INTRODUCTION
PLAN CONSISTENCY
DRAFT
TO ACCESS THE CURRENT 2045 HATS RTP, CLICK HERE.
The HATS 2050 Regional Transportation Plan does not exist in a vacuum. There are a variety of federal and state regulations, plans, and programs with which this plan must conform to or be consistent with. In addition to these plans, the RTP considers and incorporates the goals, objectives, and recommendations of regional planning documents like the TCRPC Regional Growth Management Plan, county comprehensive plans, transportation plans, and even municipal comprehensive plans.
FEDERAL CONSISTENCY
Current federal regulations regarding long range transportation plans and the metropolitan planning process have evolved from the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 23 CFR 450.306(b) requires HATS to utilize a continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive planning process that considers the planning factors listed below.
-
Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency
-
Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users
-
Increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users
-
Increase accessibility and mobility of people and freight
-
Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns
-
Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight
-
Promote efficient system management and operation
-
Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system
-
Improve the resiliency and reliability of the transportation system and reduce or mitigate stormwater impacts of surface transportation
-
Enhance travel and tourism
Figure 1 - FHWA PBPP Diagram
In addition to these federal planning factors, 23 CFR 450.306(d) requires a “performance based approach to transportation decision making”. This has resulted in FHWA’s Performance Based Planning and Programming (PBPP) Guidebook, which outlines how MPOs can apply performance management principles to achieve desired results for the transportation planning process and system. This PBPP approach is illustrated in Figure 1 and guides the transportation planning and decision-making processes of PennDOT, HATS, and every other MPO/RPO in the state.
The HATS 2050 RTP is consistent with both the federal planning factors and the requirements for Performance Based Planning and Programming. The planning factors were incorporated into the development process of the vision and goals established for the HATS 2050 RTP by the steering committee, while the PBPP approach is reflected in the vision, goals, actions, and performance measures that guide the plan and recommendations.
STATE CONSISTENCY
While there are no state requirements for the metropolitan planning process or long-range transportation plans, PennDOT develops a variety of statewide plans, programs, and guidance which were considered during the development of the HATS 2050 RTP. Adopted in 2021, the Pennsylvania 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan contains the following goals:
Safety: Enhance safety and security for both motorized and non-motorized modes throughout Pennsylvania’s transportation system.
Mobility: Strengthen transportation mobility to meet the increasingly dynamic needs of Pennsylvania residents, businesses, and visitors.
Equity: Improve transportation access and equity throughout Pennsylvania.
Resilience: Strengthen Pennsylvania transportation resilience to climate change and other risks and reduce the environment impacts associated with transportation improvements.
Performance: Improve the condition and performance of transportation assets.
Resources: Structure transportation funding and finance approaches that allocate sufficient resources for system safety, maintenance, preservation, and improvement.
PennDOT’s Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan Guidance (PUB 575), PennDOT Connects, and Transportation Performance Reports provided guidance and information in the development of the RTP. Other statewide plans that were incorporated into the RTP include the Freight Movement Plan, Pennsylvania Active Transportation Plan, Pennsylvania Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Eastern Regional Operation Plan, Transportation Asset Management Plan, and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Study, among others. The HATS 2050 RTP is consistent with these statewide plans and resources as demonstrated through the similarity of vision and goals, but also the utilization of the data and guidance documents throughout the plan.
LOCAL CONSISTENCY
Aside from federal and statewide requirements, plans, and programs, local planning efforts were also incorporated into the development of the RTP. County comprehensive plans are directly incorporated into the Land Use Focus Area, as well as the Project Pipeline scoring criteria. Local comprehensive plans and transportation studies were the source of many transportation needs identified on the Project Pipeline. Additionally, local priorities and needs are considered in the development of regional planning documents like the HATS Regional Active Transportation Plan and the Regional Safety Action Plan, which form the basis of the Active Transportation and Safety Focus Area chapters, respectively.