From the Desk of...
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New Kid on the Block 

By Sallie Dell Fahey

When you last heard from this MPO in the From the Desk of … column, Jim Hawley was reflecting on his long, productive transportation planning career.  Though not the “new kid on the block” here at Tippecanoe County (I’ve been with the APC more than 30 years), I certainly hold that distinction among Indiana MPO Directors.  Because I’m new to this branch of planning it seems logical that my first column should reflect 6-months’ worth of impressions about transportation planning in Lafayette – West Lafayette – Tippecanoe County and in Indiana. 

1.                  The process of transportation planning is pretty much like the process for all other kinds of planning – establishing goals, collecting data, analyzing data, developing alternatives, testing alternatives, seeking advice and opinions from citizens and stakeholders, moving the document through the official adoption process and implementing the plan.  It’s that similarity of process that makes it familiar and comfortable. 

2.                  But, familiar and comfortable does not mean uninteresting.  The high tech world of ITS, for example, has a certain “wow” factor that pushes the interest buttons of both staff and plan commission members.  The high tech world of transportation planning keeps our innovation juices flowing.

3.                  Other transportation planning activities maintain a high touch quality.  We stay in tune with citizens by listening to their concerns and ideas.  Educational opportunities for citizens and elected officials abound.  I’m constantly amazed at the number of persons who don’t know about the extensive transportation planning that goes on.  And, environmental justice concerns keep transportation planners grounded in local social issues.

4.                  I’m grateful that our MPO is both multi-jurisdictional and multi-function, serving six local governments’ comprehensive and current planning needs in addition to transportation planning.  It means, for one thing, that we develop and produce the necessary building block data – demographic projections, building permit summaries, economic forecasts.  I like not having to rely on another agency for that information.  It also means that the freshly completed countywide land use and building condition survey for the 2030 Transportation Plan can be used this fall to update the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan.   Multi-functionality provides us a seamless planning process from beginning to end.

5.                  Assistance from FHWA and INDOT exceeds my expectations.  The results of requests for advice and help from both agencies have been timely, useful and productive.  Good ideas from both agencies helped produce a better UPWP.  Some of those ideas will save local tax dollars and free up training money for non-transportation planning staff. 

6.                  The MPO Council lives up to its billing as a supportive collection of colleagues, not only in theory but in practice.  The Council does a good job of leveling the playing field for all MPOs and sharing information and ideas that benefit citizens all over the state. 

So…thanks for welcoming the new kid on the block - at my age I’ll accept the appellation “kid” any day.