Coordination with a Metropolitan Planning Organization

General
In urban areas, a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) may act as the LG for a transportation project. In other instances, the MPO may award project funding to another LG (city, county, etc.) within the MPO’s planning area. The MPO is an association of local agencies established to coordinate transportation planning and development activities within a metropolitan region. The MPO is the forum for cooperative transportation decision-making for the metropolitan region. Establishment of the MPO is required by law in urban areas with a population greater than 50,000. All MPOs have a Policy Board comprised of officials representing the counties, cities and state transportation agency (in Texas, this agency is TxDOT). Most MPOs also have a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of professional planners and engineers who are usually employees or consultants of the same government entities.
Federal Requirements
  1. 23 CFR §450.300
    – Sets forth FHWA policy that the MPO designated for each urbanized area is to carry out a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive multimodal transportation planning process that encourages and promotes the safe and efficient development, management and operation of surface transportation systems to serve the mobility needs of people and freight.
    1. A MPO must be designated for each urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000.
    2. 23 CFR §450.316(e)
      – Requires the MPO to develop a documented process that outlines the roles, responsibilities and key decision points for consulting with other governments and agencies.
    3. 23 CFR §450.322(f)
      – Requires the transportation plan to include existing and proposed transportation facilities in sufficient detail, regardless of funding source, to develop cost estimates. The plan must include all projects and strategies proposed for funding under
      23 U.S.C.
      ,
      49 U.S.C. Chapter 53
      or with other federal funds, state assistance, local sources and private participation that relate to projects with regional significance.
State Requirements and Resources
  1. 43 TAC, Chapter 16, Subchapter A
    – Provides for the development and structure of MPOs in Texas.
    43 TAC §16.51(d)
    provides that agreements be developed between TxDOT, the MPO and LGs. The agreement will include roles and responsibilities.
  2. Project Scoping Guidebook for Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Projects
    – Provides guidance to MPOs and LGs in developing required project scoping, cost estimation and timelines.
Required Practices
Detailed information regarding the practices associated with MPOs with respect to transportation projects is included in the
LGPM Guide
. In general, all state and federally funded projects in metropolitan areas will be selected through the metropolitan planning process and must be included in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). All projects on the state or federal-aid highway system, as well as any projects deemed regionally significant, must be included in the approved transportation plan regardless of funding source to maintain the integrity of the planning process.