Welcome to the Regional Planning Commission for

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Welcome to the Regional Planning Commission for
Southwest Louisiana 326 Pujo Street P O Box
3164 Lake Charles, LA Phone [phone] Fax
337-433-6077 Email imcal_at_imcal.org
IMCAL is a professional organization whose
primary goal is the continued growth and
development of Southwest Louisiana
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What is IMCAL?

• IMCAL is an Idea
• IMCAL is a region
• IMCAL is people
• IMCAL is an important resource

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IMCAL is an acronym for the Imperial Calcasieu
Regional Planning and Development Commission
derived from the colonial title describing the
five-parish Southwest Louisiana region. IMCAL
was formed in 1972 by local government and
business leaders when a 1964 federal mandate
required metropolitan areas with a population of
50,000 or more have a regional planning
process. IMCAL is a quasi-governmental agency,
which is governed by a Board of Directors.
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There are 8 Louisiana Planning Districts
Allen
Beauregard
Jeff Davis
Calcasieu
Cameron
IMCAL Represents Region 5 (Allen, Beauregard,
Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis, Parishes)
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IMCALs Professional Staff
James Porter Executive Director
Grant L. Bush Transportation Planner III
Abe Fontenot Transportation Director
Randy Miller Senior Economic Developer
Dwight Minton Transportation Planner II/ GIS
Administrator
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What is IMCALs Purpose?

• To be the Economic Development District for
• SWLA
• To be the designated census information center
• To provide technical assistance on the
  preparation of community and parish grant
  programs
• To encourage the development of new industries

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What is IMCALs Purpose?

• To expand the districts small business base and
• To be the Metropolitan Planning Organization
  (MPO)

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MPO Boundary
MPO Study Area
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What services does IMCAL provide through the MPO?
Transportation Planning An MPO is
responsible for the development of a Long Range
Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), a
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP),
and a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for
its Lake Charles metropolitan planning
area. The adoption of these documents is
a prerequisite for the receipt of both
federal transit and federal highway funding
assistance for local governments.
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(UPWP) Unified Planning Work Program Developed
annually, identifies the funding sources,
implementing agencies, and planning activities to
be worked on by the MPO and its staff in the
upcoming year.
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2005-2010
2011-2019
(MTP) Long Range Metropolitan Transportation
Plan The MPO is required to develop a 20 year
Metropolitan Transportation Plan - (MTP). A
blueprint to guide the establishment of
priorities for development programs and
transportation projects within Lake Charles
Urbanized Metropolitan Area, the MTP identifies
needed improvements and transportation goals 20
years into the future.
2020-2029
From the MTP 2029
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(TIP) Transportation Improvement Program - 5
Years into the Future The TIP or Transportation
Improvement Program, identifies, prioritizes and
allocates anticipated funding for transportation
improvements over the next concurrent 5 years of
the MTP, updated every three years.
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• The Reason for this meeting
• The TIP Requires Revision...
• The current 2005-2010 TIP was adopted by the
  Lake Charles
• Urbanized Area Transportation Policy
  Committee, appointed by
• the Board of Directors, on August 5, 2004.
• But in August 2005, President Bush signed into
  law SAFETEA-LU.
• SAFETEA-LU replaces TEA-21 (1998) requirements
  for Federal
• Transportation funding.
• The current TIP requires revision to reflect
  adherence to the
• the new requirements outlined within
  SAFETEA-LU.

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• SAFETY-LU requires the TIP to include
• Place Stronger Emphasis on previous TEA-21
  requirements
• New emphasis be placed on Pedestrian Walkways and
  Bicycle Facilities
• Increase Safety of Transportation Systems
• Increase Security of Transportation Systems
• Promote more consistency between the MTP and TIP
  with States development
• Encourage more Public Participation in planning
• Employ more visualization techniques (web
  availability)
• Coordinate Public Transit for Human Services
  Transportation
• The TIP is prepared in cooperation with the U.S.
  Department of Transportation, the
• Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal
  Transit Administration.

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Questions
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Staff Presenters Contact
Information Telephone [phone] FAX
337.433.6077 Address 326 Pujo, Lake Charles LA
70601, P.O. Box 3164 Lake Charles, LA 70602
Email imcal_at_imcal.org
James Porter Executive Director Abe Fontenot
Transportation Director Grant L. Bush
Planner Dwight Minton Planner
Thank You
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Glossary of Terms ISTEA- Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA)TEA
21-enacted in 1991 TEA 21- Transportation Equity
Act for the 21 Century (TEA 21)- enacted in 1998
SAFETEA-LU- Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act A Legacy for
Users-enacted
in 2005 TIP- Transportation Improvement Program
(5 Year) MTP- Metropolitan Transportation Plan
(20 Year) UPWP- Unified Planning Work
Program IMCAL- Imperial Calcasieu Regional
Planning Development Commission LCMPO- Lake
Charles Urbanized Area Metropolitan Planning
Organization