Government Center, 3rd Floor
888 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06901
Tel: 203-316-5190
Fax: 203-316-4995
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South Western Regional Planning Agency Government Center, 3rd Floor 888 Washington Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901 Tel: 203-316-5190 Fax: 203-316-4995 |
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Transportation Planning Program Note: The federal certification review of the South Western Region transportation planning program was held on June 27, 2005 from 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Agency offices. More information is available on the Certification Review page. The South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWRMPO) and SWRPA are committed to developing an integrated intermodal transportation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods. As staff to the South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, SWRPA coordinates preparation of a Transportation Improvement Program, develops a Long Range Transportation Plan and prepares an annual Unified Planning Work Program. These three products are developed as part of a "continuing, cooperative and comprehensive" planning process required of metropolitan areas under federal law. More specific information about the Agency's transportation planning program is described below.
South Western Region Long Range Transportation Plan, 2007-2035 The South Western Region Long Range Transportation Plan (Plan) is the "blueprint" for transportation in the eight towns of the South Western Region: Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. It serves as a guide for developing a transportation system that is accessible, safe, and reliable and contributes to a higher quality of life for the region's citizens. The Plan reflects the current state of the region, identifies future transportation needs, and plans responsibly for the entire region. The Plan is also a federal requirement and must be in place before federal transportation dollars can flow to the region. The South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWRMPO) is required to update the Plan every four years. The South Western Region Long Range Transportation Plan 2007-2035 was endorsed by the SWRMPO on May 8, 2007. It replaces the South Western Region Long Rang Transportation Plan 2004-2030 endorsed in October 2004.
South Western Region Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP), The draft FFY2007-2011 South Western Region Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is being developed in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), towns and transit operators in the South Western Region. The draft TIP includes all federally funded highway and transit transportation improvements for the next five years. The South Western Region TIP will be part of the Statewide TIP.
SOUTH WESTERN REGION TIP
STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (STIP)
AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY For more information, please contact Sue Prosi at (203) 316-5190.
South Western Region Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP), The FFY2005-2009 South Western Region Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) was developed in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), towns and transit operators in the South Western Region. The draft TIP includes all federally funded highway and transit transportation improvements for the next five years. The South Western Region TIP is part of the Statewide TIP. This document was approved by the MPO on July 20, 2004.
For more information, please contact Sue Prosi at (203) 316-5190.
Federal Transportation Funds Obligated in the South Western Region Every year, ConnDOT makes available a list of transportation projects for which federal funds have been obligated in the preceding year. The listing of obligated projects in the South Western Region is available for FFY2001 through FFY2006. Projects with bicycle and pedestrian components are identified for FFY2005 and FFY2006.
The State of Connecticut and each of the state's planning regions is required to demonstrate that transportation programs and long range transportation plans do not violate the federal Clean Air Act of 1990 (1990 CAAA). The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) performs transportation and air quality modeling for the entire state. ConnDOT's compliance assessment has determined that all elements of ConnDOT's transportation program and the regional long range transportation plans conform to applicable State Implementation Plan and 1990 CAAA Conformity Guidance criteria as well as the revised transportation conformity budgets approved by U.S. EPA effective February 4, 2004. Links to the latest ConnDOT Air Quality Conformity Report and the South Western Region MPO's Air Quality Conformity Statement are provided.
PM 2.5
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are applications of advanced technology in the field of transportation, with the goals of increasing operational efficiency and capacity, improving safety, reducing environmental costs, and enhancing personal mobility. Successful ITS deployment requires an approach to planning, implementation, and operations that emphasizes collaboration between stakeholder and compatibility of individual systems. At the core of this process is an "ITS architecture" that guides the coordination and integration of individual ITS projects. ITS architecture is the framework that defines the component systems and their interconnections. Developing an ITS architecture provides other benefits as well, including: improved interagency coordination; cost savings for transportation operations; and better services to the traveling public. In Connecticut the Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) took the lead in developing the statewide ITS architecture, which was a requirement of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The 2001 rules of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Intelligent Transportation System Architecture and Standards and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) National ITS Architecture Policy on Transit Projects established that any ITS project funded by the Highway Trust Fund, or the Mass Transit Account, has to be consistent with a Regional ITS Architecture, which is to be adapted from the national template and in place no later than April 8, 2005. In the ITS context, the word "architecture" refers to the relationship between transportation-related systems and institutions rather than the design of a physical structure, such as a building. An ITS architecture identifies how systems interface and interact, as well as the institutional relationships that are required to support these interfaces. A regional ITS architecture describes how agencies will share responsibility and information for the vast array of transportation technologies and systems deployed in a region. A regional ITS Architecture is intended to help all of these institutions collaborate on the deployment and management of these systems.
Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Each year SWRPA prepares a Unified Planning Work Program in cooperation with the MPO and the State. This document describes all transportation and transportation-related planning activities that will be carried out in the upcoming fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Development of a UPWP is a requirement of the Federal transportation act, known as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21. Development of the UPWP begins in early March with a final document produced in June.
Commuter Lots in Connecticut's South Western Region Commuter lots (also called park-and-ride lots) facilitate ridesharing, vanpooling and sometimes public transportation by providing a convenient location for people to meet and travel together to the same or nearby locations. SWRPA periodically conducts an inventory of the Region’s commuter lots to assess the condition and usage of these facilities. The following documents provide a narrative, table and map of the lots in the Region, describing their conditions and utilization at the time of the inventory.
The maps included in these reports were designed for a 34" x 44" sheet of paper, but were scaled to a letter-size sheet for web site posting.
The South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWRMPO) was designated as a Transportation Management Area (TMA) as a result of population growth measured by the 2000 Census. Consequently, the SWRMPO is required to develop and implement a congestion management process (CMP) as part of its Long Range Transportation Plan. The SWRMPO, through the South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA), anticipated the future need to comply with federal CMP requirements. In 1999, SWRPA sought funding for a corridor-level congestion mitigation study through the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT). In early 2001, ConnDOT entered into an agreement with SWRPA that provided federal CMAQ and state funds to conduct such a study. The study, called the Congestion Mitigation Systems "Vision 2020" Plan, commenced in May 2001 and was completed in February 2003. Study products include technical memoranda summarizing existing conditions and predicted future travel demand, preliminary analysis of possible "visions" for mitigating traffic congestion over time, and detailed market research reports that identify the types of options supported by commuters and shippers. A final report outlining a twenty-year plan for implementation of transportation improvements and the likely benefits of implementing such a plan also was prepared. The Vision 2020 planning process is the foundation for SWRPA's Congestion Management Process (CMP), which was previously called Congestion Management System or CMS.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Safe and connected pedestrian and bicycle facilities are essential elements of the comprehensive multi-modal transportation system envisioned for the South Western Region. SWRPA continues to promote bicycling and walking in the region through a number of initiatives. A Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, currently under development, will identify projects to make bicycling and walking safer and more convenient. SWRPA also assists its member municipalities obtain funding for Safe Routes to School and Federal Transit Administration Enhancement projects.
Safe and efficient goods movement is critical to the economic well-being of the South Western Region. The Region depends on the freight system to supply homes and businesses with the products that they consume. The Region also functions as a critical through route for goods moving between the northeast’s large metropolitan areas. For more information on freight planning, please visit the following links:
Bus Transit in the South Western Region Representatives from CT Transit Stamford and Norwalk Transit District presented an overview of bus transit in the South Western Region to South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization at its meeting on June 25, 2007. The presentation describes the types of services, routes, service frequencies and hours of operation that the bus network offers. For more information on local bus services, please visit the following links:
Locally Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan
SWRPA has created a Locally Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan (the LOCHSTP), as required by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU). The LOCHSTP provides the key initiatives and recommendations for coordinated human services transportation for the eight South Western Region municipalities. The LOCHSTP is a product of a cooperative planning process that integrated the expertise of state and regional planning organizations with the insight generated from extensive community outreach with representatives from human services organizations and other key public stakeholders. The LOCHSTP is a component of the LOCHSTP for the Bridgeport/Stamford Urbanized Area’s LOCHSTP, which was subsequently integrated into a statewide plan. Recommended projects were also included in the South Western Region Long Range Transportation Plan 2007-2035. The LOCHSTP entails three human service transportation programs: FTA Sections 5310 (Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities), 5316 (Job Access and Reverse Commute Program), and 5317 (New Freedom Program).
FTA Section 5310 Program: The Section 5310 Grant Program, administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), supplies funding for transportation services to meet the special needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities. Non-profit organizations may apply for this funding, which is used to purchase vehicles for the purpose of transporting seniors and people with disabilities, as per the organization’s general mission. These trips may be for medical, recreational, or social purposes, and may be offered as a fixed or on-demand service. In towns where there exist no organizations that provide these services, municipalities may apply for the funding and provide these services for their citizens. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) is the designated recipient of the Section 5310 funding in Connecticut. ConnDOT works with the Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs) to solicit and award grants for the purchase of vehicles. SWRPA assists ConnDOT with the distribution of applications and the ranking of applications received. The funding must be spent completely towards the purchase of vehicles. SWRPA has worked with ConnDOT and local transportation providers over the years to provide assistance for the completion of these applications. SWRPA received the FY2008 grant applications on November 7, 2007 and sent out notification to interested parties on November 14, 2007. A media alert providing public notification of the availability of the application is to be published in the late November/early December timeframe. Please contact SWRPA for more
information:
If you have comments or would like additional information, please contact: Craig Lader Phone: 203-316-5190
Transportation Technical Reports
SWRPA advocates for its member municipalities through its continued involvement in the following initiatives:
ConnDOT Rest Area and Service Plaza Study The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is studying Connecticut's rest areas and service plazas. The study has evaluated the state's overall needs, requirements, and options for rest areas and service plazas. Study findings and recommendations have been developed. The public is invited to participate in information sessions scheduled throughout the state. A public information session will be held on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at Darien Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT Mor information on the study is available on the study website at: http://www.ctrestareas.org
The South Western Region has been a leader in incident management activities through its creation of the South Western Region Incident Management Team. The team includes agencies and organizations involved in responding to incidents on the regional transportation system. Regular meetings and training exercises of the South Western Region Incident Management Team improve coordination between response agencies, thereby improving the safety of the transportation system for the traveling public. More information is available on the Incident Management Team page.
Long Island Sound Ferry Coalition SWRPA is an active participant in the Long Island Sound Ferry Coalition (LISFC). The Coalition provides a cooperative regional framework for planning, implementing and promoting improvements to the operation of ferry services on Long Island Sound and its tributaries, including the lower Connecticut River, Peconic Bay and the Upper East River. The Coalition was established because agencies in Connecticut and New York believe that ferries could and should play a more significant role in the regional transportation network.
Long Island Sound Waterborne Transportation Planning Study The Long Island Sound Waterborne Transportation Planning Study was launched in February 2002 to explore the potential for expanding the use of the Sound and its major tributaries for waterborne passenger and freight transportation. When complete, the study will serve as an important resource as various entities seek to mitigate southwestern Connecticut's ongoing transportation problems. SWRPA is co-sponsoring the study along with its sister organizations, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council and the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency. More information about the study can be obtained from the following resources:
More information can also be found on the Project Page hosted by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. Please direct any questions or comments to Kevin Wolford, the project manager, by email at kwolford@gw.dot.state.ny.us or by phone at (631) 952-6115.
New York/New Jersey Cross Harbor Rail Tunnel When built, New York/New Jersey Cross Harbor Rail Tunnel will provide an all rail route for truck-competitive intermodal rail freight service directly along the high-speed Northeast Corridor rail system.
Draft Connecticut Statewide Airport System Plan Commissioner Korta of the Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced the release of the Draft Connecticut Statewide Airport System Plan (CSASP) for public Review.
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