Permian Basin MPO adopts its latest long-range transportation plan

The Forward50 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) is a long-term transportation plan tailored to the unique needs of the Permian Basin MPO region of Texas. The Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization (PBMPO) unanimously approved the MTP at its November 18 board meeting.

The final report can be found on the project website www.forward50mtp.com.

A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a federally mandated regional agency tasked with carrying out a region’s transportation planning processes. MPOs are required in all urbanized areas with more than 50,000 residents. The Permian Basin MPO (PBMPO) was established in 1965 to ensure that federal transportation funds are spent based on a continuous, comprehensive, and collaborative process.

The PBMPO is responsible for preparing and ensuring that the MTP takes into account the built and natural environment in the region while setting the long-term transportation vision for the area. The Forward50 MTP serves as a guiding framework for transportation investments and directs funding from local, state and federal sources to projects that improve regional connectivity and address community needs. It is important to note that projects must be included in the MTP to be eligible for federal funding.

The Forward50 MTP is the result of a coordinated planning effort to define and implement the region’s transportation vision by identifying transportation needs, selecting projects to meet those needs, and creating a financially constrained set of projects based on a reasonable assumption of available funding.

The planning process required a collaborative effort between stakeholders, communities and MPO staff to create a plan that reflected the values ​​and needs of the region. The process also informed the public about the MTP and other MPO processes and listened to participants identify issues and opportunities. The result is an MTP that highlights engagement as a key tenet of a performance-based planning process.

The region continues to see an upward trend in available transportation funding, and the Forward50 MTP projects nearly $3.6 billion in transportation projects will be funded by 2050. Despite the continued increase in transportation funding, the region’s transportation needs will exceed available funds.

The Forward50 MTP allocates funds to several priority corridors.

Two new interstate corridors will benefit the Permian Basin MPO. I-14 and I-27 will provide economic growth, additional public safety and reduced congestion over time. Those involved are aware that projects like these highways will take decades to complete. The first action of the MPO is to include financially constrained projects in the Forward50 MTP.

Stakeholders and the PBMPO Technical Advisory Committee identified additional opportunities to expand the regional highway system. A corridor designated for highway reconstruction includes large portions of Loop 338 in Odessa. Additionally, two locations on SH 191 that require direct connections have been identified, one at E Loop 338 and the other at Loop 250.

Forward50’s MTP recommendations serve as a basis for promoting complete street approaches by integrating pedestrian, cyclist and public transit improvements. Notable multimodal strategies include the continued implementation of the Wildcatter Trail and the continued investment of $175 million in public transit.

Related