1. What is an MPO Anyway? (and why should I care?)
An Informational Session About the Metropolitan Planning Process
for the
MPO Policy Committee of the
Birmingham Metropolitan Planning Organization
Darrell L. Howard, AICP, PTP - Deputy Director of Planning
Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham

2. What is an MPO? Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
An MPO is a transportation policy-making body made up of representatives from local government and transportation agencies having responsibilities and/or authority within a metropolitan planning area.
Federal law requires the formation of a MPO for any urbanized area (UA) with a population of 50,000 (as defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census)

3. What does an MPO do?
The Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process MPOs were created to ensure that existing and future expenditures and transportation projects and programs were based on the 3-C planning process.
3-C Planning Process
Continuing: Planning must be maintained as an ongoing activity and should address both short-term needs and the long-term vision for the region.
Cooperative: The process must involve a wide variety of interested parties through a public-participation process.
Comprehensive: The process must cover all transportation modes and be consistent with regional and local land-use and economic-development plans.

4. What does an MPO do?
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) MPOs carry out the Transportation Planning Process. This includes:
Monitoring existing conditions
Forecasting future population and employment growth
Assessing projected land uses
Identifying major growth corridors
Identifying and understanding current and expected transportation needs and problems
Developing both long-range plans and short-range programs
Estimating impacts of transportation improvements to mobility, accessibility, connectivity, the environment, and air quality

5. What does an MPO do?
Federal Planning Factors Federal regulations direct that the MPO’s planning activities should:
Support economic vitality
Increase safety
Increase security
Increase accessibility, mobility, and connectivity
Protect and enhance the environment, including air quality
Improve quality of life
Promote energy efficiency and conservation
Promote consistency with growth and economic development
Enhance system integration and connectivity
Promote efficient transportation system management and operations
Emphasize system preservation
Note1: Factors must considered during planning process.
Note 2: Each factor is applied based on local circumstances.

6. What does an MPO do?
Livability Principles Federal guidance encourages consideration of Livability Principles
Provide more transportation choices. Develop safe, reliable, and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote public health.
Promote equitable, affordable housing. Expand location- and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.
Enhance economic competitiveness. Improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities, services and other basic needs by workers, as well as expanded business access to markets.

7. Livability Principles
Support existing communities. Target federal funding toward existing communities—through strategies like transit-oriented, mixed-use development and land recycling—to increase community revitalization and the efficiency of public works investments and safeguard rural landscapes.
Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment. Align federal policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding, and increase the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy.
Value communities and neighborhoods. Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods—rural, urban, or suburban.

8. What does an MPO do?
Required Documents Federal law and regulations requires that MPOs develop the following:
Core Products
Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
Metropolitan Transportation Plan i.e. Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
Air Quality Conformity Determination (designated non-attainment/maintenance areas)
Congestion Management Process (CMP)
Performance Monitoring Plan
Public Involvement Plan
Annual Listing of Projects

9. What does a MPO do?
MPO Responsibilities Federal law requires that MPOs develop and adopt:
Core Responsibilities
Establish a Setting - Establish and manage and fair and impartial setting for effective consultation and coordination in order to affect regional decision-making
Metropolitan Transportation Plan - Prepare and maintain a Metropolitan Transportation Plan i.e. Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) aka Long-range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
Transportation Improvement Program - Develop and maintain a Transportation Improvement Program (Short-range Plan)
Transportation Planning Process - Identify and evaluate alternative transportation improvement options using data and planning methods
Involve the public - Ensuring the full and fair participation of the general public and all other affected constituencies in the core functions listed above

10. What does a MPO do?
MPO Responsibilities Other Responsibilities (of the Birmingham MPO)
Air Quality Conformity Analysis and Determination (in designated non-attainment/maintenance areas)
Congestion Management Process In areas of 200,000 or more in population
Performance Measures/Performance Based Planning Plans, programs, and projects are required to be evaluated in order to determine how effective they are in helping to achieve regional goals
Other Transportation Plans/Programs
Regional Transit System Planning/Human Service Transportation Planning
Active Transportation Planning
Travel Demand Management
Freight System Planning
System Management and Operations
Project Implementation Assistance

11. About the Birmingham MPO
Structure Formal MPO Committees
MPO Policy Committee
MPO Advisory Committee (MAC)
Citizens Committee (TCC)
Technical Committee (TTC)
Membership There are forty-five (45) voting members of the MPO Policy Committee
Proportionately Weighted Representation
7 Districts Representing = 40 voting members total
ALDOT Division Reps = 2 voting members
3 Public Transit Reps

12. About the Birmingham MPO
Coordination with Other Programs Heart of Alabama Rural Planning Organization (HARPO)
Rural Transportation Planning
Transportation planning process similar to MPO but without no MPO powers or money
Consultation only
Coordinates activities with MPO
Regional Economic Development Planning
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Water Resources Consultation
Land Use/Land Development Consultation
Mine Reclamation Concurrency
Solid Waste Concurrency
Community Planning Assistance

13. For More Information Website www.RPCGB.org/transportation Contacts
Darrell L. Howard
Cissy Edwards-Crowe