MAPA - Metropolitan Area Planning Agency

[ita]

I am creating a new thread just for MAPA. I have been lumping MAPA updates with the METRO thread, even though they are separate entities. In any case, MAPA's newsletter indicates that the board has approved accepting Cass County's application to join MAPA. The addition was facilitated by a recent bill passed in the last legislative session and allowed MAPA to expand its district's boundaries.

http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... er-Web.pdf

[BRoss]

I guess they have a podcast now:
Episode 1: http://mapacog.org/calendar/news/a-mome ... a-podcast/

Episodes 2 & 3:

[daveoma]

I am creating a new thread just for MAPA. I have been lumping MAPA updates with the METRO thread, even though they are separate entities. In any case, MAPA's newsletter indicates that the board has approved accepting Cass County's application to join MAPA. The addition was facilitated by a recent bill passed in the last legislative session and allowed MAPA to expand its district's boundaries.

http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... er-Web.pdf

I'm glad to see this expansion. It'll be exciting to see updates to transportation planning.

[ita]

MAPA is planning to contribute to several potential alternative transportation projects that promote walking, biking, and public transit. They are currently surveying public opinion on each of the projects.

https://mapacog.org/calendar/news/propo ... -projects/

There are a couple trail projects, but also Baby Bob connecting the Riverfront and North Downtown, and free fares for a few months to support the ORBT launch. The surveys are more information gathering than 'which project is better'.

[ita]

MAPA just released an interactive report related to regional development over the last decade. Rather than try to explain it myself, I will quote MAPA's new release from MAPA releases interactive Regional Development Report:

In a first of its kind assessment for MAPA, we have released our interactive Regional Development Report, which explores the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area’s development patterns and provides insight into the decisions which influenced these patterns.

This report represents a new approach at MAPA, both in the data curated and in the sophistication of the presentation via visual data mapping through story maps.

It is a super interesting report (and I have just started going through it). They have several visualized datasets concerning land use, development, trends over time; some really cool stuff. I hope everyone interested in development in the Metro take some time with the report. You will thoroughly enjoy it! Here is a link to the report: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bd ... 89bf795116

[ita]

To add to the data to go through, the interactive report includes links to MAPA's regional demographic update, with lots of data tables and graphs on all sorts of data points and a summary of areas of growth and potential improvements. You can find that here:

Regional Demographic Update

If there is anything that can be said about the Metro's growth over the last decade, is that its consistent, if anything. MAPA's vision and ever-evolving plans making up the Heartland 2050 initiative looks to help supercharge that growth over the next few.

[ita]

MAPA has a draft long range transportation plan uploaded to their site. Draft 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) It's a lot of information, but in summary:

MAPA’s 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan is a 30 year vision for the future of transportation in the Omaha-Council Bluffs region. The MAPA 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan is developed in harmony with Heartland 2050, ConnectGO, and the other planning initiatives undertaken in the region in recent years. As MAPA’s adopted regional vision, Heartland 2050 calls for purposefully probing the fundamental building blocks to community vibrancy.

Much of the analysis included in the plan was done through the Metropolitan Travel Improvement Study (MTIS). This comprehensive analysis of travel conditions in the metro area began in 2015 and was completed in November 2019. Documents from the three phases of this project can be found below.

To proactively address our region’s most pressing challenges and position the metro for continued economic growth, MAPA has partnered with the Greater Omaha Chamber and Metro Smart Cities to build a new regional transportation strategy– bringing diverse stakeholders together to guide the region’s investment.

[BRoss]

MAPA has a draft long range transportation plan uploaded to their site. Draft 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

Awesome! I always look forward to the LRTP.

[ita]

MAPA has a draft long range transportation plan uploaded to their site. Draft 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

Awesome! I always look forward to the LRTP.

I'm glad I am not the only one. Public comment is open until September 28th. So, if you all have anything to say about this plan, please share your comments.

Public Comment Period for Draft 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

[ita]

MAPA released its 2020 comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and it is currently open for public comment:

Public Comment Open for Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

[ita]

MAPA Executive Director leaving agency for new position

After more than 18 years at the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA), Executive Director Greg Youell announced Wednesday he is leaving to accept a position with Spirit Catholic Radio Network. Youell has been employed by MAPA since 2002 and has served as Executive Director since December 2012.

Youell began his employment as a transportation planner. He was promoted to Transportation & Data Manager in 2008.

Youell will remain at MAPA through July. The MAPA Board of Directors will launch a search for Youell’s successor.

“Greg has been an excellent leader for MAPA. Under his leadership, MAPA expanded its services and assistance to communities in the six-county region it serves in southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa and increased revenues,” said LaVista Mayor Doug Kindig, chair of MAPA’s Board of Directors. “Greg has helped build MAPA into a recognized leader in regional collaboration through Heartland 2050, disaster recovery and resilience assistance, transportation planning and community and economic development. The board is grateful to Greg for his service to MAPA and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

In his new position, Youell will become Operations Director for Spirit Catholic Radio Network based in Omaha.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work at MAPA and to assist our member communities. MAPA is on very solid ground to continue its work in helping move the region forward,” said Youell. “My faith is an important part of my life and I am leaving for a new adventure which provides me an opportunity to work in support of it.”

Youell and his wife, Tracie, reside in Omaha with their seven children.

[ita]

Newsletter Early Fall 2021

MAPA has a new executive director and he is wasting no time in setting the course for the agency. Since being promoted in late July, Mike Helgerson has made it his focus to keep the agency growing and make sure it becomes more innovative, responsive and accountable to members.

“Our staff and funding are shared resources for the region, so I want to make sure we are focused on the issues that matter most to our
members,” said Helgerson.

In particular, Helgerson wants to grow MAPA’s housing and infrastructure programs for communities, implement the goals of the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan through the ConnectGO partnership, strengthen MAPA’s existing partnerships and identify new opportunities to align efforts with other partners throughout the region.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Mike’s a great guy. I know him personally and he’s going to make a great ED at MAPA.

[ita]

https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... -2021-.pdf

Here is the RFQ for Omaha's bike and pedestrian master plan. The study is to commence by February 2022 and be completed in a year. There are some detail in the RFQ regarding the master plan, but I am excited to see this one done.

[Coyote]

MAPA seeking $750K grant to make Omaha Metro roads safer
MAPA is applying for the federal funding to make a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan that encompasses Douglas, Sarpy, and parts of Pottawattamie counties

The Metropolitan Area Planning Agency wants to make sure it gets part of a new $5 billion federal fund for making local community roads safer. The money comes from the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was passed in 2021. "Rather than all the safety funding flowing through the states of Nebraska and Iowa, for our region, it provides a resource for local communities and MAPA to access that funding for planning and projects directly," said MAPA executive director Mike Helgerson.

MAPA will apply for a $750,000 planning grant to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. Funding could come as soon as Spring 2023, with the plan finalized sometime in 2024. It presented its plan to the Omaha City Council on Tuesday with the hopes Omaha will sign on as a joint applicant. That will help solidify its application with federal decision-makers, according to Helgerson. "It's a really unique opportunity to put decisions in the control of local jurisdictions," Helgerson told councilmembers. The Omaha City Council approved the resolution. The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program will also provide grants for the implantation of safety projects identified in the CSAP. There's about $1 billion available per year across the U.S.

Helgerson said the money would be directed toward more localized projects. MAPA said there is a strong need for a regional CSAP to address the increase in road fatalities and the disproportionate impact on disadvantaged communities. According to MAPA, disadvantaged communities make up 13% of the region's population, but 20% of total traffic deaths and 43% of total pedestrian deaths. MAPA's region includes all of Douglas and Sarpy counties and a portion of western Pottawattamie County in Iowa. Future federal funds from SS4A for projects would require a 20% local match.

[Coyote]

Nebraska to receive $2.6 million in federal grants to improve roads

Nebraska will get $2.6 million from the federal government to improve roads and reduce traffic fatalities, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grants were awarded through a program established by the president's new infrastructure law. That law includes $5 billion over five years to redesign roads and improve sidewalks to prevent injuries and fatalities.

Eight Nebraska applicants will receive planning grants to improve road safety. They are:

City of Beatrice
City of Lincoln
City of Madison
City of Norfolk
City of North Platte
City of Sidney
City of Waverly
Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency

Another $1.1 billion in road improvement grants will be released in April 2023.