NEWS RELEASE
Bridgeport, Connecticut – James T. Wang, Executive Director of the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency (GBRPA) has released the draft Long Range Regional Transportation Plan (LRP) for the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region It is being released to provide an opportunity to the public and other transportation stakeholders to review and comment on the LRP. The long range plan was developed by the GBRPA as the Governor’s designated regional planning agency for the six-municipality Greater Bridgeport planning region. The LRP was developed in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (GBTA) and member municipalities.
Over the next 30 days the GBRPA will be soliciting comments on the draft LRP and holding a public information meeting, scheduled for April 10th at 5:00 pm, in the offices of the GBRPA, located on the third floor of the Bridgeport train station. The information meeting will provide an opportunity for face-to-face discussions on any and all aspects of the LRP, as well as any other relevant transportation issue or concern. Public input is vital in determining the transportation improvements that will be included in the final LRP.
The intent of the LRP is to alleviate existing transportation problems and deficiencies, as well as, to plan the area’s transportation system to meet future needs. It is not only important to improve and enhance mobility in the years ahead but to do so in a way that reinforces the region’s economic development objectives. The LRP reflects the future transportation needs of the Greater Bridgeport planning region and contains transportation proposals and operational and management strategies intended to accommodate existing travel, make the current transportation system more efficient, meet growing travel requirements and improve mobility within the area. The LRP is multi-modal in that it deals with all aspects of transportation, including highways, fixed-route bus system, human services transportation, commuter rail, passenger ferry, non-motorized modes (bicycling and walking), waterborne transportation and general aviation. It is also concerned with other aspects of the transportation system, including congestion management, advanced technologies, traveler safety, security of critical transportation infrastructure and freight and goods mobility.
Development of the LRP was consistent with the planning guidelines as specified in the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This act authorizes the federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit through federal fiscal year 2009 and includes provisions on how the transportation planning process needs to be conducted. The important transportation planning guidelines include:
- The LRP must have at least a 20-year planning perspective (the horizon year for the LRP is 2035), be consistent with air quality goals (conformity), and be fiscally constrained.
- The LRP must contain operational and management strategies to improve the performance of existing transportation facilities, investment and other strategies that provide for multimodal capacity increases based on regional priorities and needs, and proposed transportation and transit enhancement activities.
- Consultation and coordination of the transportation planning process with other planning officials who may be affected by transportation decisions and investments.
- Discussion of potential environmental mitigation activities that will be considered to address potential environmental impacts from recommended transportation investments included in the LRP.
- Opportunities for the public to participate in the planning process and the development of the LRP.
- The update cycle for the LRP is every four years.
The GBRPA has established a thirty (30) day review and comment period for the LRP. It begins on March 19, 2007 and ends on April 20, 2007. The public is welcomed and encouraged to review and comment on the draft LRP. Copies of the LRP are available for review at the offices of the GBRPA, as well as at the offices of the mayors or first selectmen of member municipalities. The draft LRP can also be viewed on-line at: www.gbrpa.org.
Federal regulations require the LRP to be consistent with air quality objectives and help the region and state attain national air quality standards. The ConnDOT is responsible for assessing the air quality impacts of the draft LRP and estimating baseline and future transportation emissions for several regulated pollutants, including smog causing pollutants and fine particulate matter. The results of the air quality assessment are also available for review and will be presented at the public information meetings.
The public is encouraged to attend the scheduled information meeting to learn more about improvements suggested in the long range transportation plan and to express their support or concerns regarding actions contained in the draft LRP. Comments may be made orally at the information meetings or in writing. Written comments should be submitted to: James T. Wang, Executive Director, Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency, 525 Water Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604. For more information, please call the GBRPA office at (203) 366-5405.