New Transportation Master Plan (TMP)
On April 2, 2013, City Council approved the 2012 TMP, with minor changes.
This report was approved after City Council viewed the final draft of this report on November 26, 2012 and the Final Report was presented for discussion on February 25, 2013.
The 2012 Transportation Master Plan replaces our previous 2004 Transportation Master Plan and will be used to guide future development of our Transportation System (not just our roadway system). Pathways, cycling routes and future transit improvements are all incorporated into this TMP.
The TMP is also required to guide the long term development and project alignments of future arterial roadways through the Transportation Systems Bylaw. This bylaw amendment will be going to City Council for approval before going to the province for the Minister's approval.
More About The Transportation Master Plan Study
The City of Lethbridge is preparing the Transportation Master Plan Study. The TMP Study will develop a long-term transportation planning framework to support the land uses and development pattern established by the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan/Municipal Development Plan (ICSP/MDP). The long-term transportation strategy will establish the context for capital improvement decisions.
The community showed strong support during the ICSP/MDP process for compact smart growth combined with a focus on alternative transportation modes. The TMP Study will evaluate the continued use of the automobile, the interconnection of modes and broadening of our transportation options. The study will identify changes and additions to the existing network, expansion of the transit and alternative modes as well as, a revision to transportation policy to better serve the community.
Lethbridge residents and businesses will have opportunities to provide input throughout the development and review process. Residents were involved in the TMP Study in Fall of 2010 which included a resident survey. Area stakeholder workshops were held in January 2012. Two additional opportunities for public involvement are planned in June and the Fall of 2012.
Completed Activities
- Travel diary survey - The City of Lethbridge had retained Synovate, a professional market research and survey firm, to conduct a travel survey of 2,166 Lethbridge households. This survey was aimed at knowing how people get around which in turn was used to inform and shape transportation and development planning for our city in the near and distant future.
- Traffic count surveys and analysis - Over 80 roadway locations and intersections were surveyed using automatic equipment and technical analysis was undertaken. This data along with the resident survey data provided basis for building of the travel demand model.
- Travel demand model - A travel demand model was built in order to assess the City’s transportation needs in the next 10 years and 30 years.
- Transportation Policies - Draft transportation polices were developed based on the ICSP/MDP direction which was based on an extensive public consultation in 2009/2010, Stakeholder consultation undertaken in January 2012, and a survey of Canadian best practices.
- Road and transit network recommendations – the 10 year and 30 year Road network recommendations were developed based on the technical analysis.
