Beginning late last year, Pioneer Technical Services began working with BSB to prepare an update to the area transportation plan. These plans are compiled and updated every ten years, the last one having been completed in 2005. Transportation Plans help identify funding priorities for near and long-term transportation infrastructure investments in the community, based on current and projected needs.
The first step in the transportation planning process is data collection. Abelin Traffic Services (ATS) has been reviewing existing plans, policies and on-the-ground conditions to prepare a baseline for transportation system analysis in BSB. The project team will assess existing roadway and intersection geometrics, pavement condition, traffic and accident data, congestion and travel time analyses, planned and previously-approved projects, and socio-economic data and trends.
Part of the data collection effort is hearing from the public - the transportation system user. We need user observations that may not be apparent in the available data.
In the coming weeks, our team will be meeting with BSB staff, area stakeholders, state and local agency staff, and the interested public. Input received will provide the foundation for the technical analyses to be conducted throughout the project development process.
Our first Scoping / Issues Identification public workshop will be conducted on Monday, April 18, 2016. We will host the meeting at the Butte Archives beginning at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will start with a formal presentation and explanation of the overall transportation planning process and then move into the workshop phase of the meeting. Participants will be asked to identify transportation issues throughout the community on a large-scale map. This is a very interactive workshop designed to engage the public and kick off the public involvement process. The issues identified will be further explored during focus group meetings to be held throughout the process.
Darryl L. James Consulting, LLC is an independent consultant retained to assist with public engagement and oversight of the project development process.
For more information, please contact Darryl James via email at darryl@jamesconsult.com