2025 Metropolitan Transportation Plan / Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update

2025 MTP Update

The Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization (GHMPO) has initiated the update of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).  The GHMPO planning boundary area includes all of Hall County and the western portion of Jackson County.   By federal and state law, the MTP is updated every 5 years.  The current MTP will cover a thirty-year period from 2025 to 2055.  This update will provide the framework for prioritized multimodal transportation investments for the GHMPO region, including roadways, bridges, transit, and non-motorized infrastructure.

The MTP development process will include coordination and input from GHMPO’s planning partners that comprise representatives from its standing committees, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Hall County, Jackson County, the Town of Braselton, the City of Hoschton, the City of Flowery Branch, the City of Gainesville,  and the City of Oakwood.

The MTP will include a summary of existing conditions and transportation needs.  Assessment of existing and future congestion, safety concerns, mobility and connectivity are the key factors that will help guide the technical assessment and identification of needs.  The resulting MTP will include a prioritized list of projects that can feasibly be funded given anticipated revenues as well as recommendations, policies, and strategies to enhance the transportation system.

 

Bike-Ped Plan Update

Concurrently to the development of the MTP, an update to GHMPO’s Bike and Pedestrian Plan will also be completed.  The Bike-Ped Plan Update will provide a detailed plan to enhance regional connectivity and mobility including improving access to the Highlands to Islands Trail System.  It will include a prioritized plan of action items including projects and policies that enhance and expand upon local bicycle and pedestrian plans.

 

Updates and Future Events

October 2024 Update: Based on the results of the projected 2055 Travel Demand Model, a draft project list has been developed that includes currently programmed projects from the existing Regional Transportation Plan and the MPO short-range plan, projects identified by the needs analysis, and TSPLOST projects, which would be included if Hall and Jackson County’s TSPLOST initiatives were to be approved in their referendums this November. These projects were on display during the two Open Houses held in August and September. This project list is currently being refined into a fiscally constrained project list, which will only include projects identified that could realistically be funded by state and federal funding projections through 2055. Once this fiscally-constrained list is developed, it will be shared online for comments and feedback prior to approval by the GHMPO Policy Committee in December of 2024. Check back here later in the fall to view the fiscally-constrained project list!

Please direct comments and questions to Michael Haire, Transportation Planning Manager (mhaire@hallcounty.org).