What is SPATS?

 

Definition and Purpose

The Spartanburg Area Transportation Study (SPATS) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and is charged with developing a cooperative and comprehensive approach by local, state, and federal agencies to provide for the efficient movement of goods and people within and through the Spartanburg area. SPATS is a continuing effort to plan for the immediate and future transportation needs of the community. SPATS seeks to accurately predict transportation needs and develop financially feasible solutions to transportation problems.

Background

Recognizing the need for a long range transportation plan, Spartanburg County and the South Carolina Department of Transportation - SCDOT - (then the S.C. Highway Department) entered into an agreement in 1968 to develop a transportation plan for anticipated travel increases through the year 1990. A 250 square-mile study area was defined and resolutions were received from all municipalities within the study area. A comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing study process was established under the guidelines of the 1962 Federal Aid Highway Act.

During 1968, extensive investigations of travel patterns and socioeconomic characteristics were made. Traffic counts and origin-destination surveys were made throughout the SPATS area. The Planning Commission provided current socioeconomic data such as population, dwelling units, school enrollment, retail sales, and vehicle registration by traffic zone. A relationship between travel characteristics and socioeconomic data was established. Using this relationship, travel forecasts were made based on projected socioeconomic data. Those detailed findings of study and recommendations for the 1990 plan were published in various 1971 reports. Since the first long range transportation plan, subsequent updates have been done for the years 2000 and 2010.

Organization

The organization of SPATS and the planning process insures that all interests are represented in the decision- making process. The day-to-day functions of SPATS are carried out by the staffs of the Spartanburg County Planning Department and Advance Planning Section of the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Their responsibilities include collection and interpretation of data, the technical aspects of developing and evaluating test alternatives and presenting findings to decision-making bodies. The various SPATS Committees and their membership are listed below:

SPATS Policy Committee

The Policy Committee is responsible for coordinating basic policies of the transportation planning process and plan implementation. The Policy Committee determines priorities of transportation projects and approves the Transportation Improvement Program and Unified Planning Work Program. It is primarily comprised of elected officials representing local governing bodies within the study area.

Chair, William Barnett III, Mayor of Spartanburg

First Vice-Chair, Rep. Lanny Littlejohn, Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation

Second Vice-Chair, Jeff Horton, Spartanburg County Council Chair

Max Cash, Mayor of Chesnee

Dale Culbreth, Spartanburg County Council  

Mike Forrester, Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation
Wright Gaines, Mayor of Inman
John Hamby, Mayor of Duncan
Mike Hamrick, Mayor of Cowpens
Julian Hankinson, Private Sector Representative
Elaine Harris, Mayor of Pacolet
Whit Kennedy, Spartanburg County Planning Commission

O'Neal Mintz, Spartanburg County Council
Bill Painter, Chair, Spartanburg County Transportation (C-Fund) Committee
Sallie Peake, Mayor of Wellford
Cullen Pitts, City of Spartanburg Planning Commission
Rodney Turner, Mayor of Lyman
Junie White, Spartanburg City Council
Woodrow W. Willard, Jr., Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce

Ex-Officio Members
F. Hugh Atkins, District Commissioner, SCDOT
Tony Chapman, State Highway Engineer, SCDOT
Robert L. Lee, Federal Highway Administration

 

 

SPATS Study Team

The Study Team is responsible for preparation of the Long-Range Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program, and Unified Planning Work Program. The Study Team does technical studies, recommends alternatives to the Policy Committee, and changes to the Long-Range Transportation Plan.

Chair, Jim D'Amato, Spartanburg County Planning jdamato@spartanburgcounty.org
Lee Blair, Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce lblair@spartanburgchamber.com
Lisa Bollinger, Spartanburg County Planning lbollinger@spartanburgcounty.org
Jonathan Chasteen, SCDOT
Michael Dennis, Planning, SCDOT
Eric Dillon, Traffic Engineering, SCDOT
Les Foster, City of Spartanburg
Mike Garrett, Spartanburg County Public Works mgarrett@spartanburgcounty.org
Jessica Hekter, FHWA
Eddie Hinson, Intersections SCDOT
Dan Hinton, Federal Highway Administration
Joan Holliday, Spartanburg County Planning
Marc Keenan, General Manager, SPARTA (Spartanburg Area Regional Transit Agency) info@spartanburgbus.com
Kenny Larimore, Planning SCDOT
Penny Phillips, Pre-Construction, SCDOT
Mark Pleasant, Advance Planning SCDOT