2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan
The St. Joseph Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is getting ready to release the draft version of the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). For the last three years, the MPO has worked closely with the consulting company AECOM to develop a look into the future of transportation. Including three different surveys and a multitude of public comments, the draft version will be released in mid-September to the public for comment. The plan is the official document outlining the transportation vision for the St. Joseph MPO planning area. The MTP, among other plans and programs, guides the development of an integrated, multimodal transportation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods via all transportation modes, supports community development, and advances social and environmental goals. This all in the face of the current and future challenges of limited transportation funding, increasing mobility constraints among an aging population, and growing urgency in preserving environmental quality and promoting sustainability, among others.
All modes of transportation are covered and developed in this plan as the document will be used when any type of transportation development is discussed in the metro area. Different goals and objectives were developed after meeting with members of the metro area including residents, businesses and stakeholders. The goals developed for the plan include safety, economic vitality, regionalism, accessibility, funding, transportation/land use, environmental protection, system management and public input. The plan will be taken to committee on September 26, and then will be released online, in the news paper and hard copies will be available for the public to make any changes or provide comments.