Ed Christopher Resource Center Planning Team Federal Highway Administration 4749 Lincoln Mall Drive Matteson, IL Slides at EdTheFed.com tations/What_is_an_MPO.ppt

Why Does it Exist? What is Transportation Planning? Transportation Planning is a Process It exists to provide the information needed for decision makers to choose among alternative strategies for improving transportation system performance

Transportation Planning is a Process Transportation Planning is a Process  Establishing a community/regional vision and identifying how transportation fits into the vision  Developing/utilizing a cooperative and inclusive transportation vision and operations concept for the region  Understanding the types of decisions needed to achieve the vision  Assessing the opportunities and limitations of the future in relation to goals and desired system performance measures and there’s more…

Transportation Planning is a Process  Identifying near- and long-term consequences of alternative choices  Relating alternative decisions to goals, objectives, and system performance measures  Helping decision makers establish priorities and develop an investment program  Presenting this information to decision makers

How is all this done?

Federally, Urban Transportation Planning Began Federally, Urban Transportation Planning Began in 1962 with the Federal-Aid Highway Act  Required that transportation projects in urbanized areas of 50,000 or more people be based on a transportation planning process  Provided a funding mechanism for the process to develop  Required the 3C planning process (cooperative, continuing and comprehensive) ~ 51 years old

What is the 3C Planning Process?  Cooperative —cooperation between federal, state, local levels of government and various agencies within each level  Continuing —need to periodically reevaluate and update transportation plan  Comprehensive —referred to 10 elements for which inventories and analyses were required  Consultative (evolved in over the last 20 years) “Cooperation means that the parties involved in carrying out the transportation planning and programming processes work together to achieve a common goal or objective” 23 CFR

Ten Basic Elements ( Comprehensive Defined ) Ten Basic Elements ( Comprehensive Defined ) 1.Economic Factors Affecting Development 2.Population 3.Land Use 4.Transportation Facilities (Inc. Mass Transit) 5.Travel Patterns 6.Terminal and Transfer Facilities 7.Traffic Control Features 8.Zoning, Building Codes, Subdivision Codes 9.Financial Resources 10.Social and Community-Value Factors

What Emerged From This?  Analytical Process and Tools  Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOS)  Transportation Plans

Analytical Process Four Phases 1. Collection of Data 2. Analysis of Data 3. Forecasts of Activity and Travel 4. Evaluation of Alternatives

The Urban Travel Forecasting Process Basic Four-Step Process 1. Trip Generation 2. Trip Distribution 3. Mode Split 4. Traffic Assignment Other processes are evolving Activity Dynamic Simulation

Metropolitan Planning Organizations  1973 Federal-Aid Highway Act  Dedicated money to planning activities  Planning Regulations  Formalized the process, organization and procedures

A Policy Board Can Include A Policy Board Can Include  Mayor(s)  Regional Planning Commission Chair  County Executive  Airport Director  Port Commission Executive  Transit Authority Executive  DOT Manager Who is the MPO? Who is the MPO? MPOs are Policy Boards comprised of local elected officials, officials of public agencies that administer or operate major modes of transportation and State officials Must Include (MAP-21) Local Elected Officials Public Trans reps Appropriate St. Officials

How is the MPO Board Empowered?  Required for urbanized areas of over 50,000  Designation by agreement between Governor and local governments that represent at least 75% of population (including the central city or cities) or in accordance with procedures in State or local law

What Area Does an MPO Cover? What Area Does an MPO Cover?  Urbanized Areas over 50,000 people  Special case for Urban Areas over 200K people (Transportation Management Area or TMA)  Metropolitan Planning Area

Metropolitan Planning Area Urbanized Area

How do MPOs Decide Things?  Generally through Consensus and a Committee Process  Governor and local officials (or State law) determine voting status and agreements  By-Laws

What Do MPOs Do? What Do MPOs Do?  Serve as the Forum for the 3C Process  Prepare/adopt 20 year Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)  Develop Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)  Develop Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)  Publish a Public Participation Plan

Additionally MPOs… Additionally MPOs…  Publish an annual listings of projects for which Federal funds have been obligated  Maintain a Congestion Management Process (CMP) for TMAS only  Program Projects and Funds (STP, CMAQ)  Track air quality conformity for compliance with State plan  Conduct technical studies, including travel surveys, demographics, and travel demand modeling

Additionally MPOs… Additionally MPOs…  Work with member agencies to develop financial estimates for the RTP and TIP  Ensure fiscal constraint (balance revenues to expenditures)  Initiate public involvement and involve the public  Coordinate Plans and programs with state and other federal agencies  and much more...

The Long Range (Transportation) Plan Metropolitan Transportation Plan  At least a 20 year Horizon  Long and Short-Range Strategies/Actions  Updated every 5 years (4 in non- attainment areas)  Use Latest Data  Be Approved by the MPO

Some MTP Elements Some MTP Elements  Current and Forecasted Population and Employment  Future Land Use Plans  Projected Demand of Persons and Goods  Adopted Management and Operations Strategies  Multimodal Evaluation of Needs  Pedestrian and Bike  Public Transit and Freight  Roadway Element  Freight Element

Performance Based Approach Performance Based Approach  Support National Goals  Surface Transportation Targets  Public Transit Targets Feds set goals State and transit set their targets MPO sets its targets (180 days or less) Monitor and Report on Progress NewMAP-21

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)  Priority List of Projects Spanning at Least 4 Years  Typically Updated Annually (required every 4 years)  Prepared in Cooperation with State and Public Transit Operator(s)  Opportunity for Public Comment  Lists Funding Sources

TIP (Cont’d)  Describes Projects  Must include regionally significant projects regardless of funding  May include non-federally funded projects  Must include federally funded projects  Financially Constrained  Consistent With 20 Year Plan

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)  Annual Program  Documents Planning Work Done with SAFETEA-LU Funds Over the Next One to Two Years  Includes Relevant State/Local Activities  Has a Schedule  Identifies Responsible Agency  Discusses Planning Priorities

Public Involvement Process (Participation Plan)  Proactive and inclusive  Public involvement in overall planning activities  Outreach to affected minority and low income populations  Numerous methods  Open houses, Newsletters  Presentation, Internet  Cable access television programs

Financial Constraint Financial Constraint  Required by ISTEA and reaffirmed by TEA-21 and SAFETEA-LU (MAP-21)  Designed to bring realistic expectations of current and future revenues to process  Long Range Plans can have illustrative projects  Uses “year of expenditure” cost estimates

Additional Resources Additional Resources