REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION STUDY
UNIFIED
PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
FISCAL
YEAR 2005
Adopted
by the NARTS Policy Committee on
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
Bentonville
Cave
Springs
Centerton
Elm
Springs
Highfill
Johnson
Little
Flock
Tontitown
Ozark
Regional Transit Inc.
Razorback
Transit
IN
COOPERATION WITH:
and
FEDERAL
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
TEA
21 FACTORS CONSIDERED BY PROGRAM ELEMENT
On
(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
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.
100: Data Collection/Analysis X X X X X
200: Technical Support X X X X X X
300:
400: Transportation Improvement X X X X X X X
500: Administration X X
This Fiscal
Year (FY) 2005 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) outlines the planning
activities of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Transportation Study (NARTS) from
100: DATA
COLLECTION/ANALYSIS
A.
NWARPC staff will maintain files that indicate
demographic and infrastructure elements within the NARTS Area. Census data 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,
END PRODUCTS COMPLETION
DATES
|
A. Demographic and Development Data for the
NARTS Area will be published in NWARPC’s publications “Regional Housing” and
“Regional Development Data”. Products
will also include thematic maps by Census boundaries and data outputs by TAZ
boundaries for transportation planning and analysis. |
Regional Housing Reports: August 2004, November 2004 March 2005 (Annual Report) May 2005 |
|
B. Traffic data
files showing most recent traffic
counts and changes relative to previous counts will be maintained in
cooperation with AHTD and local jurisdictions. |
On-going |
|
C. Computerized
statistical data for taxi subsidy programs. |
On-going |
Federal $52,000
Local (MPO)
$13,000
Total $65,000
Element
Percent 13.95%
200:
TECHNICAL SUPPORT and SHORT TERM PLANNING
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, a
brochure and web page outlining transportation planning procedures for the
NARTS Technical Advisory and Policy Committees, and the general public. This brochure and web page 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,
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.
Inter-governmental Review Process: Review area FTA and FHWA funding applications.
E.
OZARK REGIONAL TRANSIT INC. ASSISTANCE: NWARPC will continue to work with Ozark
Regional Transit’s management providing transit assistance as they seek to
improve and provide additional transit services for
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. Coordinate Regional GIS efforts in three
primary areas: (1) Centerline files (2)
Aerial imagery (3) File sharing
and workflow strategies
I.
PLANNING ASSISTANCE:
Staff will assist counties and cities in utilizing transportation
resources by disseminating information regarding transportation programs. Staff will also assist counties and cities
regarding transportation planning.
|
A. Shared Database Information: NWARPC Quarterly and Annual Regional Housing Reports, NWARPC website, and other pertinent data, newsletter, news releases, relevant technology transfer information and informational brochure. |
On-going |
|
B. NARTS participation |
On-going |
|
C. NARTS participation |
On-going |
|
D. Application reviews |
On-going |
|
E. NARTS participation |
As Required |
|
F. NARTS participation |
On-going |
|
G. NARTS participation |
On-going |
|
H. Maps and other graphic materials |
On-going |
|
I. Informational memos and assistance |
Ongoing |
COOPERATING AGENCIES: NWARPC,
AHTD, FTA, ATA, Ozark Transit, Razorback Transit, Life Styles, Inc., Cities of
Bentonville,
Federal $60,000
Local (MPO) $15,000
Total $75,000
Element
Percent 16.10%
300: LONG
RANGE PLANNING
A.
ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS:
1.
Work with the jurisdictions to update master street
plans as needed.
2.
Work with the jurisdictions to further define project
priorities and explore funding options.
B.
TRANSPORTATION MODELING:
1.
Assist AHTD in developing a travel demand model
through a consultant.
2.
Train staff on maintenance and use of the model.
3.
Utilize the model in the Long Range Plan update.
C.
INCORPORATE THE FULL TWO
1.
Work with the new cities to create an understanding
of the work and role of the MPO.
2.
Revise the NARTS Bylaws to better accommodate all
participants.
3.
Review and
adjust functional classification of roads.
D.
REVIEW AND REVISE THE NARTS AGREEMENT OF
UNDERSTANDING:
1.
A new Agreement of Understanding will be developed as
part of the process of expanding the Study Area.
E.
REGIONAL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITY SYSTEM:
The NWA Heritage
Trail Plan is the adopted bicycle and pedestrian facility plan for Northwest
1. Staff will offer assistance to participating
jurisdictions in development of their respective
master trails
plans.
2.
Staff will offer informational assistance to citizen
groups that form to promote the Heritage Trail.
3.
Street cross sections that accommodate bicycles and
pedestrians will be evaluated for possible inclusion in the next Long Range
Plan.
4.
Efforts will be made to promote proper signage for the
Heritage Trail.
F.
2030
The Long Range Transportation Plan
for
1.
Establish a Work Group to consider the scope,
procedure, and format for the Plan update.
2.
This Work Group will establish an Action Plan and
time frame for the Plan update by the end of September, 2004.
3.
Staff will implement Action Plan as developed by the
Work Group.
G.
CONTINUE THE TAC WORK GROUPS AND FOCUS TEAMS:
Topics
including but not limited to:
1.
Incorporating the new Study Area (New Agreement of
Understanding)
2.
ITS Regional Architecture
3.
Heritage Trail
4.
New Cross Sections for the
5.
Travel Demand Modeling
6.
Regional Transit Needs
7.
Intersection Improvements
8.
H.
ITS REGIONAL ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT:
Federal regulations call for the
development of a Regional ITS Architecture by
1.
Developed a Regional Architecture Development Action Plan
2.
Established the full two county boundary for
Architecture development
3.
Established a 10 year planning horizon
4.
Identified likely ITS market packages
5.
Identified key stakeholders (draft)
6.
A determination was made to pursue a consultant led
method of Architecture Development with significant input and cooperation from
the MPO
The MPO desires to cooperate in an
AHTD effort to utilize a consultant to assist the MPO’s
in Regional Architecture Development.
The local ITS Focus Team will continue to meet and will become a key
resource for the guided Architecture development effort. This process should commence as soon as
possible in order to meet the
I.
TAXI SUBSIDY PROGRAMS FOR BENTONVILLE,
1.
The 2004 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.
J.
I-540 FREEWAY STUDY:
Staff will continue to work with the AHTD and
consultant in the development of the I-540 Freeway Study.
|
A1. Update of
Master Street Plans as needed |
On-going |
|
A2. NARTS
participation |
On-going |
|
B. Transportation
Model |
On-going |
|
C. 1. Incorporate
New Cities |
August, 2004 and On-going |
|
C. 2. Revise NARTS
Bylaws |
August, 2004 |
|
C. 3. New Functional Classification of Roads |
August, 2004 |
|
D. Revised
Agreement of Understanding |
August 2004 |
|
E. Revisions of
the Heritage Trail Plan |
On-going |
|
F. Scope,
timelines, and Development of the Long Range Plan |
September 2004 and On-going |
|
G. TAC Study Group
and Focus Team Memos, Reports and
Recommendations |
On-going |
|
H. ITS Architecture
Development |
April 2005 |
|
I1. 2004
Questionnaire analysis and report (Bentonville, |
January 2005 |
|
I2. 2004 Taxi
Evaluation Report (Bentonville, |
February 2005 |
|
I3. 2004 Individual
Ridership Report (Bentonville, |
February 2005 |
|
I4. Participant
Master List maintained for each taxi program |
February 2005 |
|
J. NARTS participation in I-540 Study |
On-going |
COOPERATING AGENCIES:
NWARPC, AHTD, AAA of Northwest Arkansas, Razorback Transit, Ozark
Regional Transit, Inc.,Northwest
Arkansas Regional Airport Authority, participating taxi companies, and local
governments.
Federal $201,000
Local (MPO) $ 50,250
Total $251,250
Element Percent 53.94%
This additional funding will be available for the Travel
Demand Model: