HORIZON 2040: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the Spokane Metropolitan Planning Area
SRTC is in the process of updating the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), Horizon 2040. The MTP is a long-term, multimodal “blueprint” for transportation aimed at meeting the mobility needs of the area through the year 2040. It is based on projections for growth in population, housing and jobs and takes into consideration every mode of transportation, such as private vehicles, public transit, bicycling, walking, freight movement, rail and air travel. The MTP is key to the quality of life and economic health of our region.
When complete, Horizon 2040 will include a financially-constrained list of transportation projects from each of the jurisdictions within Spokane County to construct or complete over the next 20+ years.
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City Cable 5 worked with SRTC to produce this video on Horizon 2040, what it means for the community and how you can be involved. Click the image above to view the video on YouTube. |
The MTP is required by the Federal government to be updated at least every four years. The development process involves extensive input from the public. Because the transportation system is used by every single person in one way or another, we'd like to know how you would like the transportation system to develop in the future.
MTP Scope of Work
During the MTP update, the plan’s format will be completely revamped, essentially developing a whole new plan that is more informative and user-friendly than past MTP documents. A scope of work for Horizon 2040 has been developed, with the SRTC Policy Board targetted to adopt the plan in December 2013. The scope of work can be viewed here.
Task 1.1 under the scope of work is “Core Values and Guiding Principles.” Members of SRTC’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) used conclusions and recommendations from the 2010 Transportation Vision Project to craft Guiding Principles. They wil in turn be used to create a policy framework for the MTP. Click the link above to view the Guiding Principles.
Public Involvement
There will be many opportunities to get involved and provide your input during the MTP update process. SRTC will host open houses, attend community events, and partner with other agencies on public meetings during the course of the update. Check this page to stay up to date and for ways to participate.
In fall of 2012, SRTC conducted a series of "roundtable" discussions on six topics, including Public Transit, Bicycle/Pedestrian/Health, Veterans and Seniors, People with Transportation Barriers, Roadways & Freight, and Young People and Transportation.
Each roundtable was conducted in a listening session format and provided an opportunity for members of the public to voice thoughts and concerns on transportation topics. A summary of each discussion is below.
Bicycling/Pedestrian/Health Impacts Roundtable
Road and Freight Movement Roundtable
Seniors and Veterans Roundtable
Public Transit Roundtable
People with Disabilities and Transportation Challenges Roundtable
Transportation for Young People Roundtable
Recurring Roundtable Themes and Summary of All Roundtables
Materials used at the roundtables were the maps below:
Spokane County Employment Activity Centers for 2010
Spokane County Projected Employment Activity Centers for 2040
2010 Population 55 and Older
2010 Housing Unit Density for Spokane County
2040 Housing Unit Density for Spokane County
Housing Unit Density Change for Spokane County 2010 to 2040
Employment Density 2010
Employment Density 2040
Employment Density Change 2010-2040 for Spokane County
SRTC put together a document on the land use development process and how it is used for the MTP. It can be viewed here.
Staff also prepared a document describing the process of allocating future population and employment growth to the jurisdiction level for the above land use process. You can view it here.
SRTC hosted two financial workshops on September 24, 2012 to help develop a framework for estimating projects costs for Horizon 2040 and to develop possible transportation funding scenarios to be included in the plan. Representatives from partner agencies, the Federal Highways Administration, the Washington State Department of Commerce and more attended these workshops. Summaries for both workshops are below:
Project Cost Estimating Workshop
Revenue Forecasting Workshop
DRAFT Documents
These documents are preliminary drafts of Horizon 2040 chapters. They are going through an internal and committee review process. Revisions are expected between now and the start of the official public comment period for Horizon 2040 in fall of 2013.
Chapter 1- Who We Are
Chapter 2- Where We're At
Chapter 3- Where We're Going
Chapter 4- How We Will Get There- Coming soon!
Contact Us About the MTP
For more information on the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, call (509) 343-6370 or email contact.srtc@srtc.org.
For reference here is a link to the previous MTP (2011-2035).