UNJAM 2035

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The United Jefferson Area Mobility Plan, or UNJAM 2035, is the long-range transportation plan for the entirety of Virginia Planning District 10, which includes the area covered by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) as well as Nelson, Louisa, Fluvanna, Greene, and Albemarle counties. The initial document was prepared by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) and adopted by the MPO Policy Board at their meeting on May 28, 2009[1]. The new plan is an update of UNJAM 2025, which was adopted in 2004.

UNJAM 2035 was being augmented to incorporate TJPDC's Rural Long Range Plan. A rural public participation process was conducted over the summer and early fall of 2009 and included a booth at a fair in each representative county. In December 2009, the TJPDC sought endorsement from Planning Commissions and Boards of Supervisors from each of the rural jurisdictions in the region.

Goal

The ultimate goal was to integrate the transportation plans and project lists for both rural and urban areas into one regional document.

Philosophy

The philosophy on which UNJAM 2035 is perhaps best encapsulated by the document's preamble:

Preamble: The era of cheap oil is over. This fact, coupled with the adverse effects on our

climate caused by the consumption of fossil fuels, will increase the need and

demand for alternatives to the fossil fuel-powered automobile.

It is believed that many of theses issues related to transportation ought to be addressed from a regional scope.

Regional Mobility Goals

UNJAM 2035 sets a variety of goals in order to meet the regional vision set forth in the document. [citation needed]

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District's transportation system will provide

safe, sustainable, efficient and attractive multimodal choices, support the movement of people, goods and services and protect the environment, our communities and quality of life, while addressing regional and statewide

transportation needs.

Improved, Expanded Roadway Network

  • More complete network of parallel and connector roads
  • Re-engineer existing roads for increased capacity, safety, and enhanced business environment
  • Develop new roadway designs for balanced, multi-modal performance

Efficient Transit System integrated with other travel modes

  • Develop Enhanced Bus, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), or Streetcars for fast, frequent, dependable service on major corridors
  • Commuter Express service to outlying areas
  • Improve Regional Rail service
  • System improvements for downtown and neighborhoods
  • Technology implementation to maximize efficiency and convenience

Pedestrian Friendly Streets and Highways

  • Complete and connect sidewalk system
  • Safe, usable crosswalks with pedestrian refuges
  • Better lighting, signage, landscaping and signals

Complete Bicycle Network and Amenities

  • On-road bike lanes on urban streets
  • Off-road multi-purpose trails along major corridors
  • Protected parking at all destinations

Improved Integration & Support for Ridesharing and Travel Demand Management

  • Designated travel lanes for car/vanpoolers
  • Enhance employer-based incentives
  • Improve and increase park and ride lots
  • Improve coordination of TDM strategies with work, education and special events

Safe & Efficient Freight Movement

  • Separate freight movements from passenger travel where possible
  • Support on-time delivery needs of business and industry

Policy and Regulatory Changes

  • Amend codes and standards for more flexible roadway and development designs
  • Adjust funding formulas to deliver a truly multi-modal system
  • Expand modeling and forecasting to coordinate transportation and land use planning

Satisfying federal regulations

One of the main purposes of UNJAM 2035 is to satisfy federal regulations. Both the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration require that any project that is to receive federal funding must be part of a long-range transportation plan. Furthermore, that plan must be fiscally-constrained. That means long-range plan can only include projects which have a reasonable chance of being funded over its 20-year timeframe.

However, the rural long range plan does not have to be fiscally-constrained. Although the rural element is not a federal requirement, the Code of Virginia has recently[when?] required an Rural Long-Range Plan (RLRP) from each planning district. Once UnJAM 2035 is completed, it will be incorporated into VDOT's State Highway Plan, which will be one component of the Virginia Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan (VTRANS).

References

  1. Tubbs, Sean J. "MPO discusses new branding for Charlottesville Transit; I-64 Interchanges at 5th Street and Shadwell to get improved ramps." Weblog post. Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. Charlottesville Tomorrow, 29 May 2009. Web. 30 June 2009. <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2009/05/mpo_may_2009.html>.

External links

UNJAM 2035 website