The organization tasked with identifying transportation issues wants to hear what people see as challenges today and for the future.
The Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) focuses on Richmond and Columbia Counties in Georgia and the South Carolina counties of Aiken and Edgefield. It is updating the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) through 2055 with a focus on multimodal transportation projects and priorities.
Kaycee Mertz, Vice President and Georgia Planning Lead at engineering company WSP, told members of the Rotary Club of Aiken that they will use data from traffic counts, congestion, and crash history, but that is only part of the information needed.
“Another really important part of the picture is hearing from community members, members of the public, the business community, residents, workers, who travel to the area,” she said. “We need to have that other piece of the puzzle to help us understand where we think growth is going to occur in the future. We also want to hear about people’s actual experiences and getting around in their community, what they feel like their transportation challenges are, and how they want their community to grow in the future.”
Among those listening to Mertz was Saralyn Yarborough, Transportation Planner for Aiken County.
“As Aiken County continues to grow, we know for a fact that population is increasing in the south, particularly, and Aiken County is one of those counties that’s going to experience a lot of that growth. So, I think it’s important that we try to address transportation issues now and get ahead of the problem,” she told ABD.
The challenge for transportation planners is to create a plan that benefits the county as a whole, as well as the individual municipalities within the county.
Yarborough believes it can be done.
“I think it’s possible, and one way is coming to these kinds of public events, trying to get public input, as much public input as we can, to find out what the issues are. What does the public want to see? That’s a huge part of this whole process is public involvement,” she said.
To get suggestions from the public, the organization launched the ARTS 2055 MTP website (https://arts2055mtp.com/), which includes a link to a survey. Mertz said they have received about 1,200 responses but would like to increase that number.
“The survey is really quick, maybe a dozen questions to ask you about things that you see in your community, things that are important to you. Is congestion important? Is safety important? Is walking and bicycling important? So, those types of things we really want to hear from you and want to hear from your neighbors,” she said.
She said some of the early responses have been a need to support economic activities and job opportunities, better connections to education opportunities, and mobility options, particularly for anyone who doesn’t have a personal vehicle.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) recently solicited public input for a similar project. Momentum 2050: The Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan will review existing statewide transportation systems and anticipate what will be needed over the next 25 years.
Mertz said having multiple organizations looking at transportation needs from different directions can help planners decide what is needed, when, and where.
“We can’t ever build a project until it’s in a plan. Everything has to start with a plan,” she added. “I think part of the value of having MPOs (Metropolitan Planning Organizations) involved in transportation planning is that it’s not only a transportation plan, but it’s a community-driven transportation plan. It’s actual people who live in the community who can share their experiences, traveling around, share their experiences, living and growing here, and doing business here.”
Like Momentum 2050, the ARTS plan is looking at all forms of transportation, from pedestrians, multi-use trails, and bicycling, to highways, railroads, aviation, and public transit.
