are spelled out in a series of recommendations in the report.

     

    Access Management on Arterial Roads Report PDF

  • Environmental Justice Report - 2008

    The Environmental Justice Report — 2008 identifies the distribution of highway, bridge, transit, and transportation enhancement projects relative to low-income and minority populations. It documents the various plans and programs of the Metropolitan Planning Organization are consistent with various executive orders, statutes, and federal requirements and that they contain a fair and equitable mix of transportation projects.

     

    Environmental Justice Report PDF

TITLE VI PUBLIC NOTICE

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.

 

AVISO PUBLICO DEL TITULO VI

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. Lasinstalaciones 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.

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

961 Marcon Boulevard - Suite 310

Allentown, PA 18109

Phone: (610) 264-4544

Toll Free: (888) 627-8808

 

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