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Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
455 N. Main - 10th Floor - Wichita, KS 67202
316.268.4315 - wampo@wichita.gov - www.wampo.org
  
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Monday, July 20, 2015 

Summer is here and school is out!  Whatever your summer getaway plans are, WAMPO would like to remind you to secure your motor vehicles.  Did you know that July is the month when more cars are stolen than any other month??  As the primary mode of transportation for most of us, and often, an indispensable part of our lives,  what would happen if yours suddenly disappeared?

 

July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching its annual Vehicle Theft Prevention Campaign this July all across the nation.

Vehicle theft is a very expensive crime, with the cost of stolen vehicles  pegged at more than $4.1 billion! 

For more information about Vehicle Theft Prevention month ta
ke a look at some of these great NHTSA resources:

Message from the Chair,

Tom Jones, Chairman

 

Looking back on the hustle and bustle of the past weeks I am encouraged to report on a number of important milestones reached by our organization.  These milestones include the release of the MOVE 2040 long-range transportation plan Citizens' and Technical Reports.  In addition to MOVE 2040 our organization successfully completed the WAMPO certification review interviews with the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration.  Stay tuned for more news on the official findings from this review. 

 

In addition to these two important mile markers, the Executive Committee has finalized an organizational development plan for the WAMPO organization.   The organizational development plan was developed after extensive feedback from over 100 stakeholders in the WAMPO region and approved by the full board on June 9th

 

The final plan is a reflection of the information we heard from stakeholders, which provides clear guidance for how WAMPO will move forward in the future.  Highlights of the plan includes the following mission statement:

 

The Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) is the lead independent agency for coordinating priorities for regionally-significant transportation investments in roads, highways, transit, rails, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. In engagement with its member communities, and state and federal partners, WAMPO supports the region's economic and transportation goals.

  

If you would like to take a closer look at the entire organizational plan which defines not only the mission and vision, but values and strategic priorities as well check it out here <insert document link here>

 

These are exciting times for the WAMPO region and I am looking forward to the next phase of service to our communities.

 

Sincerely,

Tom Jones, Chair

WAMPO Transportation Policy Body

MOVE 2040 Plan Approved!

On Tuesday, July 14, 2015 the WAMPO Transportation Policy Body (TPB) approved the recommended MOVE 2040 long-range transportation plan.  This regional plan identifies transportation goals and performance measures over the next 25 years.  The key messages of the plan include the following:

  • The area is fortunate to have a well developed major road and bridge network that is in good condition overall. But, we should spend more on maintaining our local streets. 
  • It's easy to get around by car despite limited traffic congestion.  Even though there are bottlenecks in some locations that should be corrected, we can usually rely on getting to our daily activities without much delay.  Additionally, the road network has a lot of capacity to absorb growth. 
  • For those who do not or cannot drive, the system does not provide many choices. Transit needs to be assessed as a regional matter.
  • Because funds are limited for expanding and maintaining our transportation system, we must be careful in how we spend what we have. We cannot afford everything that everyone wants.

To learn more about MOVE 2040 click here.  To view Executive Summary click here.  

It's Time for the 2015 Bicycle & Pedestrian Count!

 

Every year WAMPO coordinates an annual count of bicycle and pedestrian activity across 35 different sites in Park City, Goddard, Andover, Mulvane and Wichita to name a few.

 

The data collected during these counts helps to estimate the number of people and locations people bicycle, walk and run. Once collected, the data is used to plan the location of future bicycle and pedestrian investments. This effort would not be possible without the commitment of our VOLUNTEERS each year!

 

Sign Up Here

 

Volunteers are needed to manually count bicyclists and pedestrians at several locations in the WAMPO region on the following dates:


 
Thursday, September 17 (5:00 - 7:00pm)

Saturday, September 19 (Noon - 2:00pm)

 

Cyclist Street Safety


Need some great tips on how to be move safe in the WAMPO region?  Check out some of the City of Wichita's street safety videos on the following topics:

 
                                 
What's Happening Next?  Asset Management

Transportation Asset Management is a strategic and systematic process of operating, maintaining, upgrading and expanding physical assets effectively throughout their lifecycle.  This management focuses on business and engineering practices for resource allocation and utilization, with the objective of better decisionmaking based upon quality information and well-defined objectives.

 

In the transportation world physical assets include both infrastructure and equipment, which can include anything from roads, bridges and highways to signs, pavement and bus garages.  The size and make-up of the infrastructure to be included is a metropolitan or statewide decision.

 

Asset Management has three basic objectives:

  1. Preserve assets and minimize their whole life cost
  2.  Operate in a financially consistent manner
  3. Provide a framework to improve performance on a long-term basis

 

The Asset Management process has several elements that include the following activities:

  • Policy development

  • Data collection, analysis and categorization

  • Identification of alternatives - "A mix of fixes"

  • Reporting to inform decision-makers and technical stakeholders

Asset Management has become an ongoing practice within states and metropolitan planning organizations over the last few decades.  It has been implemented in a variety of ways but all with the same basic objectives.

 

The approved MOVE 2040 long-range transportation plan recommends an initiative to assess the feasibility of asset management for the Wichita metropolitan area.  Beginning discussions on this topic will occur at the regularly scheduled Technical Advisory Committee meeting on August 24, 2015. 

 

For more information about MOVE 2040 or Asset Management please contact WAMPO Principle Planner, Gloria Jeff at gjeff@wichita.gov

 

 

Welcome WAMPO Staff

 

WAMPO would like to extend an introduction to our newest team member, Ms. LaDonna Beebe.  LaDonna will be join the team for the summer as the WAMPO Planning Intern.   LaDonna will be working with staff on various planning activities including the asset management project.

 

LaDonna received her Master's in Public Administration from Wichita State University in the Spring of 2014.  She has interests in urban and transportation planning as well as issues that impact quality of life.  In her free time LaDonna enjoys visiting the zoo and museums. 

 

Please help us in welcoming LaDonna!

 

Click here to view all staff bios and the WAMPO org chart.

Upcoming Meetings

 

The general public, WAMPO partners, and stakeholders are welcome to join us at any of our upcoming regularly scheduled meetings:   

 

Transportation Policy Body (TPB)
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
The Transportation Policy Body (TPB) develops, implements and approves WAMPO's transportation plans. As the regional forum for transportation planning, the TPB helps to establish a vision for the future of our transportation system.  The following is a listing of upcoming TPB meetings:

 

City Hall - 455 N. Main - 10th Floor,

Wichita, KS 67203 at 3:00 pm

  • Tuesday, August 11, 2015
  • Tuesday, September 8, 2015
  • Tuesday, October 13, 2015 
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) reviews technical information about transportation studies and issues as well as providing the TPB with their professional recommendations on documents, plans, and activities. The following is a listing of upcoming TAC meetings:

 

City Hall - 455 N. Main - 10th Floor, Wichita, KS 67203 at 10:00 am

  • Monday, August 24, 2015
  • Monday, September 28, 2015
  • Monday, October 26, 2015 

WAMPO logo
 

  
Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
455 N. Main - 10th Floor - Wichita, KS 67202
316.268.4315 - wampo@wichita.gov - www.wampo.org
  
Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  View our photos on flickr  View our videos on YouTube