[Durham INC] Fw: Public Input Needed on Regional Plan to Reduce Reliance on Single-Occupancy Vehicles

[Pat Carstensen]

________________________________
From: PublicAffairs <PublicAffairs at durhamnc.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2019 10:24 AM
Subject: Public Input Needed on Regional Plan to Reduce Reliance on Single-Occupancy Vehicles

[Title: DCHC MPO Logo]
Durham – Chapel Hill – Carrboro
Metropolitan Planning Organization
Member Organizations: Town of Carrboro, Town of Chapel Hill, Chatham County, City of Durham, Durham County, Town of Hillsborough, N.C. Department of Transportation, Orange County, and GoTriangle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2019
News Media Contact: Dale McKeel, (919) 560-4366, ext. 36421 or Dale.McKeel at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Dale.McKeel at DurhamNC.gov>

Public Input Needed on Regional Plan to Reduce Reliance on Single-Occupancy Vehicles
Comment Period Open Until December 10

DURHAM, N.C. – What do you think about carpooling, vanpooling, public transit, biking, walking, teleworking, and flexible work weeks? Now’s your chance to share your thoughts on a regional plan that encourages these options in the Triangle.

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) has just released the Triangle Region Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan and Goals<https://bit.ly/2O2PRms>, and is now seeking public feedback on their strategies and policies to reduce the region’s reliance on single-occupancy vehicles for travel.

While the TDM Plan has been in existence for well over a decade since the North Caroline Department of Transportation adopted a statewide TDM Plan in 2004, and update is needed now for multiple reasons according to DCHC MPO Transportation Planner Dale McKeel. “First, the Triangle TDM Program has surpassed its original goal of 25% reduction in growth of vehicle miles traveled for many years and needs a more challenging goal. Second, Senate Bill 953 has expired and, in the absence of any new goals, it is important to revisit and update this program’s goals,” McKeel said. “Third, with new technology-based mobility entrants, such as Uber and Lyft, the arrival of new modes such as e-scooters, concerns about congestion, and adverse impacts on health from increasing vehicular traffic, it is critical that the Triangle TDM Program makes itself more relevant to the changing transportation landscape. Finally, the Triangle TDM Program has historically relied on vehicle miles traveled as the measurement of its success, though the program provides many additional benefits, such as reduced congestion, better environmental quality, reduced road construction, and better public health and safety. It is important to communicate these benefits to promote alternate commuting and lessen future anticipated challenges in the region arising from population increases, climate change impacts, and technological advances.”

According to McKeel, in 2006 and 2007, organizations in the Triangle region came together to create the original Triangle Region Seven-Year Long Range TDM Plan. This plan had a single goal of reducing annual growth in vehicle miles traveled by 25% to support Senate Bill 953. The Triangle Region TDM Plan was first updated in 2014 to revise the list of activities and update the hotspots, which are targeted priority areas for funding under the program. The latest plan update now underway is expected to be completed in early 2020.

To review the new proposed TDM Plan and Goals, visit https://bit.ly/2O2PRms. The public comment period is open until Tuesday, December 10, 2019. Comments should be submitted directly to McKeel at Dale.McKeel at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Dale.McKeel at DurhamNC.gov> or at (919) 560-4366, extension 36421.

About the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization
The DCHC MPO<http://www.dchcmpo.org/> is responsible for planning and programming state and federal transportation projects in all of Durham County and the urbanized areas of Orange County and Chatham County. Residents are encouraged to visit the website<http://www.dchcmpo.org> to get involved in the transportation planning process, follow the DCHC MPO on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MPOforDCHC> and Twitter<https://twitter.com/dchcmpo>, or attend DCHC MPO Board<https://dchcmpo.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx> meetings, which take place the second Tuesday of each month beginning at 9 a.m. in Durham City Hall, located at 101 City Hall Plaza.

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