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NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION STUDY UNIFIED
PLANNING WORK PROGRAM FISCAL
YEAR 2003 Adopted
by the Policy Committee on June
11, 2002 PARTICIPATING AGENCIES Bentonville Benton
County Bethel
Heights Cave
Springs Centerton Elm
Springs Farmington Fayetteville Greenland Highfill Johnson Little
Flock Lowell Rogers Springdale Tontitown Washington
County Ozark
Regional Transit Inc. Razorback
Transit Arkansas
State Highway and Transportation Department Northwest
Arkansas Regional Planning Commission IN
COOPERATION WITH: U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL
HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION and FEDERAL
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION TEA
21 FACTORS CONSIDERED BY PROGRAM ELEMENT The
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21) requires,
under Section 1203 (f), that plans and programs address the seven factors listed
below. The Factors which apply to
each element of the Unified Planning Work Program are listed in the table below. (1)
In general.—The metropolitan transportation planning process for a
metropolitan area under this section shall provide for consideration of projects
and strategies that will— 1.
Support the economic vitality of the United States, the States and
metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity,
and efficiency;
2.
Increase the safety and security of the transportation system for
motorized and non-motorized users; 3.
Increase the accessibility and mobility options available to people and
for freight; 4.
Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, and
improve quality of life; 5.
Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system,
across and between modes, for people and freight; 6.
Promote efficient system management and operation; and 7.
Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system. TEA 21 FACTORS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
100:
Data Collection/Analysis
X
X
X
X
X 200:
Technical Support
X
X
X
X
X
X 300:
Long Range Planning
X
X
X
X
X
X
X 400:
Transportation Improvement
X
X
X
X
X
X
X 500:
Administration
X
X PROGRAM FUNDING NOTES
This Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) outlines
the planning activities of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Transportation Study
(NARTS) from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003.
On June 9, 1998 Congress signed into law PL 105-178, the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century, which is referred to as TEA21.
100:
DATA COLLECTION/ANALYSIS WORK TASKS A.
NWARPC staff will maintain files that indicate demographic and
infrastructure elements within the
NARTS Area. Census 2000 and other
information will be utilized and incorporated into reports, thematic maps, and
TAZ boundaries. Examples of data to
be maintained includes: changes in
population, population shifts within the region, new building permit and
construction activity, new industrial development and new or expanding
employers. Data collected may
also include socio-economic characteristics, land use developments, changes in
political and economic structures, master street plans, and capital improvement
projects. Collection of regional development data from units of government will
continue. B.
NWARPC staff will maintain files for traffic count data at locations
determined by the AHTD and local jurisdictions.
Traffic counts will be supplied by AHTD and local jurisdictions. C.
TAXI SUBSIDY PROGRAMS FOR BENTONVILLE, ROGERS, FAYETTEVILLE, SPRINGDALE:
The NWARPC will continue to collect data to monitor and evaluate these taxi
subsidy programs. The evaluation
will address pertinent data needed by the cities and funding agencies including:
(1) client data; (2) purpose of travel; (3) travel trends; (4) cost data; and
(5) administrative data. Computerization
of these records will continue based upon taxi driver log sheets.
This information will be reported in the studies discussed in Element
300.
NWARPC, AHTD, Arkansas State Data Center, Local Governments, and taxi
companies COST DATA
Federal
$31,000
Local (MPO)
$ 7,750
Total
$38,750
Element Percent
17.22%
200:
TECHNICAL SUPPORT WORK TASKS
A.
Staff will assist counties, cities, citizens, and the media in
understanding the process of MPO transportation planning and the impact of
transportation projects both short term and long term.
NWARPC staff will update, as necessary, the brochure outlining
transportation planning procedures for the NARTS Technical Advisory and Policy
Committees, and the general public. This
brochure will detail how regional plans are implemented and who to contact for
questions and answers. B.
PARATRANSIT: Provide liaison
and technical assistance to the Cities of Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers,
Springdale, Cardinal Taxi, Tony C’s Taxi, C & C Taxi Company and the AAA
of Northwest Arkansas in the operation and maintenance of the low-income,
elderly and handicapped taxi subsidy programs.
The staff will continue to assist Life Styles, Inc. with their taxi
subsidy program for developmentally
disabled clients. C.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AREA AGENCY ON AGING: The staff will continue to work
closely with the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas in order to stay
informed of elderly transit issues and coordinate and develop services as
needed. A staff person will
continue to serve on the AAA’s Advisory Committee. D.
A-95 Review Process: Review
area FTA funding applications. E.
OZARK REGIONAL TRANSIT INC. ASSISTANCE: NWARPC will continue to work with
Ozark Regional Transit’s new management providing expanded transit assistance
as they seek to improve additional transit services for Northwest Arkansas. This
will include assistance toward an FTA Job Access Grant. F.
RAZORBACK TRANSIT: The staff
will continue to monitor and respond to the needs of Razorback Transit and
support their activities. G.
AHTD/ARKANSAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION/SOUTHWEST TRANSIT ASSOCIATION: Continue
to support AHTD, ATA, and SWTA by assisting their efforts in providing local,
state, and federal public transportation services, assistance and information.
Pertinent meetings and training seminars will be attended. H.
MAPPING: Provide mapping and GIS assistance to participating units and
maintain county and regional maps. I.
PLANNING ASSISTANCE: Staff
will assist counties and cities in utilizing
transportation resources by disseminating information regarding
transportation programs and assisting as needed for transportation planning. END PRODUCTS COMPLETION DATES
PERFORMING
AGENCIES:
NWARPC, AHTD, FTA, ATA, Ozark Transit, Razorback Transit, Life Styles, Inc.,
City of Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville, Springdale, Cardinal Taxi, Tony
C’s, C & C Taxi Company, Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas, area
human service agencies and local Governments. COST DATA
Federal
$36,000
Local (MPO)
$ 9,000
Total
$45,000
Element Percent
20% 300:
LONG RANGE PLANNING WORK TASKS
A.
ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATING GOVERNMENTS: 1.
Work with the governments to update master street plans as needed. 2.
Work with the governments to further define project priorities and
explore funding options. B.
TRANSPORTATION MODELING: 1.
Identify funding sources and if funding is available, contract for a
Trans-Cad based traffic demand model. 2.
Train staff on maintenance and use of the model.
C.
EVALUATION OF UPDATED NARTS STUDY AREA BASED ON CENSUS 2000. D.
REVIEW AND REVISE THE NARTS AGREEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING. E.
REGIONAL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITY SYSTEM: 1.
This will include working with local citizens and historians to locate
the route of the
Butterfield Coach Trail as a backbone to the Regional System and may
include a sub
contract with the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies of the U. of
A. for help with
putting some historic maps into a digital format to aid in trail
location. This sub contracted
cost could be around $3000 if needed.
Private sources may also be available for this
location project. 2.
Once the route is located funding will be sought for signs marking the
route. 3.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Focus Team will explore possible facility
improvements and
make recommendations for the up-coming Long Range Plan. 4.
Staff will offer assistance to participating jurisdictions in development
of their respective
master trails plans. F.
BEGIN THE 2030 LONG RANGE PLAN IN EARLY 2003. G.
CONTINUE THE TAC STUDY GROUP AND FOCUS TEAMS: Topics
including but not limited to: 1.
Intersection Improvements 2.
New Study Area 3.
ITS Regional Architecture 4.
Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Plan 5.
New Cross Sections for the Long Range Plan 6.
Travel Demand Modeling 7.
Regional Transit Needs H.
EVALUATE OPTIONS FOR ACCIDENT DATA COLLECTION. This
element involves investigating the software options, availability of data, and
potential benefits of an accident tracking and reporting system.
A system is not expected to be in place at the end of the fiscal year.
The goal will be to evaluate if such a system would be beneficial in the future,
and what the system might cost to implement and maintain. I.
EVALUATE OPTIONS FOR ITS REGIONAL ARCHETECTURE. This
element involves continuing to pursue the development of a Regional ITS
Architecture. A completed
architecture is not anticipated to be in place at the end of the fiscal year.
Rather, staff will continue to attend trainings and work on the formative
elements that lead to regional architecture development.
Software options will be studied and the TAC ITS Focus Team will begin to
identify stake holders and communicate the need for, implications of, and
potential cost of an ITS Regional Architecture.
J.
TAXI SUBSIDY PROGRAMS FOR BENTONVILLE, ROGERS, FAYETTEVILLE, SPRINGDALE 1.
The 2002 Annual Evaluation Reports will be prepared for each
participating City. The
report will include year-end data including client data, coupon data,
travel trends,
purpose of travel, administrative functions, and questionnaire
results. 2.
NWARPC staff will assist the cities in the annual questionnaire process.
This survey is an important measure to insure program quality and to
solicit the direct input from the riders. The
comments and suggestions provided by the riders will be addressed jointly by the
NWARPC, AAA of NW Arkansas, Ozark Regional Transit Inc., the Cities, and taxi
companies. Appropriate action will
be taken to preserve the efficiency and success of the programs. 3.
The staff will provide each of the taxi programs with an “Individual
Ridership Report”
showing the number of coupons used per client for the calendar year.
This
information is very helpful for city and agency planning and budgeting
purposes. It is also a mechanism
where abuses are detected. 4.
Updated Participant Master Lists will be maintained for each taxi
program. K.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TRANSIT STUDY: The
study was completed in January of 2002. The
recommendations of the study indicated the need for the creation of a four
county Transit Authority. Subsequently, the participating units of government
have agreed to transition into an official transit authority according to
existing Arkansas legislation. The
city and county officials have set a late summer date for creation of the
Authority. The NWARPC will continue to provide implementation and technical
support. L.
EXPLORE
OPTIONS FOR AN AREA-WIDE FREEWAY STUDY
END PRODUCTS COMPLETION DATES
NWARPC,
AHTD, AAA of Northwest Arkansas, Razorback
Transit, Regional Transit, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority,
participating taxi companies, and local governments. COST DATA
Federal
$74,000
Local (MPO)
$18,500
Total
$92,500
Element Percent
41.12% 400:
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT WORK TASKSA.
Update and amend the 2003-2005 TIP as needed. B.
Establish a consistent procedure for future TIP development. END PRODUCTS COMPLETION DATES
PERFORMING
AGENCY: NWARPC,
AHTD, FHWA, FTA, Razorback Transit, Ozark Transit, and Local Governments. COST DATA
Federal
$8,000
Local (MPO)
$2,000
Total
$10,000
Element Percent
4.44% 500:
ADMINISTRATION WORK TASKS
A.
Provide those administrative, budgeting, bookkeeping, and clerical duties
required in order to perform work tasks and comply with AHTD and FTA
requirements. Progress reports, and
related documentation will be prepared in conjunction with P.L. activities, as
well as the FY 2004 Unified Planning Work Program. B.
Improve office equipment, computer systems, and software as needed to
keep pace with state-of-the-art technology currently in use for improved
communications, mapping, planning analysis and report production.
Train staff on software packages. (The cost of equipment and software
will be shared equally by all elements). C.
Attend planning and transit meetings and conferences to maintain
coordination with other agencies, staff proficiency and professional
improvement. Keep informed of AHTD
and FTA programs and trends, as well as local issues and trends in order to
provide proper assistance to local governments and agencies.
Information bulletins and correspondence will be reviewed.
Necessary AHTD, ATA, TRB and SWTA meetings and conferences will be
attended. D.
NWARPC
will continue public involvement procedures for all aspects of transportation
planning as specified in the current NARTS Procedures for Public Involvement. END PRODUCTS (All COMPLETION DATES ARE ON-GOING)
A. 1) Record keeping
and daily correspondence
2)
Audit report 3)
Committee meetings and coordination of the transportation planning process
4) Community involvement/public participating activities 5)
Audit-approved records, and the FY 2004 Unified Planning Work Program B.
Upgrade of computers and software for more efficiency and productivity in
the areas of
communications, mapping, transportation planning, GIS operations and
report production.
Staff training on software packages. C.
Attendance at AHTD AAMPO, APA, ATA, SWTA , TRB and other transportation
related meetings and conferences. D.
An ongoing public involvement activity to ensure the public’s knowledge
of proposed
transportation improvements throughout the area.
On-going documentation of public
involvement in the planning process. PERFORMING
AGENCIES
– NWARPC, AHTD, and FTA. COST DATA
Federal
$31,000
Local (MPO)
$ 7,750
Total
$38,750
Element Percent
17.22%
ADOPTION This
Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) was
prepared as a part of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Transportation Study
and developed by the Technical Advisory Committee and the Policy Committee with
technical assistance by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
Public notice concerning this Program was published in The Arkansas
Democrat Gazette and The Northwest Arkansas Times on May 12, May 22, and June4,
2002. The Technical Advisory
Committee recommended the Program for adoption on May 31, 2002. The Policy
Committee reviewed and adopted the Program on June 11, 2002.
I hereby certify the
adoption of this UPWP for State Fiscal year 2003 by the Policy Committee of the
Northwest Arkansas Regional Transportation Study on this 11th day of June,
2002. _______________________________ Bob
Crafton
Chair,
NARTS Policy Committee |