Orange County and the New York State Department of Transportation are conducting a comprehensive study of the transportation system within the Towns of Monroe and Woodbury.  Accelerated growth in residential, retail and office development in recent years has increased traffic congestion and decreased mobility and safety, particularly during peak hours of travel.  Together with other potential development in and around these towns, travel demand will exceed the capacity of existing transportation facilities to accommodate it in the near future.  The purposes of this Federally funded study include:

• Determining the current operational characteristics and deficiencies of the transportation system;
• Forecasting future conditions of the transportation system;
• Recommending improvements to enhance the efficiency and safety of the transportation system;
• Formulate and recommend sustainable development guidelines that are compatible with and help preserve the capacity future transportation improvements;
• Building a consensus for proposed transportation improvements and sustainable development through public forums.

The planning consulting firm of Allee King Rosen & Fleming has been selected to conduct the study.  Their work includes analyzing existing and future travel conditions to identify deficiencies and problems.  This will involve the collection of data on traffic volumes, safety, highway characteristics, physical features of the corridor, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, transit systems and other relevant features.  Short term transportation management strategies (0-3 years) will be developed to address the impact of trips being generated by existing and approved development, as well as the growth of through traffic in the study area.

The Orange County Planning Department will forecast future traffic volumes for the horizon years 2010, 2025 and full build-out utilizing a 4-step travel demand model.  Allee King Rosen & Fleming will analyze the resulting traffic patterns and volumes from the model runs and recommend four future transportation improvement alternatives for each horizon year for evaluation.  Access management plans will be prepared identifying feasible, cost effective alternatives for all major corridors. Recommendations for implementation will also be provided after appropriate public involvement. Sustainabledevelopment guidelines will be formulated for each involved community.  This will entail in-depth analysis of existing land use conditions, proposed development, existing zoning and comprehensive development plans for each community.  Public outreach will begin with the gathering of data and extend through the development of alternatives and town land use plans.  The Study is anticipated to take 18 months.