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| Eoin Wrafter, Transportation Program Administrator |
New Connections: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan for Dutchess County
New Connections represents the fourth Metropolitan Transportation Plan in the twenty-five year history of the Poughkeepsie-Dutchess County Transportation Council (PDCTC), continuing a long tradition of metropolitan transportation planning for Dutchess County. From its designation in 1982 as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Poughkeepsie Metropolitan Area to its present role in the three county Mid-Hudson Valley Transportation Management Area, the PDCTC has sought to meet the transportation needs of its residents, workers, and visitors. This fundamental mission sat at the core of previous plans in 1994, 1998, 2003, and endures now with New Connections. Similarly, the basic purpose behind all these plans remains the same: present a set of policies and projects designed to not only maintain the existing transportation system, but to also prepare it to meet the challenges in the coming decades.
PDCTC MTP Introduction & Table of Contents (7 pages) (.pdf)
Chapter 1 (Introducing New Connections)
This chapter sets the stage for the new plan, beginning with a description of the PDCTC, the MPO process, and the federal laws that govern its operation. The chapter further explains the methodology used by staff to develop the goals and strategic focus of the plan. Central to this process was a staff review of related planning literature. This review not only included documents from traditional planning partners: Dutchess County Planning (Greenway Connections) and NYSDOT (Transportation Strategies for a New Age), but also from agencies such as the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Quality Communities Task Force, Hudson River Valley Greenway, Regional Plan Association, and Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress. For the most part, these organizations and the policies/actions they present embrace similar themes. These themes helped form the five strategic goals of the plan:
- System Management & Preservation: Preserve the existing Close potential gaps between the County’s projected mobility needs and the capacity of the transportation system to meet those needs.
- Mobility and Accessibility: Strengthen interconnections among multiple modes of travel.
- Land Use & Economic Development: Influence the design and scope of land use patterns so they support a safe, efficient, and robust transportation system.
Environment and Energy: Promote a transportation system that minimizes adverse effects on the natural environment.
Safety and Security: Improve the safety and security of all travelers across all modes.
Please see link for full chapter: PDCTC MTP Chapter 1 (12 pages) (.pdf)
Chapter 2 (A Snapshot of Dutchess County)
The first half of this chapter provides a demographic snapshot of Dutchess County. The primary sources of data include the 1990 and 2000 Census, 2000 Census Transportation Planning Package, 2001 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), and the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS). The chapter organizes the data under five subjects: population growth, work locations (employment), commuting choices, travel behavior, and environmental justice. The chapter points to the idea that the impacts of localized population growth also impact the greater region. The chapter goes on to discuss employment data, specifically as it relates to the work locations for Dutchess County residents and those who come from outside the county to work.
The second half of the chapter presents an inventory of key natural and cultural resources in Dutchess County; the inventory identifies areas with steep slopes, the locations of rivers, streams, wetlands, and floodplains, and locations of historic sites and districts. The data was compiled from various sources such as Greenway Connections, the 2006 NYS Open Space Plan, and the Dutchess County GIS (digital mapping) database. The chapter also discusses air quality and energy, and how they relate to transportation.
Please see link for full chapter: PDCTC MTP Chapter 2 (21 pages) (.pdf)
Chapter 3 (Transportation System)
Chapter 3 begins by discussing the countywide transportation system within the context of its major components: roads and bridges, bus and rail transit, and non-motorized facilities. Usage data is provided for each of these modes. The chapter also identifies three strategic corridors in the Dutchess: Harlem Valley Corridor, Mid-County Corridor, and Hudson Corridor. For each corridor, a list of issues and concerns is provided. The intent of this “corridor” approach is to build upon the State’s statewide corridor planning efforts. In addition, the chapter begins to look at how the PDCTC can integrate performance measures into future planning efforts.
Please see link for full chapter: PDCTC MTP Chapter 3 (24 pages) (.pdf)
Chapter 4 (Looking Forward)
Chapter 4 looks at some of the long range demographic and fiscal projections for the County and discusses the impacts these forecasts may have on our transportation system. The chapter identifies the future needs of partner agencies such as NYSDOT and Dutchess County DPW, and prioritizes those needs against future funding estimates.
Please see link for full chapter: PDCTC MTP Chapter 4 (10 pages) (.pdf)
Chapter 5 (Recommendations)
This chapter moves the transportation plan from a project based plan to a policy based plan. Using the goal statements discussed in Chapter 1, Chapter 5 addresses priority areas and focus areas for both federal and state transportation programs (five priority areas). Each goal includes several key policy statements intended to frame the Council’s intentions. These are followed by priority actions which will be carried out by the PDCTC and its member agencies. These are a combination of current and future activities, including expanded data collection efforts, guidance on project selection to implement the plan’s recommendations, and identifying additional planning work. Two projects identified in Connections 2025 have been moved to planning studies (Route 9 from NY 52 to CR 93, and I-84 from NY 9D to US 9).
Please see link for full chapter: PDCTC MTP Chapter 5 (11 pages) (.pdf)
Appendix A -Consultation (2 pages) (.pdf)
Appendix B - Air Quality and Energy (5 pages) (.pdf)
Appendix C - Glossary (7 pages) (.pdf)
Poughkeepsie (Mid-Hudson) Ozone Non-attainment Area Conformity Determination Statement (77 pages) (.pdf)
Summary Presentation (41 pages) (.pdf)
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