DEVELOPING THE 2035 MOBILITY VISION PLAN FALL NEWSLETTER and SURVEY The publication of two MVP newsletters was coordinated with key events of the planning process. The first newsletter, circulated in the fall of 2009, focused on explaining the planning process and establishing goals, objectives, and policies and transportation needs for the community. Respondents were asked a series of questions about the importance of different transportation investments and funding strategies in Polk County. The TPO distributed the first survey to more than 2,500 individuals and made it available on the 2035 MVP website. Over 300 surveys were returned.
AUGUST 2009
COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS In the fall of 2009, TPO staff began interacting with community stakeholders to formulate the goals and objectives needed to guide the development of the 2035 MVP. TPO staff participated in multiple outreach events that varied in scale and focus. The TPO staff conducted Community Workshop, Lakeland, Fall 2010 community outreach events and began making presentations to numerous civic and community groups.
Community Workshop, Poinciana, Fall 2010
How do you feel about future public investment in Polk’s transportation?
DRAFT 2035 COST AFFORDABLE PLAN The Polk TPO combined the prioritization process with feedback from the 2035 MVP Steering Committee to develop a draft 2035 cost affordable plan. Revenue projections for local, state and federal sources were prepared. The results indicated that only 32% of the projected needs could be funded by 2035. The top ranked projects from the prioritization process were considered eligible for partial or full funding within the 25 year horizon of the MVP. After considering the prioritization process, public comment and Steering Committee recommendations, the TPO released the draft MVP for final public review and comment in August 2010. Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland, Fall 2010
Fall 2009 Survey Question Response
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS During the late summer and fall of 2010, the TPO conducted a series of community workshops in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Davenport, and Poinciana. This concluded an extensive community outreach effort in which TPO staff attended 28 different public events in order to disseminate information about the 2035 MVP. More than 2,700 attendees participated in those community outreach events.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2035 NEEDS PLAN Transportation needs come from a number of different sources; projects in the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan, Polk County 2060 Transportation Vision Plan, other plans and studies, input from the 2035 MVP Steering Committee, the Technical and Citizens Advisory Committees, and public comments. The Polk County transportation model was used to verify these needs as well as identify others to serve future travel demand. All the needs for capacity-related road improvements, transit services, pedestrian, bicycle facilities, and multi-use trails through the year 2035 were identified, evaluated, and prioritized in the 2035 Cost Affordable Plan.
NOVEMBER 2009
Fall Newsletter, Fall 2009
MAY 2010
FEBRUARY 2010
In Fall 2009, the Polk TPO developed a series of Goals, Objectives, and Policies (GOPs) to guide decision making for the expansion and maintenance of the county’s transportation system. The GOPs establish a plan framework with Goals setting a desired outcome. Objectives provide a measurable outcome and serve to implement the Goals. Finally, Policy statements serve to implement the Objectives by providing direction and identifying actionable measures.
The TPO established a project website early in the 2035 MVP process that would serve as a cornerstone of a broad public involvement effort that would include print newsletters, mailings, numerous public workshops and special events, surveys, newspaper articles, as well as radio TV promotions. The website’s features included a document library, a calendar, general project information, and provided a platform for hosting surveys. The site continues to provide a home for the final MVP plan documents, including video and photo slideshows on a multi-media page.
DRAFT GOALS, OBJECTIVES and POLICIES
WEBSITE
Polk TPO Board Meeting, December 2010
FINAL ADOPTION OF VISION PLAN The Polk TPO Board adopted the 2035 Mobility Vision Plan at its December 7, 2010 meeting.
Hispanic Heritage Festival , Lakeland, Fall 2010
AUGUST 2010
NOVEMBER 2010
POLK
MOBILITY VISION PLAN
SUMMER NEWSLETTER AND SURVEY PROJECT EVALUATION/PRIORITIZATION The 2035 Needs plan identified approximately $9 billion in needed transportation investment in Polk County. All projects in the needs plan were evaluated and prioritized with a weighted ranking system that used the Goals, Objectives and Policies as an assessment guide. Specific criteria were developed to identify the most pressing needs within the transportation network. These included technical analysis, consistency with adopted growth strategies and public input received during the first phase of 2035 MVP development.
The second of two 2035 MVP newsletters was circulated in the summer and fall of 2010. It included the draft cost-affordable plans for transit, roadways, sidewalks, bicycle facilities, and multi-use trails. The survey sought public opinion on whether or not projects should be added or removed from the plan. The TPO distributed the second survey in English and Spanish to more than 1,500 individuals and made it available on the 2035 MVP website. Over 100 surveys were returned.
Polk 2035 Mobility Vision Plan
www.2035mobilityvisionplan.org
Adopted December 7, 2010 Prepared for:
Polk Transportation Planning Organization 330 West Church Street Bartow, Florida www.polktpo.com
Prepared by:
Community Event, Lake Wales Mall, Fall 2010 Summer Newsletter, Summer 2010
Proposed roadway projects recommended for funding. Summer 2010 Survey Question Response
URS Corporation Southern 7650 West Courtney Campbell Causeway Tampa, Florida 33607-1462
Community Workshop, Poinciana, Fall 2010
Adopted Polk 2035 Mobility Vision Plan, December 2010
Community Event, Lakeland Square Mall, Fall 2010 Historic Courthouse, Bartow
2035 MVP Website, Fall 2009
The 2035 MVP will provide a comprehensive framework for addressing future transportation needs and develop projects and priorities for implementation.
Citrus Connection Bus Terminal, Lakeland
www.2035mobilityvisionplan.org
Goal 8 THE 2035 MOBILITY VISION PLAN
ADOPTED DECEMBER 2010
Foster the economic vitality and global competitiveness of Polk County and Central Florida by directing resources to the development of the transportation network.
Goal 7 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS
Fort Fraser Trail
Develop a transportation system that provides for the safety and security of both motorized and non-motorized travel.
Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland
Downtown Haines City
Goal 6 A SAFE AND SECURE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Maintain an efficient transportation system by managing congestion and improving traffic flow.
Goal 5 EFFICIENT AND INTERCONNECTED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Winter Haven Bus Terminal
Growth projections were prepared as part of the TPO’s 2060 Transportation Vision Plan (TVP). The first 25 years of that growth forecast were used as the basis for the 2035 MVP. The areas with the highest employment density projections are in Lakeland, Mulberry, Bartow, Winter Haven, and Haines City. The areas with the highest population density projections are in Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven, Haines City and the area around US 27 and CR 54.
VISION PLAN
The transportation system should be developed and maintained to support an efficient movement of freight and goods, while providing improved connectivity to major economic activity centers.
MOBILITY
Goal 4 FREIGHT AND GOODS MOVEMENT
POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS
POLK
Develop a regional multi-modal transportation system that efficiently moves people and goods, provides for seamless connections, and is coordinated across jurisdictional boundaries.
Lake Morton, Lakeland
Much can change in 25 years. Economic generators such as the University of South Florida Polytechnic campus can spring up. Old attractions such as Cypress Gardens can morph into new tourist destinations such as Legoland. Major transportation initiatives can materialize, such as the statewide high-speed rail (HSR) system and SunRail in the Orlando region. Also, the amount of transportation revenue that is available to fund transportation projects can vary from year to year. These are real scenarios for Polk County, and they are major reasons for keeping transportation plans up-to-date. To fully benefit from these changes, Polk County’s transportation system must be prepared to respond favorably to them and keep up with future travel demand. The Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) plans the transportation system for Polk County and its municipalities,
Goal 3 A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Intersection of Polk Parkway and US 98
Develop a transportation system that is consistent with future land use plans, is environmentally sustainable, and enhances the quality of life in Polk County.
Goal 2 A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Develop and maintain a balanced multi-modal transportation system that reduces dependency on the automobile, provides a range of transportation choices, supports the efficient movement of people and goods, and provides a seamless network connecting Polk County.
GOAL 1 A MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
VISION PLAN
MOBILITY POLK
Park Street, Auburndale
www.polktpo.com
The 2035 Mobility Vision Plan will provide a safe, efficient, and sustainable multi-modal transportation system that meets the diverse mobility needs of Polk County residents, workers, and visitors.
GOALS
330 West Church Street Bartow, FL 33831-9005 863-534-6486
VISION PLAN
MOBILITY
P.O. Box 9005, Drawer TS05
POLK
POLK TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION
VISION PLAN
MOBILITY POLK
and establishes priorities and policies for federal and state funding usage. One of the TPO’s primary functions is to create a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to serve as an overall blueprint for transportation improvements covering at least the next 20 years. The TPO is required to update this plan every five years. This brochure is a summary of the latest LRTP update, known as the 2035 Mobility Vision Plan (MVP). The 2035 MVP takes into account growth over the next 25 years as envisioned in land use and growth strategies in locally adopted comprehensive plans. It also considers larger regional and statewide transportation needs over this period. The 2035 MVP is multi-modal, meaning that it addresses the need for roadway, transit, pedestrian and bicycle transportation improvements. The 2035 MVP is constrained, which means some needs will not be satisfied due to environmental and physical constraints or funding limitations. Despite these limitations, a combination of local, state and federal funding sources will provide opportunities to enhance and expand the Polk County transportation system to support a high quality of life and mobility options well into the future.
INTRODUCTION