Jackson - Amador County Transportation Commission Transportation Planner Neil Peacock outlined traffic demands and recruited members for a Stakeholder Roundtable during the second of four Regional Transportation Plan Update meetings last Thursday in Jackson. The public outreach series is designed to inform the public about the agency’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), a long-term blueprint designed to anticipate “future levels of traffic congestion” and “address the county’s transportation system.” Peacock said the update is important because “we are an auto-dependent society” and “we are obligated to accommodate our fair share of new residents.” He said the plan is “somewhat analogous to a city or county plan.” Project goals include forecasting future development, determining community acceptance of improvements and impacts, investigating alternatives and innovative “best practices” to reduce transportation impacts, and planning “infrastructure needed to serve future growth, avoid congestion, and protect Amador’s rural quality-of-life.” Jackson resident Kathy Dubois questioned why the commission doesn’t “map where people go and then work from there.” This question was reiterated by Maureen Funk of the Amador Council of Tourism. Peacock said that was exactly the kind of thinking they wanted from participants in the Stakeholder Roundtable and encouraged both women to join. Peacock said they have a Regional Traffic Model that addresses just that issue, and “can tell us in several detailed columns where people go.” One Jackson resident asked if there is a cost benefit for “innovative planning and reduced transportation impacts” by planners employed to help craft the RTP. Peacock said “yes, if they could provide documentation, it reduces their fees and adds incentives down the road.” ACTC Director Charles Field and Peacock also touted the Circulation Mapping Exercise (CMX) as an invaluable tool in helping to visualize and project future traffic demands. Field said “a city or county may not even be reading the EIR and understanding (traffic projections)…so we made a picture of it - that’s what the CMX is.” Peacock said “we are mandated to update the plan every five years.” If you are interested in learning more about the Stakeholder Roundtable, or more about the RTP, contact ACTC’s Neil Peacock at 267-2282 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The third meeting in the series of “stakeholder roundtables” is 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 27th at the Pine Grove Town Hall. The fourth meeting is 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 28th at Ione City Hall. Peacock said it is “ACTC's primary responsibility to implement and regularly update the (regional transportation plan) in order to plan, prioritize, and fund transportation improvements of regional significance.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.