Transportation Programs Office

Our office serves as the Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) for the jurisdictions within Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties in southeastern Washington State.  We also serve as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Tri-Cities area.  The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) describes the transportation planning activities undertaken by our office.  Tasks included in the UPWP are the result of issues identified by the ongoing Tri-Cities Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (Tri-MATS).  Tri-MATS is comprised of two working committees, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), which hold meetings the first and second Thursday of each month.  Details about some of our projects can be found below.  Due to size constraints, it impossible for us to furnish all documents on the website.  For further information, please contact the Transportation Programs Office.

As the RTPO prepares for our 2011 Regional Transportation Plan, we are anxious to hear from the public about their habits and perceptions of our transportation system.  We appreciate your time in completing our Transportation Survey that can be accessed by the link below.

A Decade of Accomplishments

The RTPO has seen significant growth over the last ten years and experienced the challenges that accompany growth.  BFCG staff were asked to compile a collection of some of the most significant transportation accomplishments over the last decade.  Selecting the projects to feature was difficult, as much progress has been made through the region.  A presentation highlighting some of the more significant accomplishments can be found at this link. 

2006 - 2025 Regional Transportation Plan 

Adopted in November, 2006, the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) replaces the 2001 MTP/RTP.  The 2006-2025 Regional Transportation Plan can be found by accessing this link.  This twenty-year planning document identifies regional transportation issues, goals and policies related to transportation planning, deficiency analysis for both the MPO and RTPO, and a financial plan to alleviate anticipated deficiencies.  It represents the efforts of all member jurisdictions and provides a comprehensive vision of our entire region.  It meets state planning requirements of the Growth Management Act (GMA) and federal requirements of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act:  A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).   

Regional and Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

Each year, jurisdictions across the state complete their six-year Transportation Improvement Program, or "TIP".  Collectively, the projects with secured funding in these TIPs make up the State Transportation Improvement Program, or "STIP".  This program gives the jurisdictions the opportunity to review their project lists and adjust their plans, as necessary.  Projects are identified either as selected (S) or planning (P).  Selected projects are those which the jurisdiction has funding to complete.  Planning projects are those which are yet to be funded.  For information about the TIP, contact Brian at the Transportation Programs Office. 

2009-2014 MPO/RTPO TIP and 2010-2015 Local Agency TIPs

Below are links to the individual 2010-2015 local agency TIPs received from jurisdictions in Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties.  Additionally you will find links to portions of the 2009-2014 MPO/RTPO TIP adopted in October, 2008.  Project revisions/additions with secured funding in the 2010 TIPs will be grouped into an amendment to the 2009-2014 RTPO TIP and forwarded to WSDOT for inclusion into the 2009-2012 Washington State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).   

Mapping/GIS Activities  

The Transportation Office maintains an extensive inventory of maps for our region.  Maps are used for informational presentations and also appear in a variety of planning documents.  The maps provided here are letter sized and can be viewed/printed with the adobe acrobat viewer (click Map Name to view).  Designations and boundaries found within these maps are accurate - to the best of agency knowledge - as of our most frequent Regional Transportation Plan adoption (November, 2006).  However, designations and boundaries change frequently - for verification of a designation or boundary, please contact the Transportation Programs Office.   

Cycling Tri-Cities Map

One of the more popular maps provided by our office is "Cycling Tri-Cities" - which shows bike routes, area Bike/Ped trails, the Sacagawea Heritage Trail, area parks, facilities, and other points of interest.  On the backside of this map are descriptions of favorite area rides, a visual of their locations, and assorted safety tips.  For convenience, both sides of this map have been prepared in "tiled" quadrants ready for print on regular letter sized paper (filesizes ~ 2 to 5mb).      

     Bikemap Front (click image for letter sized PDF format)

     Bikemap Rear (click image for letter sized PDF format)

The Cycling Tri-Cities map is also available in scaled versions ready for print on 11 x 17 paper.  Click on the links below for each side of the map

Additionally, free large copies of the Tri-Cities Bike Map are available at our office, local jurisdictions, local bike shops, local Chambers of Commerce, and the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan

This plan was developed through the sponsorship of Benton-Franklin COG on behalf of Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties.  The plan lists local needs, Public Transportation projects, and funding programs identified locally through a series of public meetings.  The plan can be viewed by accessing this link. 

Traffic Count Program

Our office maintains an inventory of all traffic counts collected in the RTPO.  County spreadsheets date back to 1997, and are updated as data becomes available (Updated:  March, 2009).  WSDOT Permanent Traffic Recorder (PTR) locations are summarized by rural and urban locations. 

          Benton County Traffic Counts

          Franklin County Traffic Counts

          Walla Walla County Traffic Counts

          Rural PTR Counts

          Urban PTR Counts

We also collect traffic counts for the smaller jurisdictions throughout the RTPO, as they are needed.  For more information about the Traffic Count Program, please contact our office.

Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan for Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla Counties

Adopted in 2005, The Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan outlines a complete inventory of existing conditions of the pedestrian/bicycle system in our region.  Our office is in the early stages of a plan update - for more information, contact Len Pavelka of the Transportation Programs Office.  It identifies the future needs of the system and provides strategies to implement the necessary changes.  The 2005 Walla Walla Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is incorporated into the plan by reference. 

Major Employers List

The 2007 Major Employers Report details major employers within Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla Counties.  The list includes private and public sector employers – from orchards to Hanford contractors and school districts to the Post Office. The initial criterion for inclusion in the list was that a business/agency/entity have 100 or more full time employees.  That was later expanded to include those with a total of 100 or more shift workers, and entities with a substantial number of seasonal employees.  The final result is a list of around 125 significant employers for the three-county area. 

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view some of the items on this website.  Click here to download the free reader.