City of Lincoln Planning Multi-Modal Transportation Study Background

Study Background

In meeting its long term transportation and land use goals, the Lincoln City-Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan for the Year 2025 recognizes the importance of expanding opportunities for furthering alternative modes of travel and mobility.

The City-County Comprehensive Plan's transportation and mobility chapter -- also known as the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) -- lists two studies to be undertaken during the first two years of the planning period to specifically address this subject:

• Multi-Modal Transportation

  "There should be a community-wide review identifying near- and long-term multi- modal transportation and mobility opportunities for Lincoln and Lancaster County. The study should consider alternative approaches to providing personal transportation services, possible characteristics of service levels, and funding options best serving our community objectives. The study should be completed within approximately two years of the adoption of the Plan."

• Community-Wide Mobility Review

  "Community-Wide Mobility Review of those groups whose transportation and mobility needs are not being met today. Early in the planning effort, groups comprising this portion of Lincoln and Lancaster County's population should be identified, including unique transportation and mobility characteristics. The study should consider at a minimum alternative approaches for providing transportation services to these groups, level of service characteristics, and funding options. The study is to be completed within approximately two years from the adoption of the Plan."

These two studies are being integrated into a single planning effort termed the "Multi-Modal Transportation Plan Study."

The primary focus of this study is to identify realistic means for expanding travel, mobility, and accessibility opportunities within the City and County by supporting and promoting alternative mode of transportation. This includes a fuller understanding of the relationship that land use policy, growth planning, and design standards play in furthering the ultimate success of alternative transportation modes.

The study is designed to enhance the policies and strategies contained in the adopted City-County Comprehensive Plan and Long Range Transportation Plan. This study is not to revise or revisit the goals or underlying approach of the Comprehensive Plan and LRTP. Rather this study will reinforce and expand upon those polices and strategies to ensure their effective implementation.

The goal of the study is to define means for furthering the usage of a wider range of travel modes to meet the Comprehensive Plan's and LRTP's Vision for enhancing multi-modal opportunities. This effort must at the same time consider and acknowledge the community's current dominant mode of travel (i.e., the automobile) while seeking greater usage of alternative transportation modes.

Multi-Modal Transportation Task Force

Aiding in the completion of this study is a 16 member citizen committee. This committee termed the "Multi-Modal Transportation Task Force" will serve as the primary point of community involvement throughout the study. The Task Force will work closely with members of local staff and the consultant team in formulating a Multi-Modal Transportation Plan for the greater Lincoln area.

Members of the Task Force were drawn locally from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. The members of the Multi-Modal Transportation Task Force include:

Kit Boesch Nye Bond Susan Dunn Duane Eitel

Margaret Hall Elaine Hammer Rick Krueger Marion Malone

Bill McCoy Tad McDowell Greg McLean Eric Miller

Patte Newman Oscar R. Pohirieth Gordon Scholz Terry Werner

Study Scope and Schedule

The Multi-Modal Transportation Plan Study will occur over approximately a one year period with the work performed in a six-phased approach:

• Phase I - Study Management. This phase involves general study organization, including establishment of the Task Force, further delineating the public involvement mechanisms, and determining overall reporting procedures.

• Phase II - Data and Information Base. This phase involves the collection of data about Lincoln-area travel behavior and transportation service characteristics. This phase will include a statistically valid telephone interview survey of local residents, interviews with key community stakeholders, a public open house to gather ideas for transportation system enhancements, and a review of available U.S. Census demographic information.

• Phase III - Major Themes. This phase involves the identification of major findings from the analysis of information gathered in Phase II. This will include themes concerning travel characteristics, transportation services, financing, and general transportation policies and standards.

• Phase IV - Modal Options and Policy. This phase involves a review of the realistic modal choices available for the Lincoln traveling market now and into the future. This will include the creation of a set of evaluation criteria and a descriptive evaluation of the options selected for analysis.

• Phase V - Multi-Modal Plan and Implementation Program. This phase involves the detailing of a long range multi-modal transportation plan for the Lincoln area, along with a program for implementing its recommendations. This will include a public open house to receive further community comments on emerging recommendations.

• Phase VI - Plan Adoption. The phase involves the formal public review and adoption of the Multi-Modal Transportation Plan.

Multi-Modal Transportation Study