TRANSPORTATION TOMORROW: 2035

 

BMTS LAUNCHES LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATON PLAN

WITH SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS

 

The Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study has initiated work on a new long range transportation plan for the Greater Binghamton Region. This plan is the primary means by which priorities are established for how money will be spent on transportation projects over the coming years. The plan addresses the needs of all users for both personal travel and freight movement. One of BMTS’ guiding principles is that transportation investment must not only provide for better transportation, but also help achieve regional and local development goals.

 

BMTS is required by federal law to update our long range plan at least once every five years. Our current plan, TRANSPORTATION TOMORROW 2030 ~ PLACEMAKING FOR PROSPERITY, was adopted in September 2005. It can be found on the BMTS website www.bmtsonline.com/files/bmts/pdfs/TransportationTomorrow2030.pdf It was an exercise in scenario planning that won national recognition, and led to a focus on revitalizing the urban core communities.

 

Much of PLACEMAKING FOR PROSPERITY will be retained in the new plan, since our baseline conditions have not changed a great deal. In looking 25 years into the future, there is the intent to develop a new plan element that examines sustainability.

 

Another of BMTS’ guiding principles is that “We plan best when we plan WITH the community, not FOR the community”. As such, we are beginning work on the long range plan with a series of public meetings. We encourage people to come and share their vision of the future of Greater Binghamton, and to discuss the role transportation plays in achieving that vision. Meetings will be held:

 

Ö   February 1, 1:30 PM and 6:30 PM Broome County Public Library, 185 Court Street, Binghamton

Ö   February 2, 4:00 PM, Tioga County Office Building, 56 Main Street, Owego

Ö   February 4, 1:30 PM, Johnson City George Korutz Justice Bldg, 31 Avenue C, Johnson City

Ö   February 4, 6:30 PM, Vestal Hills Elementary School, 709 Country Club Rd., Vestal

 

MEDIA CONTACT:    

Steven Gayle, Executive Director

778-2443

sgayle@co.broome.ny.us

 

 

 

The Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study is required by Federal law to create and adopt a long-range regional transportation plan, and to update that plan no less than every five years.

 

Our current plan, TRANSPORTATION TOMORROW: 2030 ~ Placemaking for Prosperity was adopted in September 2005, so we need to have a new plan in place by September 2010. A long range plan includes a vision of how we expect our region, Greater Binghamton, to change over twenty-five years; what transportation infrastructure and services will be required for those changed conditions; and what we can do with smart transportation investment to help achieve desirable changes. The existing Plan is scenario-based, meaning we looked at a number of regional visions, and selected one: focus investment on revitalizing and redeveloping the urban core communities.

 

Because not a lot has changed in the past five years in terms of population, employment, and travel, much of the current Plan remains useful. One thing that has changed is a national focus on sustainability, in terms of global climate change, land consumption, and sustainable development. As a result, BMTS intends to add a Sustainability component to the new Plan.

 

One of BMTS’ Guiding Principles is “We plan best when we plan with the community, not for the community”. We will be doing a lot of public outreach to get your input as the Plan develops.

 

Please read the “First Cut” Goals and Objectives and give us your feedback.

Goals and Objectives - for Public Review