Workshop for MUMPO

Officials

January 13. 2010

Learn how the MPO is a forum for

decision making and regional

cooperation

• MPO Basics

• Major Planning Decisions

• Major Planning Products

MPO Basics

What is a Metropolitan Planning

Organization (MPO)?

“The forum for cooperative transportation

decision making for the metropolitan

planning area”

Source: 23 CFR Part

450.104

What do MPOs Do?

• Designated to carry out a continuing, cooperative and

comprehensive transportation planning process in cooperation

with the State DOT(s) and transit operators

• Determine responsibilities in concert with the State DOT(s) and

transit operators

• Cooperatively develop, update, and approve:

– Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

– Transportation Plan (LRTP)

– Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

• Have a proactive Public Involvement Process (PIP)

MPO Composition

• Policy Board

– Local Elected and Appointed Officials

– Major Modes of Transportation

– State Officials

– Citizens

– Tribal Governments

• MPO Staff

• Technical Committees

• Citizens Committees

Who sits on the MPO?

• The MPO Policy Body is identified in the documents that designate the MPO

• Membership is determined by agreement among the Governor(s) and units of general purpose local government that represent 75% of the metropolitan area population

• Membership is inclusive.

– Outside entities (freight providers, chambers of commerce, planning departments, etc.) can be members of the MPO

Role of the Board

• Establish the regional vision and policy

• Adopt UPWP, Transportation Plan, and TIP

• Adopt Conformity Determinations for Plan and

TIP (in AQ non-attainment and maintenance

areas)

• Ensure that the decisions reflect the concerns of

residents of the region

Role of the Staff

• Provide information & technical support to

Board Members

• Prepare documents

• Foster interagency coordination

• Facilitate input and feedback from the public

• Manage the planning process

The MPO as the Forum

Key Decisions and Products

• Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

• Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

• AQ Conformity Determination

• Congestion Management Process (CMP)

• Public Involvement Plan (PIP)

Unified Planning Work Program

(UPWP)

• Lists the metropolitan area’s 1-2 year program of

planning studies

• Identifies sources of funding, schedules and

responsible agencies

• Coordinates the planning undertaken by all

participants in the regional process

• Describes all Federally-funded studies

• Lays out MPOs Strategic Plan

Long Range Transportation Plan

(LRTP) Requirements

• Documents conclusions and decisions of the planning process

• Consider local, regional and state land use, economic develop and conservation plans

• Includes long term and short term policies, strategies, and actions

• Covers capital improvements and operations

• Addresses movement of people and goods

• Encompasses a least a 20-year planning horizon

• Is financially constrained by reasonably available resources

LRTP Requirements continued…

• Update every 4 years for non-attainment and

maintenance areas

• Multi-modal

• Early and continuous public involvement

• Conforms to air quality regulations

• Includes input/involvement from resource agencies

• Addresses safety, environment, freight, 8-planning

factors, operations and management, etc.

Requirements for the TIP

• Covers at least 4 years

• Is updated at least every 4 years

• Is consistent with approved Transportation Plan

• Conforms to air quality requirements

• Is financially constrained by year

• Is approved by MPO and Governor

• Becomes part of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

Transportation

Improvement Program (TIP)

• Is a means of allocating limited transportation funds to projects and programs

• Is a list of transportation projects to be implemented within the short-term (4 -7 years)

• Includes nearly all surface transportation projects proposed for federal funding

• Includes all regionally significant projects – regardless of funding source in non-attainment and maintenance areas

• Identifies funding for each project by programmatic source

Congestion Management Process

(CMP)

• Required for MPOs over 200,000

population

• Identify, analyze, & evaluate system-wide

congestion

• Serves as input into planning &

programming processes

Transportation Conformity

• Evaluation of project emissions from Plans,

TIPs and projects to ensure compliance with

State Air Quality goals

• When Plans/TIPs are developed or amended

• Done on all Federally funded projects and

regionally significant projects

• Ensures that Federal funds and approvals

continue

Public Involvement

• Complete information and

timely public notice

• Early and continuous

involvement

• Full public access to key

decisions

• Explicit consideration and

response to input

• Consider the needs of all

populations

•MPOs must prepare a public involvement plan

•Plan must be proactive and provide for:

Characteristics of a

Successful Programming Process

• Early consensus on planning goals

• Effective communication among technical and

policy leaders

• Continuous public involvement, especially at key

decision points

• Qualitative as well as quantitative criteria

Thank You

Loretta W. Barren

FHWA – NC

919-747-7025

Loretta.barren@dot.gov