Long-Range Transportation Plan Update

On September 22nd, 2005, the Sioux Falls MPO approved the 2025 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) including the following:

1) An updated Long-Range Transportation Plan document that includes objectives and specific projects.

• The Sioux Falls Metropolitan Area Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is designed to guide multi-modal transportation planning activities through the year 2025.
• Each mode of transportation was analyzed with specific suggestions for improvements or further study. All studies will take into account the guiding objectives of the plan.  Highway and street projects were prioritized by 5-year timeframes and constrained by projected revenue.  A copy of the draft LRTP is available in the left menu area. The following two public hearings and one open house will be were held to allow citizens to provide comments concerning the draft LRTP.
• Public Hearing at MPO's Technical Advisory Committee meeting; August 18th at 1:30 PM at Non-Profit Office Center (1000 N. West Avenue)
• Public Hearing #2 at MPO's Technical Adivsory Committee meeting; September 22nd at 1:30 PM at Non-Profit Office Center (1000 N. West Avenue)
• Open House at Carnegie Town Hall (235 W. 10th Street); August 31st from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

2) An update of a Transportation Research Study to find how the public's views and attitudes have changed in the past five years. Attached is the approved research study report. The Transportation Research Study was approved by the Metropolitan Planning Organization on May 19th. 

• The Sioux Falls MPO has approved the following guiding objectives for the Long-Range Transportation Plan:
  1. Preserving people’s ability to travel across the City of Sioux Falls;
  2. Maintaining the region’s existing multi-modal transportation system;
  3. Improving connections between smaller communities in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties and the City of Sioux Falls; and
  4. Improving the quality of pedestrian travel in the Sioux Falls area

Long-Range Transportation Research Study

The purpose of the 2005 Long-Range Transportation Research Study is to gather input from the community to help assess the needs and the desires of users of the Sioux Falls area transportation system.  The data gathered from the survey will be used as part of the Long-Range Transportation Plan to understand the public’s perception of the metropolitan areas current and future transportation issues, the City of Sioux Falls and the Sioux Falls MPO have contracted with ETC Institute to complete the research study.  ETC Institute has helped many communities use survey research and focus groups as a guiding force in creating and sustaining long-range transportation programs.

A Public Involvement Committee made up of citizens from the metropolitan area is the steering committee for the Research Study.  The objective of the Research Study is to provide recommendations on transportation policy and to establish a list of see projects for the Long-Range Transportation Plan.

Activities of the Long-Range Transportation Research Study include the following:

1. Stakeholder Interviews – completed January 2004  (see attached report)
2. Focus Groups – completed March 2004  (see attached report)
   a. Transportation Advocates
   b. Transportation Planners and Engineers
   c. Business Community
   d. Senior Citizens
   e. Residents of Lincoln County
   f. Residents of Minnehaha County
3. Resident and Employer Surveys – March and April
   a. 1000 residents will be randomly surveyed.
   b. 300 employers will be randomly surveyed.
   c. 200 underserved citizens will be surveyed.
4. Recommendations Report and Acceptance by MPO -  May
5. Public Open House – May or June