Long Range Transportation Planning

The Transportation Program maintains long-range transportation planning studies, plans and programs as valid, up to date information that identify future needs, current priorities and available resources. The scope of the long-range plan has been expanded to include all modes of transportation. Thus, in addition to motorized transportation, the long-range plan also acknowledges the role of bicycles and pedestrians in meeting transportation needs. All modes are evaluated within a framework of alternative land use development patterns to determine the most effective mix of modal choices and land development practices to achieve the goals set forth in ISTEA, TEA 21, SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21, Connections 2030, and other Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) modal plans. Long-range planning efforts are based on the collection and analysis of socioeconomic information. Continuing efforts to update with the year 2010 census data includes significant revisions to the transportation analysis zone (TAZ) and socioeconomic data structure based on the Block Boundary Suggestion Program and integration with the Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) at the federal level. The program requires developing TAZs countywide where urbanized areas are present in the county. Land use, dwelling units, population, employment, motor vehicles, and traffic volumes continue to be compiled and integrated with census data when it becomes available. Population forecasting is ongoing in concert with the urbanized area’s sewer service area program and the 2010 census.