Future Mobility 2050
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Augusta Regional Transportation Study FUTURE MOBILITY 2050 Draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan July 10, 2020 ARTS Draft 2050 MTP The Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) as a federally-designated agency was established as a bi-state Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in 1970. The ARTS MPO working collaboratively with partner agencies is responsible for making policy about local transportation and deciding how to spend Federal funds for carrying out the transportation planning process. The ARTS MPO is also responsible for overseeing multimodal and long range transportation planning within the ARTS planning area to ensure continued accessibility, connectivity, efficiency, mobility, and safety for the movement of people and freight. The ARTS planning area includes Richmond County, and the Cities of Hephzibah and Blythe in Georgia; the Fort Gordon Military Reservation; parts of Columbia County, including the City of Grovetown; and, parts of Aiken and Edgefield Counties in South Carolina, including the Cities of Aiken, North Augusta, New Ellenton and Burnettown. ARTS METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE Future Mobility 2050 Augusta Regional Transportation Study 535 Telfair Street, Suite 300 Augusta GA 30901 706.821.1796 [email protected] www.augustaga.gov/680/ARTS-Metropolitan-Planning-Organization The Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is committed to enforcing the principle that “No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, age, sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, national origin, or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and any other related non-discrimination Civil Rights laws and authorities under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” The ARTS MPO is also committed to taking positive and realistic affirmative steps to ensure the protection of rights and opportunities for all persons affected by its plans and programs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Department of Transportation, State of Georgia, State of South Carolina or the Federal Highway Administration. Prepared in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Transportation, South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. ii ARTS Draft 2050 MTP Planning & Development Department Robert H. Sherman III, Director ARTS Future Mobility 2050 – Metropolitan Transportation Plan A Blueprint supporting Regional Population and Economic Growth The Augusta Planning and Development Department (APDD) recently completed a 12-month metropolitan transportation planning process – Future Mobility 2050. The Future Mobility 2050 Metropolitan Transportation plan (MTP) updated the 2040 Transportation Vision Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for the Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS). ARTS is the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), serving Richmond and Columbia counties in Georgia, and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. In September 2020, elected officials from Augusta Richmond County, Columbia County, Blythe, Grovetown, Hephzibah in Georgia; and, the City of Aiken, City of North Augusta, Burnettown, City of New Ellenton and Aiken County in South Carolina; along with the Georgia Department of Transportation and South Carolina Department of Transportation, as the ARTS Policy Committee plans to adopt this plan. ARTS Future Mobility 2050 MTP, as a regional blueprint and policy guide for future transportation infrastructure, recommends multi-modal transportation capital improvements over the next thirty (30) years. With the establishment of the National Cyber Command at Fort Gordon, UNISYS expansion in downtown Augusta, and Project Jackson in North Augusta; the Augusta-Richmond GA and Aiken SC Metro Area is projected to grow 35% in population and 31% in employment opportunities over the next thirty years. The region is estimated to receive $3.1 billion, in federal, state and local funds for transportation infrastructure over the next 30 years which will be used for transportation improvements in Richmond and Columbia Counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield Counties in South Carolina. The recommended transportation improvements include highways/roads, traffic safety and maintenance, traffic signal operations, bridge, freight and railroad, public transit, pedestrian and bike paths. During the planning process, APDD conducted a successful public participation process across the region reaching diverse groups of people, chambers of commerce, environmental, business, and non-profit organizations. A total of 1,624 persons participated in the transportation planning process. The Augusta Planning and Development Department acknowledges the work of various departments within the City of Augusta, and participation of our regional partnerships with the Georgia Department of Transportation, South Carolina Department of Transportation, Aiken County, Columbia County, Edgefield County, Lower Savannah Council of Governments, the public and other agencies to develop this plan. This partnership of collaborative effort aims to ensure our regional transportation system provides safe, accessible and efficient mobility for all travelers, regional economic growth and enhance the quality of life. With warmest regards, Robert H. Sherman III, ARTS MPO Director iii ARTS Draft 2050 MTP Table of Contents A Note to Readers ................................................................................................................................................... xi Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................... xii List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................... xvi 1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) .............................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) ................................................................................................ 1-3 1.3 Demographics and Future Trends ..................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.4 Environmental Justice Considerations ............................................................................................................ 1-18 1.5 Land Use ............................................................................................................................................................. 1-28 2 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ............................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Public Involvement Process ............................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 First Round of Public Engagement ..................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.3 Second Round of Public Engagement ................................................................................................................ 2-5 3 2050 MTP GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES ........................................................... 3-1 3.1 Performance Based Planning ............................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 National Guidance & Historical Context ........................................................................................................... 3-2 3.3 Statewide Goals.................................................................................................................................................... 3-3 3.4 Federally Mandated Performance Measures & Targets ................................................................................... 3-4 3.5 Community Vision .............................................................................................................................................. 3-8 3.6 Goals, Objectives, and Performance Evaluation Criteria ............................................................................... 3-11 4 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORK NEEDS ..................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Commute Statistics ............................................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Summary of Needs .............................................................................................................................................. 4-5 4.3 Roads and Highways ........................................................................................................................................... 4-9 4.4 Aviation