MPO Discusses Long Range Transportation Plan 2035 At Monday Meeting In Venice

VENICE-- Manatee and Sarasota county’s Long Range Transportation Plan 2035 was the main topic of discussion at Monday’s Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting held in Venice’s Community Center. Funding options for the blueprint of the region’s transportation system were presented to the board for review and possible adoption at the MPO’s next meeting scheduled December 13, 2010.

One of the MPO’s main tasks is to work together to decide how to use federal and state revenues to improve the area’s transportation system. The LRTP’s goal is to develop a safe, efficient and financially attainable transportation system that meets current and future needs and be financially sustainable. The MPO is required to update the LRTP every five years.

Whit Blanton, Project Consultant of Renaissance Planning Group, presented the draft of the LRTP 2035 financial feasible plan to the MPO board Monday morning. Cost calculations are based on five-year increments of revenues. Inflation factors are used to determine future project costs (2031-2035) in current dollars. Mr. Blanton provided two funding options for the LRTP, which the MPO must then decide upon.

One option is based on using state and federal funds currently earmarked for road capacity, widening and building new ones as population grows in the region. The other option would shift state and federal funding to advance selected roads such as the U.S. 41 corridor and expanding the transit system. A portion of the required revenue would come from a possible one-half cent to full-cent sales tax increase.

Mr. Blanton went on to explain that if option one was used, only 32% of the estimated $3.2 billion in transportation projects in Manatee County through 2035 would be funded. The bulk of the revenues would be allocated to road projects such as widening U.S. 301 between CR 675 and Moccasin Wallow Road to four lanes and widening a portion of Lakewood Ranch Blvd to four lanes.

The second option is estimated to provide just 59 percent of needed revenue to fund projects which would include more mass transit in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Both options have a number of major projects already on the LRTP including widening I-75 and building a connector road between the interstate and Port Manatee.

Several commissioners questioned Mr. Blanton on the financial calculations used in the LRTP draft. Sarasota County Commissioner Turner suggested it would’ve been more accurate to use a dollar discounting system in future dollars to better determine what projects will cost twenty years down the road.

The commissioners were given three main questions to bring to their respective council meetings and return with recommendations at the next MPO meeting. They are: Should the MPO consider changing its priorities for regional mobilities to better leverage local funding sources? Should the MPO make the U.S. 41 corridor a priority for multimodal mobility and accessibility? Should the LRTP include an assumption for adding a sales tax to fund transit improvements.

A request was made by Manatee County Commissioner Donna Hayes to MPO Executive Director Michael Howe to find out if an extension past the December 13, 2010 deadline for plan adoption could be granted. Mr. Howe said it was a possibility and will check on it. If not, there might be a November meeting scheduled for the MPO to further discuss the LRTP. The public will be notified should a November meeting be called.