1 What is Communities in Motion? 2 3 Communities in Motion is the regional long-range transportation plan for Ada County and Canyon 4 County. With the support of the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), it also considers regional 5 transportation corridors in Boise, Elmore, Gem, and Payette Counties. The plan supports a vision, 6 goals, a new transportation/land use scenario, and a commitment to enhancing regional corridors. 7 8 The major reason for Communities in Motion is to promote a future transportation system that supports 9 the type of community we want, identifies funding needs, and protects corridors. In addition the 10 federal government requires that COMPASS, as the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for 11 the urbanized areas in Ada County and Canyon County, prepare a regional long-range transportation 12 plan to enable federal funding for roads, transit and pathways in our region. This plan needs to be 13 updated at least every four years. 14 15 COMPASS began the planning process in late 2003. In early 2004, in an effort to plan transportation 16 systems that meet the needs of the growing communities in the Treasure Valley, COMPASS 17 partnered with ITD to expand the planning area to include Boise, Elmore, Gem, and Payette 18 Counties – in addition to Ada County and Canyon County. The partnership between COMPASS, its 19 members, local governments in the region, and ITD was an innovative approach that evaluated 20 various transportation modes and policies for maintenance, improvements, and development. This 21 process enabled true regional planning in Southwest Idaho. 22 23 Communities in Motion Vision and Goals 24 We envision a Treasure Valley where quality of life is enhanced and communities are connected by an 25 innovative, effective, multi-modal transportation system. Board of Directors, 2003 26 Connections -- Provide options for safe access and Environment -- Minimize transportation impacts to mobility in a cost-effective manner. people, cultural resources, and the environment. Coordination -- Achieve better inter-jurisdictional Information -- Coordinate data gathering and coordination of transportation and land use dispense better information. planning. T:\FY06\600 Projects\661 CIM\11- FinalReports\PreIntro.doc Introduction DRAFT 1 INTRODUCTION 2 Metropolitan Planning 3 The Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) plays an important role in making 4 decisions about future transportation needs in the Treasure Valley. COMPASS members consider 5 environmental and economic factors that affect the quality of life of area residents when making decisions 7 about transportation. COMPASS Membership 9 As an association of local governments working together to plan General Members Ada County 11 for the future of the region, COMPASS members set priorities for Ada County Highway District Canyon County 13 spending federal transportation dollars over the next twenty-five Canyon Highway District #4 15 years. The agency conducts this work as the metropolitan planning City of Boise City of Caldwell 17 organization (MPO) for Northern Ada County1 and the Nampa City of Eagle City of Garden City 19 Urbanized Area2. The federal government requires the formation City of Kuna City of Meridian 21 of an MPO when an urban area reaches 50,000 people. COMPASS City of Middleton 23 has served as the MPO for Northern Ada County since 1977 and City of Nampa City of Notus 25 the Nampa Urbanized Area since early 2003. The entire planning City of Parma City of Star 27 area became a “Transportation Management Area” when the Golden Gate Highway District #3 29 Nampa Highway District #1 population exceeded 200,000 in 2000. This designation results in Notus-Parma Highway District #2 31 additional requirements for COMPASS to satisfy federal Special Members 33 regulations, including a Congestion Management System. Boise State University Capital City Development Corporation Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality Communities in Motion Planning35 Area The federal government requires Idaho Transportation Department Independent School District of Boise 37 that an MPO, such as COMPASS, Joint School District #2 Payette Valley Regional Transit Gem 39 prepare a regional long-range Boise Ex Officio Canyon 41 transportation plan for its planning Central District Health Elmore 43 area. Communities in Motion is the Office of the Governor Ada Greater Boise Auditorium District 45 title given to the regional long- 46 range transportation plan for Ada County and Canyon County. Communities in 47 Motion also serves as a transportation planning document for the Idaho 48 Transportation Department (ITD) for the regional and state transportation 49 system in the counties of Boise, Elmore, Gem, and Payette. The partnership of ITD enabled true regional 50 planning in Southwest Idaho 1 Northern Ada County is the area north of the “Boise Base Line.” The invisible line runs across the county west to east approximately seven miles south of Kuna. 2 Nampa Urbanized Area is comprised of the Cities of Nampa, Caldwell, and Middleton, as well as small parts of Canyon County. The U.S. Census Bureau designates urbanized areas. Communities in Motion 3/10/2006 1 Introduction DRAFT 2 About the Area 4 Boise is the capital of Idaho, and the largest metropolitan area in the state. The 6 six-county region had an estimated population of 504,000 in 2002 – over one- 8 third of the entire state’s population of 1.3 million.3 10 12 Even though the region is the most populous in the state, there is still a sense of 14 remoteness about Southwest Idaho. Most everything a large city offers is 16 available, although at a different scale. Seattle has the Mariners; Boise has the 17 Hawks (A-level baseball). Denver has the Avalanche; Boise has the Steelheads Capitol Building -- Boise, Idaho. 18 (AA-level hockey). Portland has the Trailblazers; Boise has the Stampede (the 19 level of basketball just below the National Basketball Association). Sports fans support these vital minor 20 league teams and often enjoy the smaller scale. 21 22 The region offers cultural activities featuring exceptional talent…and usually better seating! Professional 23 theater, ballet, philharmonic, opera, and modern dance companies have tremendous following. The Morrison 24 Center stands alone between Salt Lake City and Portland/Seattle markets as a premier performance hall for 25 touring Broadway shows and a “soft seat” presentation venue. A wide variety of galleries support the visual 26 arts, while museums offer exhibition and education on historical and cultural topics. Boise is known in the 28 Intermountain West as a city of 30 museums and cultural centers, Western Region -- Idaho's Bordering States 32 including those that recognize Basque, Washington 34 Hispanic, and African American Montana 36 cultural influences in the state. Visitors 38 Oregon will also find cultural organizations Idaho Wyoming 40 dedicated to visual art, hands-on 42 science, military history, human rights, 44 and zoology. Nampa’s Idaho Center Nevada Utah 46 brings in major concerts of all genres, 48 and the Nampa Civic Center is a fine Communities in Motion Study Area 50 theatrical and performance venue. 52 53 Outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, hunting, and camping abound in the rural areas, and many golf 54 courses exist throughout the region. 55 3 Detailed Census data (Census Data.xls) for the six-county region by county is available. Communities in Motion 3/10/2006 2 Introduction DRAFT 2 To reach a city that offers larger-scale entertainment, museums, and popular How Many Miles is it 4 shopping establishments, however, one must travel a great distance. For example, From Southwest Idaho to… 6 to attend the nearest big-league professional baseball and football games, a major Portland = 430 Salt Lake City = 440 8 museum, or have multiple shopping opportunities, one would go to Seattle, Sacramento = 550 10 Denver = 830 Portland, or Salt Lake City, all a full-day drive. Seattle = 500 12 13 Housing and Transportation “To accommodate growth to 2030, I estimate 14 Housing issues facing the region are complex, but not unique to that the U.S. will construct 50% more residential 15 the region. Many Treasure Valley communities are new; some units and 90% more nonresidential space than existed in 2000…Assuming these projections 16 cities have seen two-thirds of their housing built since 1990. hold, why should we be interested in them? They show that, for those who fear we cannot change 17 Decaying infrastructure, including streets, is not the challenge current development patterns, there is hope.” 18 that older communities may face, but the rapid expansion of low Arthur C. Nelson, FAICP. Planner’s Estimating Guide: 19 density development means that few existing areas support Projecting Land-Use and Facility Needs. 2004. 20 effective public transportation. A United States Census survey 21 shows that nearly 90% of the region’s housing has been built since 1950 (see table below). Much of this 22 development does not include pedestrian connections to jobs, shopping, and service centers. Strong 23 downtown areas exist in few of the region’s cities. Opportunities to alter the future of the region exist—both 24 for new development and redevelopment of existing areas. One national expert notes that by 2030, nearly 25 half of the buildings in the United States will have been built since 2000. Our region will see at least this 26 proportion. When asked if it is too late to effect a new vision of our future, a planning consultant 4 said that 27 this is the ideal time to start. 28 Percentage of Housing United States Idaho Ada County Boise County Canyon County Elmore County Gem County Payette County Region Built Since 1990 17% 25% 34% 31% 32% 20% 24% 21% 32% Built Since 1980 33% 38% 48% 56% 42% 31% 33% 30% 45% Built Since 1950 78% 82% 89% 92% 82% 87% 77% 74% 87% Source: US Bureau of the Census.