LAKE COUNTY — Terre Persons, associate planner for the Lake County/City Area Planning Council (APC) led an open house-type event Tuesday regarding the 2010 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Draft Negative Declaration. The RTP is a 20 year planning document developed in cooperation with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), CalTrans and other stakeholders.
The purpose of the RTP is to encourage and promote the safe and efficient management, operation and development of a regional intermodal transportation system that, when linked with appropriate land use planning, will serve the mobility needs of goods and people. The RTP is broken into several elements, which address multiple modes of transportation including the state highway system, local roads, transit, bike and pedestrian facilities and aviation as well as tribal transportation.
The RTP provides a clear vision of the regional transportation goals, policies, objectives and strategies for an effective transportation system for Lake County. It guides decisions about all types of transportation and the related facilities needed for an effective transportation system. It is updated every five years.
The core of the RTP is six elements: State Highway System Element, Backbone Circulation and Local Roads Element, Bicycle and Pedestrian Element, Transit Element, Tribal Element and Aviation Element. An Overreaching Policies Element is also included, which encompasses policy issues that transcend multiple transportation modes and reflects the increasing awareness of the interconnectivity of transportation modes and those using the transportation system.
Objectives identified in the Overreaching Policies Element include: coordinating, supporting and encouraging regional planning activities in Lake County (across jurisdictional boundaries); supporting complete streets planning to improve connectivity to the transportation system; facilitating and promoting transit, bicycling and walking to reduce vehicle trips in Lake County to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions; reducing and mitigating impacts of current and future transportation projects; and increasing funding for transportation planning, design and construction.
The Complete Streets Act of 2008 requires cities and counties to include “complete streets” policies as part of their general plans so that roadways are designed to safely accommodate all users including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, children, older people, disabled people and motorists.
Objectives identified in the State Highway System Element include: improving mobility on the state highway system throughout the county; improving safety conditions on the state highway system serving the county; and facilitating efficient and safe transportation of goods within and through the county.
Objectives identified in the Backbone Circulation and Local Roads Element include: maintaining, rehabilitating and reconstructing local streets and roads consistent with local and regional needs, city and county area plans and policies and Complete Streets policies; developing adequate roads associated with new residential and commercial development; improving traffic flow, capacity, safety and operations on the local transportation network; and pursuing federal, state, local and private funding sources for transportation system maintenance, restoration and improvement projects.
Objectives identified in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Element include: designing and rehabilitating roads to safely accommodate all users; developing bicycle facilities in accordance with the Lake County Regional Bikeway Plan and the countywide Safe Routes to School Plan; developing and improving access and connectivity between pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities and employment, commercial, residential and recreational areas; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled through increased pedestrian and bicycle use.
Objectives identified in the Transit Element include: identifying unmet transit needs of residents and visitors; establishing priorities and designing services to meet the mobility needs of transit users; providing a safe and accessible transit system; continuing to improve the efficiency of the transit system; supporting efforts to improve transit service to employment centers, educational institutions, public facilities and medical facilities; maximizing funding for transit services and facilities; and improving and monitoring the security of the transit system.
Objectives identified in the Tribal Transportation System Element include: considering the transportation needs of tribal members, employees and customers traveling between tribal communities, housing, employment centers, public service facilities, medical facilities and schools; consulting with and involving tribal communities early in the planning design process; and facilitating access to transportation resources for tribal communities.
The document is available for public at public libraries in Lakeport, Clearlake, Middletown and Upper Lake. The public comment period on the draft RTP and Negative Declaration opened on Aug. 2 and closes on Aug. 31. Written comments can be sent to: Lake APC 367 North State St., Suite 206, Ukiah, CA 94582.
