Metropolitan Planning Organization for the La Crosse, Wisconsin and La Crescent, Minnesota Area 

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2030 La Crosse and La Crescent Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan (MTP)

The Vision:

"To provide a safe and efficient transportation system for all users that encourages economic prosperity, and protects and enhances the area’s unique natural and cultural resources."

The LAPC Policy Board, staff and advisory committees has completed the 2030 La Crosse and La Crescent Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan (MTP) which is new long-range transportation plan for the La Crosse and La Crescent area.  The MTP was adopted by the LAPC on August 17, 2005.

SAFETEA-LU Supplement (July 18, 2007):

On August 10, 2005 President Bush signed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the current federal transportation funding bill.  SAFETEA-LU requires certain amendments to the MTP including:

• Demonstrate a process for consultation with resource agencies on transportation projects that involve impacts to agricultural, natural, recreational, and cultural resources,
   

• Consider safety and security of the transportation system as separate planning factors,
   

• Include “year of expense” dollar considerations for future transportation projects,

We have amended the MTP document for compliance with SAFETEA-LU and anticipate adoption by the LAPC on July, 18, 2007.  Amendments to the MTP are contained in the SAFETEA-LU Supplement to the Metropolitan Transportation Plan.  Following a 30 day public comment period, the Supplement was adopted on July 18, 2007. 

As part of the amendment process, an environmental consultation meeting with US resource agencies was held at 12:30 on June 6, 2007 at the WisDOT Northwest Region Office in Eau Claire.  Background information and maps prepared for the meeting are available here.

MTP Available for Downloading:

The final Metropolitan Transportation Plan is available in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format below, as adopted on August 17, 2005.  Please contact the LAPC office to acquire a copy of the MTP on CD or in printed format.

Cover and Table of contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - Metropolitan Transportation Planning
Chapter 3 - State of the Region
Chapter 4 - Vision, Goals and Objectives
Chapter 5 - Transportation Networks
Chapter 6 - Transportation and Land Use Connection
Chapter 7 - Recommendations
Chapter 8 - Policies for Implementation
Chapter 9 - Performance Measures and Evaluation
Chapter 10 - Financial Plan
Chapter 11 - Next Steps
Appendix A - Definitions and Acronyms
Appendix B - Environmental Justice Executive Order
Appendix C - Bicycle Parking Accommodations
Appendix D - Transit Propensity Methodology
Appendix E - Environmental Justice Methodology
Appendix F - Model Ordinances
Appendix G - Bicycle Facility Treatments

Public Input:

Public input is critical to the success of the planning process!  Please see the Agendas and Minutes page for information on committee meetings related to the MTP.  You are encouraged to attend meetings and to contact the LAPC office to offer your input into the ongoing transportation planning process.  Your comments are welcome at any point in the process.  A comment form is available here in Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word format for you to fill out and mail or email to the LAPC office.

Action Plan for Congestion:

The MTP contains recommended actions to address current and projected congestion in the metropolitan planning area.

The long-range plan complies with regulations and guidelines set by the US Department of Transportation Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) State Highway Plan 2020.

Essentially, the MTP has identified roadways in the area that will exceed a standard level of congestion in the year 2030 and to recommends actions designed to bring forecasted traffic volumes within acceptable thresholds. The actions are a combination of operational, policy-based, intermodal, and/or roadway improvements. Including this planning process in the long-range plan ensures the continuation of federal transportation funding in the area.

Traffic forecasting and alternative scenarios modeling was completed using a computer-based traffic demand model developed by LAPC staff and HNTB, Inc. in Madison, Wisconsin. The modeling is based on projections of future employment and population characteristics developed at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

Modeling of the roadway network in 2030 indicates that a significant area of concern is on the corridor of north/south traffic between I-90 and La Crosse St in the City of La Crosse. This corridor includes STH 16 (including La Crosse St), US Highway 53 (Copeland Ave / Rose St) and STH 35 (George St / Lang Dr).

In May of 2005, HNTB Corp. completed modeling for 15 scenarios of policy-based actions and roadway improvements based on input from as many groups as possible, including the public, local municipalities, the DOT, and LAPC committees and staff.

The Policy Board considered the merits and impacts of various options at the May and June, 2005 LAPC meetings and adopted an action plan in June to address congestion based on a recommendation from the TAC.  The plan consists of the following actions:

• Aggressive Implementation of Policy-Based Actions (transit, land use planning, operational improvements, etc.)

• USH 53 Extended from CTH SS to Gillette St and 12th Avenue Extended from CTH SS to STH 16

• Corridor Study to study impacts and determine most feasible improvements from Gillette St south

• Recommend actions to address the projected deficiencies in line with the requirements of the MTP process

• Minimize the concentration of capacity improvements on a single roadway; improvements should be distributed on existing roadways as much as possible

• Recommend actions that promote eligibility for the Major Project enumeration

Public Information Meetings:

Three Public Information Meetings were held in January, 2005 to inform the public of the status of the planning process and to gain valuable public input. 

Display boards were prepared for the public meetings, providing background on the planning process and some of the supporting data.  Copies of the boards are here in Adobe Acrobat format:

Board 1: MPO Overview
Board 2: Planning Area Map
Board 3: What's Been Done
Board 4: Crash Facts
Board 5: Level of Service Analysis
Board 6: What's Next
Board 7: We Need Your Input

A fourth public meeting was held on June 8, 2005 at the Northside Community Policing Center at 713 St. James St. in La Crosse.  Comments and public input were presented to the TAC and Policy Board at the June meetings.  Final public meetings were held in La Crescent and La Crosse in August, 2005 to announce and receive comments on the final Plan.

Population and Employment Forecasts:

Forecasts of population and employment patterns and growth in the area are used in the planning process to help project traffic patterns and demand.  The LAPC contracted with the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Small Business Development Center to create projections out to the year 2030.  The University report predicts a population for the LAPC area of about 133,200 by 2030, a growth rate of about 23% from the baseline year of 2000.  Employment growth is projected to reach about 77,200 by 2030, at a growth rate of about 21%.  The report, including these and other interesting statistics, is available here, in Adobe Acrobat format.

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