Alberta's rapid growth in recent years has created problems in planning and integration of the roadway network systems connecting neighboring urban and rural communities. This has resulted in a need for new approaches to address network interface issues. Rocky View County in collaboration with its transportation consultant team of iTRANS Consulting Inc. has charted a new innovative framework (this may be new innovative to us but not to the urban work) for a sustainable road network coupled to intensify, and plan, municipal development. This paper will summarize main points of the process and explain the benefits of the transportation planning tools and process used to develop a sustainable and cohesive transportation network throughout the region. The new approach uses results of the developed traffic model and culminates in the development of a long-term transportation network that recognizes all modes of transportation including walking, bicycling, and the transition to a transit supportable system. The subsequent developed network addresses the local and regional needs. It reflects a context sensitive design approach generated from use of the state-of-the-art techniques and practice tools. The adopted design approach addresses different needs of two distinctly different municipal environments, urban and rural, and enables each to operate satisfactorily in their respective jurisdiction. The developed plan forms a skeleton framework supporting the development expectations of the region. For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD number E217481.
Abstract