plan process
 

Transportation Plan History for Central Oklahoma

The local governments in Central Oklahoma have been engaged in regional transportation planning over the past five decades. The transportation planning process initiated by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in 1965 resulted in adoption of the first long-range transportation plan for Central Oklahoma in 1968, known as the 1985 OCARTS Plan. This plan was updated in 1976 and 1988 to reflect regional changes in land use and socioeconomic forecasts.

Under the requirements of federal surface transportation law - ISTEA, TEA-21, and now SAFETEA-LU, metropolitan transportation plans are to be updated every five years in Central Oklahoma. With each new plan update, base year socioeconomic data and forecast year projections are developed to reflect changes in the growth and composition of the region’s population, land use and travel characteristics for input into the regional travel demand model.

The 2020 OCARTS Plan, adopted in March 1995, was replaced by the 2025 OCARTS Plan (adopted September 2000), and the current 2030 OCARTS Plan was adopted by the MPO on August 18, 2005. The MPO is currently preparing the 2035 long-range plan, known as Encompass 2035, and completion is anticipated in fall 2010.

 

The Plan

Why is this plan developed?
Not only is it a federal requirement, but it also makes good sense to plan for future regional transportation needs, rather than waiting for a lack of maintenance and gridlock to set in before any action is taken. For that reason, local governments in the OCARTS area have been continuously engaged in regional transportation planning since 1965, in compliance with the requirements laid out in the Federal Highway Act of 1962.

In general, OCARTS area Long-Range Transportation Plans are developed using current and forecasted land use, socioeconomic, and other data to model present and future transportation needs. Periodic evaluation and updating is essential and is also specifically called for in the various transportation laws that have governed the development of the six transportation plans throughout the past four decades.

The most recent long-range plan, the 2030 OCARTS Plan, adopted in August 2005, was created in compliance with the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The transportation law placed emphasis on the preservation and improvement of the multimodal transportation system and included seven planning factors addressing (1) economic vitality, (2) increased safety and security, (3) increased accessibility and mobility options, (4) environmental protection and conservation, (5) enhanced integration and modal connectivity, (6) efficient system management, and (7) preservation of the existing system. As new transportation rules were signed into law the same month the 2030 OCARTS Plan was adopted, several adjustments were made to bring it fully into compliance with the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

Since then, the development of the next long-range transportation plan has continuously built steam, and will ultimately culminate in the completion of the Encompass 2035 - the 2035 OCARTS Plan – which is governed by the provisions of SAFETEA-LU. Adoption of the Encompass 2035 is anticipated for the summer of 2010.

 

The Plan

Transportation plays a vital role in today’s economy, providing jobs and income, and supporting economic activity throughout the country. Travel is also an integral part of our mobile society. However, convenient travel options and movement of people and goods would not be possible without an advanced multi-modal transportation network, linking all regions, connecting small and large cities, as well as urban and rural areas.

Not only is it a federal requirement, but it also makes good sense to plan for future regional transportation needs, rather than waiting for a lack of maintenance and gridlock to set in. For those reasons, local governments in the Oklahoma City Area Regional Transportation Study (OCARTS) area have been continuously engaged in region-wide transportation planning since 1965.

The Encompass 2035 – also known as the 2035 OCARTS Plan – is the comprehensive, long-range transportation plan for the Central Oklahoma area. The plan will use current (Year 2005) and forecasted (Year 2035)

to model and analyze present and future transportation needs.

The Encompass 2035 will be developed in compliance with the current federal transportation law – SAFETEA-LU – the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, which was passed in August 2005. The development of the long-range plan will be based on a cooperative local, state, and federal effort, designed to preserve as well as expand the multi-modal transportation system.

Adoption of the Encompass 2035 is anticipated for the summer of 2010.

 

Process

Approximately every six years, the U.S. Congress develops a surface transportation act to authorize transportation funding programs, funding levels and planning requirements for states and metropolitan areas throughout the country. The current legislation, due to expire September 30, 2009, is the Safe Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

As part of SAFETEA-LU, the Federal Highway and Federal Transit Administrations require that all metropolitan areas conduct a comprehensive, coordinated and continuing transportation planning process that includes development of long- and short-range plans and programs. The long-range plan must include a forecast period of at least 20 years and is to be updated every five years. In areas designated as nonattainment for national air quality standards, the plan must be updated every four years and demonstrate that planned improvements will not worsen air quality conditions.

Metropolitan transportation planning is a continuous process. It involves a number of steps that begin with the monitoring of current, base year conditions including population, employment and travel patterns. Future population and employment growth are then forecasted to identify projected land uses and major growth corridors in the region that will influence future travel. This information is used by planners to identify transportation problems and needs, and to establish goals and strategies to mitigate anticipated problems. By analyzing a number of scenarios or alternatives and their costs, a long-range plan is developed that includes capital and operational improvements for moving people and goods that can be paid for with transportation revenues expected to be available through the plan’s forecast year. The plan is also evaluated in relation to its potential environmental and social impacts upon the region. Once the plan is adopted, it is implemented by state and local government entities using the federal funds provided through federal surface transportation legislation (SAFETEA-LU) and state and local funds. Short-range transportation improvement programs establish local priorities for funding specific improvements called for by the long-range plan.

The transportation planning process is illustrated in the chart below:
(Note: Unsure about needed format… please see chart in Holly’s file (on page 3) - Encompass 2035 Web Page Text-HM.docx)

Financial Constraint

Federal transportation law requires all long-range transportation plans for metropolitan areas to be financially constrained.


The financial strategy must ensure that total expected costs for planned projects do not exceed reasonably projected revenues and must, therefore, accomplish the following:

The financial strategy must also reflect the fundamental importance of the maintenance and preservation of the existing system.