210 E. Center Street
P.O. Box 6129
Pocatello, Idaho 83205
(208) 233-9322
Plans and Programs
Draft Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP)The TIP is a four-year prioritized listing of all federally funded transportation projects planned to be built within the MPO boundaries. The TIP is also an implementation tool of the Long Range Transportation Program (LRTP), therefore all local projects listed must either come from the LRTP or be found to be consistent with the LRTP.
Bannock Planning Organization's planning area encompasses the communities of Pocatello and Chubbuck, Idaho. These communities, along with parts of Bannock County comprise a small-sized urban region of 77,000 people. TransCAD is the software used for the region's travel demand modeling. The initial model was developed in 1997 by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Three major updates have taken place since 1997 including: the 1998 update which included demographic changes and modification to gamma function; and the 2002 update by BWR which replaced existing center line files with geographically correct centerlines, and automated the modeling process.
This update's primary purposes are: 1) To update the demographic data for 2035; 2) Modify the Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) structure; and 3) Continue development of peak hour model.
United States Department of Transportation's Transportation Conformity Reference Guide May 2000 provides the best explanation of transportation conformity. It states "Transportation conformity is a way to ensure the Federal funding and approval are given to those transportation activities that are consistent with air quality goals." It ensures that these transportation activities do not worsen air quality or interfere with the State Implementation Plan for the non-attainment area.
2006 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
ITD initiated the development of Regional ITS Architectures throughout the State of Idaho. The Bannock Planning Organization is representing District 5 of Idaho in the development of the District 5 Regional ITS Architecture. In addition to meeting the federal requirements for ITS funding through the Highway Trust Fund, the development of regional ITS architectures provides a framework for implementing ITS on a regional level, encourages interoperability and resource sharing between districts and states, and allows for cohesive long range planning among stakeholders in the District. The development of Regional ITS Architectures follows the federal guidelines of conforming to National ITS Architecute and applicable standards as provided by the USDOT Final Rule.
A key goal in the development of the District 5 Regional ITS Architecture was to develop a consensus-based architecture with as many stakeholders as possible involved. Each stakeholder had an equal voice in determining the direction of the architecture for the District. Stakeholders included representatives from ITD, ISU, cities, counties, and the transit agency. A series of interviews were held with each of the ITS stakeholders to discuss existing and planned ITS infrastructure.
The result is an ITS architecture that establishes a vision and direction for the District. ITS needs of District 5 were established early in the project. Existing and planned elements of the architecture have been identified and the key agencies required to develop the ITS services, or market packages as they are referred to in the National ITS Architecture, for District 5 have been identified. An operational concept has been developed that focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies involved in District 5. The project sequencing section offers a guide fo the implementation of ITS services both planned and future. Types of agency agreements based on planned and future projects within District 5 have been determined for District 5 as the ITS Architecture gorws and is updated in accordance with the maintenance agrement. Applicable standards to support information exhanges and interoperability also have been identified.
Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
Long Range Transportation Planning - a vision of the transportation system's future conditions, needs and opportunities guides decision-making today. Long range plans project the transportation system needs and requirements twenty or more years into the future and helps shape local and regional strategies for addressing mobility.
Through a process of intergovernmental cooperation and coordination at the state and local level, as well as citizen involvement, long range transportation planning helps bring all affected parties to the table in order to address the unique transporation needs of the area. Since the transportation system is dynamic in nature, these plans are continuously updated every four years in order to provide a comprehensive and accurate strategy for addressing the ever changing needs of the Pocatello urbanized area. The 2006 - 2030 LRTP was approved by the BTPO Policy Board on September 18, 2006.
An Addendum to the 2006 Long Range Transportation Plan - Safety and security are two topics which have risen to the forefront of our collective consciences in recent years. Natural disasters and acts of terrorism seem to be more frequent and severe. These changes have resulted in a greater focus on what is being done to ensure communities are prepared for unpredictable events. Isolation between emergency service providers and other government and non-government providers of public services can no longer exist if we are to prepare for these potential emergency situations.
The main goal of the bike plan is to develop a connective and destinational system for all types of users including recreation and commuter travel. This plan supports and creates this system which integrates bike lanes and routes into the roadway system for everyone interested in cycling in the community.
In 2004, Bannock Transportation Planning Organization and the Cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck contracted with Rocky Mountain Engineering & Surveying to conduct a school zone study in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area. Implementing a standard for all school zones in Pocatello and Chubbuck will create a safer environment for both the wlaking students and the traveling motorists.
Demographic data is critical in planning the future transportation system. Demographic data is composed of employmnet, housing units, and population. Each of these components serves different aspects in the transportation planning process. Employment and housing units are used int ravel demand modeling. Population has lots of uses including economic projectison, demand managment, and comparisons between communities.
BTPO contracted Intermountain Demographics to update the 2002 demographic data. The 2006 base numbers were determined by tracking the number of household building permits and annual average employment form the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor.
The functionality of the existing roadway systems are influenced by many factors including: current use; land use bordering the facility; type and amount of access to the facility; and traffic control used along the facility. New developments or redevelopments can often change the existing conditions of a roadway requiring agencies and local property owners to make improvements to regain reasonable levels of service. To assist the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck and Bannock County, Bannock Transportation Planning Organization (BTPO) developed the Traffic Impact Study (TIS) Developer Guidelines. The primary purposes of these guidelines are (a) to assist in the short and long range planning of site access, off-site improvements, and street systems; (b) assist developers and property owners in making critical land use site planning decisions regarding traffic.
The Purpose of the Master Street Plan is to provide an engineering-based, legally defensible document which outlines the future collector and arterial placement and right-of-way requirements, and classifies the existing collectors and arterials by a street classification which can be used to develop a future acquisitions map.
Over the past few years Bannock Transportation Planning Organization (BTPO) and its member communities have been working toward a MSP. the MSP is the final step in a planning process which started in 1992 with BTPO assisting in the development of the first coordinated comprehensive plans for BTPO's member communities of Pocatello, Chubbuck and Bannock County. With the completion of this plan, land use and transportation will be working closer than ever to implementing the goals and policies of the regional Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and local comprehensive plans.
Unsignalized Intersection Report
This plan reviews twenty-four (24) intersections of roads classified as collectors and above with other roads classified as collectors and above. These higher classed roadways have a greater likelihood of requiring a traffic control device above a two-way or four-way stop control. Each intersection was analyzed for signal warrants as per the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and LOS using the Highway Capacity Manual procedures. Although this study uses warrant analysis procedures it is not to be considered engineering study as required by the MUTCD.
Administrative Plans
Public Involvement Plan (PIP)This is a revised copy of the original plan adopted in 1999.
FY 2008 Unified Planning and Work Program (UPWP)
The UPWP is designed to outline the planning priorities and describe the planning activities over the next year.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Plan establishes the required policies and procedures for addressing Title VI requirements.