Through the Springfield Area Transportation Study (SATS), the SSCRPC is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for transportation planning in the region.
NEWS
Kevin Burke of the Illinois Department of Transportation gave a presentation after the June SATS Technical Committee meeting regarding street sign retroreflectivity. The presentation can be viewed here.
Betsy Tracy of the Federal Highway Administration gave a presentation at the February SATS Policy Committee meeting regarding Regional Air Quality in the Springfield Area. The presentation can be viewed here.
The SATS Policy Committee adopted a Complete Streets Policy Statement at their January 13th, 2011 meeting. The statement reads as follows:
“Complete Streets” refers to public rights-of-way that are designed and operated to provide a safe and accessible transportation network for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders, regardless of age or ability. This context-sensitive approach considers all transportation projects as potential opportunities to improve safety, access, and mobility for all travelers.
The Springfield Area Transportation Study supports Complete Streets and its members will consider the following criteria when designing transportation projects as opportunity and funding permit:
types of users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motor vehicles, and freight interests;
project surroundings in context with how the facility will be used and who will be using it to determine what accommodations will be provided; and
service levels for all users anticipated by adopted comprehensive or systemwide plans.
The Sangamon County Board Committee on Rural Transportation is taking steps to develop a coordinated transit system to provide public transportation to residents of the rural areas of Sangamon County. The Interagency Coordinating Committee of the Rural Transit Assistance Center at Western Illinois University will provide technical assistance to develop a sustainable transit system created to fit the specific needs of Sangamon County. Regional Planning Commission staff will provide project support. A Transit Partnership Group (TPG) composed of interested parties has been formed. Community input is encouraged and needed.
An open letter of invitation to participate is available here. For further information visit the Sangamon County Rural Transit website or contact LindaW@co.sangamon.il.us or call 535-3110.
The SATS Technical and Policy Committees hold regularly scheduled monthly meetings at the offices of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission (SSCRPC). An agenda which includes links to all related meeting documents for the next scheduled meeting can be found here one week in advance.
TrendLines is the electronic newsletter of the SSCRPC. Check here for the current issue as well as archived past issues.
SATS Project Gallery
View some pictures of the most recently completed SATS member agency projects in the gallery below. Click on a picture in the slideshow to visit the album page and see a map of the project locations.
SATS Member Agency Meetings, Open Houses and other News
There are no SATS Member events currently scheduled.
The Planning Commission maintains an archive of SATS meeting minutes. These items will remain in the web archive for one year. From the lists below, select the historical document you would like to view:
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
POLICY COMMITTEE
What is SATS?
Want to know more about what SATS is? Ever wonder what the role of the MPO is in transportation planning? Click here to learn more about SATS, its members and the work they do.
Rail
The Illinois Commerce Commission has made available a brochure regarding the Illinois Rail Crossing Safety Program in addition to their Operation Lifesaver website.
Jim Moll of Hanson Professional Services discussed Hanson's work on the Springfield Railroad Corridor Study with Planning Commission Members at the March 17th, 2010 meeting of the Planning Commission. A copy of the slides as they were presented are available here. Moll also gave a presentation to the SATS Policy Committee on Thursday, April 8th. That presentation is also available to view.
The Planning Commission has released a series of documents pertaining to the impacts of High Speed Rail in the Springfield Area. Select an item from the list below to view each report:
Freight and Economic Corridor Study
To assist efforts to effectively plan for strategies that enhance freight advantages and overall economic activity, the SSCRPC engaged Hanson Professional Services, Inc. to conduct this Freight and Economic Corridor Study. The intent of the study is to identify the economic activity centers within the Metropolitan Planning Area, identify the key corridors which connect the economic activity centers, and examine barriers to efficient freight movement and opportunities for logistics development in the region.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Way Plan
SATS is in the process of developing a Bicycle/Pedestrian Way Plan for the Metropolitan Planning Area.
The Bicycle/Pedestrian Way Plan Steering Committee meeting scheduled for November 30th has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a future date. A meeting for public review and comment will be held after finalization of a draft plan.
Development of the plan is being facilitated by Ed Barsotti from the League of Illinois Bicyclists with support from Planning Commission staff and is under the direction of the Springfield Area Transportation Study. Stay up to date with some of the resources found below.
Visit our alternative transporatation page to get more information about biking in
Springfield or using the services provided by the Springfield Mass Transit District.
Fiscal Years 2012-2015 Transportation Improvement Program
The Springfield Area Transportation Study (SATS) approved the Fiscal Years 2012-2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on August 11, 2011. The TIP is a four-year multi-modal program of staged transportation improvements. It consists of an Annual Element for the first fiscal year, which includes projects with verified funding sources, and project listings for the following three fiscal years, which include projects that have a reasonable expectation of being funded. Projects must be included in the TIP in order to qualify for federal funding. Transportation modes to be included in the TIP are street & highway, mass transit (mainline and paratransit), and bicycle/pedestrian. Projects listed in the TIP can be viewed through Google Maps at this link.
The TIP can be downloaded by clicking here. Amendments will be posted as they are approved:
The Planning Commission also maintains an archive of past Transportation Improvement Programs. Select the TIP you would like to review from the list below:
Human Services Transportation Plan
As required by SAFETEA-LU, transit-related projects receiving funding under certain federal programs must be a part of a coordinated plan that addresses the comprehensive mobility needs of a community. The Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP) identifies service needs and gaps from a regional perspective and recommends strategies to encourage the most effective use of available transportation services for the area. The HSTP has been developed and adopted through a comprehensive participation process by representatives from various organizations that represent a variety of interests and parties within the Springfield Urbanized Area. Transportation projects receiving funds through 5316 and 5317 federal programs will be competitively selected at the state level by the State Oversight Committee.
2011 Annual Parking Survey
As part of the ongoing transportation planning process, the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission (SSCRPC) conducts an annual parking survey of the Springfield central area. The goals of this survey are:
to maintain an up-to-date inventory of parking facilities in the Springfield central area, and
to maintain adequate and current information on parking spaces for the transportation database.
This information is used as an indicator of parking trends and needs, to increase citizen awareness of available parking spaces, and to help estimate the number of people traveling to the downtown area. A map of the entire survey area which includes the collected data is available for download.
Program Year 2012 Unified Planning Work Program
This document represents the Program Year 2012 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for the Springfield Area Transportation Study (SATS) area, incorporating transportation planning and support activities within the planning area for the period of July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012.
ST-U Funds Application
Federal funding for transportation projects is provided through the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Through SAFETEA-LU, Surface Transportation Program – Urban (ST-U) funds are made available each year within the Metropolitan Planning Area. A Project Prioritization Method was adopted by the Springfield Area Transportation Study to provide guidance on selecting projects to be included in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) utilizing ST-U funds. An application for review must be submitted by the lead agency for each project under consideration for ST-U funding. Road projects, transit projects, and transportation enhancement projects may be eligible for consideration if they are consistent with the SATS Long Range Transportation Plan and any other adopted transportation plans.
2035 Long Range Transportation Plan
The Springfield Area Transportation Study (SATS) approved the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) on March 11, 2010. The SATS Long Range Transportation Plan is updated every five years and takes a long-term look at
transportation needs in the area by identifying projects that could alleviate current congestion, access, environment, operations, security, and safety problems and that will provide an adequate network taking
into account future development. This plan includes transit, highway, rail, air, bicycle, pedestrian, and
enhancement projects. Interconnectivity is important and through the SATS long range planning process
the participating jurisdictions can work together towards a coordinated travel network.
In creating the Long Range Transportation Plan the SATS members hope to create a vision of an efficient,
interconnected, multi-modal transportation network that will serve our growing communities and then,
based on estimates of funding that will be received over the next 25 years, identify projects that could
reasonably be expected to be implemented during that time frame.
Review the progress reports regarding the current status of LRTP goals and objectives below:
Public Participation Plan
The Springfield Area Transportation Study (SATS) approved the current Public Participation Plan (PPP) on May 12, 2011. The PPP describes various objectives, strategies, and tools to engage the public and to encourage participation in the development of various transportation projects and plans.
See a summary of the public participation activities and their results from the time the SATS Public Participation Plan was adopted in May 2009 through adoption of the FY 2011-2014 TIP in July 2010 here.
Intelligent Transportation Systems Architecture
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are the integrated application of various technologies and
management strategies to provide traveler information to increase the safety and efficiency of the
surface transportation system. This ITS architecture document represents the next in a series of
steps intended to chart a course for ITS in the Springfield area. Click here to review the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems
(ITS) Architecture.
Fiscal Year 2011 - Annual Listing of Federally Obligated Projects
The Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Listing of Federally Obligated Projects for the Springfield Metropolitan Planning Area is now available. Click here to review the listing. An interactive project map is also available here.
Previous Annual Listings are also available. Select from the list below to review past lists:
Maturing of Illinois Initiative: Springfield
The Maturing of Illinois Initiative: Springfield was conducted by the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission in partnership with the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland (AAAL) and its aim was to conduct a community assessment related to the needs of the aging population in the Springfield area. This project gathered information useful to the ongoing transportation and comprehensive planning efforts of the Commission and to the AAAL’s mission to provide a wide variety of services and information to assist older persons in leading independent, meaningful and dignified lives in their own homes and communities as long as possible. Click here to access the document.
