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2030 Plan Improvements for Washtenaw County

Over the next 25 years, the transportation agencies in Washtenaw County are proposing 429 improvements at a total cost of nearly $1.5 billion. A map of the plan improvements is provided on page 37. Charts illustrating the breakdown of improvements by both cost and number of improvements are available on pages 104 and 105. The list of funded improvements begins on page 56.

WATS undertook an alternatives analysis examining the impact of the congestion improvements and evaluating changes in transit route frequencies. This analysis begins on page 50.

The Environmental Justice (EJ) analysis begins on page 50 with Map 8 showing the County protected EJ population concentrations overlaid with the plan improvements on page 53. Map 9 enlarging the urbanized area is on page 54.

It is important to note that the transportation agencies have also identified an additional 126 improvements at a total cost of nearly an additional $1 billion for which funding is not available. These unfunded improvements are technically not part of the 2030 Plan but are included in the Plan documentation to highlight some of the unmet needs that could be addressed with increased revenues. The unfunded improvements are listed in Appendix B beginning on page 109.

Map 7 ~ 2030 Transportation Plan Improvements

Alternatives Analysis

Now that WATS' travel demand model is capable of multi-modal assignment, WATS was able to test several alternatives for changes to AATA fixed route headways. WATS staff worked with AATA staff to identify alternatives of both high and low ridership routes.

Headway is the time between a bus leaving a stop and the next one arriving. The headway of a given route affects the mode choice model. In general, with shorter headway times, routes will experience an increase in ridership. WATS staff can model this change in ridership based on headway.

Table 16 provides a summary of the transit headway alternatives that have been tested.

It is important to note that even a relatively small increase in ridership can have a significant positive impact on congestion.

Environmental Justice Analysis

WATS is responsible for completing an environmental justice analysis on all transportation plans and programs for the county. Environmental justice (EJ) identifies five protected populations and requires that the impacts of transportation improvements be documented and evaluated to ensure that all populations are impacted fairly. These protected populations include people from low income, racial, and ethnic minority populations, as identified in Table 17.

Using the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 data, WATS worked to evaluate compliance with environmental justice (Title VI) by locating significant concentrations of environmental justice populations. For the purpose of this analysis significant concentrations of EJ populations are defined as those areas that exceed the county average percentile.

Table 17 provides a list of percentages that have been applied in Washtenaw County. The Southeast Michigan Region percentages have been provided for reference.

Maps 8 and 9 were created to illustrate the location of proposed improvements in relation to low income or minority populations using Washtenaw County percentages. Upon initial review staff found that the 2030 Draft Long Range Transportation Plan proposed transportation improvements do not disproportionately impact the EJ protected populations of Washtenaw County.

In further analysis of the proposed plan, staff considered a variety of improvement types and related impacts. Improvements that were considered a benefit to a community include: pavement preservation, signal installations, signal interconnection, transit expansions and non-motorized projects. Improvements that could have possible negative impacts on nearby neighborhoods and residents were evaluated closely and include: road widening, new roads, transit service reduction and freeway access improvements.

Analysis showed that a large percentage of "positive" improvements (i.e. non-motorized improvements, signal installation, signal upgrades, intersection improvements, and bridge improvements) are planned in or adjacent to the EJ areas. The widening projects in this plan are mainly located outside of EJ populations and the projects within or adjacent to EJ populations are minor in scope. A new road is planned to extend Clark Rd. from Hogback to Huron River Drive. The construction of this road will have a minimal impact on EJ populations; however, the outcome will provide target populations with non-motorized access to the nearby shopping center.

Road preservation projects for the most part are located outside of EJ populated areas, however, this is not a concern as local jurisdictions have included line item projects in the plan for road reconstruction or resurfacing that have not yet been identified. It is important to remember that a low level of investment does not necessarily reflect unfair treatment, but rather may reflect that the condition of an area's existing transportation system is superior and does not require additional work at this time.

Using the maps identifying EJ areas, WATS made a special effort to contact each neighborhood group. For more information, see the Public Involvement section on page 17.

Map 8 ~ County Environmental Justice Analysis

Map 9 ~ Urbanized County Environmental Justice Analysis

2030 Plan Funded Improvements

The 2030 Transportation Plan for Washtenaw County is a vision of the County's transportation system through the year 2030. The transportation improvements in the first six years (2005-2010) of the Plan are considered firm commitments by the implementing agencies. This means that the improvements will be completed unless unforeseen circumstances prevent completion.

The remaining years of the 2030 Plan are a vision of how the transportation system may develop based on the existing master and zoning plans of the cities, villages and townships of Washtenaw County and the current forecast of available funds. The transportation improvements in the remaining years (2011-2030) represent current priorities for the future. The transportation plan is updated every three years and the priorities for the later years may change as conditions warrant.

Table 18 ~ Funded Improvements

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