The Planning Process:
Transportation

Vision

Through community and regional partnerships, the City of Springfield should work with the surrounding region to create a vibrant transportation system that successfully links people, goods, and places through a safe, sustainable, efficient, effective, and accessible network that supports seamless connections for all modes of travel, thereby maintaining and enhancing economic vitality and quality of life.

We encourage you to review the DRAFT Transportation chapter of Field Guide 2030.

Background

Our group was tasked with examining transportation in the Springfield region for the next 20 years. We attempted to incorporate and consider all modes of travel and all types of lifestyles. Our committee has a transportation vision that serves the entire region and does so in a way that provides exceptional quality of life and economic vitality.

The committee was comprised of 30 individuals with differing backgrounds and varying perspectives due to their relationships and dependence on transportation. This process provided opportunities for many different voices to be heard and required that everyone understand and value the opinions and positions of others, even when it was contradictory to their own. The process demanded that recommendations be made that would be best for Springfield and the region as a whole, rather than a few homogenous voices. We are excited about our vision and hope that you will be too.

Our long-range vision includes five broad goals:

• Improve transportation advocacy and properly assess needs through better education and engagement of the citizens of the region.
• Maintain transportation assets.
• Provide a transportation system that encourages economic growth and vitality.
• Implement a multi-modal transportation system.
• Provide a transportation system that improves the quality of life and livability for all citizens of the region.

Some of the suggested actions for the next five years include:

• Inform and engage all area stakeholders with opportunities to evaluate and offer input regarding priorities for the transportation system.
• Keep valuable transportation assets such as streets and roads, bridges, sidewalks, and trails in good condition.
• Continue the planning, preservation, and development of north/south and east/west corridors that link Springfield with surrounding communities.
• Conduct a study to create a robust inter-city and regional bus network.
• Encourage the development of a Complete Streets Master Plan to better provide a transportation system that works for adjacent land uses and provides for all users.

Our committee examined several potential funding sources our transportation vision including: cost-sharing between MoDOT, local city governments, counties and the private sector; economic development transportation funds that are used to cost-share with developers by utilizing equitable and clearly-stated participation criteria; reauthorization, approval, and renewal of federal, state, and local funding streams (Federal Transportation Funding Bill, ¼-cent and 1/8-cent sales taxes, and others).

Our transportation network is the structural element that impacts every aspect of all our lives. It was our committee’s goal to develop a collective vision that can be embraced by all who live and work within our region. Please join us in this vision. We request your support and would appreciate your feedback and suggestions.

By: Kelly Turner - Olsson Associates and Dave Roling - Emery Sapp & Sons
4.18.2011