introduction to the metropolitan transportation planning process mpo 101 michigan transportation...

Introduction to the Metropolitan Transportation

Planning ProcessMPO 101

Michigan Transportation Planning Association 35th Annual Conference

July 14, 2011

Flint, MI

Objectives of this Workshop

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?What do MPOs Do? 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:

Unified Planning Work Program Transportation Plan Transportation Improvement Program

Have a proactive Public Involvement Process

MPO Composition

Policy Board 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 Develop a regional vision

Establish regional policy

Adopt UWP, Transportation Plan, and TIP

Ensure that the decisions reflect the concerns of residents of the region

Voting Structure of the Board

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?

Reliable and timely information in an understandable format

Information includes options and analysis of their consequences Costs Policy Benefits Environmental consequences

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

Working Beyond Jurisdictions

MPO is the forum for discussion Place to air issues Find solutions that benefit all

jurisdictions/regions MPOs work with adjoining regions

Consistency of projects Multi-regional projects

ThePublicThePublic

StatesStates LocalGovernment

LocalGovernment

User/Special Interest

Groups

User/Special Interest

Groups

RegionalAgenciesRegionalAgencies

TribalGovernments

TribalGovernments

FederalGovernment

FederalGovernment

PrivateSectorPrivateSector

LegalSystemLegal

System

The People in the Process

Key Decisions and Products

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 PL and STP funds administered by FHWA

Section 5303 funds administered by FTA

FHWA and FTA capital funds may also be used for planning (STP and Section 5307)

Statewide Planning and Research (SPR)

State and Local Funds

The Transportation Plan

To be eligible for Federal funds:

a project must be consistent with the approved transportation plan

The Transportation Plan… Documents conclusions and decisions Includes long term and short term

policies, strategies, and actions Covers capital improvements and

operations Addresses federal requirements including:

movement of people and goods Environmental Mitigation Environmental Justice

Is financially constrained by reasonably available resources

Requirements for the Transportation Plan…

20+ horizon at time of adoption

An update every 4 or 5 years depending on air quality status

Multi-modal coverage

Fiscal constraint

Early and continuous public involvement including consultation

Consideration of the 8 Planning Factors

Transportation PlanFiscal Constraint

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) 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

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 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… Covers at least 4 years Updated at least every 2 years. Consistent with approved Transportation Plan Conforms to air quality requirements Financially constrained by year Approved by MPO and Governor Included in State Transportation Improvement

Program (STIP)

Can be amended during its life span (subject to approval by Governor and inclusion in STIP)

Characteristics of aSuccessful Programming

Process Early consensus on planning goals Effective communication among

technical and policy leaders Continuous public involvement Qualitative as well as quantitative

criteria

Federal Requirements for Public Involvement

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

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

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

Federal Aid is provided to the state in several ways and categories: Core Programs Other allocated funding, i.e. LTAP, SPR “Earmarked funding” such as High

Priority Projects Emergency Relief

Amount of funding is based on formulas

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

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 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

User fees (dedicated and non-dedicated)

Bonds (revenue and general obligation)

General revenues

Innovative Financing

Public/private partnerships Tolls – Congestion pricing Advance construction GARVEE bonds and TIFIA loans State Infrastructure Bank

What is Operations?

Strategies and approaches to improve system performance Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Traffic Signal Operations Reversible lanes Incident Management Transportation Demand Management

(TDM)

Freight Movement

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

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

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, or national origin

Proactive Public Involvement key to compliance

Questions?

Thank You

Chris DingmanFHWA-Michigan Division 315 W. Allegan, Room 201Lansing, MI 48933517-702-1830christopher.dingman@dot.go

v

Spencer StevensFHWA-Office of Planning

Oversight and Stewardship

1200 New Jersey Ave. SEWashington, DC 20590717-221-4512 or 202-366-

0149spencer.stevens@dot.gov