Transportation Planning

The Richland County Regional Planning Commission has been the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) responsible for the transportation planning program in Richland County since the mid-1960's. The transportation planning program is funded primarily by federal and state user fees (gas taxes) earmarked for planning purposes. This planning program is a prerequisite for federal and state financial participation in most transportation projects in Richland County.

The essential requirements of this planning process are that it be coordinated, comprehensive and continuing, and that it results in a Long-Range Plan, a Short-Range Plan, and a Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The emphasis of Richland County's transportation planning is now in the short-range system management activities that will help to achieve the optimum operation of the existing system. The ultimate goal is a safe, fast and efficient system.

The Planning Commission has some discretion in the approach that it takes in transportation planning. In recent years an effort has been made to provide traffic-engineering services to local communities. Among these activities have been analysis of high accident intersections, traffic signal timing, turning movements, lane marking & signage, access management and corridor studies.

Ohio Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Institute of Traffic Engineers