TRANSPORTATION
Long-Range Transportation Plan
FUTURELV: REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) in 2019 released the region’s fifth comprehensive plan and is now holding Transportation Needs Assessment meetings with municipal stakeholders in 15 subregions across the Lehigh Valley. 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. FutureLV cover’s both Lehigh and Northampton counties, creating a forward-thinking strategy that leads the region into the future, while addressing the needs of today.
Transportation Needs Assessment
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 to the Lehigh Valley into the future while addressing the needs of today.
process
who
The federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, Lehigh Valley Transportation Study, in coordination with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and US Department of Transportation
what
Revising the Long-Range Transportation Plan elements of FutureLV: The Regional Plan, including the estimated $2.7 billion, fiscally constrained investment plan
when
From January – September 2023
where
The Lehigh Valley, including Lehigh and Northampton Counties
why
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
how
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, is working on the transportation planning for this project. The LVTS Technical Committee serves as the planning board for the LVTS and is lead for the preparation of the Long-Range Transportation Plan revisions. The public is invited to participate in the update through the LVTS Technical Committee monthly meetings as well as through a series of community engagement meetings beginning in late February.
schedule
Feb 27 | 1 PM: Nazareth Area (Chapman Borough; Bushkill, Moore, Upper Nazareth Townships)
Upper Nazareth Municipal Building | 100 Newport Ave, Nazareth, PA 18064
Mar 1 | 2 PM: Suburban Northampton (Bethlehem, Forks, Palmer Townships)
Palmer Township Municipal Building | 3 Weller Pl, Palmer, PA 18045
Mar 2 | 1 PM: Easton Area (City of Easton; Glendon, West Easton, Wilson Boroughs; Williams Township)
Easton City Hall | 123 S 3rd St, Easton, PA 18042
Mar 2 | 3:30 PM: Slate Belt Boroughs (Bangor, East Bangor, Pen Argyl, Portland, Roseto, Wind Gap Boroughs)
Pen Argyl Municipal Building | 11 N Robinson Ave, Pen Argyl, PA 18072
Mar 7 | 9 AM: Nazareth Area (Nazareth, Tatamy, Stockertown Boroughs; Lower Nazareth Township)
Lower Nazareth Township Municipal Building | 623 Municipal Dr, Nazareth, PA 18064
Mar 7 | 12:30 PM: Lehigh + Northampton Counties
LVPC/LVTS Office | 961 Marcon Blvd, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
Mar 7 | 3 PM: Saucon Valley (Coopersburg, Hellertown Boroughs; Lower Saucon, Upper Saucon Townships)
Lower Saucon Township Municipal Building | 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Mar 9 | 1 PM: Central Area (Walnutport Borough; Allen, Lehigh Townships)
Lehigh Township Municipal Building | 1069 Municipal Rd, Walnutport, PA 18088
Mar 9 | 3 PM: Non-Profit Partners
LVPC/LVTS Office | 961 Marcon Blvd, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
Mar 10 | 8 AM: General Lehigh Valley
www.tinyurl.com/LVTNA2023 or by phone at 610-477-5793 Conference ID: 874 584 569#
Mar 10 | 10 AM: Southwestern Lehigh (Alburtis, Emmaus, Macungie Boroughs; Lower Macungie, Lower Milford, Upper Milford Townships)
Lower Macungie Municipal Building | 3400 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA 18062
Mar 13 | 10 AM: Bethlehem Area (City of Bethlehem; Fountain Hill, Freemansburg Boroughs)
Bethlehem City Hall | 10 E Church St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Mar 15 | 3 PM: Lehigh and Northampton Transit Authority + Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority
LVPC/LVTS Office | 961 Marcon Blvd, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
Mar 15 | 6 PM: Slate Belt Townships (Lower Mt Bethel, Plainfield, Upper Mt Bethel, Washington NC)
Washington Township Municipal Building | 1021 Washington Blvd, Bangor, PA 18013
Mar 17 | 9 AM: Northern Lehigh (Slatington Borough; Heidelberg, Lowhill, Lynn, Washington LC, Weisenberg Townships)
Heidelberg Township Municipal Building | 6272 Route 309, Suite A, New Tripoli, PA 18066
Mar 17 | 11 AM: Suburban Lehigh Townships (North Whitehall, South Whitehall, Upper Macungie Townships)
South Whitehall Township Municipal Building | 4444 Walbert Ave, Allentown, PA 18104
Mar 17 | 2 PM: Central Boroughs (Catasauqua, Coplay, North Catasauqua Boroughs)
Catasauqua Municipal Building | 90 Bridge St, Catasauqua, PA 18032
Mar 22 | 2 PM: Allentown Area (City of Allentown, Salisbury Township)
Allentown City Hall | 435 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101
Mar 24 | 10 AM: Lehigh Valley International Airport Freight Study (Bath, Northampton Boroughs; East Allen, Hanover LC, Hanover NC, Whitehall Townships)
Hanover Township Municipal Building | 2202 Grove Rd, Allentown, PA 18109
Mar 24 | 12 PM: PennDOT District 5
LVPC/LVTS Office | 961 Marcon Blvd, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
Mar 24 | 2 PM: Last Call for Input (Open to All)
LVPC/LVTS Office | 961 Marcon Blvd, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
your voice counts!
What are your transportation priorities for the Lehigh Valley? Take this short survey to help direct transportation investments and policy here.
Questions? Please contact planning@lvpc.org for any comments, concerns or accommodations that you may need made.
PREVIOUS LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
WHAT IS A LONG RANGE PLAN?
The LRTP is a locally-developed plan that addresses transportation modes: highways, bridges, air, public transportation and bicycle and pedestrian. The plan identifies projects and line items for projects that are necessary for improving and enhancing the travel network. Projects within the plan are prioritized according to which element of the plan they appear within: short range (years 1-4), mid-range (years 5-12), or long range (years 13+). Long range plans are federally mandated to be intermodal in scope, cover at least a 20-year period and be financially constrained (the value of all projects in the plan may not exceed the amount of funds that can reasonably be expected to be available over the life of the plan). The plan places a strong emphasis on rebuilding and maintaining existing transportation infrastructure.
PURPOSE OF THE LONG RANGE PLAN
The purpose of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is to guide decisions made in the investment of federal and state transportation funds to highway, bridge, air, transit and transportation alternative projects most in need. The plan also serves as a conduit for projects to enter the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
Full Document
Air Quality Report
Click here for Long-Range Transportation Plan
Project Presentation Information
Congestion Management Process
INTRODUCTION
This plan includes background information, needs and issues, policies, and recommendations. It analyzes current commodity
flows, forecasts anticipated growth in goods movement, and identifies potential future investment targets including an inland
port and new highway interchanges. Subsequently, LVPC has established a freight advisory committee, which will consider
improvements to facilitate safe and efficient goods movement and implementing regional congestion intermodal management
programs.
Traffic Safety Plan
PURPOSE
The goal of this plan is Zero Deaths resulting from vehicle crashes.
The new update to the traffic safety plan highlights trends, goals, high crash study areas, and high crash intersections in the Lehigh Valley. It is created to be used as a resource for municipalities and a plan here at LVPC. The plan highlights significant crash types in the Lehigh Valley and compares them to goals set in Pennsylvania's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). It also identifies high priority study areas and intersections from an in-house analysis that will be used as candidates for future projects here at the LVPC. This was created with the use of PennDOT's 2014 crash databases.
Other Reports and Studies
Bath Borough Multimodal Safety and Parking Analysis
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, in an effort to promote cooperative planning, provides technical assistance to communities experiencing challenges. The LVPC was invited by the Borough of Bath to conduct a parking analysis to determine whether there are sufficient parking accommodations in the commercial district. The LVPC proceeded with a
two-phase approach.
Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan 2018
The locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services plan identifies the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults and people with low incomes. The plan provides strategies for meeting those local needs and prioritizes transportation services for funding and implementation. A coordinated plan must also incorporate activities offered under other programs sponsored by federal, state and local agencies to greatly strengthen its impact.
Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan PDF
LVTS Public Participation Plan Update
Public involvement is a vital component of the transportation planning process. Providing full disclosure of plans and programs not only during the development phase but also after the adoption of these plans and programs allows the general public the opportunity to be involved, comment on, and influence the development process. Every person, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, disability, or socio-economic status should have the opportunity to take part in and influence the transportation planning process. This Public Participation Plan provides for and documents the methods utilized by the LVTS to achieve this outcome.
Limited English Proficiency - 2016 (Available in English and Spanish)
The Lehigh Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) developed a Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan covering Lehigh and Northampton counties. The plan identifi es Limited English Proficient populations by geographic location and by language spoken. A person is considered Limited English Proficient if they do not speak English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English. Federal legislation on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 13166 “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency” and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients’ Responsibilities to Limited English Proficiency Persons are addressed.
Limited English Proficiency Report PDF
Limited English Proficiency Report PDF - Spanish
Transit Oriented Development
Transit Oriented Development, commonly referred to as TOD, has become a much discussed development concept in recent years. Nationwide attention has been focused on TODs as a development concept that can be used to achieve multiple smart growth and sustainable development objectives. TODs have been promoted and built in numerous large metropolitan areas across the country.
The purpose of this report is to introduce the TOD concept to the Lehigh Valley and assess its potential local applicability using rigorous data based analysis. The report assesses the conditions, criteria, and design elements necessary to build TODs that establish an actual connection between transit and development, rather than developments that merely use the term for marketing purposes. The goals and policies contained in the Comprehensive Plan The Lehigh Valley ... 2030 agree with many of the smart growth outcomes that TODs seek to produce.
The report contains a critical assessment of potential Lehigh Valley sites with regard to how each site meets the identified criteria.
Transit Oriented Development Report PDF
Traffic Operation Studies
Traffic Trends for selected Lehigh Valley locations - March 2014
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) annually conducts approximately 100 traffic counts throughout Lehigh and Northampton counties under a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Statewide, 8,000 traffic counts are performed annually. The counts are useful in monitoring traffic flows, determining traffic background growth rates, calibrating the regional travel demand forecasting model, projecting future traffic volumes, determining road design, allocating Federal funds, determining priorities for improvement projects, assessing air quality impacts, and maintaining congestion management systems. In addition, commercial realtors and developers utilize the data for marketing properties.
Central New Jersey/Raritan Valley Transit Study - Pennsylvania Component
The Central NJ/Raritan Valley Transit Study (CNJ/RV) - Pennsylvania Component is an extension of the NJ TRANSIT CNJ/RV Transit Study, which assessed commuter bus and commuter rail transit improvement alternatives along Interstate 78 (I-78) in New Jersey. The purpose of the Pennsylvania Component Study was to build upon the New Jersey portion of the study (New Jersey Component Study) by identifying and assessing options to improve rail and bus services along the Route 22 and I-78 corridors in the Lehigh Valley and the northern New Jersey/New York Urban Core (Jersey City, Newark, Midtown Manhattan and Lower Manhattan). The rail and bus options were developed to provide local decision makers information to decide whether they warrant more detailed study and development.
Land Use - Transportation Policy Review
Land Use – Transportation Policy Review is a paper that evaluates the coordination between the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s land use and transportation planning. The coordination is examined both as it relates to policy and implementation efforts. Impediments to coordination are identified. The paper includes conclusions and with recommendations about how coordination can be improved.
Land Use - Transportation Policy Review PDF
22 Tomorrow: A Corridor Planning Study- US Route 22
22/Tomorrow is the successor to 22/Renew, which was Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) successful reconstruction of sections of U.S. Route 22, completed in November 1999. 22/Tomorrow will plan and design traffic solutions for the year 2020. Funds have been budgeted to determine needs, study alternatives, evaluate environmental implications, and do preliminary design for measures that will provide congestion relief and improve safety in the future. The U.S. Route 22 Needs Report is complete. This follow-up report documents the study scenarios and identifies potentially impacted environmental resources.
Click on the links below to access the various sections of this report.
Cover Page/Table of Contents/Acknowledgements/Executive Summary
Pages 1-2 - Background, Map 1 (Route 22 Study Corridor Limits)
Pages 3-7 - Map 2 (Route 22 Study Area Boundary), Scenario Development process
Page 8 - Table 1 (The Concept of Level of Service)
Page 9-10 - Table 2 (Project Needs & Evaluation Criteria), Table 3 (U.S. Route 22 Corridor Planning Study - Scenario Descriptions)
Page 11 - Map 3 (General Land Use Plan)
Pages 12-13 - Scenario 003 (Transpiration Improvement Program (TIP) Base (No-Build) Scenario)
Pages 14-17 - Scenario A01 (Widen U.S. Route 22 to 8 Lanes and Interchange Improvements)
Pages 18-21 - Scenario A02 (Optimize Widening of U.S. Route 22 from Cedar Crest Blvd. to Route 33 to 6 and 8 Lanes and Interchange Improvements)
Pages 22-25 - Scenario A03 (Optimize Widening of U.S. Route 22 from I-78/U.S. Route 22 to Route 33 to 6 and 8 Lanes and Interchange Improvements)
Pages 26-29 - Scenario A10 (Widen U.S. Route 22 to 6 Lanes and Interchange Improvements)
Pages 30-33 - Scenario A12 (Widen U.S. Route 22 to 6 Lanes, Interchange Improvements and Remove Interchange at U.S. Route 22 and Fullerton Ave.)
Pages 34-37 - Scenario A15 (Interchange Improvements from I-78/U.S. Route 22 to State Route 33)
Pages 38-41 - Scenario B01 (Northern Bypass)
Pages 42-45 - Scenario B02 (In-Town Bypass)
Pages 46-49 - Scenario C01 (Widen I-78 to 6 Lanes)
Pages 50-53 - Scenario D01 (Light Rail, Feeder Bus Routes, and Increase Frequency of Existing Bus Service)
Pages 54-57 - Scenario D08 (Express Bus Service and Increase Frequency of Existing Bus Service)
Pages 58-61 - Scenario E02 (Travel Demand Management (TDM) Incentives)
Pages 62-65 - Scenario F02 (Widen U.S. Route 22 to 6 Lanes and Interchange Improvements, Widen I-78 to 6 Lanes and Interchange at I-78/PA 378 & Widen S. 4th Street)
Pages 66-69 - Scenario F05 (Interchange Improvements on U.S. Route 22; Widen S. 4th Street and Extend American Parkway to PA 378; Widen Cedar Crest Blvd., Airport Road, Route 512, Route 191; Build In-Town Bypass and Add Interchange at I-78/PA 378)
Pages 70-73 - Scenario F08 (Non-Road Construction Combination Improvements: Travel Demand Management, Modified Land Use and Light Rail Transit)
Pages 74-80 - Environmental Overview, Table 4 (Potentially Impacted Environmental Resources)
Pages 81-82 - Map 4 (Existing Land Use)
Pages 83-84 - Map 5 (Floodplains and Wetlands)
Pages 85-86 - Map 6 (Lehigh and Northampton County Municipal Zoning)
Pages 87-88 - Map 7 (Historic Sites and Parks)
Pages 89-90 - Conclusions and Recommendations, Table 5 (Evaluation of Project Needs by Scenario for the year 2020)
Pages 91-92 - Chart 1 (U.S. Route 22 Comparison of Level of Service by Scenario)
Pages A1-A4 - Appendix A pages 1-4
Pages A5-A6 - Appendix A pages 5-6
Pages B1-B4 - Appendix B
Access Management on Arterial Roads
Access Management on Arterial Roads explores how we can create a better transportation network through planning, coordination and design. Access management is a means of preserving capacity and improving safety on those roads that carry through traffic by regulating access points and driveways. The report illustrates that numerous best management practices are available to implement access management. They deal with access from alternate roads, lotting and site development, driveway location and design, and arterial road design. These practices can be implemented through zoning ordinance and subdivision and land development ordinance provisions. They can also implement the recommendations of plans like corridor studies and neighborhood circulation/access plans. Actions for improving access management are spelled out in a series of recommendations in the report.
Access Management on Arterial Roads Report PDF
Environmental Justice Report - 2008
The Environmental Justice Report — 2008 identifies the distribution of highway, bridge, transit, and transportation enhancement projects relative to low-income and minority populations. It documents the various plans and programs of the Metropolitan Planning Organization are consistent with various executive orders, statutes, and federal requirements and that they contain a fair and equitable mix of transportation projects.
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
961 Marcon Boulevard - Suite 310
Allentown, PA 18109
Phone: (610) 264-4544
Toll Free: (888) 627-8808
