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2040 LATS Long Range Transportation December 2015 2040 LATS Long Range Transportation ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The 2040 Lowcountry Area Transportation Study (LATS) Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Long Range Transportation Plan (2040 LATS LRTP) represents an important step in maintaining success in the region by coordinating and prioritizing transportation investments. The LATS Policy and Technical Committees thank the diverse group of participants whose input was instrumental in creating a blueprint for a coordinated transportation system. The 2040 LATS LRTP is the direct result of a collaborative effort between the cities of Beaufort, Bluffton, Hardeeville, Hilton Head Island, Port Royal, and the surrounding areas of Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Support was provided by the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. We extend our sincere appreciation to the elected officials, residents, stakeholders, and local staff who participated in the planning process and guided the development of this plan. Everyone’s time, input, and energy are greatly appreciated. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – Purpose and Process Chapter 6 – Bicycle and Pedestrian Chapter 2 – Guiding Statements Chapter 7 – Transit Chapter 3 – Social and Environmental Chapter 8 – Freight and Aviation Resources Chapter 9 – Financial Plan Chapter 4 – Roadway Appendix A – Project Sheets Chapter 5 – Safety and Security Appendix B – Corridors and Intersections LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Final Report | December 2015 2040 Chapter 1 | Purpose and Process Introduction Transportation is a critical component in continuing a region’s success, representing a major element of an area’s social and manmade infrastructure. The 2040 Lowcountry Area Transportation Study (LATS) Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Long Range Transportation Plan (2040 LATS LRTP) defines the community’s strategy for creating a regional transportation system that accommodates the current mobility needs of residents and looks to the future to anticipate where new needs may arise. The 2040 LATS LRTP is a financially constrained plan, meaning it identifies projects and programs that can reasonably be implemented through the plan’s horizon year. In response to federal mandates and the desires of local residents, the LRTP addresses all modes of transit, including automobile, bicycle, pedestrian, transit, air, and rail movements. The 2040 LATS LRTP is the largest planning effort required for completion by the Lowcountry Area Transportation Study. By its nature, it is also the most far-reaching. The 2040 LATS LRTP represents the first major planning effort conducted by the newly formed MPO. The plan fulfills federal requirements and serves as the region’s transportation vision. It seeks to characterize current and future transportation needs, outline the region’s long-range transportation vision, document multi-modal transportation strategies to address needs through the year 2040, and identify long- term opportunities beyond the current ability to fund projects. Federal funding cannot be allocated to transportation projects within the MPO region unless they are included in the financially-constrained plan. Background In March 2012, the US Census Bureau designated the Bluffton/Hilton Head Island area as an urbanized area (“Small Urban Area”) with a population of 68,998. Federal regulations require the designation of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to provide continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning for areas with an urbanized population of 50,000 or more. As a result, the Lowcountry Area Transportation Study (LATS) was established in 2013 as the MPO responsible for coordinating the transportation planning process for the urbanized areas of Beaufort and Jasper Counties in South Carolina, including the municipalities of Beaufort, Bluffton, Hardeeville, Hilton Head Island, and Port Royal. In general, the MPO area includes land designated as urban by the most recent (2010) US Census and other land expected to be urbanized within the next 20 years. MPOs are required to evaluate their boundary after each U.S. Census. Lowcountry Area Transportation Study Purpose and Process 1-1 LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN 2040 Long Range Transportation Plans LATS facilitates a regional, cooperative planning process for the MPO region that serves as the basis for spending the region’s federal transportation funds for improvements to streets, highways, bridges, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian paths. The LRTP characterizes current and future transportation needs and identifies ways the region expects to invest resources to address those needs and enhance its transportation system. Purpose and Process Lowcountry Area Transportation Study 1-2 December 2015 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan December 2015 MAP-21 The 2040 LATS LRTP is governed by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which was signed into law on July 6, 2012. MAP-21 is the first federal highway authorization enacted since 2005 and allocated $105 billion for surface transportation programs in its first two fiscal years (FY2013 and FY2014) alone. The goals of MAP-21 include strengthening America’s highways; establishing a performance-based program; creating jobs and supporting economic growth; supporting the United States Department of Transportation’s aggressive safety agenda; streamlining federal highway transportation programs; and accelerating project delivery and promoting innovation. These goals are illustrated through eight broad planning factors identified for special focus within the MPO long range transportation planning program. The 2040 LATS LRTP addresses the following planning factors. 1. Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency 2. Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non- motorized users 3. Increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and non- motorized users 4. Increase the accessibility and mobility of people and for freight 5. Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns 6. Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight 7. Promote efficient system management and operation 8. Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system Purpose and Process Lowcountry Area Transportation Study 1-3 Final Report LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN 2040 Planning Process The 2040 LATS LRTP represents a coordinated, collaborative effort to establish a vision for the area’s transportation network and identify a set of multimodal projects to achieve it. The planning process requires a cooperative process between multiple jurisdictions, key stakeholders, and citizens to create a plan that reflects and respects the needs and values of the region. In doing so, the 2040 LATS LRTP ensures the programming of transportation dollars in future years will satisfy the most important interests of the region’s population. The process started with assessments of socioeconomic conditions and the current transportation network as well as a review of existing plans and policies. A set of guiding principles and goals were established ahead of creating a set of multimodal recommendations. Once the recommendations were developed, a prioritization process was created and available resources through the horizon year 2040 were identified. The financially constrained plan provides a blueprint of transportation projects over the next 25 years. Existing Future Multimodal Resource Implementation Conditions Aspirations Components Allocation Strategy • Socioeconomic • Visioning • Roadway • Project Prioritization • Partnerships Assessment • Outreach • Bicycle • Cost Estimation • Initiatives • Transportation • Guiding Statements • Pedestrian • Funding Strategy • Action Plan Assessment • Transit • Plans and Policies • Freight •Aviation Purpose and Process Lowcountry Area Transportation Study 1-4 December 2015 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan December 2015 Community Outreach Successful planning projects begin with an inclusive process of strong citizen The LATS study area includes a involvement. For the 2040 LATS LRTP, the underlying principle for understanding diverse collection of communities. local dynamics was collaborative planning and consensus building. As a result, local Outreach for the 2040 LATS LRTP staff and the project team reached out to the community throughout the planning process. included a variety of ways to connect with these communities. Along the way, several Outreach Target Summary overarching issues emerged: General Elected Technical Stakeholders The plan should help Public Officials Staff maintain the unique quality of Community Workshops " " " Y life in the region while balancing existing and future Stakeholder Interviews Y " " " mobility needs. Community Questionnaire " " " " The plan needs to address Online Interactive Map " " " " the natural and manmade barriers that challenge Presentation of Final Plan Y " Y Y mobility. Committee Meetings Y Y Y " Strategic investments in the " Primary Target region’s major highways Y Secondary Target need to be balanced with improvements to the bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and freight networks. These major themes and specific Technical Advisory

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