A corridor study is the first step in planning for the future of a transportation facility. It examines the existing and expected future conditions, defines the corridor’s transportation needs, develops and analyzes different alternatives including a no-build option and build options, and offers recommendations based on study findings and public feedback. A corridor study does not involve acquiring right of way, putting together construction plans, identifying sources of funding for construction, or building a roadway.

Meade Moving Forward 2040, Meade County’s Master Transportation Plan, identified a need for an east-west corridor in this area. The study area is likely to see development within the 20 year planning horizon. This corridor study will serve as a high level planning effort to start the process in preserving the corridor. From a planning perspective, east-west corridors in this area are important for mobility and network connectivity.

Traffic count locations and associated 24 hour volumes are shown in the figure below. Traffic counts were performed on February 19th, 2019. Note that these will be adjusted with a seasonality factor since they were counted in the winter.

In the Meade Moving Forward 2040, Meade County’s Master Transportation Plan, a future east-west connector between Erickson Ranch Rd and 143rd Ave was identified as a need due to concerns from the public about increasing traffic volumes. The limits of the study area were determined from what was shown in this planning document.

The scope of the project and subsequent study area have been set and previously determined as a result of the recommendations in the Meade Moving Forward Master Transportation Plan for this potential corridor. At this time, there are no foreseeable changes to the study area boundary.

According to the Meade Moving Forward 2040 Master Transportation Plan, part of the study area is experiencing high growth (4%) and the rest of the study area is experiencing medium growth (2%). The growth is expected to continue into the foreseeable future.

Rapid City limits extend to about a mile south of the Study Area. However, Rapid City’s 3-mile platting jurisdiction has not been exercised by Rapid City into Meade County.

Meade Moving Forward 2040 was a document prepared by a consultant, Felsburg Hot & Ullevig, in conjunction with Meade County. This master transportation plan solicited input from the public throughout the project. The transportation plan included an inventory of existing conditions, a future needs analysis, a long range transportation plan, development of standards, a list of recommended projects, and a plan for implementation.

No, they do not overlap. The study area of the East Rapid City Corridor Study is shown in blue in the figure below, while the study area for the Southern Meade County Corridor Study is shown in orange in the figure below.

Right now there are no protections in place to preserve the corridor. After the Southern Meade Corridor Study report is finalized and potentially adopted by the Meade County Commission, building permits will go through the same process as they did before. However, the Meade County planning and zoning staff/board will verify that any future development occurring within the study area does not interfere with the major street plan prior to approving a building permit.

At this time, there aren’t any known utility plans for water or sanitary sewer within the study area.

The Rapid City Area Metropolitan Planning Organization paid for 81.95% leveraging Federal Planning funds and Meade County paid for 18.05%. No funding is coming from the City of Rapid City.

Per the Meade Moving Forward 2040 Master Transportation Plan, an arterial roadway would typically have a 120’ right-of-way. Note that right of way acquisition is not part of the corridor study process.

Source: (Meade Moving Forward 2040, 2016)