County receives transportation master plan; consultants flag $8 billion program and prioritize signal upgrades and operational fixes

Consultants presented the Countywide Transportation Master Plan to the Board and described a multi‑decade, systemwide program of projects and operational improvements. The CTMP identifies top congested corridors, recommends traffic‑management center modernization, adaptive signal upgrades, flexible (reversible) lane concepts on select corridors and longer‑term transit investments. The consultants’ order‑of‑magnitude estimate across program alternatives was roughly $8 billion; roadway‑only capacity additions were estimated near $2 billion, while primary early investments were described in the $200 million range.

The presentation highlighted near‑term operational actions that can yield rapid benefits: modernizing the county Traffic Management Center, upgrading and coordinating traffic signals (estimated equipment and intersection upgrade costs per intersection and per mile were discussed), and piloting flex‑lane concepts where peak directionality justifies reversible lane use. On potential benefits, the consultant summarized travel‑time gains: "BASED ON THIS...WE LOOKED AT WHAT WAS THE FREE FLOW SPEEDS VERSUS THE ACTUAL SPEED...WE LOOKED AT WHAT WAS THE ABILITY TO SAVE ABOUT 25 HOURS ANNUALLY PER PASSENGER WITHIN THOSE CORRIDORS BY DOING THE MODERNIZATION."

Community and municipal representatives urged a focus on practical, lower‑cost improvements as priorities. Chelsea Reed, executive director of the Mobility Coalition, framed the emphasis on choices and demand management: "Most of the people traveling around here... just need to get there safely and reliably with less stress," and urged use of the CTMP to coordinate municipal, MPO and county priorities rather than defaulting to large capital‑intensive projects.

The Board voted to receive and file the CTMP and to send a resolution encouraging municipal coordination and chapter‑by‑chapter technical review; staff will continue outreach to municipal partners and the MPO and return with an implementation framework and possible targeted funding strategies.