8.b.
Planning Board Plat Review
- Meeting Date:
- 03/10/2015
Information
INTRODUCTION
MOTION/RECOMMENDATION. COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY GRANT, LORA MATTOX, TRANSPORTATION PLANNER
The Planning Division is requesting Planning Board approval to submit a Community Transportation Safety Grant application to the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). The grant is intended to assist the community in establishing a Community Transportation Safety plan tailored to the transportation safety needs in Billings and Yellowstone County. The plan will be prepared in collaboration with other agencies and local jurisdictions with roles in transportation safety. Safety plans are data driven, address transportation safety with the 4E approach (Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency Medical Services), focus on community specific safety issues, and are community led with MDT support.
MDT is offering technical and financial transportation safety planning assistance that requires no local cash match. However, the Yellowstone County Planning Board acting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) would act as the local plan sponsor and Planning staff would commit to coordinating the process with stakeholders, tracking and reporting the progress of the plan development, and implementing strategies. It is anticipated that the planning process could take one-year to complete. Transportation planning staff has the ability to guide this process in addition to the other Transportation Planning Studies scheduled for 2015.
If the grant application is approved by MDT, the safety plan, through data collection, will assist in the identification of local transportation safety emphasis areas. Emphasis areas may include, but are not limited to, intersection crashes, occupant protection, and impaired/distracted driving. Once local issues are identified, programs and strategies can be developed to address the issues. In addition to strategies, performance measures will be included in the study to help track progress in achieving the strategies.
There will be no direct financial impact from applying for the transportation safety grant. Under this grant, no funds are received from the state or paid out from the City to a consultant. MDT provides a consultant that is under contract with the State and the consultant is paid directly by MDT. Given this arrangement, it is not known at this time what the estimated total cost of the plan would be as funded through MDT. There would be local staff time involved in the development of the plan. The plan will establish quantifiable safety-related goals, objectives, and performance measures relevant to the local transportation system.
The Planning Division is requesting Planning Board approval to submit a Community Transportation Safety Grant application to the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). The grant is intended to assist the community in establishing a Community Transportation Safety plan tailored to the transportation safety needs in Billings and Yellowstone County. The plan will be prepared in collaboration with other agencies and local jurisdictions with roles in transportation safety. Safety plans are data driven, address transportation safety with the 4E approach (Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency Medical Services), focus on community specific safety issues, and are community led with MDT support.
MDT is offering technical and financial transportation safety planning assistance that requires no local cash match. However, the Yellowstone County Planning Board acting as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) would act as the local plan sponsor and Planning staff would commit to coordinating the process with stakeholders, tracking and reporting the progress of the plan development, and implementing strategies. It is anticipated that the planning process could take one-year to complete. Transportation planning staff has the ability to guide this process in addition to the other Transportation Planning Studies scheduled for 2015.
If the grant application is approved by MDT, the safety plan, through data collection, will assist in the identification of local transportation safety emphasis areas. Emphasis areas may include, but are not limited to, intersection crashes, occupant protection, and impaired/distracted driving. Once local issues are identified, programs and strategies can be developed to address the issues. In addition to strategies, performance measures will be included in the study to help track progress in achieving the strategies.
There will be no direct financial impact from applying for the transportation safety grant. Under this grant, no funds are received from the state or paid out from the City to a consultant. MDT provides a consultant that is under contract with the State and the consultant is paid directly by MDT. Given this arrangement, it is not known at this time what the estimated total cost of the plan would be as funded through MDT. There would be local staff time involved in the development of the plan. The plan will establish quantifiable safety-related goals, objectives, and performance measures relevant to the local transportation system.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Planning Board approve applying for the Community Transportation Safety Grant funds and authorize the Planning Board President to sign the application letter. This grant application is somewhat unusual in that it is in the form of a letter that various local entities (Yellowstone County Board of Planning, City Council, Board of County Commissioners, Policy Coordinating Committee) all must sign before submittal of the application. Staff is taking the application to all of the entities referenced above for signatures.
VARIANCES REQUESTED
Does not apply.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Does not apply.
PLAT INFORMATION
Does not apply.