RTP Update (2013-2014):An overview

What is PLAN 2040?PLAN 2040 is metro-Atlanta’s long-range planning process for land development and transportation needs through the year 2040. The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for all or parts of eighteen counties, develops the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The plan is updated every four years, or more frequently as necessary.

Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Update

The PLAN 2040 RTP is:• a long-range, financially constrained plan covering 20+ years of

transportation projects for the 18-county metro area • a multi- modal balance of projects; e.g., bridges, bicycle paths,

sidewalks, transit services, roadway upgrades, safety improvements, transportation demand management initiatives and emission reduction strategies

The current PLAN 2040 RTP was adopted in July 2011. This update to the plan is expected to be approved in early 2014.

Why does the PLAN 2040 RTP need to be updated?The current plan must be updated to help the region stay in alignment with changing Federal, State and Local priorities.

Federal Federal legislation priorities introduced by reauthorization of transportation funding through MAP-21*

State Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and Governor’s Goals

Local Latest design scopes for major projects and updates to local priorities

Regional Reflect current regional financial realities (post July 31, 2012 Transportation Investment Act referendum)

*On June 6, 2012 the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century (MAP-21) legislation was signed into law

Keeping Up with Federal ChangesThe current plan must be updated to help the region stay in alignment with changing Federal, State and Local priorities.

Federal Federal legislation priorities introduced by reauthorization of transportation funding through MAP-21

State Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and Governor’s Goals

Local Latest design scopes for major projects and updates to local priorities

Regional Reflect current regional financial realities (post July 31, 2012 Transportation Investment Act referendum)

Keeping Up with Federal Changes

Updated MAP-21 priorities:• Emphasized focus on

National Highway System (NHS)

• Required preservation performance measures and targets for roads and bridges conditions

Current NHS Network

Keeping up with State UpdatesThe current plan must be updated to help the region stay in alignment with changing Federal, State and Local priorities.

Federal Federal legislation priorities introduced by reauthorization of transportation funding through MAP-21

State Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and Governor’s Goals

Local Latest design scopes for major projects and updates to local priorities

Regional Reflect current regional financial realities (post July 31, 2012 Transportation Investment Act referendum)

Coordination with State Transportation Priorities and Strategies

Decision-Making Framework*To make the best use of limited funding through existing revenue streams and to keep aligned with the State’s Strategic Priorities, ARC and planning partners use a Decision-Making Framework to identify transportation investments that will improve system-wide performance.

The three major goals of this framework are:1. Optimize and manage existing assets in

the current transportation system2. Strategically expand regional system3. Implement overall demand management

programs

. * Officially adopted by ARC Board: April 24,

2013 & GRTA: April 10, 2013

A closer look at Decision-Making Framework for PLAN 2040 Update

The Decision-Making Framework includes performance measures to support the Statewide Strategic Plan, Governor’s Strategic Goals and PLAN 2040 goals with an

emphasis on enhancing economic growth in region. Major capacity, operations and safety projects in the plan are evaluated according to this criteria.

Annual fatalities on the transportation network

Percent of system adequately maintained

Percent of reliable peak-period trips within 45 minutes by car

Percent of reliable peak-period trips within 45 minutes by transit (rail and bus)Recurring congestion costs in terms of wasted time and fuel

Incident response time in metro Atlanta

Truck delay measures

Incorporating Local and Regional Project UpdatesThe current plan must be updated to help the region stay in alignment with changing Federal, State and Local priorities.

Federal Federal legislation priorities introduced by reauthorization of transportation funding through MAP-21

State Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and Governor’s Goals

Local Latest design scopes for major projects and updates to local priorities

Regional Reflect current regional financial realities (post July 31, 2012 Transportation Investment Act referendum)

Transportation Projects Since 2011: Refreshing the Plan

• Review the relationship of existing projects to planning networks and system-wide performance

• Review the need that each project is addressing and consider lower-cost alternatives

• Incorporate changes to major projects as a result of ongoing engineering and design work

Projects & Plans: What’s Currently in the RTP?

The RTP contains a multi- modal balance of projects; e.g., bridges, bicycle paths, sidewalks, transit services, roadway upgrades, safety improvements, transportation demand management initiatives and emission reduction strategies

Since project scopes, schedules and budgets are constantly evolving, the plan is amended on a regular basis. The current project info can be found at: www.atlantaregional.com/tip.

Transit Projects Under Review

Clifton Corridor Light Rail Transit

I-20 East Heavy Rail Transit & Bus Rapid Transit

Atlanta Streetcar Expansion

Connect Cobb/Northwest Corridor Bus Rapid Transit

MultiModal Passenger Terminal

Connect 400 and Revive285

Major Roadway Project Updates

Atlanta Regional Managed Lanes Implementation Plan• GDOT is updating the State’s

managed lane vision• New freeway capacity in region will

likely be tolled• No existing High Occupancy Vehicle

(HOV) lanes will be converted to toll lanes

• No long-term leases to private companies

• Emphasizing most cost-effective solutions for each corridor

Major Roads• Project limits being reviewed to ensure needs are fully addressed• Lower cost operations and safety improvements being considered where major capacity

projects are not practical

Bicycle & Pedestrian Planning Efforts Maximizing benefits – considering level of service (quality),

cost/benefit, health impacts, developing regional trail network serving job centers, etc.

Assessing regional resources – evaluating datasets, refining data collection and analysis, identifying significant gaps

Safety & crash data review – evaluating crash hotspots, link crash types to countermeasures

Coordinating funding – using data-driven analysis and stakeholder input for selecting and implementing better projects

How are Transportation Projects Financed?

The RTP is required to be financially constrained – the total cost of the plan cannot exceed projected available funding

Revenue is forecasted from various sources, such as:• State and federal motor fuel taxes• Local sales taxes• Other funding from local governments • Bonds and infrastructure banks• Tolls and user fees

Financial Realities and Challenges in PLAN 2040 RTP Update

Considerations:• Core transportation funding sources are not keeping up with

population growth and needs • Federal, state, local funding sources are under stress and have yet

to recover to pre-recession levels• A slower funding growth rate under MAP-21, in addition to

Sequestration, has impacted funding for new transit services• E-commerce has eroded sales tax revenues for local governments

and MARTA

The RTP must be reassessed to accommodate changes to funding amounts, project scopes and federal, state and local priorities

Local Level Property Tax Digests Are Down An Average 18% From Peak 2008 Levels

County 2008 2012 % ChangeBarrow $1,909,685,506 $1,379,782,129 -27.7%Bartow $3,260,821,740 $2,947,158,781 -9.6%Cherokee $8,595,242,973 $6,673,907,367 -22.4%Clayton $8,566,561,443 $5,983,372,350 -30.2%Cobb $27,597,125,819 $24,810,376,696 -10.1%Coweta $4,058,742,761 $3,720,582,854 -8.3%DeKalb $25,197,674,686 $18,926,895,064 -24.9%Douglas $4,300,264,819 $3,508,852,223 -18.4%Fayette $5,431,100,479 $4,301,271,416 -20.8%Forsyth $8,890,399,061 $8,035,502,721 -9.6%Fulton $51,433,458,064 $44,344,781,916 -13.8%Gwinnett $29,804,680,832 $24,346,632,421 -18.3%Henry $6,776,901,378 $4,641,027,111 -31.5%Newton $2,955,354,830 $1,948,389,575 -34.1%Paulding $4,301,640,779 $2,787,405,635 -35.2%Rockdale $2,885,675,074 $2,288,188,617 -20.7%Spalding $1,482,154,458 $1,423,486,807 -4.0%Walton $2,881,381,411 $2,206,126,856 -23.4%

Total $200,328,866,113 $164,273,740,539 -18.0%

Why is this important?

Local governments rely on property taxes to

maintain/operate the transportation

network that is off the state system* and

operate several local transit systems

*85% of the roadway lane mileage, 52% of bridges, and 42% of travel occurs on locally-owned roads and bridges

Source: Georgia Dept. of Revenue

Statewide Sales Tax Receipts Are Down 10.3% From Peak 2007 Levels

19

Why is this important?Many local governments rely on sales taxes to implement capital projects and pay

match for federal aid projects; MARTA uses the sales tax to fund operations & capital

Source: Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012$4,000,000,000$4,200,000,000$4,400,000,000$4,600,000,000$4,800,000,000$5,000,000,000$5,200,000,000$5,400,000,000$5,600,000,000$5,800,000,000$6,000,000,000

Georgia Sales Tax Revenues: 2007-2012

State Motor Fuel Taxes Are Down 3.5% Since 2008

Why is this important?State motor fuel taxes comprise the primary source for state transportation

funding, including matching federal funds

*Exclusive of the 1% of motor fuel sales tax that goes to state general fund

Source: Georgia Dept. of Revenue

Revenues in $000s

Motor Fuel Tax Type 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Prepaid Motor Fuel Sales Tax

$538,156 $422,827 $385,241 $479,881 $573,047 $547,172

Motor Fuel Excise Tax $473,046 $438,329 $443,386 $441,189 $431,564 $428,278

Total$1,011,20

2$861,156 $828,627 $921,070

$1,004,611

$975,450

Federal Funding Resources Allocated to the Atlanta Region Will Become More Strained

Why is this important?Federal funding comprises the largest share of system expansion funding

Note: 1.4% forecast annual growth rate in federal revenues; inflation 2.2%

Forecasted FHWA Funding to the Atlanta Region ($YOE)

PLAN 2040PLAN 2040

UpdateDifference % Change

2014-2019 $3,763,615,743 $4,001,679,941 $238,064,199 6.3%

2020-2030 $9,181,088,485 $9,270,206,688 $89,118,202 1.0%

2031-2040$10,469,325,24

9$10,093,899,92

7-$375,425,322 -3.6%

Total$23,414,029,4

77$23,365,786,5

56-$48,242,921 -0.2%

How can I follow the progress of the RTP Update & be more involved?

Thank you for your interest in the PLAN 2040 RTP. Your

involvement in the regional planning process is important.

Here are some ways where there will be opportunities to

learn more about the plan and add your perspective to the

discussion:

• Visit the Plan 2040 RTP Web site to see the latest info

• Check the “Get Involved” section of the site for

discussions, open house meetings and other ways to

share thoughts

• Email comments to ARC at plan2040@atlantaregional.com

• Call ARC with comments or questions: 404.463.3272