CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND What Is the 2030 TSP? Update of Previous Planning Work Plan Development Process Public Involvement and Review Process Hennepin County Transportation Systems Plan (HC-TSP)
Chapter 2 Background 2.1 What Is the 2030 TSP? The Hennepin County Transportation Systems Plan (HC-TSP) represents an ongoing planning effort that: Articulates a transportation vision. Updates previous planning work. Provides guidance for future transportation decisions. The use of the word "systems" is plural as there are many transportation systems that involve Hennepin County, including roadways, light rail transit (LRT), bus rapid transit (BRT), fixed route bus service, commuter rail lines, park-and-ride stations, bicycle facilities, and sidewalks. In addition, there are other transportation systems that are not directly under county responsibility, but are part of the transportation network, including rail freight, river barge traffic, and aviation services. To work at their best, these systems must interact and interconnect well with each other. Because of the county s expanding role in all modes of travel, this plan expands previous efforts, particularly in helping to develop pedestrian, bicycle, and transit planning. Hennepin County of the 21st century will need a multimodal approach to transportation planning to provide residents, workers, and visitors with the ability to travel in a reliable and affordable manner and to efficiently reach desired destinations. HC TSP 2-1 Chapter 2 Background
2.2. Update of Previous Planning Work This version of the plan is an update of the HC-TSP last prepared in 2000. This planning effort is descended from a long line of transportation planning efforts that extend back to the original 1959 Highway Plan, which served the county during the early 1960s, and later updates in 1964, 1966, 1976, and 2000. 2.2.1 Why Update the Plan? In 1967, the Minnesota Legislature established the Metropolitan Council to coordinate planning and development within the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Minnesota State law requires every municipality and county within the sevencounty metropolitan area to prepare and submit a comprehensive plan at least once every 10 years to the Metropolitan Council. Along with fulfilling the Metropolitan Council requirement, there are other reasons to update the HC-TSP. These include the need to: Update traffic forecasts. Integrate other county plans. Incorporate the plans of other agencies. Periodically review of policies and practices. HC TSP 2-2 Chapter 2 Background
Plan effectively for use of scarce resources. Integrate the approach between land use and transportation. These reasons are described in more detail in the following sections. Update Traffic Forecasts Traffic forecasts are important for roadway project design, spot safety improvements, system planning, environmental analysis, and jurisdictional administration. The forecasts span about 20 years as that is the typical design life of a roadway. The previous forecasts were prepared more than 10 years ago and their relevance has decreased over time. Forecasts need to incorporate historical trend analysis and small area/project area analysis, such as the Special Project Analysis Reports (SPARs) prepared by Hennepin County. New Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based tools are available today allowing increased flexibility, integration of data, and more dynamic forecasts. There is a need to reassess the assumptions for future transit ridership and probable trends in fuel costs. Integrate Other County Plans, Guidelines, and Initiatives The county has participated in recent studies and transportation plans in specific areas that need to be incorporated within the overall 2030 HC-TSP, including: 1997 Hennepin County Bicycle Transportation Plan 2002 Bicycle System GAP Study 2007 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Strategic Plan 2008 Northwest Hennepin County I-94 Subarea Transportation Study (Dayton / Rogers / Hassan Township) HC TSP 2-3 Chapter 2 Background
Active Living Policy and Program Complete Streets Policy Streetscape Guidelines Cost Participation Guidelines Access Management Guidelines Roadway Typical Sections (planning and plat reviews) Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) Restated Transit Investment Framework Each of these plans addresses a portion of the transportation spectrum and includes issues, policies and design guidelines that need to be considered within the 2030 HC-TSP. These documents can be found in the Support Documents CD included in the map pocket of this report. Incorporate Plans of Other Agencies Another need to update the HC-TSP relates to recognizing and incorporating recent transportation initiatives from other agencies such as the Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), including: Regional Development Framework and Regional Growth Strategy, Metropolitan Council, 2006 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP), Metropolitan Council, 2010 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Plan, Metropolitan Council and Transportation Advisory Board Metro District Plan: 2011-2030, Mn/DOT HC TSP 2-4 Chapter 2 Background
Statewide 20- ear Highway Investment Plan: 2009-2028, Mn/DOT Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, Mn/DOT, 2010 Bicycle Modal Plan, Mn/DOT Periodic Review of Policies and Practices A periodic review of transportation policies and practices has been made whenever a new transportation plan is prepared. Current issues, new emphasis areas, and consistency with regional goals often require modifications and refinements to county policies. Most of the policies have been continued throughout the years and, with some modification, are still being applied in some form today. Plan Effectively for Use of Scarce Resources Another compelling need for an update to the HC-TSP relates to being able to respond to the pressures of providing more timely answers to construction project staging and phasing. As staffing and capital improvement fund constraints increase, there is a greater need to be able to compare the benefits of short-term improvements against long-term major reconstruction projects. More Integrated Approach between Land Use and Transportation Hennepin County has worked with the 46 local communities by integrating their comprehensive plans into county transportation planning efforts. Recently, an increased emphasis at the federal, state, and local levels has been placed on even greater integration between land use and transportation. Certain transportation planning decisions tend to increase sprawl (dispersed, urban-fringe, automobile dependent development), while others support smart growth (more compact, infill, multi-modal development). These development patterns have various economic, social, and environmental impacts. 1 Recent federal programs, such as the Partnership for Sustainable Communities through Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are providing grants to help stimulate a new generation of sustainable and livable communities that connect housing, employment, and economic development with transportation and other infrastructure improvements. The Twin Cities region was a recipient of this grant. This grant and other opportunities to more fully integrate land use and transportation need to be reflected in the HC-TSP. 1 Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Evaluating Transportation Land Use Impacts May 9, 2011 HC TSP 2-5 Chapter 2 Background
2.3 Plan Development Process A study design was prepared in 2005 prior to commencing work on the update of the 2000 HC-TSP. The study design identified the key uses, benefits, significant components, and products of the transportation plan. The study design examined some of the issues that would need to be addressed by the 2030 HC-TSP and what work tasks were necessary to complete the plan. A byproduct of the study design was recognition that any planning effort needed to incorporate the viewpoints of the Metropolitan Council, Mn/DOT, and the cities within Hennepin County. Special meetings were held early with representatives of these agencies to obtain their input regarding the approaches to assembling elements of the plan. 2.4 Public Involvement and Review Process As part of the metropolitan comprehensive planning process, Minnesota State Statutes require local governmental units to provide municipalities and other related agencies with the opportunity to review the draft plan. Throughout the development of the plan, as in 2000, Hennepin County employed many of the techniques of the Systematic Development of Informed Consent (SDIC). SDIC is a methodology based on a set of citizen participation principles that is used to identify interested groups and keep them informed of a project or planning effort. To obtain early comments on some of the basic chapters in the plan, a predraft version of the 2030 HC-TSP was distributed in May 2008. The predraft included seven of the 10 chapters. Recipients included 46 cities within Hennepin County, state agencies, Metropolitan Council, Metro Transit, Three Rivers Park District, University of Minnesota, City of Saint Paul, and the seven counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. In December 2008 a complete draft version of the plan was distributed to the agencies noted above plus approximately 25 consultants that typically work in the transportation planning field. In early to mid-2009, comments were received regarding the draft 2030 HC-TSP. Slightly more than a dozen cities responded as well as Anoka County, Metropolitan Council, Mn/DOT, Three Rivers Park District, and three consulting firms. A series of four open house informational meetings was held in September and October 2009 throughout Hennepin County to present the plan. Notification of the information meetings was handled through press releases to various media outlets and notices to the recipients of the draft report. Several cities inserted notices within their city newsletters, and a notice was also posted in the monthly newsletter (NCITE Inciter)of the NorthCentral Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). HC TSP 2-6 Chapter 2 Background
Informational meetings were held in the following locations: Medina Public Works Facility Offices Medina Hennepin County Government Center Minneapolis Champlin City Hall Minnetonka City Hall Approximately 80 people attended the informational meetings. Most attendees were city and agency staff members, with some elected officials and a handful of interested residents. The press releases generated an invitation to be featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and an article was published on September 16, 2009. HC TSP 2-7 Chapter 2 Background
In keeping with SDIC principles, county staff also directly approached groups interested in transportation planning and made presentations on the 2030 HC-TSP. Presentations were made to the following groups: ITE District 4 Annual Conference in Wisconsin Dells, June 17-20, 2009 Hennepin County Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), September 21, 2009 I-494 Corridor Commission, October 14, 2009 Some final adjustments were made to the plan in early 2011 to reflect updated regional plans and current county policies. Since the date of publication of this plan, the county has continued to field comments and questions. Similar to the 2000 HC-TSP, it is the intent to keep this plan a living document and to continue to incorporate minor revisions and updates throughout the next few years. Major changes to the plan will be processed through the Board of Commissioners and submitted to the Metropolitan Council as per the requirements for comprehensive plan amendments. HC TSP 2-8 Chapter 2 Background