Walking and Bicycling
The MPO actively encourages, supports and funds bicycle and pedestrian planning and implementation. GRPC continues to partner with local governments and advocacy groups to promote biking and walking within the MPO region.
A demand analysis is performed as a representation of the existing and potential pedestrian and bike activity around a roadway based on the mix and compactness of land uses in the study area. Once demand is quantified, areas can be prioritized to focus resources to make improve the community through additional land uses, improved street networks and the addition of sidewalks, pathways, crosswalks, lighting and other measures to encourage pedestrian and bicycle activity.
Due to the linearity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region, north-south mobility is very important to provide movement between the two major east-west corridors – I-10 and US 90 – spanning the three coastal counties from Alabama to Louisiana. Particular attention should by made to bicycle-pedestrian improvements to these major mobility corridors.
Transportation Alternatives
The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) authorizes distribution of approximately $600,000.00 annually in Transportation Alternatives (TA) funds to Gulf Regional Planning Commission (GRPC), the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), as provided by Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (IIJA).
Complete Streets Program
Complete Streets MS Coast MPO 2023 FINAL
Gulf Regional Planning Commission (GRPC) continues to support and promote complete streets policies. GRPC encourages policy development by local governments while understanding a successful policy is dependent on the jurisdiction’s capability to commit resources (staff and funding) for a successful implementation. Local jurisdictions are beginning to recognize the value of routinely accommodating all users during the planning phases of transportation improvement projects.
Bicycle & Pedestrian TIP Project Set-aside
The primary focus of this group is to provide for “independent” projects which provide bicycle, pedestrian, and transit access and safety improvements within the right-of-way or easements along functionally classified roadways. These “independent” projects will usually be stand-alone in nature, not associated with other federally funded roadway improvements such as reconstruction or widening. The Mississippi Gulf Coast MPO will set aside funds from its annual allocation of STBG funds for projects to improve bicycle, pedestrian, and transit accessibility and mobility in the region. The MPO initiates a Call for Projects during the TIP Update and TIP Amendment periods for the funding in the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Project Group.