Looking to the Future, the RPC Seeks Valuable Public Input for the Region's Long Range Transportation Plan

Looking to the Future, the RPC Seeks Valuable Public Input for the Region's Long Range Transportation Plan

The RPC’s Planning and Community Development (PCD) division is asking members of the public to complete a survey about their most common trips and their level of comfort using different transportation modes. The survey is available in four different languages—English, Spanish, Mandarin, and French—and is part of the process of PCD developing a five-year document called the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

“The more residents that fill out the survey, the better local agencies can define where needs have to be met in getting everyone from point A to B,” explains RPC Planner Allison Gwinup, who has been leading the LRTP process.

Every city in the nation with over 50,000 people must prepare an LRTP as part of its duties as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). As part of the RPC’s PCD division, the Champaign Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS) serves as the community’s MPO. LRTP documents set the foundation for the development of transportation projects administered at the agency’s regional level through a cooperative effort between local, state, and federal agencies. The LRTP being developed by the RPC will promote funding and grant applications for area projects in the next five years. Every iteration of the document forecasts short- and long-term visions and goals for the Champaign-Urbana transportation system, with this one projecting out to the year 2050.

The survey asks questions about residents’ most common trips and their comfort in using all transportation modes—motor vehicle, biking, walking, transit, mobility device, train, and air. An online map is also available in English and Spanish where residents can provide feedback about any locations they travel from or to throughout Champaign County.

RPC staff will also be attending outreach events in the area for the rest of the summer if residents want to learn more. These events include:

  • July 15 – Saturdays in the Park at Colbert Park (Savoy)
  • July 25 – Hedge POP! Park Event (Champaign)
  • July 29 – Silverwood Block Party (Urbana)
  • August 26 – Market at the Square (Urbana)
  • September TBA – Light the Night (University of Illinois)

Those who would like to learn more about the project are encouraged to visit the RPC’s dedicated website with short, informative videos on LRTPs. Members of the RPC’s PCD staff are also available to talk to neighborhood associations about the document and its impact on the surrounding community. A draft plan will not be finalized until late 2024, when it will be available for public comment. The previous version of the plan can be found on the Long Range Transportation Plan 2045 website.