Twelve Planning Principles of the Adirondack / Glens Falls Transportation Council
Twelve Principles to Guide Future A/GFTC Planning and Programming Activities in Support of
Adopted Goals and Objectives
1. Transportation plans and programs will seek to maintain the established and varied settings that
make the area an attractive place to live, work, and visit while bringing positive changes to the
natural and built environments that outweigh associated costs.
2. Options for maintaining the existing transportation system and maximizing its
operating utility
through improvements that address surface conditions, safety issues, intersection operations,
access, and multimodal accommodations will be given priority over costlier and more disruptive
capacity improvement or new highway alignment concepts.
3. Maintaining and operating an integrated transportation system that entails minimal risk for all
users and all modes
is paramount.
4. Current travel and transportation habits will intrinsically create some degree of traffic congestion
in some locations. Projects and plans intended to address those locations with recurring vehicle
congestion should also incorporate meaningful demand management measures including transit
provisions and access improvements.
5. Public transit is essential to progress
the evolution of the transportation system. Improving the
span, scope and coordination of existing services will enhance mobility options for those that
cannot or will not rely upon automobiles and in turn help reduce the physical, environmental and
capital costs associated with transportation.
6. Bicycling and walking are modes of
transportation – not just means of recreation. Capital projects
that are designed to include meaningful accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians will be
given priority as future programs are developed.
7. Developing the potential of passenger rail and commercial shipping of water borne and rail borne
freight will lessen the demand upon
and improve performance of the road‐based transportation
system.
8. Coordination of land use planning, economic development, and transportation planning activities
is essential to maximize the region’s potential.
9. Regional issues will require cooperation of municipalities and organizations that transcend
established jurisdictional boundaries.
10. Encouraging infill development and redevelopment through
the prioritization of system
investments is preferable to facilitating large‐scale development outside of established residential
and commercial areas.
11. A/GFTC will continue its commitment to public participation so that it may continue to plan with
the people, not for the people.
12. Technology and data collection will play an important
role in identifying, prioritizing, operating,
and analyzing transportation system improvements. A/GFTC is committed to improving its
technological and analytical capabilities.
Adirondack /
Glens
Falls
Transportation
Council