POLK COUNTY TPO Polk County 2060 Transportation Vision Plan Final Report. ADOPTED June 18, 2009

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1 POLK COUNTY TPO Polk County 2060 Transportation Vision Plan Final Report ADOPTED June 18, 2009

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Prior Planning Effort...Page 1-1 CHAPTER 2 Population and Employment Forecasts...Page 2-1 CHAPTER 3 Transportation Mode Considerations...Page 3-1 CHAPTER 4 Key Multimodal Corridors...Page 4-1 CHAPTER 5 Local Community Mixed Use Corridor...Page 5-1 CHAPTER 6 Recommended Vision Plan Strategies and Policies...Page 6-1

3 Introduction Trend Forecast Concept The Polk County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) managed a study to prepare a Transportation Vision Plan for the 2060 planning horizon. The purpose of the Transportation Vision Plan is to prepare and refine land use forecasts to identify multimodal transportation corridors and to identify strategies, policies, and specific land use changes necessary to support the Vision Plan. The Transportation Vision Plan was prepared by Tindale-Oliver and Associates, Inc., and Canin Associates, Inc. Key topics summarized in the chapters of this report are: Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Population and Employment Forecast Chapter 3: Transportation Mode Considerations Chapter 4: Key Multimodal Corridors Chapter 5: Recommended Vision Plan Strategies and Policies Figure 1-1: Trend Forecast Concept The pictures illustrate how growth could potentially contribute to the loss of agricultural and environmental lands if the current development patterns continue. Transportation Vision Plan Goals Centers Forecast Concept The goals of the Polk County Transportation Vision Plan are: Prepare 2060 population and employment forecasts at the transportation analysis zone (TAZ) level for the Trend forecast concept and for the Centers forecast concept. Summarize person-trip capacities and capital and operating costs by transportation mode. Identify key corridors to connect existing and emerging city centers and recommend appropriate multimodal improvements (highway, transit, and bicycle and pedestrian) based on the revised TAZ population and employment forecasts. Recommend specific locations for land use changes to support multimodal transportation options and revise modal feasibility report. Identify supporting strategies and policies required to implement the Polk Vision Plan. Figure 1-2: Centers Forecast Concept The pictures show how density creates a sense of place and what a community might look like if growth is directed toward existing activity centers and nodes. 1-1

4 Prior Planning Efforts The following documents and plans were reviewed as part of this study: My Region: Central Florida s Regional Growth Vision Polk Vision Plan Central Florida Regional Planning Council: Strategic Regional Policy Plan FDOT District One Rail Traffic Evaluation Study Polk County 2030 Transportation Improvement Plan (TRIP) Central Polk Parkway PD&E Study Planning Design Central Florida Our Region in the Year 2050 (My Region) Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) Cost-Feasible Plan Current adopted Polk County Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Needs Plan roadway network Current adopted Polk County LRTP Cost-Feasible roadway network List of environmentally and policy-constrained roadways GIS layers of environmentally sensitive land and wetlands Parcel geographic files including Department of Revenue Codes Proposed passenger rail corridors Polk Unified Greenways System (PUGS) Current and cost-feasible inter-urban area transit routes Known new multimodal corridor alignments (i.e., Heartland Parkway) Polk Vision Key Points: Polk County has an existing transportation infrastructure gap. Future growth should pay for itself. Polk Vision is based on reversing the trend of becoming a bedroom community. My Region: Central Florida s Regional Growth Vision Key Points: Current growth is increasing pressure on the region s transportation system and fragile environment. Central Florida will not be competitive in livability and economic terms, if current development trends persist. There is still time to change growth policies and to direct growth so that Central Florida will remain a desirable place to live. Strategic Regional Policy Plan of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council Key Points: Establishes a long range guide for the physical, economic, and social development of the Central Florida Region. The plan documents natural resources, economic development, regional transportation, affordable housing, and emergency preparedness. Central Florida is the only region in Florida that has no coastline and is mostly rural. Therefore, it has different needs than other regions in Florida. FDOT District One Rail Traffic Evaluation Study Key Points: Freight rail continues to operate through downtown Lakeland. CSX must agree to any change in operations or any new routes. All relocation alternatives require property acquisition, increased infrastructure, operations, and maintenance costs. Passenger rail is feasible linking Polk with Tampa and Orlando 1-2

5 Polk County LRTP Polk County Adopted LRTP Needs and Cost Feasible Plan 2030 Needs and Cost Feasible Plan 2030 Cost Feasible Improvements 2030 Unfunded Needs Figure 1-3: 2030 Needs and Cost Feasible Plan The segments shown in red are where roadway improvements are needed. The segments shown in blue are the roadways that Polk County can afford to improve. Figure 1-4: 2030 Unfunded Needs The highlighted segments are those that need roadway improvements but are not yet funded. Figure 1-5: 2030 Cost Feasible Improvements The highlighted segments are roadway improvements that are funded. 1-3

6 Polk County LRTP As identified in the Polk County 2030 TRIP the majority of the existing transit routes serve the Lakeland and Winter Haven urbanized areas. Polk County Transit Services in the southeastern part of the county. Existing Transit Services Figure 1-6: Existing Transit Service Current routes primarily serve the greater Lakeland and Winter Haven areas. 1-4

7 Polk County LRTP As identified in the Polk County 2030 TPIP the current multi-use trail system lacks connectivity. Providing added connectivity should be a consideration during the planning of future trails. Existing, Committed, and Proposed Multi-Use Trails Figure 1-7: Existing, Committed, and Proposed Multi-Use Trails This figure is from Polk s 2030 TRIP 1-5

8 My Region How Shall We Grow? What We Look Like Today 2050 What We Will look Like If Current Trends Continue Figure 1-8: Existing Land Use Central Florida today is a collection of seven counties and 86 cities, with development organized in multiple centers throughout the region. The region includes a total of 2,618 square miles of urban development in 2006, compared to 1,675 square miles in Figure 1-9: Future Land Use Under current growth policies, developed land area in Central Florida will double by 2050, development will occur in places that were once distinctly rural or in environmentally-sensitive areas and city boundaries will meld into one another, with little distinction or green space between developed areas. 1-6

9 My Region Four Key Themes (The 4 Cs): How Do We Get There? Six Principles Conservation: Enjoying Central Florida s most precious resources land, water, air, and wildlife. Countryside: Maintaining Central Florida s heritage of agriculture and small villages. Centers: Hamlets, villages, towns, and cities a variety of places to live, work, and play. The region s most vibrant centers will provide a mix of residential and commercial development. These will include traditional cities like Daytona Beach, Mount Dora, Lakeland, Sanford, and Orlando, as well as new urban developments including Dundee, Palm Bay, Altamonte Springs, and Deltona. Preserve open space, recreational areas, farmland, water resources, and regionally significant natural areas. Provide a variety of transportation choices. Connectivity between centers and with other regions Congestion relief Choices for moving people and goods Concurrency with new development Foster distinct, attractive, and safe places to live What We Will look Like If Our Vision is Realized Corridors: Connecting our region with more choices for how people and freight move. Central Florida will shift from a region that overwhelmingly depends on cars and trucks to a region that offers its residents, businesses, and visitors a wide range of travel options. Encourage a diverse, globally competitive economy. Create a range of obtainable housing opportunities and choices. Figure 1-10: Vision Land Use This vision illustrates what the region can look like if we focus on the 4 Cs Conservation, Countryside, Centers, and Corridors. It illustrates a snap shot of the current cities and unincorporated population centers that are anticipated as of If cities and centers grow as anticipated, our community will need to make decisions about the best ways to connect regional cities and the villages and towns that surround them. If our history is an indicator, the region will continue to reinvent itself and other population centers will likely emerge. The centers may shift and rearrange, but what should stay constant are the core themes and principles underlying the Central Florida Regional Growth Vision. Build communities with educational, health care, and cultural amenities. 1-7

10 Polk Vision Case for Change in Polk County Quality Growth Strategies The Infrastructure Gap Polk Vision acknowledges an existing infrastructure gap that must be eliminated and stipulates that future growth must pay for itself for both the initial cost of infrastructure and annual operating costs. Mid-Term Strategies III. Infrastructure Vision: Before 2024, Polk County will have growth management and infrastructure strategies that protect the environment and quality of life, support education and economic development, and are economically sustainable. Strategies: B. Transportation 1. Create a Polk County Regional Transportation Authority that builds and operates a countywide transit system with bus and rail elements linked together and works with the county and municipalities in planning and constructing the countywide roadway network. (The PTA was formed on June 29, 2007.) 2. Ensure that Polk County receives its fair share of Florida and Federal transportation funding dollars. 3. Ensure that major roads are continually improved and have adequate capacity. Build limited access highways to serve all parts of the county. Implement a Ridge North-South transportation plan that includes a limited access highway (either US 27 or a parallel road). 4. Take advantage of all public access airports in the county to attract general aviation, charter and regular passenger air service. Direct development toward existing communities Connect our city centers Promote the trail network 1-8

11 Polk Vision Quality Growth Strategies Quality Growth Strategies Foster mixed use and walkable neighborhoods Jointly identify target growth areas Provide incentives for growth within Urban Service Area 1-9

12 CFRPC Strategic Regional Policy Plan Regional Transportation Regional Goal 3.1: As a priority, protect, maintain and improve existing transportation infrastructure with available transportation funds. Regional Goal 3.2: Coordinate future transportation improvements to aid in the management of growth, and facilitate integration of highway, air, mass transit and other transportation modes. Policies: Extend any applicable rail lines within the Region that will lead to reduced levels of truck traffic Promote the planning, development, and implementation of ridesharing, High Occupancy Vehicle, and other alternative transportation facilities and services by using FDOT s maximum lane standards Ensure that the regional transportation system provides timely and efficient access to services, jobs, markets, and attractions. Regional Goal 3.5: Development shall only occur in a manner consistent with Florida Statutes requiring the concurrent provision of adequate transportation facilities. Policies: Interchanges shall be established along limited access routes only when they are consistent with the Strategic Regional Policy Plan (SRPP), the Florida State Comprehensive Plan and the Florida Transportation Plan in accordance with applicable FDOT standards Right-of-way for state, regional and local government transportation facilities shall be protected and shall be consistent with applicable FDOT regulations and the Florida Transportation Plan. Regional Goal 3.6: Level-of-service methodologies shall be consistent. Regional Goal 3.3: Provide access to transportation services to the transportation disadvantaged which will meet their needs. Policies: Transportation Disadvantaged services shall be provided in the most cost effective, and efficient manner. Regional Goal 3.4: Reduce average vehicle trip lengths on the transportation system, thereby lowering energy consumption per vehicle and reducing segment volumes. Policies: Establish regularly scheduled commercial air carrier (commuter) service at one or more of the airports and airways systems within the Region to reduce the distance traveled on the highway network Promote development in close proximity to existing compatible land uses so that average trip lengths will be reduced. 1-10

13 FDOT D1 Rail Traffic Evaluation Study CSX Corridor Regional Rail Alternative I-4 Airport Regional Rail Alternative (to Orlando CBD via CSX) I-4 Corridor Regional Rail Alternative (to Orlando Airport) Figure 1-11: CSX Corridor Regional Rail Alternative Total mileage from Tampa to Orlando is 92 miles. Total travel time to travel the same distance is 90 minutes projected ridership is 3,106 people. Figure 1-12: I-4 Airport Regional Rail Alternative Total mileage from Tampa to Orlando is 86 miles. Total travel time to travel the same distance is 76 minutes projected ridership is 3,086. Figure 1-13: I-4 Corridor Regional Rail Alternative Total mileage from Tampa to Orlando is 93 miles. Total travel time to travel the same distance is 84 minutes Projected ridership is 3,204. SunRail Extention to Polk County Tampa-Polk Alternative Figure 1-14: SunRail Extention to Polk County Total mileage from Lakeland to Orlando is 61 miles. It will take 77 minutes to travel that distance projected ridership is 2,130. Figure 1-15: Tampa-Polk Alternative Total mileage from Lakeland to Tampa is 31 miles. It will take 41 minutes to travel that distance projected ridership is 3,

14 CHAPTER 1 Central Polk Parkway PD&E Study Central Polk Parkway PD&E Study from SR 60 to I-4 A R D T F Figure 1-15: Central Polk Parkway PD&E Study from SR 60 to I-4 The Florida Department of Transportation is currently evaluating the feasibility of new major roadway corridors to address future mobility needs. 1-12