Hattiesburg final document

Hattiesburg-Petal-Forrest-Lamar Metropolitan Planning Organization / 1

Hattiesburg-Petal-Forrest-Lamar Metropolitan Planning Organization

2040Metropolitan Transportation Plan

Executive Summary - January 2016

2 / Hattiesburg-Petal-Forrest-Lamar Metropolitan Planning Organization

This plan is the result of a 12-month process that included consultation with local, state and federal agencies and governing bodies as well as an extensive public involvement component.

The Metropolitan Transportaiton Plan (MTP) is a long-range transportation master plan or blueprint for guiding the development of transportation projects and

programs in and around the Hattiesburg Urbanized Area.

Although federal and state regulations along with the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Public Participation Plan specify certain requirements for the development of the MTP, the vision that drives the process is locally developed.

VISION: A seamless-intergrated multimodal transportation system that connects people of all backgrounds and abilities to their desired destinations in a safe, convenient and efficient manner. A transportation system that promotes a sustainable region with a high quality of life.


Introduction

This document is a summary of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for the Hattiesburg Urbanized Area.

The MTP area, referred to as the Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA), includes both the adjusted or smoothed Hattiesburg, Mississippi Urbanized Area (as defined by the 2010 Census) and areas beyond this boundary that are anticipated to become urbanized within the next 20 years. The MPA is comprised of portions of both Forrest County and Lamar County and includes the incorporated communities of Hattiesburg, Petal, Sumrall, and Purvis. The general boundaries of the MPA and the smoothed urbanized area, as established by the Metropolitan Planning Organization, are shown on the map below.

2040Metropolitan Transportation Plan

Executive Summary - January 2016


Legislative Authority for the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)

With the passing of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962, Congress made urban transportation planning a condition for receipt of federal funds for highway projects in urban areas with a population of 50,000 or more. This legislation encouraged a continuing, comprehensive transportation planning process carried on cooperatively by the states and local communities. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) were designated by the governor in each state to carry out this legislative requirement. Following this initial Federal legislation, there have been a series of acts by Congress that have continued the

metropolitan transportation planning requirement and provided funding for transportation projects, the most recent being the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act in 2015.

Because the FAST Act was signed into law after the 2040 MTP was drafted, the MTP does not reference the FAST Act when discussing the regulatory and funding framework for transportation planning in metropolitan areas. Instead it refers to MAP-21, the preceding legislation signed into law in 2012. While the FAST Act does not substantially change metropolitan transportation planning provisions, MAP-21 and previous transportation legislative acts drastically changed the process of planning for transportation systems. These landmark legislative acts include the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in 1998, and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005. All of these legislative acts have been a direct result of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA), which broadened the goals of transportation system planning to include reducing vehicle miles traveled, expanding travel mode options, improving air quality, and integrating land use considerations into the planning process. Section 1201 of the FAST Act expands on MAP-21 and SAFETEA-LU by requiring that a metropolitan planning area carry out a planning process that provides for consideration and implementation of projects, strategies, and services that:

• Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency;

• Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users; • Increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and non-

motorized users; • Increase the accessibility and mobility of people and freight; • Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the

quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns;

• Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes throughout the State, for people and freight;

• Promote efficient system management and operation;• Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system;• Improve the resiliency and reliability of the transportation system and reduce or mitigate

stormwater impacts of surface transportation; and • Enhance travel and tourism.


The Metropolitan Planning Organization

Federal law (23 CFR Part 450) mandates the creation of an MPO for each census-defined urbanized area, with the purpose of involving local governments in transportation decisions involving Federal highway and/or transit funds. The US Census Bureau has identified over 400 regions throughout the United States that it considers to be urbanized as of 2010. By definition, urbanized areas contain a population greater than 50,000. Under these regulations, the Hattiesburg-Petal-Forrest-Lamar Metropolitan Planning Organization (HPFLMPO) has been designated by the Governor of Mississippi as the MPO for the Hattiesburg, MS Urbanized Area and is the responsible agency for transportation planning activities.

The HPFLMPO is composed of local government representatives, transportation officials and other stakeholders. It functions with two committees. The Technical Committee reviews documents and makes recommendations on the technical aspects of the MPO plans, while the Policy Committee provides policy direction to the MPO staff and authorizes adoption of the MPO plans.

The MTP Planning Process

Federal and state regulations and the MPO’s Public Participation Plan specify certain requirements for the development of the MTP, but the vision that drives the planning process is locally developed. It is this locally-derived vision that serves as the foundation for the MTP’s performance-based approach to metropolitan transportation planning summarized below:

• Set regional vision

• Define goals and objectives

• Establish system performance measures

• Assess baseline system performance

• Identify desired system performance

• Forecast future conditions and need

• Develop implementation strategy


VisioningThe regional vision was synthesized from public and stakeholder input. From this vision, goals, objectives, and project prioritization criteria were developed that support achievement of the stated vision. Though not included in the 2040 MTP, monitoring of performance measures related to achieving the regional vision will become an integral part of future MTPs. Once federal guidance on transportation performance measures is finalized, the MPO will be required to track performance measures, set targets, and periodically report on progress in coordination with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT).

Vision

“A seamlessly-integrated, multimodal transportation system that connects people of all backgrounds and abilities to their desired destinations in a safe, convenient, and efficient manner. A transportation system that promotes a sustainable region with a high quality of life.”

Goals

• Affordable, convenient, and reliable access to destinations by multiple modes of transportation

• A connected regional economy accessible to national and global markets• A well-maintained and efficient transportation system• A safe, secure, and resilient transportation system• A transportation system that creates a sense of place and improves public health• A transportation system that distributes benefits and burdens in an equitable manner• A transportation system that minimizes detrimental impacts to the natural and

historic environment and practices environmental stewardship• A meaningful public involvement process that influences transportation

decision-making • A fiscally-constrained 25-year Transportation Improvement Program that

addresses existing and future needs while maximizing projected revenues

Federally-Required Performance Measure Categories

• Pavement condition on the Interstate System and remainder of National Highway System (NHS)

• Performance of the Interstate System and the remainder of the NHS• Bridge condition on the NHS• Fatalities and serious injuries• Traffic congestion• On-road mobile source emissions • Freight movement on the Interstate System• State of Good Repair for public transit

Note: The MPO may elect to monitor additional performance measures.


Current System Performance

The 2040 MTP analyzes current environmental, land use, travel, and socioeconomic patterns to better understand the existing demand for transportation. It then assesses existing conditions of all transportation modes by means of an asset inventory, technical analysis, and input received from the public and stakeholders. Therefore, the MTP provides a snapshot of current performance and a baseline for performance monitoring.

Public Perception of Transportation Conditions


RoadwaysIn general, there is a lack of widespread congestion in the Hattiesburg Metropolitan Planning Area in the base year. Congestion is mostly confined to the Hardy Street/US 98 corridor.

Maintenance needs are also somewhat limited in nature. Only portions of US 11 near the Hattiesburg Central Business District (CBD) and US 49 northwest of I-59 stand out for poor pavement conditions. Only two of the 19 bridges in poor condition are on the National Highway System, and both are on I-59 crossing the Bouie River.

The Hattiesburg Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) lags behind other small MSAs in the country in terms of electric vehicle charging stations per capita. With the projected growth in electric vehicles, more investment in infrastructure will be necessary.

After the travel impacts of the forecast change in population and employment were modeled with travel demand modeling software, congestion in the MPA is forecast to become more intense and more widespread. Congestion on the Hardy Street/US 98 corridor is forecast to exceed capacity from US 49 to MS 589 and US 49 is forecast to exceed capacity from MS 42 to Rawls Springs. Other future congestion hot spots are mostly in close proximity to intersections and interchanges.

Bicycle and PedestrianFor bicycle and pedestrian needs, a regional demand analysis, facility inventory, and crash analysis were undertaken to better understand current performance and future needs. While there are many areas with relatively high demand for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, most places in the MPA lack sufficient sidewalks or any bicycle accommodations. As the MPA continues to grow, demand will increase in high-growth areas. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements will need to be provided in tandem with new roadway projects.

Areas experiencing unreliable travel times

Bicycle and pedestrian demand heat map


Public TransitFor public transit, the MTP evaluates the fixed-route service provided by Hub City Transit. Current performance and future needs were assessed primarily by means of a regional demand analysis and peer analysis.

These analyses indicate that Hub City Transit provides a low level of service when compared to peer urbanized areas in the South. There are many existing and projected areas of moderate demand that are not currently served by a fixed or semi-fixed route. Beyond expanding transit coverage, critical needs on existing routes include improving the level of service and increasing route frequencies, with special emphasis placed on improving sidewalks and ADA-compliant infrastructure near existing bus stops. FreightAn inventory of the existing freight network and facilities was conducted as well as an analysis of existing freight movement, capacity, traffic, and safety. Future freight volumes were also projected.

The growth in freight shipped to and from the Hattiesburg MPA by truck is projected to increase at a faster rate than the state as a whole. The major freight corridors with the highest congestion issues are US 98 from US 49 to MS 589 and US 49 from MS 42 to Rawls Springs. Areas with potential truck safety issues were identified.

The growth in freight shipped to and from the MPA by rail is projected to be behind the state’s growth as a whole. The MTP identifies rail/roadway crossings where increasing train speeds may be desirable. It also identifies locations where crossing warning devices may be needed.

Hub City transit routes

Major freight routes and railroads


Forecasting Future Needs

Forecasting Future Socio-Economic Patterns

To forecast future transportation needs, the 2040 MTP developed future population, employment, and school enrollment forecasts for 2020, 2030, and 2040 for small geographic areas called Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs). This forecast data was developed through local consultation, analysis of third-party forecasts, and geospatial analysis of environmental attributes, land use patterns, and socioeconomic trends.

Hattiesburg Metropolitan Planning AreaDemographic Data Forecast

YEAR POPULATION TOTAL EMPLOYMENT

2013 106,413 69,5052020 126,826 81,3932030 140,607 89,3112040 154,105 97,424

Identification of Needs

The next step in the planning process was the determination of the transportation needs of the community over the next 25 years. The needs assessment includes demand and deficiency analyses as well as the identification of potential projects to address demand, alleviate deficiencies, and preserve or improve current infrastructure conditions.

Potential projects were identified for all modes of transportation, with the exception of aviation.

• Roadway capacity projects were identified from the public visioning exercise, stakeholder input, and previous plans.

• Roadway maintenance and operations projects were identified through an analysis of existing conditions and consultation with local transportation providers.

• Public Transit projects and programs were identified from the 2015-2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) under the assumption that public transit will continue to operate at similar levels in the future.

• Freight projects were identified by collecting input from public visioning exercise, stakeholders, and previous plans.

• Independent bicycle and pedestrian projects, or those not incidental to roadway projects, were identified by the MPO’s Pathways Plan, public input, and analysis of existing and future conditions. Because cost estimates were not developed, these projects were ultimately not included in the MTP. However, the MPO may program bicycle and pedestrian projects without amending the 2040 MTP.


Financial Analysis

Financial feasibility is a major consideration in determining the final list of improvements to be included in the MTP. Federal regulations mandate that the MTP be fiscally constrained, that is, projected expenditures for projects and programs should not exceed projected revenues. The process for projecting transportation revenues and estimating project/program costs is critical for the creation of a viable long-range transportation plan.

The financial analysis for the MTP includes a revenue projection that identifies the anticipated revenue stream for local, state, and federal funds. This revenue stream was indexed to account for future inflation.

An implementation cost was calculated for each project based on recent typical costs by project type. Local or project-specific estimates were used when available. The total cost for each project includes planning, engineering, preconstruction activities, construction, and contingencies. These figures also include an inflation factor so that costs can be determined based on year-of-expenditure dollars.

Annual transportation revenues in the urban areas of the state can vary widely by year. Therefore, revenue projections were calculated for three time periods or stages. The projected federal and state revenue that is anticipated to be available for transportation projects in the Hattiesburg MPA are shown in the table below.

Future Transportation Revenue Projections Hattiesburg Metropolitan Planning Area

TIME PERIOD ROADWAYS PUBLIC TRANSITStage I (2016 to 2020) $81,827,281 $6,311,981Stage II (2021 to 2030) $176,389,519 $12,543,152Stage III (2031 to 2040) $194,843,766 $15,619,284

Total (2016 to 2040) $453,060,566 $32,331,348


Project Prioritization

The MTP prioritizes roadway capacity projects identified by the public and stakeholders. The process utilizes multiple criteria to evaluate projects for their potential to help achieve the regional vision, goals, and objectives. The table below shows these prioritization criteria.

Roadway Capacity Project Prioritization Criteria

CRITERIA RATIONALE MAXIMUM POINTS

Travel Delay Reduction Benefits

Make most efficient use of limited funding by selecting projects that reduce overall network delay experienced by the users 40

Safety Unsafe areas should receive priority over other areas. 15

Connectivity/Continuity

Connectivity benefits exceed quantifiable model outputs, especially as it relates to the provision of alternative routes and street connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians 10

Intermodal/Multimodal Benefits

Encourage projects that benefit both the movement of people and goods and/or have the potential to improve bicycle and pedestrian conditions 10

Plan ConsistencyEncourage projects that have been vetted through locally-adopted plans, existing studies or plans 10

Potential Impact to Community or Natural Resources Avoid negative and costly environmental impacts 10Potential Impact to Minority and Low-Income Population Environmental Justice 5


Staged Improvement Program

The fiscally-constrained roadway projects included in the MTP are shown in the map below and described in tables on pages 14 and 15. In addition to these roadway projects, the fiscally-constrained plan includes sufficient funding to continue operating transit services at the current level of service. Roadway projects that went through the prioritization process but could not be programmed due to a projected lack of available funding are included in a separate list of projects called the visionary roadway capacity projects. While not currently programmed in the MTP, they may be added if funding becomes available.

The table above shows the benefits of implementing the fiscally-constrained capacity projects versus a “no-build” scenario where only existing and committed projects are implemented. This table indicates that the fiscally-constrained program of projects will reduce the hours of vehicle delay by 13 percent, while reductions in vehicle miles traveled and vehicle hours traveled will be less significant.

Location of Planned Roadway Projects

Projected Benefits of Planned Roadway Capacity Projects

MEASURE PERCENT REDUCTION

Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled -0.5%Daily Vehicle Hours Traveled -4.0%Daily Hours of Delay -13.0%

Note: Dashed lines represent new roadways


Stage I (2016-2020) Fiscally-Constrained Roadway Projects

ROUTE LOCATION IMPROVEMENT

PROJECT COST

(1,000’s)W 4th St Weathersby Rd to N 38th Ave Widen to 4 Lanes $5,018Lincoln Rd S 40th Ave to Broadway Dr Widen to 4 Lanes $6,131US 11 Chapel Hill Rd to Leeville Rd Widen to 4 Lanes $9,478US 11 West Central Ave to Evelyn Gandy Pkwy Widen to 4 Lanes $1,859Broadway Dr Ext W Pine St to Hall Ave New 2 Lane Roadway $1,954Hardy St US 49 to 21st Ave ITS Improvements1 $297US 49 I-59 to Rawls Springs Loop Rd. ITS Improvements1 $1,997Hardy St King Rd/Old US 11 to I-59 ITS Improvements1 $2,931Hardy St N 21st Ave to W Pine St ITS Improvements1 $1,487Hardy St I-59 to US 49 ITS Improvements1 $1,317

Note 1: ITS = Intelligent Transportation Systems

Stage II (2021-2030) Fiscally-Constrained Roadway Projects


PROJECT COST

(1,000’s)Western Bypass Phase I

Richburg Rd to US 98 Widen to 4 Lanes, New 4 Lane Roadway

$23,267

US 11 I-59 south for 1.2 miles Widen to 4 Lanes $5,179Weathersby Rd Methodist Blvd to W 4th St Widen to 4 Lanes $3,021Bouie St E 4th St to Old MS 42/US 11 Widen to 4 Lanes $2,374Hall Ave Extension James St to E Hardy St New 2 Lane Roadway $8,335Glendale Ave Old MS 42 to Evelyn Gandy Pkwy Widen to 4 Lanes $6,257S 17th Ave Adeline St to Mamie St New 2 Lane Roadway $962Timothy Ln Ext W Pine St to Eastside Ave New 2 Lane Roadway $962


Other Plan RecommendationsThe MTP also recommends several short-term and long-term strategic actions that the MPO and its partner agencies should undertake in order to improve conditions for bicyclists, pedestrians, public transit users, and freight. Strategies to improve regional air quality are also recommended.

Key takeaways from these recommendations include:

• After implementing its proposed route modifications, Hub City Transit (HCT) should focus on improving accessibility, amenities, and rider information. Eventually, HCT should expand its hours of operations and frequencies for some or all routes. It should also explore expanding service to Petal and other areas of moderate to high demand in the future, perhaps through the creation of a regional transit authority.

• Bicycle and pedestrian improvements will accompany future new roadway and roadway widening projects in the MPO, unless exceptional circumstances exist. Beyond this, the MPO will implement the action items recommended in its Pathways Plan (2015).

• Freight needs can mostly be addressed by implementing the roadway capacity and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) projects listed previously. Beyond this, the MPO should work with key local freight stakeholders and MDOT to identify potential freight travel improvements.

• The MPO should take a comprehensive approach to address air quality issues, focusing on improving system and operational efficiencies, reducing travel activity, introducing low-carbon fuels, and increasing fuel efficiency. This includes addressing the need for alternative fuel vehicle infrastructure in the future.

Stage III (2031-2040) Fiscally-Constrained Roadway Projects


PROJECT COST

(1,000’s)Lincoln Rd Sandy Run Rd/Hegwood Rd to I-59 Widen to 4 lanes $14,729

Sunrise Rd Indian Springs Rd to MS 42 Widen to 4 Lanes, Realignment $11,837

J Ed Turner Dr/Classic Dr Jackson Rd to N Beverly Hills Rd Widen to 4 Lanes $10,522

Springfield Rd Ext Corinth Rd to Evelyn Gandy Pkwy New 2 Lane Roadway $2,736Oak Grove Rd/Weathersby Rd Lincoln Rd to US 98 Widen to 4 Lanes $8,154

Sims Rd James St/Old US 49 to Old River Rd Widen to 4 Lanes $9,469Broadway Dr Ext W Pine St to Hall Ave New 2 Lane Roadway $1,954


Continuing Planning

A continuing transportation planning process is an important part of overall planning. It is also an essential requirement for ensuring that the transportation system is serving travel demand in an efficient and effective manner. In addition, an annual evaluation of the MTP is required by the 3-C (Continuing, Cooperative, and Comprehensive) Planning Process. The City of Hattiesburg, as the technical staff for the MPO, is the agency responsible for conducting continuing transportation planning. The process is coordinated with other local and State planning activities through the Technical Committee and the Policy Committee.

Implementation of the MTP should be continually monitored to determine the need for any necessary revisions in the program resulting from changes in urban development and travel patterns that were not identified when the MTP was prepared. Maintenance of current information on land use planning data and travel demand – and how they interrelate – will permit a continuing evaluation of the transportation needs of the area. This continuing transportation planning process will protect the local, State and Federal governments’ investments in necessary improvements. The continuing transportation planning process should contain at least the following three steps:

1) Collect, maintain, and annually update key land use and planning data, system characteristics and travel demand information. This MTP was prepared based on specific land uses, population and socio-economic data. An annual update of this data is essential to maintain an up-to-date transportation plan. Information should be maintained and collected in order to update travel demands as they pertain to the transportation system.

Information from the land use and planning data collection should be compared with forecasts from this study to determine the continued validity of the projections. Information concerning the use, capacity, finances, and level of service of the transportation system should be maintained and collected periodically in order to provide current knowledge of the total system operation for evaluation with respect to future need and possible change.

2) Evaluate the current MTP. Based on updated data, annual projections of future travel demands should be made. This data should be compared with projections estimated in the original MTP. It must then be determined if the MTP needs revision.

3) Revise and update the MTP as needed based on new projections of travel demand, the results of sample surveys, and current transportation system data.


Conclusion

The MTP provides a framework for rational implementation of transportation improvements and programs to satisfy travel demand as the Hattiesburg MPA continues to develop and grow into the future. The realization of the recommendations will require the continued coordination and cooperation of local, State and Federal officials in making decisions concerning the availability and use of transportation funds. Ultimately, the improvement of transportation conditions in the Hattiesburg MPA and realization of the public’s vision will depend on the degree of compliance with the MTP.


A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONThe Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) consists of two committees: the Policy Committee and the Technical Committee. These committees are comprised of elected and appointed decision-makers as well as technically qualified persons interested in transportation planning. The City of Hattiesburg provides staffing functions for both committees.

POLICY COMMITTEEThe Policy Committee provides decision-making with regard to the approval and adoption of transportation plans and programs. It is composed of the principal elected officials in the metropolitan planning area and State and Federal transportation representatives.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEEThe Technical Committee reviews and evaluates the technical aspects of planning activities. It is made up of local, State and Federal transportation planners, engineers and other technically qualified persons with an interest in the existing and future transportation system.

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

“The preparation of this report has been financed in part through grant(s) from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, under the State Planning and Research Program, Section 505 [or Metropolitan Planning Program, Section 104(f)] of Title 23, U.S. Code. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.”

We especially acknowledge the contributions of the many people of Forrest County and Lamar County who took time to participate in the public involvement process and provided insight into the needs of the traveling public.

Hattiesburg-Petal-Forrest-Lamar Metropolitan Planning Organization

2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan

Documents

Hattiesburg final document