2050 Long Range Transportation Plan
The NEPA MPO developed its 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The LRTP identifies the major transportation projects, programs and policies needed for the next twenty-five years and establishes the vision and goals that will guide public decisions affecting transportation facilities, infrastructure and services in the region. As part of the LRTP development, the NEPA MPO conducted significant outreach to gather input from the public including stakeholder interviews, four open house meetings and an online survey.
The NEPA MPO held a comment period from November 17, 2023 to December 18, 2023. A public meeting to provide comments on the draft plan was held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 10:00 AM.
The NEPA MPO Technical Committee endorsed the LRTP at its meeting on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. The NEPA MPO Policy Board adopted the NEPA MPO 2050 LRTP at its meeting on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. The 2050 LRTP was subsequently approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Transportation Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) describes the transportation- related work activities that NEPA Alliance and the NEPA MPO Committees will perform during the work program period for our four county metropolitan planning area. In consultation with the NEPA MPO UPWP Steering Committee, NEPA prepares a work program of activities and budget based on the allotted funding in accordance with the PennDOT, FHWA and FTA planning priorities.
NEPA secured funding from PennDOT to complete the Jim Thorpe Parking Analysis and Complete Streets Study. As a year-round destination for tourism and visitor activities, Jim Thorpe has been experiencing a growing problem of accommodating adequate parking in the downtown area. The Parking Analysis and Complete Streets Study identifies short and mid-range proposals to minimize conflicts between modes, maximize parking facilities, and accommodate efficient movement of pedestrians, vehicles and bicyclists, safely and efficiently. The Jim Thorpe Parking Study was completed in 2020.
The development of the strategic plan was identified as a priority task for NEPA MPO. With the assistance of a consultant, NEPA conducted a strategic planning process over several months to engage the NEPA MPO board members and identify goals and strategies for the NEPA MPO Unified Planning Work Program and Long Range Transportation Plan. The NEPA MPO Strategic Plan was adopted in 2019.
There are three primary public transit services in the MPO region, which include the Schuylkill Transportation System (STS) that services Schuylkill County, the Monroe County Transportation Authority (MCTA) that services Monroe County and the Carbon County Community Transit (CCCT) that services Carbon County. They all provide fixed route and paratransit services within their county borders. Pike County Transportation provides paratransit service in Pike County.
The NEPA MPO recently completed an update of its Coordinated Public Transit and Human Services Transportation Plan with assistance from McCormick Taylor and Delta Development. The updated plan was adopted on November 2, 2016. It can be viewed here. The NEPA MPO is currently updating the plan, with completion expected by June 2025.
NEPA worked with Pike County and Milford Borough towards the completion of a traffic study and parking analysis of downtown Milford Borough. Milford has been experiencing high traffic volumes, congestion and parking issues in the downtown area. As a year-round, four-season destination, Milford has also been experiencing a growing problem of conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles. The study addresses traffic circulation and congestion issues, traffic signals and signage, turning movements, pedestrian safety and parking shortages. The study was completed in August 2022.
Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) has partnered with PennDOT to offer the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) training series in all seven NEPA counties: Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties.
About the LTAP Program
The PennDOT Local Technical Assistance Program has been serving Pennsylvania’s municipalities with transportation road maintenance and safety training since 1983. Services available through LTAP include workshop training, on-site technical assistance, updates on the latest technologies and innovations, field demonstrations, library and information materials, and newsletters. These services are available to all municipalities in the state and are provided at no cost to the users.
Roads Scholar Program
Offered by the Pennsylvania Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), the Roads Scholar Program provides an opportunity for municipal employees to be trained by LTAP’s professional team in the latest road-related technologies and innovations. The program provides a professional certification to municipal employees and officials who attend 10 (ten) LTAP workshops within a three-year period.
To register, visit https://gis.penndot.gov/ltap/and log on using your username and password. First time users must set up an account by clicking on “Create Account.” For technical assistance when registering, call: 1-800-FOR-LTAP (1-800-367-5827) or contact Daniel Yelito, Transportation Services Manager, NEPA Alliance at 570-655-5581 ext 264.
LTAP Classes
NEPA GIS staff has created an online GIS story map to display the LTAP classes held since 2014. It can be viewed by clicking on the map below.