Transportation in Allen County

The Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission (LACRPC) as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) of the Lima Urbanized area, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and in coordination with local jurisdictions is responsible for the coordination of transportation planning activities within the Allen County area. For transportation purposes the MPO embraces all of Allen County including those portions of the City of Delphos located in Van Wert County, and the Village of Bluffton located in Hancock County.

Federal legislation is a major part of the framework that guides transportation planning. Such legislation establishes the priorities and funding mechanisms to carry out the transportation planning process and deliver necessary infrastructure and services. Historically, the legislative process has built upon previous efforts, with new legislation amending and/or expanding previous agendas to meet the nation's changing transportation needs.

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

The current legislative agenda, established within the transportation bill known as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - Legacy for Users, or SAFETEA-LU, was signed by George W. Bush in August 2005.  The legislation was set to expire on September 30, 2009; however, the legislation remains in effect due to a Continuing Resolution.  A new transportation bill, though in committee, has not been enacted.  While SAFETEA-LU was built on previous landmark transportation legislation established in both the Intermodal Surface Transporation Equity Act (ISTEA) and Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), new legislation is sure to build on the broad concept of multi-modal transportation as espoused in its predecessors - ISTEA, TEA21, and SAFTEA-LU.

Long Range Transportation Plan

In an attempt to meet the transportation needs of the community the LACRPC has developed and continues to update the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan. The 2030 Long Range Transporation Plan is a long-range plan - a strategy of capital improvement programming developed to guide the effective investment of public funds in transportation facilities. The Plan provides the framework from which the area's short range Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is developed. The TIP identifies the highway, transit, bikeway, and pedestrian projects scheduled to be constructed over a four-year time frame.

The ambition of the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan is the development of a truly intermodal transportation system, one that is efficient, fiscally sound, environmentally friendly, and which provides the regional infrastructure to better compete in the global economy.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

The Long Range Transportation Plan is monitored amd implemented through the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) process.  Coordinating the short range TIP for the Lima Urbanized Area represents one of the LACRPC's major responsibilities as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The TIP provides a four-year prioritized listing of a bikeway/pedestrian walkway, bridge, highway, transit, and paratransit projects, utilizing federal funding.

Local political subdivisions, the Allen County Engineer, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District One office initiates TIP projects.  Projects from these agencies are submitted to the LACRPC as requests for federal funding. Most local and state projects must be programmed in the TIP to be eligible to receive federal transportation monies. 

The Final 2012-2015 TIP project list includes road construction projects, bike/pedestrian projects, bus/transit as well as other transportation-related projects and service planned for FY 2012 - 2015 (July 1, 2011 thru June 30, 2015).  The Final 2012 - 2015 TIP was adopted at the Transportation Coordinating Committee meeting during May 2011 and submitted to ODOT to become part of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

PLEASE NOTE:  The FY 2012-2015 TIP link below includes changes or amendments made to the TIP since its adoption; therefore, the changes can be found within the document.  You may also click on the "Amendments" link below to view a list of approved changes to the TIP. 

FY 2012-2015 Transportation Improvement Program

FY 2012-2015 TIP Amendments 

FTA Specialized Transportation Program

This program facilitates the provision of specialized transportation to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities where existing transportation services are unavailable, inappropriate, or insufficient.  The MPO offers workshops for all potential applicants interested in securing funding under the FTA Specialized Transportation Program.