FutureLV: THe Regional Plan Update

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) in 2019 released FutureLV: The Regional Plan. It’s the region’s fifth comprehensive plan for the region and in 2023, the Long-Range Transportation Plan portion of FutureLV was updated after an additional public engagement campaign that included a second regionwide survey, and meetings with all 62 municipalities, community organizations, government agencies and residents. FutureLV, with the updated Long-Range Transportation Plan, is provided below. That document was open for public comment September 6 through October 6. Based on those comments, changes were made and a second comment period was open from October 25th through November 8th. The final document was adopted by the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study on November 15th.

FutureLV is among the first comprehensive plans in the nation that merges the land use, economic, environmental, housing, preservation and farming policies with the transportation planning and investment policies of the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS). FutureLV covers both Lehigh and Northampton counties, creating a forward-thinking strategy that leads the region into the future, while addressing the needs of today.

Read the Plan Here

FUTURELV UPDATE PROCESS AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT

The federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, Lehigh Valley Transportation Study, in coordination with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and US Department of Transportation, have approved the revision of FutureLV: The Regional Plan, including the estimated $2.7 billion, fiscally constrained investment plan.

This took place between January and September 2023. This is to ensure that the transportation system in the Lehigh Valley is maintained, safe, accessible, prepared and resilient in the interest of public health, safety and general welfare of the Lehigh Valley and supporting:

1. Efficient and coordinated development pattern

2. Connected and mixed-transportation region

3. Protected and vibrant environment

4. Competitive, creative and sustainable region

5. Safe, healthy, inclusive and livable communities

The staff of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission manages the Metropolitan Planning Organization functions for the region. This team, reporting to the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) monthly, worked on the transportation planning for this project. The LVTS Technical Committee serves as the planning board for the LVTS and led the preparation of the Long-Range Transportation Plan revisions. The public was invited to participate in the update through the LVTS Technical Committee monthly meetings as well as through a series of community engagement meetings that began in late February.

LVTS Joint Technical + Coordinating Meetings

Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 9AM: View Agenda; View LRTP Project List
Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 8:30AM: View Agenda; View LRTP Project List
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 9AM: View Agenda
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 9AM: View Agenda
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LVTS | Wednesday, November 8, 2023: View Agenda; View LRTP Project List

LRTP Review and Comment Meetings

Monday, September 18, 2023 at 12PM: Municipal partners hybrid meeting at the LVPC offices and online
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 9AM: Lehigh Valley Transportation Study virtual monthly meeting
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 7PM: In-Person public meeting at the Fowler Center, 511 E Third St, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 5:30PM: Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's monthly virtual Transportation Committee meeting

LRTP Project Workshops

In June, the LVTS began the selection process for the submitted projects. All of the meetings were open to the public and took place in-person at the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission office at 961 Marcon Boulevard, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109.

Friday, June 16, 2023 from 8:30AM - 12:30PM | View Agenda; LRTP Workshop Project List 1
Friday, June 23, 2023 from 8:30AM - 12:30PM | View Agenda; LRTP Workshop Project List 2
Friday, June 30, 2023 from 8:30AM - 12:30PM | View Agenda

Links to Project Vetting Spreadsheets for LRTP Project Workshops

Transportation Needs Assessment Process

Every four years the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study is required by federal statute to review long-range transportation policy and investments.

In 2023, the transportation planning embedded in FutureLV: The Regional Plan will be assessed and revised to meet this requirement. This process will evaluate priorities of the current 25-year transportation plan with an enhanced focus on advancing equitable communities, transportation safety and infrastructure resiliency measures included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, enacted by Congress and signed into law on November 15, 2021. The intent of the transportation update of FutureLV: The Regional Plan is to evolve and advance a forward-thinking strategy that leads the Lehigh Valley into the future while addressing the needs of today.

February 27, 2023 | 1PM: Nazareth Area (Chapman Borough; Bushkill, Moore, Upper Nazareth Townships) at the Upper Nazareth Municipal Building
March 1, 2023 | 2PM: Suburban Northampton (Bethlehem, Forks, Palmer Townships) at the Palmer Township Municipal Building
March 2, 2023 | 1PM: Easton Area (City of Easton; Glendon, West Easton, Wilson Boroughs; Williams Township) at Easton City Hall
March 2, 2023 | 3:30PM: Slate Belt Boroughs (Bangor, East Bangor, Pen Argyl, Portland, Roseto, Wind Gap Boroughs) at the Pen Argyl Municipal Building
March 7, 2023 | 9AM: Nazareth Area (Nazareth, Tatamy, Stockertown Boroughs; Lower Nazareth Township) at the Lower Nazareth Township Municipal Building
March 7, 2023 | 12:30PM: Lehigh + Northampton Counties at the LVPC/LVTS Office
March 7, 2023 | 3PM: Saucon Valley (Coopersburg, Hellertown Boroughs; Lower Saucon, Upper Saucon Townships) at the Lower Saucon Township Municipal Building
March 9, 2023 | 3PM: Non-Profit Partners at the LVPC/LVTS Office
March 10, 2023 | 8AM: General Lehigh Valley online (www.tinyurl.com/LVTNA2023 or by phone at 610-477-5793, Conference ID: 874 584 569#
March 10, 2023 | 10AM: Southwestern Lehigh (Alburtis, Emmaus, Macungie Boroughs; Lower Macungie, Lower Milford, Upper Milford Townships) at the Lower Macungie Municipal Building
March 13, 2023 | 10AM: Bethlehem Area (City of Bethlehem; Fountain Hill, Freemansburg Boroughs) at Bethlehem City Hall
March 15, 2023 | 3PM: Lehigh and Northampton Transit Authority + Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority at the LVPC/LVTS Office
March 15, 2023 | 6PM: Slate Belt Townships (Lower Mount Bethel, Upper Mount Bethel, Washington NC) at the Washington Township Municipal Building
March 17, 2023 | 11AM: Suburban Lehigh Townships (North Whitehall, South Whitehall, Upper Macungie Townships) at the South Whitehall Township Municipal Building
March 17, 2023 | 2PM: Central Boroughs (Catasauqua, Coplay, North Catasauqua Boroughs) at the Catasauqua Municipal Building
March 22, 2023 | 2PM: Allentown Area (City of Allentown, Salisbury Township) at Allentown City Hall
March 24, 2023 | 10AM: Lehigh Valley International Airport Freight Study (Bath, Northampton Boroughs; East Allen, Hanover LC, Hanover NC, Whitehall Townships) at the Hanover Township Municipal Building
March 24, 2023 | 12PM: PennDOT District 5 at the LVPC/LVTS Office
March 24, 2023 | 2PM: Last Call for Input (Open to All) at the LVPC/LVTS Office