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1060 Lehigh Street

Allentown, PA 18103

610-435-5661

 

For Release Upon Receipt
May 13, 2008

 

Regional Transportation Development Plan Announced

 

Lehigh Valley, PA (Special) ----- Act 44, the transportation funding and reform legislation that was passed in Harrisburg in July 2007 will provide enhanced funding for the Commonwealth’s highways, bridges and transit systems.  The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) has initiated a comprehensive analysis designed to assess short and long term public transportation needs. Termed “Moving LANTA Forward”, the analysis will determine where to invest the additional funds.

 

The last comprehensive examination of public transportation occurred in 1985.  At that time, the “Metro” system of service was introduced which responded to the impact of the loss of major employment centers in the urbanized area and the shift to destinations in suburban portions of the Valley.  Since then, LANTA has made many modifications to the Metro system of service based on an ongoing review process, and has experienced significant gains in ridership.  Since 1997, LANTA ridership of the public transportation system has grown 65%. 

 

But the Lehigh Valley is continuing to grow and change in terms of both population and jobs.   The Authority has determined that it needs to prepare a long range vision for public transportation and a service development program and policies that will guide LANTA efforts in the next 5 to 10 years. 

 

The Authority sought proposals from qualified individuals/firms to develop a regional public transportation development plan for the Valley in the fall of last year.   Three consultant firms responded and after an extensive review and interview process, Abrams-Cherwony & Associates, a Philadelphia based firm was selected. Abrams-Cherwony & Associates has teamed with Gannett Fleming, Inc., Harrisburg, and Brecon Hill Consulting, Wales, WI.

 

The process which started in March, is expected to take a year and will involve an extensive review of the existing Lehigh Valley public transportation services, a determination on how best to meet the community’s changing needs for public transportation service, and delivery of a set of recommendations in order to achieve the most effective and productive public transportation system possible.  The focus will not only be on meeting transportation needs within the Lehigh Valley but to employment and other destinations outside the Valley.  How best to develop a partnership between land use and transportation will also be addressed as well. As stated by Authority Chair, Donald H. Lipson during the LANTA Annual meeting in July 2007, “we need to create a system that is attractive to riders who choose to ride public transportation while not diminishing the importance of serving those who must use public transportation.”

 

The public input portion of this effort is extremely important and will be extensive.  It will include an:

 

-                Extensive survey of LANTA bus riders

-                Mail-out/mail-back survey sent to 3,000 households

-                Intercept surveys at malls, downtowns and transit centers

-                Internet survey for all who wish to contribute

-                Meetings with community leaders including elected officials, representatives from major employers, hospital, universities and social service agencies.

-                Open forums and public meetings

 

LANTA has made it possible for all those who have an interest in public transportation, to participate in the planning process.

   

Information will continue to be forthcoming in the next few months as to dates, times and locations through which this input will be gathered.   LANTA has already established a web site http://movinglantaforward.blogspot.com where information on the project can be obtained and input can be made.

 

LANTA and its consultant team are relying heavily on data provided by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission through its elaborate GIS mapping system as well as its computerized transportation model for evaluating route structure and predicting ridership.

 

The goal is to invest in a public transportation network that meet demands now and well into the future in the Lehigh Valley.  It is expected that recommendations for change will be before the Authority in March/April of 2009.

        

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