Lynchburg MPO Long Range Transportation Plan Update 2035 (staff experience)

For the most recent update to the Region’s LRTP, a scenario planning effort was conducted to examine the interaction between land use and transportation mobility needs and opportunities. Bill Wuensch, former Transportation Engineering Principal for Renaissance Planning Group, managed this effort on behalf of the MPO. Over a 12 month period, the project team conducted three workshops with a diverse group of stakeholders that explored the four planning questions – Where are we now, Where are we going, Where do we want to be, and How do we get there. Incorporating the Four "D’s” (Design, Density, Diversity, and Destination), workshop participants created growth scenarios that held constant but reallocated the projected growth in households in jobs across the region. Using a GIS based modeling routine, the technical analysis effort used these alternative scenarios for growth as a basis for modifications to the regional travel demand model to measure the affect of different land use scenarios on the demand on the transportation network, versus the trend (or business as usual per current policies and trends) scenario. In addition to the model outputs, other values based performance measures, as identified in focus group meetings, were examined such as amount of land consumed, proximity of new growth to schools and parks, and proximity of new growth to walkable village centers, among others. In the final workshop the participants examined the scenarios and resulting analysis, and identified a preferred growth scenario, which was a hybrid of the alternatives. This preferred scenario became the basis of a comparison made to the trend scenario such that future policy making in the region can consider mobility and quality of life opportunities potentially achievable through changes in future land use planning policies. The final Long Range Transportation Plan projects were based on the trend scenario; however the scenario planning effort resulted in an informative discussion about potential new policies and best practices that could provide for a future with decreased demand on the roadways, alternative mobility strategies, more diverse housing stock, and a more sustainable transportation system.

CVLRTP2035Draft Plan (www.cvltp2035.info)

Harvard Drive/Liberty Tunnel at Wards Road Signalization Design

Prepared signalization plans for a traffic signal replacement and upgrade along Wards Road in Lynchburg, VA.  Coordinated with utility owners as needed for power service and to clear any known conflicts.  Coordinated with both Liberty University and City Staff to develop a design that provided necessary warning devices upstream of the proposed tunnel to alert approaching motorists to the precense of a signal at the Wards Road end of the Tunnel.  Assisted roadway designer with final lane calls and necessary geometry.

Kings Drive at Old Forest Road Traffic Study and Signalization Design

Conducted study to confirm prior signalization warrant analysis and to identify lane calls and feasible traffic signal phasing plans for the signal operation. Preparing signalization plans for a new traffic signal on Old Forest Road at Kings Drive  in Lynchburg, VA.  Coordinated with utility owners as needed for power service and to clear any known conflicts.