METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN

What is the Metropolitan Transportation Plan?

The MTP is the long-range transportation plan for Chittenden County. It addresses current and anticipated problems of congestion, accessibility and mobility while laying the groundwork for the transportation system of the future. It extends beyond a narrow transportation-only view to better integrate transportation with land use planning through regional collaboration.

Why do we need a MTP?

The Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO), created under federal law, brings together the voices of all local municipal governments in the County, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and other transportation interests, with a staff of engineers, planners, and consultants to plan for the region's transportation needs for the next 25 years. The MTP is needed to meld the public's desires with expected future conditions.

How much funding is allocated in this plan?

The $1.04 billion in this plan is the total federal funds anticipated over the coming 25 years, along with the 20% non-federal match. These are the funds the CCMPO has a jurisdictional role over. It does not include funds for some local and state projects that involve no federal money.

What regional needs does this plan respond to?

The plan responds to growing and changing transportation needs in the County, precipitated by changes related to population, homes, and jobs. It strongly advocates for maintenance of our existing system and improvements to existing roads and highways, sidewalks, and recreation paths. It contains plans for commuter rail service, park and ride facilities, and expanded bus transit.

It recognizes the need to work with local land use planning so that residents have opportunities to live closer to their work and spend less time in automobiles. It provides for better airport access and recognizes the importance of freight movement through and within the county.

How is our population growing?

In 2001, the population of Chittenden County, at 147,591, was a 90 percent increase over 1960's 68,000. Between 2000 and 2025, the population in Chittenden County will likely grow by another 66,000 people who will need 35,674 new homes and hold 66,000 more jobs.

Why is transportation planning becoming more regional?

Transportation planning today clearly requires a regional rather than a solely local view. Most people do not spend their entire day in one town. Driving to work, school, shops, and recreation may require moving through several towns. Towns acting individually cannot solve broader-based transportation demands. Vermonters and visitors move in and out of the region using highways, trains, buses, planes, ferries and bicycles.

How is this plan linked to Vermont's economy?

The economic success of Chittenden County and its contribution to Vermont's economic success rests on its ability to serve as a regional and statewide focal point for jobs, tourism, shopping, transportation, and other goods and services while at the same time preserving the region's exceptional environment.

Chittenden County's metropolitan transportation system includes a 1,000-plus mile highway network, carries the bulk of the region's 1.2 billion vehicle miles of travel each year, including nearly six million tons of freight. Its transportation modes overlap town boundaries and connect our communities with its highways, railroads, public transit systems, bicycle and recreation paths, and pedestrian walkways. It is under constant pressure to grow and change.

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), a 25-year plan, is the County's most important transportation planning document. According to its Vision Statement, it supports a system that is safe, efficient, and accessible to all, and is designed and operated to complement and respect our cherished natural resources and our cultural heritage.

Public input: What do people want?

Developing a 25-year plan is a process that requires extensive public participation. In order to get that public input and review, this plan has been the subject of numerous meetings: Ten with various interest groups, ten public forums from initial outreach to alternatives presentations, a region-wide statistically valid public opinion survey, 35 Steering Committee (representatives from diverse interests) meetings, numerous Board and Technical Assistance Committee updates, two meetings with each select board/city council (36 total) plus meetings with the Chittenden County Transportation Authority and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. In addition, the information has had extensive media coverage and circulation of educational materials in the past three years.

What that public input has told us:

People in Chittenden County have clearly indicated their preferences for our transportation future - revealed in our 2000 opinion survey. Topping their list is preserving the condition of existing roads, bridges, sidewalks, bike paths, and the public transportation system. Safety improvements, more bicycling and walking facilities, and expanded transit service followed in that order. Rounding out the priorities were minor highway efficiency projects, then major road expansion projects. Ridesharing incentives received the lowest level of public support.

Allocation of transportation funds for system maintenance

In its proposed allocation of funding over the 25-year period, the plan recognizes the public's priorities. Of the $1.04 billion estimated for capital costs from 2001 to 2025, more than half is for system preservation.

Multi-modal: Plans for highways, buses, trains, airport access, bicycles, and walking

The MTP recognizes the importance to the public of bicycle and pedestrian traffic, and of public transit, including transportation opportunities for elderly, disabled, and low-income citizens.

What are efficiency improvements?

The MTP includes efficiency improvements such as a signal optimization plan that will allow vehicles to move smoothly with coordinated traffic signals throughout the county, and recommends advances in traveler information systems to allow for more efficient, and better informed trip making decisions.

The MTP improves safety

Better transportation planning means greater safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicle occupants. The MTP gives priority to improvements at high accident intersections.