INTRODUCTION
VISION & GOALS
DRAFT
TO ACCESS THE CURRENT 2045 HATS RTP, CLICK HERE.
Consistent with federal Performance Based Planning & Programming guidance, the following statement was developed through a collaborative exercise with the Steering Committee and reflects the overall vision and purpose of the HATS 2050 RTP. This Vision Statement is comprised of 5 themes, which are the basis of the Goals that follow. Within the RTP’s Focus Area chapters, Actions are identified that will be taken in pursuit of the Vision & Goals. How these Actions related to the Goals is discussed in the Actions chapter. To measure our progress, a set of performance measures and metrics are identified, and related to the Goals, in the Performance Measures chapter. In future RTP updates, this progress will inform revisions or changes to the Plan.
VISION STATEMENT
Our region's transportation system will accommodate all users and all modes, while supporting safe, functional, and resilient communities with opportunities for sustainable economic growth and development.
GOALS
ALL USERS AND ALL MODES
Expand options and improve the transportation system’s performance and operation for all modes and all users.
Our region’s transportation system must be a comprehensive, interconnected network that meets the needs of everyone, whether in a vehicle, on a bike, walking, using a mobility device, or taking transit. To achieve the vision set forth above, HATS transportation planning efforts must engage all populations and communities, including those traditionally under-served and under-represented, while also identifying opportunities to expand transportation choices and channeling funds toward alternate modes. Providing a safe, effective, and efficient system for all users and all modes enhances not only our region’s transportation, but also its quality of life, economic opportunity, and resiliency in an ever-changing future.
SAFETY
Improve safety and security across all aspects of the transportation system, with a particular focus on eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Safety is at the forefront of all HATS transportation planning. In 2020, HATS formally adopted the following overarching safety goal:
…to eliminate crashes, particularly those resulting in fatalities and serious injuries, throughout the region and educate the traveling public on the threats posed by unsafe driving practices such as driving under the influence, distracted, and aggressive driving.
Since then, HATS has undertaken numerous planning efforts to identify causative factors in those crashes and develop mitigation opportunities to reduce and ultimately eliminate them. From physical construction projects to programs that educate users or encourage safer behaviors for all modes, the issue of transportation must be addressed from all angles and in all opportunities.
SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY
Maintain and preserve the region’s existing roads and bridges as an efficient, connected and reliable transportation system.
Our region boasts a complex network of physical assets (roads, highways, bridges, trails, traffic signals etc.) that must be preserved, maintained, and optimized to maximize the reliability and efficiency of the transportation system as a whole. Managing the condition of these assets and the operation of the system to accommodate current and future needs within financial constraints requires technical analysis and coordination between a variety of regional partners. Improving reliability, reducing congestion, and balancing maintenance needs are all important aspects of the transportation system functioning at its full potential.
ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Support economic and commerce opportunities to enable vibrant, complementary growth and development of the region’s communities and industries.
Our region’s transportation system is not just for moving people – it is also a tool for growth and development. Decisions made on the kinds of investments or where they are made have tremendous impacts on the region’s communities and economies. This is especially true for the region’s warehousing and logistics industry, which is the result of the proximity to several urban centers and the confluence of several interstate highway systems. In addition to supporting vital industries, land use patterns both influence and are influenced by investments in the transportation system. Coordinating transportation improvements with county and municipal land use planning will encourage more responsible, complementary development patterns and help meet other goals of the Plan.
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY
Minimize impacts on the region’s natural and cultural resources and reduce vulnerability to natural disasters and extreme weather events.
The HATS region is blessed with diverse natural and cultural resources, providing quality of life, ecological, and economic benefits. Transportation improvement projects impact our region’s these resources in multiple ways – some positive, some negative. Like any construction or development project, transportation improvements have the potential to degrade or damage things like streams, wetlands, and historic sites. At the same time, when paired with effective mitigation practices, transportation improvements can reduce flooding impacts and enable a community to react to extreme weather events. Transportation improvements can also provide indirect positive impacts to these resources by reducing congestion and enabling more alternate mode transportation, both of which improve air quality.