FMATS Releases 2012 - 2015 Transportation Improvement Program

Are you curious about upcoming transportation projects in the Fairbanks Area?  Now is your chance to further your understanding of these planned improvements and tell us what you think.  The Fairbanks Metropolitan Area Transportation System (FMATS) has just released its 2012 - 2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which identifies, prioritizes and allocates anticipated funding for transportation improvements over the next four years.  This plan outlines projects, agreed upon by local, state, and regional officials, to be implemented in the near future.

Through the projects designated in the 2012-2015 TIP, FMATS aims to provide a safe, efficient, secure, and interconnected multi-modal transportation system for all users in the Fairbanks Metropolitan Area.  Some of the highlights included in the 2012 - 2015 TIP are outlined below by year.

Pavement Rehabilitation on Gilliam Way is just one of the many projects that appear in the 2012 - 2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

2012: Anticipated Construction Projects

· Cushman, Barnette, and Gaffney Upgrades

· College Road Rehabilitation (University Avenue to Danby Street)

2013: Anticipated Construction Projects

· Noble Street Upgrades

· Wickersham Street Upgrades

2014: Anticipated Construction Projects

· Gillam Way Rehabilitation

· University Avenue Widening

· Pedestrian Improvements Project Stage 1 set to begin construction (around Davis Park area)

· North Pole Interchange Pedestrian Facilities

2014: Anticipated Design Projects

· Minnie Street Reconstruction

· Pedestrian Improvements Project Stage 2 (Kellum and McGowan)

2015: Anticipated Construction Projects

· South Cushman Improvements (15th-Mitchell) project

· Steese Expressway to Graehl Park Connector

Other ongoing projects:

· Preventive Maintenance Program: Priorities include Executive Park Estates, North Pole, bicycle path behind Pioneer Park,  approaches in the Farmer's Loop area, College and University West subdivisions, and Badger Bike path.

Comments on the TIP are welcome and we encourage you to ask questions and share concerns regarding design and timeline for these projects.  We invite you to attend our upcoming open houses, which provide a venue for two-way conversation about these improvements.  Public input is of the utmost importance; your feedback helps to inform and direct the decision-making process, increase efficient development, and mitigate any potential negative impacts.  In addition to providing a space for discussion about the projects, these open houses are intended to inform the public, in detail, and to illustrate how the future improvements to the transportation system can benefit you and the Fairbanks community.

If you would like to learn more about these upcoming transportation improvements, there are numerous resources available.  In addition to open houses and regular public meetings, copies of the TIP are available in the FMATS office and on our website.  You can see our four-year draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) here .  A regional emissions analysis was conducted to meet the CO and PM2.5 conformity requirements and all tests were met.  A draft conformity analysis can be viewed here.  

Open House Schedule

Monday, July 25, 2011: Noel Wien Public Library from 4:30 - 6:30pm

Tuesday, July 26, 2011: North Pole City Hall from 4:30 - 6:30pm

 Work Continues on the FMATS Non-Motorized Transportation Plan
 

Over the last few months FMATS has been busy plugging away at developing a Non-Motorized Transportation Plan. This plan, which is the first of its kind in the Fairbanks' area, aims to identify the goals, objectives, deficiencies, performance measures, and create short and long term project plans for the Fairbanks non-motorized transportation network.

On May 18, the first Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Open House was held at the Noel Wien Public Library. We are excited to report that over 50 members of the public turned out to share their opinions and observations about the current non-motorized transportation infrastructure in the Fairbanks area. In addition to this open house, the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Advisory Group, which is comprised of representatives from all user groups around the Fairbanks area, has held two meetings to address deficiencies and potential solutions in the area.
 

You do not have to be a dedicated winter rider to enjoy biking in the Fairbanks area. Photo credit UAF photographer Todd Paris

At these meetings, participants were able to suggest a variety of improvements and highlight shortcomings in the existing network. Individuals expressed support for the numerous upcoming non-motorized transportation projects designated in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and commended existing facilities, such as the Chena River Path for their design and placement. Concerns were raised about a lack of pedestrian facilities in the Bentley Trust Area, inadequate signage along bike routes, and the need for better surface maintenance on these bike and pedestrian pathways.

To provide another forum for discussion on the development of the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, FMATS posted an interactive public comment map on their website. We are pleased that over 400 comments were submitted, helping to identify shortcomings and deficiencies. While the feedback period has terminated, the interactive map and all of the comments can be viewed here.

If you have not participated in the plan yet, do not fear, there will be many more opportunities. On Thursday, September 8, 2011 there will be another Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Open House at the Noel Wien Library from 5:00 -7:00pm.  This open house will include results from the online survey, identified opportunities for improvement, proposed prioritization criteria, and draft recommendations. At this time the public will have an opportunity to comment on FMATS' analysis and the proposed prioritization criteria of the non-motorized transportation infrastructure.

Fine particulate pollution (PM_2.5) is described as particulate matter air pollutants that are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in size. These pollutants, which typically come from burning materials such as wood, gasoline, and diesel, are often described as the most damaging pollutant because these particulates can become trapped in even the smallest of airways. Numerous studies have linked particulate levels to increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits.

The Fairbanks area has been a non-attainment area for PM_2.5 since 2009 due in large part to the burning of wood and fossil fuels in the winter months. However, the transportation industry also contributes PM_2.5 emissions. If you would like more information on the air quality in the Fairbanks area please visit the Fairbanks North Star Borough's air quality website here.  

In early 2011, a CMAQ project evaluation board, made up of state and local planners, city and borough representatives, and air quality experts, was formed to evaluate and rank proposed projects that will potentially improve air quality in the Fairbanks area.

Listed below are the projects that were approved for funding by the Fairbanks Area CMAQ Project Evaluation Board:

· FNSB State Implementation Plan (SIP): This study will collect and analyze monitoring data, conduct a series of special studies design to assess source specific activity and emissions, meteorology and atmospheric chemistry, develop representative emission inventories, structure a series of regulatory modeling techniques, and analyze the costs and benefits of alternative control measures.

· Don't Be Fuelish Campaign: This program is a friendly competition among businesses and organizations in the FNSB to see which group of employees can save the most fuel traveling to and from work by carpooling, biking, walking, or using public transportation. 

· Air Quality Educational Outreach Program:  The project will include development and implementation of a multi-media campaign geared around air quality education.

· Eielson Air Force Base/Salcha Transit Route: This bus route will service the areas of Eielson Air Force Base and the Community of Salcha.

· Van Horn Bus Service: This bus route will service the Van Horn Road commercial area of Fairbanks.

· Plug-ins at locations around the FNSB: This project will expand the number of outlets in existing and new public facilities, and encourage private sector retrofits, with greatest focus in Fairbanks and North Pole.

· UAF Free Transit Rides: This program will allow students and staff to ride and MACS Transit bus route for free, upon showing a valid UAF card.

· North Pole Equipment: This equipment will conduct snow removal and sweeping on bicycle and pedestrian pathways and sidewalks in the City of North Pole 

If you would like more information about any of the CMAQ projects contact FMATS.  

MACS Transit System to Undergo Improvements

Due in part to the high prices of gasoline experienced recently around the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the MACS transit system has witnessed a steady increase in ridership over the last few years. In response to this heightened demand, the Fairbanks North Star Borough MACS Transit system has been at the drawing board, and they are now in the process of implementing quite a few changes and improvements to the transit system.

One of these improvements is the replacement of 10 bus shelters and the construction of 27 new bus shelters along transit routes. Currently there are 24 bus shelters, but over the next couple of years, starting in 2012, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Transit department plans to bring the total to 61 shelters. A complete map of the proposed bus shelters can be found here.  Each shelter will have a posted transit schedule and a number of these shelters will include bike racks and small heaters, with the hopes of encouraging winter ridership.
 

One of the FNSB bus shelters that will be upgraded in the near future.

In addition to the installation of these new bus stop shelters, new bus signs will be installed. Currently there are 121 transit signs around the Fairbanks Area, but in the next few months all 121 will be replaced and an additional 238 transit signs will be installed along these routes. Each bus stop sign will include a posted transit schedule for each route that serves the particular bus stop.

Another big change will be the introduction of two new MACS Transit route, a route to Salcha/Eielson and a route along Van Horn Road. The Salcha Route will be an express route, only making stops in Salcha, Eielson Air Force Base, North Pole, and Fairbanks. The route will be serviced once in the morning and once in the evening, providing residents who live along the route and work in Fairbanks a viable option for commuting to and from work.

The Van Horn Route will serve the area along Van Horn Road that is not currently served, originating from the Transit Center on Cushman. This route will operate 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the late afternoon/evening.

Both the Van Horn Route and the Salcha Route are going in front of the FNSB Assembly on September 8th for ordinances to accept the funding required to begin these routes. In addition to these new transit routes, the MACS Transit system is continuing to provide free rides for all University of Alaska Fairbanks students for the next three years.

If you would like more information on these new bus routes or the new bus stops please contact the Fairbanks North Star Borough Transportation at transportation@co.fairbanks.ak.us