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.  For further information, please contact the Transportation Programs Office.

2011 - 2030 Regional & Metropolitan Transportation Plan

The 2011-2030 Regional & Metropolitan Transportation Plan (RTP/MTP) is currently available by accessing the links below and has been distributed in hard-copy format to an assortment of locations throughout the RTPO.     

The plan has undergone an extensive update throughout 2011.  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.  The 2011-2030 Regional & Metropolitan Transportation Plan (RTP/MTP) replaces the 2006-2025 version of the plan.  This combined urban/rural document eliminates duplication; provides a comprehensive vision for the entire region; and meets both the state planning requirements of the Growth Management Act (GMA) and the federal requirements of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).  The plan was adopted in November of 2011. 

The 2011-2030 DRAFT Regional Transportation Plan can be found by accessing this link.     

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.  Project phases are identified either as selected (S) or planning (P) in the "Status" column shown for each project.  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 Tanna at the Transportation Programs Office. 

Draft 2012-2017 MPO/RTPO TIP

The 2012-2017 MPO/RTPO TIP is anticipated to be adopted October 21, 2011.  At this time, most individual agency DRAFT TIPs  are available for review (viewable by clicking upon links provided below).  Once adopted, amendments to the TIP may alter, add, or delete projects within the TIP.  If you have questions with any specific project, you can contact the BFCG Transportation Programs Office or the local agency directly.

Below are links to the individual DRAFT 2012-2017 local agency TIPs received from jurisdictions in Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties.     

Columbia River Crossing Study

The Benton-Franklin Council of Governments (BFCOG) Transportation Programs Office recently coordinated a study evaluating the future need and optimal location for a future Columbia River bridge crossing.  Local cities, counties, ports, TRIDEC, ASCE, and Ben Franklin Transit were partners in the study, lead by a steering committee consisting of local officials.  An Executive Summary and Final Alternatives Map are available by accessing the links below.  For more information about the study, please contact Mark Kushner or Tanna Dole of the Transportation Programs Office. 

          CRCS Executive Summary               CRCS Final Alternatives Map

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

Adopted in 2010, The 2010 Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan fulfills federal requirements (23 CFR 450) that a metropolitan transportation plan contain a bicycle and pedestrian component as well as addresses state direction (RCW 36.70A) that regional transportation plans encourage efficient multimodal transportation systems that are based on regional priorities and coordinated with county and city comprehensive plans.

2010 SOV/HOV Windshield Survey

During May, the BFCG Transportation Programs office coordinated a windshield survey to tally the percentages of Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOV) vs. High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) at key locations throughout the Tri-City Metropolitan Area and Hanford Site.  Data was collected at twenty four locations spread across the urban area, with vanpool totals and the “Hanford Commute” being points of focus. To view the results of the 2010 SOV/HOV Survey, click here.

2010 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 document can be found by accessing this link (scroll to RTPO Human Services Plans).  For more information, contact Len Pavelka of the Transportation Programs Office. 

Major Employers Report

The 2010 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 criterion for inclusion in the list was that a business/agency/entity have 100 or more full time employees, including 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 140 significant employers for the three-county area.

2010 Transportation Trends & Key Facts

In 2004, the BFCG prepared a report compiled of local trends related to transportation in the Urban Area. Information such as population, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), road miles by Federal Functional Classification, Transit ridership, Level of Service (LOS), accidents, etc. were part of the report. The report has been updated, expanded and includes the rural portions of the RTPO.  Click here to view the report. 

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. 

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:  July, 2011).  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.

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.      

     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

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.

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