Transcript What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)?

Introduction to the Metropolitan
Transportation Planning Process
MPO 101
Michigan Transportation Planning Association
35th Annual Conference
July 14, 2011
Flint, MI
Objectives of this
Workshop
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List and describe the functions of the
MPO/TMA
Learn about the major planning
decisions/products of the MPO/TMA
Discuss major policy and planning issues
these bodies may face.
MPO Basics
What do MPOs Do?
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Metropolitan transportation planning process
in cooperation with the State DOT and
transit operators
Determine responsibilities in concert with the
State DOT(s) and transit operators
Cooperatively develop, update, and approve:
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Unified Planning Work Program
Transportation Plan
Transportation Improvement Program
Have a proactive Public Involvement Process
MPO Composition
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Policy Board
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Local Elected and Appointed Officials
Major Modes of Transportation
State Officials
Citizens
MPO Staff
Technical Committees
Other Committees
Membership is inclusive
Role of the Board
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Develop a regional vision
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Establish regional policy
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Adopt UWP, Transportation Plan, and TIP
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Ensure that the decisions reflect the
concerns of residents of the region
Voting Structure of the Board
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All Board members with voting privileges
can vote
Board can contain “ex-officio” members
that participate but don’t vote
What Do Board Members Need
from Staff?
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Reliable and timely information in an
understandable format
Information includes options and analysis of
their consequences
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Costs
Policy
Benefits
Environmental consequences
Role of the Staff
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Provide information & technical
support to Board Members
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Prepare documents
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Foster interagency coordination
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Facilitate input and feedback from the
public
Manage the planning process
The MPO as the Forum
Working Beyond Jurisdictions
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MPO is the forum for discussion
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Place to air issues
Find solutions that benefit all
jurisdictions/regions
MPOs work with adjoining regions
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Consistency of projects
Multi-regional projects
The People in the Process
Regional
Agencies
States
Tribal
Governments
Local
Government
The
Public
Federal
Government
User/
Special Interest
Groups
Private
Sector
Legal
System
Key Decisions and Products
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Unified Work Program (UWP)
Long Range Transportation
Plan (The Plan)
Transportation Improvement
Program/Plan (TIP)
Public Participation Plan
Unified Work Program (UWP)
• Lists the metropolitan area’s program
of planning studies
• Identifies sources of funding,
schedules and responsible agencies
• Coordinates the planning by all
regional participants
• Describes all Federally-funded studies
• Lays out MPOs Strategic Plan
Sources of Federal Funding
for UWP Development
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PL and STP funds administered by FHWA
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Section 5303 funds administered by FTA
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FHWA and FTA capital funds may also be used
for planning (STP and Section 5307)
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Statewide Planning and Research (SPR)
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State and Local Funds
The Transportation Plan
To be eligible for Federal funds:
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a project must be consistent with the
approved transportation plan
The Transportation Plan…
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Documents conclusions and decisions
Includes long term and short term policies,
strategies, and actions
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Covers capital improvements and operations
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Addresses federal requirements including:
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movement of people and goods
Environmental Mitigation
Environmental Justice
Is financially constrained by reasonably
available resources
Requirements for the
Transportation Plan…
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20+ horizon at time of adoption
An update every 4 or 5 years depending on air
quality status
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Multi-modal coverage
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Fiscal constraint
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Early and continuous public involvement
including consultation
Consideration of the 8 Planning Factors
Transportation Plan
Fiscal Constraint
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Demonstrate consistency with available and
projected revenues
Identify proposed new revenue sources and
strategies to ensure their availability
Balance Revenues and expenditures
Unfunded projects are not officially part of the
Plan
Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP)
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Allocates limited transportation funds to projects and
programs
List of transportation projects to be implemented in the
short-term (no less than 4 years)
Includes nearly all federally funded surface
transportation projects
Includes all regionally significant projects – regardless
of funding source in air quality non-attainment and
maintenance areas
Identifies funding source for each project
Programming Transportation
Improvements
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TIP adoption requires identifying top
priority projects for funding
The total cost of worthy projects always
exceeds available funding – must set
priorities
The TIP and STIP are products of the
programming process
TIP Fiscal Constraint
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Financially constrained by year
Demonstrate which projects can be
implemented with current revenue sources
Identify strategies for ensuring the
availability of new funding sources
In non-attainment/maintenance areas,
projects with available or committed
funding can appear in first 2 years of TIP
Requirements for the TIP…
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Covers at least 4 years
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Updated at least every 2 years.
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Consistent with approved Transportation Plan
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Conforms to air quality requirements
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Financially constrained by year
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Approved by MPO and Governor
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Included in State Transportation Improvement Program
(STIP)
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Can be amended during its life span (subject to approval
by Governor and inclusion in STIP)
Characteristics of a
Successful Programming
Process
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Early consensus on planning goals
Effective communication among technical
and policy leaders
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Continuous public involvement
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Qualitative as well as quantitative criteria
Federal Requirements for
Public Involvement
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MPOs must prepare a public involvement plan
Plan must be proactive and provide for:
 Complete information
and timely public notice
 Early and continuing
involvement
 Full public access to key
decisions
 Explicit consideration
and response to input
Objectives of Public Involvement
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Provide timely information about
transportation issues and processes
Seek public review and comment
Respond to public comments
Provide access to key decisions
Continuing involvement of the public
in developing plans and TIPs
Congestion Management
Process
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Required for TMA/MPOs over 200,000
population
Approach to identifying, analyzing, &
evaluating system-wide congestion
Serves as input into planning &
programming processes
Major Policy and Planning
Issues
Federal Aid Fundamentals
Federal Transportation
Funding
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Federal Aid is provided to the state in
several ways and categories:
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Core Programs
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Other allocated funding, i.e. LTAP, SPR
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“Earmarked funding” such as High Priority
Projects
Emergency Relief
Amount of funding is based on
formulas
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Each state is different (75/25 split in
Michigan Public Act 51 of 1951)
Final dollar amounts are subject to
Congressional obligation limitation
Equity Bonus
Future Funding is subject to
change
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SAFETEA-LU expired in 9/2009
Administration & Congressional priorities
may change
Future motor fuel revenues may vary
The Highway Trust Fund has been saved
from insolvency by Congress.
Other Federal-aid Fund Facts
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The Federal-aid Highway Program is a
reimbursable program
With few exceptions, Federal funds must
be matched with funds from other sources
(i.e. state or local)
Must be coordinated with the MPO and the
State DOT
Traditional State and
Local Funding Sources
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User fees (dedicated and non-dedicated)
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Bonds (revenue and general obligation)
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General revenues
Innovative Financing
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Public/private partnerships
Tolls – Congestion pricing
Advance construction
GARVEE bonds and TIFIA loans
State Infrastructure Bank
What is Operations?
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Strategies and approaches to improve
system performance
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Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
Traffic Signal Operations
Reversible lanes
Incident Management
Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
Freight Movement
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Good freight movement is
vital to a region’s economy
MPO should examine how
freight moves in and out
of its region
Engage the freight community to find
“win-win” solutions to problems
Safety
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2010 saw a reduction in fatality levels not
seen since the 1950s.
MPO can examine system for trends and
allocate resources to address safety
related issues.
MPOs can serve as a forum for safety
related discussion with applicable
agencies.
What is Air Quality
Conformity?
• Link between air quality planning and
transportation planning
• Analytical process to ensure that
transportation plans, programs, and
projects meet the SIP’s emissions
budgets for mobile sources
• Pass/fail test on meeting the SIP’s
emissions budgets
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964
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Prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, color, creed, or national origin
Proactive Public Involvement key to
compliance
Questions?
Thank You
Chris Dingman
FHWA-Michigan Division
315 W. Allegan, Room 201
Lansing, MI 48933
517-702-1830
[email protected]
Spencer Stevens
FHWA-Office of Planning
Oversight and Stewardship
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20590
717-221-4512 or 202-366-0149
[email protected]