Rapid City MPO

The Rapid City Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is working with Rapid City’s Rapid Transit System (RTS) to develop the Rapid City Transit Development Plan (TDP). This document will provide a vision for transit in the region over the next 5 to 10 years, with an emphasis on future needs and sustainable growth. The TDP will report existing conditions, public feedback, community needs, and recommendations for how RTS should align services to meet the needs of a growing region. The process is intended to develop recommendations reflective of community needs that can be feasibly implemented within a 5-to-10-year period. You can access the plan at: https://www.rtstransitplan.com/

The Rapid City Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), is accepting applications for the 2021 FTA Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Apportionment Act/American Rescue Plan Act of 2020(CRRSAA/ARP). Entities interested in seeking funding must submit the application to the MPO. The MPO will rank the applications prior to forwarding a funding recommendation to the SDDOT for consideration. Applications can be found at http://www.rapidcityareampo.org beginning July 26, 2021, or emailed upon request. For questions on the application, call the Rapid City Area MPO office at 605-394-4120 or email kelly.brennan@rcgov.org. Applications are due to the Rapid City Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Office, 300 Sixth Street, Rapid City, SD 57701, by 4 p.m. MDST August 16, 2021.

The plan is a guide to the development of a safe and efficient transportation system across South Dakota. It encompasses all modes of transportation, including public transit, bicycle and pedestrian travel, freight, and highway travel to identify supporting plans to achieve the state’s goals. Maps and presentation materials are available on the SDDOT website at https://dot.sd.gov/projects-studies/projects/public-meetings#listItemLink_1682. All are encouraged to participate and help guide the future of transportation in South Dakota. Questions and comments will be accepted between July 6 and August 6, 2021. Members of the public may submit questions or comments through the SDDOT website or by sending questions or comments via mail to Sarah Gilkerson at 700 East Broadway, Pierre, South Dakota 57501 or email sarah.gilkerson@state.sd.us. For more information about the development of the plan, please contact Sarah Gilkerson, MPO Coordinator, at 605-773-3093.

The Cambell Street Structure is tentatively scheduled to be replaced in 2027. -The existing structure is located on Cambell Street, south of the intersection of Cambell Street and South Dakota Highway 44, and crosses over East Saint Joseph Street and the Rapid City, Pierre, and Eastern railroad line. --There are currently no bicycle and/or pedestrian improvements on Cambell Street between East Saint Patrick Street and East Fairmont Boulevard. -Prior to the replacement and complete reconstruction of the structure, SDDOT desires to enable a multi-modal transportation network that accommodates all modes of travel through the study area as deemed safe, feasible, and reasonable. -An analysis of current and projected future usage of the facility, encompassing motorized and non-motorized modes of travel, will allow for alternatives in routing to be developed. -From these alternatives, a consultant recommended alternative will be identified in the study.

The existing interchange is a skewed diamond configuration that provides access from Elk Creek Road to I-90. The current design has safety and operational concerns with the proximity of the intersection of Elk Creek road and Sturgis road to the west of the interchange, and with the at-grade railroad crossing east of the interchange. Furthermore, the current bridge over I-90 does not provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities and both access ramps are controlled by stop signs. The new design will improve the facilities and prepare for future demand by facilitating future expansion of I-90. Due to restrictions associated with COVID-19, the opportunity to provide feedback for this project will be virtual instead of in-person. The community is encouraged to visit the project website at HTTPS://dot.sd.gov/projects-studies/ projects/public-meetings to view a project video that highlights the project purpose and need, project benefits and goals, and review preliminary designs.

Rapid City has applied for the Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award from the League of American Bicyclists, and we want to hear from residents, local area bicyclists, and bike advocates about your experiences and perceptions of bicycling in the community. Your input will help the League and the community to better understand current bicycling conditions and potential areas for improvement. This survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to respond to, and each question is optional. Aggregate survey responses will be shared anonymously with the applicant community as part of their BFC Feedback Report. To complete the Survey, please go to : https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/App_BFC_Sp21

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), in collaboration with the City of Rapid City, Pennington County, and the Rapid City Area MPO, will hold an online public meeting to present transportation improvement scenarios developed for the US16 Corridor Study from January 30, 2021 through February 28, 2021. Due to limitations on public gatherings recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, the SDDOT is posting information to the study website rather than presenting documents at an in-person public meeting. Members of the public may submit questions or comments through the study website or by reaching out to one of the project representatives via email or phone. This final public meeting is geared towards presenting corridor scenarios representative of potential future projects that address long-term transportation needs identified as part of this study. These scenarios group refined concepts presented at the previous public meeting. Your input will aid in the development of study recommendations and general timeline for implementation. The goal of the study is to develop a long-range plan for the US16 corridor through the study area. The corridor being studied includes: • US16 from the junction with US16A (Keystone Wye) to Cathedral Drive in Rapid City. Emphasis areas are on the intersections of US16 with US16 B / Catron Boulevard and Neck Yoke Road. Any individuals with disabilities who will require a reasonable accommodation to access the information on the study website may submit a request to the department’s ADA Coordinator at 605-773-3540 or 1-800-877-1113 (Telecommunication Relay Services for the Deaf). Public meeting information will be posted to the study website:www.us16corridor.com.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is conducting an Interchange Study for the I-90 Exit 63 in Box Elder, SD. The goal of this Study is to prepare for future demand by facilitating a corridor that improves traffic congestion while increasing safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Due to restrictions associated with COVID-19, the opportunity to provide feedback for this project will be virtual instead of in-person. The community is encouraged to visit the project website at WWW.I90EXIT63.COM to view project videos that highlights the project purpose and need, project benefits and goals, and review draft conceptual designs. The public can also visit Box Elder City Hall to use a computer to access the project website. Hard copy comment forms are also available at this location if you prefer to provide hand written comments. A mask must be worn to enter the building located at: 420 VILLA DRIVE, BOX ELDER. Computers will be available each Wednesday over the lunch break from 12:00-12:30 and Thursday from 4:00-4:30 p.m. for the duration of the comment period.