Regional Intergovernmental Council MTP 2050 Update

We Need Your Input!

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The Regional Intergovernmental Council (RIC) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is taking a look at the area's transportation needs through the year 2050. The RIC Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) will consider all modes of transportation, including motorized vehicles, public transportation, bicycles, walking, freight and goods movement, and air travel.

RIC MTP 2050 Update will analyze the transportation system to determine the area's transportation needs. Those needs will then be matched with recommended transportation projects, which will be prioritized for funding. The result will be a comprehensive blueprint for effective transportation decision-making and investment choices.

RIC MTP 2050 Update needs YOU! Over the coming months, community members will have opportunities to actively participate in shaping the vision and direction of the MTP. These opportunities will include digital engagement activities on this website and in-person meetings.

We need your input to help shape the future of transportation in Kanawha and Putnam counties! The Regional Intergovernmental Council (RIC) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the transportation planning agency for Kanawha and Putnam Counties. Th

Project Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

Project Initiation

The project initiation phase is the crucial first step in the planning process. This phase involves the kick-off meeting, development of a public engagement plan, the creation of the steering committee, and the delineation of responsibilities throughout the process.
Timeline item 2 - active

Data Collection

This phase is focused around collecting data about the region. This data will be a combination of the existing conditions and the data from the public survey, workshops, and stakeholder engagement.
Timeline item 3 - active

Goals, Objectives, and Performance Measurement

This stage looks to lay a framework for the future plan to follow. The public and steering committees are called upon to help identify and prioritize goals, objectives, and relevant performance measurements to provide the grounwork for plan development.
Timeline item 4 - incomplete

Multimodal Recommendations and Needs Plan

This stage aims at looking at the needs of the region and creating multimodal recommendations that address those needs.
Timeline item 5 - incomplete

Project Prioritization

Project prioritization is performed by objectively scoring each project based on factors important to the region. This process lays the groundwork for deciding how to spend the transportation budget.
Timeline item 6 - incomplete

Financial Constraint

The financial constraint part of the planning process involves projecting the budget through the plans lifecycle, in this case 2050. After calculating the budget, projects will be financially constrained to create a balanced budget showing what, at current trajectories, can be accomplished in the next 25 years. Projects that are not financially constrained are included as illustrative projects.
Timeline item 7 - incomplete

MTP Documentation

This section involves the creation of the physical plan with opportunities for public involvement and stakeholder comments.
Timeline item 8 - incomplete

Adoption

The final section of the process is the hopeful adoption of the MTP helping to pave the way for the future of transportation in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a federally mandated regional agency charged with carrying out a region's transportation planning processes. MPOs are required in all urbanized areas with populations over 50,000.

The RIC MTP will cover the entirety of Kanawha and Putnam counties.

Requirements of the planning process include development and updates of a long-range (25 year) Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), an annual (or biannual) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and a yearly unified planning work program. Most MPO's are only required to update their MTP every 5-years, however, to fulfill the planning requirements in coordination with the TMA in Huntington, RIC updates on a 4-year schedule. In addition, RIC conducts corridor, subarea and intersection studies to look at particular problem locations in the area. The MPO also fosters continued coordination with KVRTA, Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority, WVDOT, West Virginia Department of Transportation, FHWA, Federal Highway Administration, and FTA, Federal Transit Authority.

In addition to the MTP, the RIC MPO also completes the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), Congestion Management Process (CMP), and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). For more information, see the RIC MPO Website.

The final MTP will focus on all modes of transportation, including motorized vehicles, public transportation, bicycles, walking, freight and goods movement, and air travel. The plan aims to analyze the area's transportation needs, prioritize identified multimodal projects, and determine the strategy to fund the transportation recommendations in order to shape the direction and future of the region.