The Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC) is seeking public comments on the proposed 2040 Transportation Vision Plan (TVP) for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Metropolitan Planning Organization (VLMPO). The TVP outlines the vision for transportation investment in Valdosta, Lowndes County and surrounding areas for the next 25 years. 

The TVP is a required document by the federal government for metropolitan areas and outlines how federal funds will be spent on transportation projects within the region. The plan is a follow-up to the Common Community Vision (CCV) for greater Lowndes County that was formalized in 2013. More than 800 statements were submitted to complete the CCV, which outlines how Valdosta and Lowndes County can develop partnerships and collaborations to promote regional success in workforce, education, economic development, healthcare, recreation, public safety, and transportation.

According to Corey Hull, Transportation Planner and Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordinator, the 2040 TVP is intended to be used by all government and community organizations to help achieve 18 recommendations outlined in the CCV. 

The TVP describes transportation challenges the community faces as a growing metropolitan region. The challenges include roadway connectivity, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, road maintenance, stormwater infrastructure, intersection safety, public transit, airport connections, railroad crossings and maintenance and freight traffic. 

“We have 18 goals in the transportation plan, and these are the same goals that are part of the Common Community Vision,” Hull explains. “The plan addresses how transportation impacts education, healthcare, and economic development.” 

The TVP also identifies the need to develop a Complete Streets policy, Intersection Improvement policy, and Active and Healthy Lifestyle policy.

The Complete Streets policy requires all projects with federal funds in the transportation plan be designed to meet the needs of all roadway users. This includes cars, buses, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians and utility infrastructure (water, sewer, electricity, etc.). 

According to Hull, the Intersection Improvement policy requires roundabouts to be considered as an alternative to all intersection projects within the transportation plan. 

“This is not to say that roundabouts will be the preferred alternative,” he added, “but they need to be considered.” 

Hull noted that a traditional intersection has 32 conflict points with vehicles, where a roundabout has eight points.

“Depending on which study you look at, roundabouts can be considered anywhere from 35 to 90 percent more safe than a traditional intersection,” he said, “and that is depending on local characteristics.” 

The Active and Healthy Lifestyle policy encourages local governments to spend at least $500,000 annually on pedestrian infrastructure, projects to promote safety and educational projects within hospitals and schools.

“We are looking for our community to help bridge together and form partnerships to educate our community on pedestrian and bicycle safety,” Hull said. “This would count toward our goal achievement.”

The 2040 TVP includes more than $1 billion in federal, state, and local revenues in transportation improvements within the region. The funds include approximately $400 million for new roadway capital projects and $580 million allocated for roadway maintenance. Also, nearly $72 million is available for an urban transit system and $20 million for a rural public transit system. 

“Approximately 50 percent of the funding is federal, 13 percent from the state, and 37 percent is local funding derived from SPLOST funds adopted by our local communities,” said Hull. “There is also approximately $36 million allocated for public transit projects from an unidentified local source.” 

Hull noted that funds for the transit systems are included in the plan; however, the TVP does not outline specific details.

“For the transit system, we only have included a dollar amount because we do not know what the details of that system would involve,” Hull said. “The plan includes a high-level dollar amount that needs to be refined through studies and input from our local governments.”

Highlights of the roadway and bridge improvements include continuation of the reconstruction of the I-75 interchanges at exits 2, 11, 18, 22 and 29.  Also, additional lanes on Jerry Jones Dr., Oak Street Extension, Lake Park-Bellville Road, Old Clyattville Road, Old 41 North, and Country Club Dr. 

New roads to be constructed include extensions of Northside Dr. and Lankford Dr. Other projects involve bridge replacements on Old Quitman Road and Howell Road, and various intersection improvements throughout Valdosta and Lowndes County. 

The complete 2040 TVP is available to review online from July 7 to Aug. 7, 2015, at www.sgrc.us(Transportation link) and comments will be accepted by email at [email protected] or fax at 229-333-5312. Members of the community may also send comments to SGRC/VLMPO at 327 W. Savannah Ave., Valdosta, Ga., 31601. 

The public is invited to view the documents during three open houses scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., July 15 at the South Georgia Regional Library; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on July 22, at Southern Georgia Regional Commission; and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., July 30, at the McMullen Southside Library.

Comments from the public will be reviewed by the VLMPO Policy Committee and considered for the 2040 Transportation Vision Plan, which is scheduled for adoption at the VLMPO meeting on Sept. 2, 2015. All meetings of the VLMPO are open to the public. For more information, regarding the 2040 TVP or other transportation planning issues in the region contact Corey Hull at 229-333-5277.