How We Plan for Transportation
The Greater Lansing area's Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Moving Mid-Michigan, is a compilation of goals, strategies, and analyses to the region's transportation system.
It aims to improve the safety, connectivity, reliability, accessibility, and efficiency of our region's transportation network while driving our economy, protecting the environment, and enhancing each person's quality of life. The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (Tri-County) and its community partners factor all urban and rural transportation modes and infrastructure needs into the planning process. Explore them below!
Roadways are all around us, and they play a key role in our regional, state, and national transportation infrastructure. Tri-County collaborates with local and state officials to assess the condition of paved surface roadways every few years using a rating system called Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating, or PASER. Road ratings are then used to set priorities for maintenance and projects. The MTP includes a long-range plan for managing conditions of the local roadway system in the region.
In addition to getting us to and from work, school, or shopping, walking and bicycling provide a great outlet for exercise and recreation. There's been a push to recognize and support bicycling as an inexpensive, quick, and eco-friendly form of non-motorized travel. In an effort to make Mid-Michigan as connected as possible, the MTP includes a regional plan for connecting trails - including water trails - to our existing network and statewide routes, as well as specific, local non-motorized projects, like bike lanes and pathways that can be integrated into the existing transportation system.
Congestion Management Processes (CMP) measure and diagnose the causes of traffic congestion within metropolitan areas with populations over 200,000. Our CMP is a “living” document, continually evolving throughout the planning process to address the results of performance measures, congestion data, and new objectives, goals, and concerns. Tri-County staff use the document to identify specific areas that need improvements and suggest solutions to make traffic run more smoothly.
Through Safety Conscious Planning, Tri-County aims to reduce traffic crashes, specifically fatal and severe injury crashes within Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. Tri-County explores ideas using the traditional “4-E” approach to traffic safety: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Services. Analyzing historical crash data determines “emphasis areas” where safety is the worst, and comprehensive strategies can be employed to reduce traffic crashes. This information guides prioritizing projects to reduce collision and improve the region’s transportation system.
_ Statistics for our region show that fewer people are buying cars, & more are using transit, paratransit, & private provider services. Public transportation has many benefits: it directly links to the economy via businesses & access to jobs; it reduces fuel consumption & your carbon footprint; & it provides mobility for groups who would otherwise be restricted. The 2045 MTP will review all transit services in the region & analyze possibilities to enhance communities’ quality of life.
_ Our economy relies on the transportation of goods, and while freight plays a key role in the economic prosperity of our communities, it increases traffic on our highways and railroads. The recently passed FAST Act – Fixing America’s Surface Transportation – has placed emphasis on freight planning. The 2045 MTP will analyze the effects of freight traffic, including economic impacts, and a Regional Freight and Goods Movement Plan will detail projects that will improve truck routes.
_ TCRPC is currently in the early stages of planning for passenger air travel. As a regional international airport, the Capital Region International Airport (LAN) provides direct access to many of the nation’s major hub airports on a daily basis. We are studying improved access for both passengers and freight into and out of the Capital Region International Airport. The results of the airport access study efforts will be included in the 2045 MTP.
_ The TCRPC 2045 MTP will continue long standing efforts to provide access to passenger rail opportunities in the region. Currently, passenger rail is provided by AMTRAK via the Bluewater line. Passengers have daily access to trains servicing Chicago to Port Huron. Two additional daily trips are available via bus connector to the Wolverine line serving the Detroit – Chicago corridor.
Our region offers several fixed route and on demand bus services, including public transit, paratransit, and private provider services. These transportation options have many benefits: they directly link to the economy via businesses and access to jobs; reduce fuel consumption and your carbon footprint; and provide mobility for groups who would otherwise be restricted. The MTP reviews all transit services in the region and analyzes possibilities to enhance services and mobility options.
Our economy relies on the transportation of goods, and while freight plays a key role in the economic prosperity of our communities, it adds traffic on our highways and railroads. Federal legislation places an emphasis on planning for freight, including at a regional level. The MTP analyzes the effects of freight traffic, including economic impacts, and a Regional Freight and Goods Movement Report details strategies that can improve truck routes and bottlenecks.
Tri-County coordinates with the Capital Region International Airport (LAN) to address connectivity issues as needed - including roads and services - for smooth passenger air travel. As a regional international airport, LAN provides direct access to many of the nation’s major hub airports on a daily basis. We also study improved access for both passengers and freight into and out of the airport. The results of any airport access study efforts are included in the MTP's reporting.
The MTP analyses access to passenger rail opportunities in the region. Currently, passenger rail is provided by AMTRAK via the Blue Water line, which serves the Capital Area Multimodal Gateway in East Lansing, which is operated by the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA). Passengers have daily access to trains servicing Chicago to Port Huron. Two additional daily trips are available via bus connector to the Wolverine line serving the Detroit – Chicago corridor.