Partnering for Strong Economies: Regional Councils and Walkable Communities National Association of Regional Councils Celebrating 50 Years of Collaboration for Stronger Communities

National Association of Regional Councils Represent Regional Councils and other forms of cross- jurisdictional organizations from around the U.S. We’ll meet this summer in Salt Lake City to celebrate our 50 th Anniversary June 26 – 29 Membership organization representing areas large and small – urban and rural All seek collaborative and more efficient ways to deliver services and plan for the future of their region All have local elected officials as governing Board

NARC Advocates for Local Public Policy Four core areas of concentration  Transportation  Economic & Community Development  Homeland Security/Public Safety  Environment Founded by National League of Cities and National Association of Counties Stay within policy boundaries of our parent organizations

Regional Councils Focus on Collaboration, Coordination and Cooperation Regional Councils are voluntary associations of local governments These associations deal with the problems and planning needs that cross the boundaries of individual local governments or that require regional attention Regional councils coordinate planning and provide a regional approach to problem solving through cooperative action

Regional Councils Have No Regulatory Power Known by several different names, including councils of governments, regional planning commissions, associations of governments and area councils No regulatory power or other authority possessed by cities, counties, or other local governments Decisions by regional councils are not binding on member governments These decisions are considered and adopted as members needs require

Differ from state to state In their early years, regional councils were heavily involved in comprehensive planning, with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional councils differ widely from state to state Some set up by the state for specific function Today’s councils grew out of federal program such as transportation or economic development Today councils are involved in diverse programs and activities

Transportation Planning 75% of NARC’s members, or 123 regional councils, are Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) or work closely with MPOs. MPOs are federally designated organizations responsible for transportation planning within their jurisdiction. MPOs monitor congestion, improve road safety, and publish annual transportation plans for federal approval.

Aging Planning & Services 27 members are Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), about 17% of NARC’s membership. AAAs are organizations that deal with issues facing the elderly. Many AAAs provide services specifically tailored to the elderly, including care coordination, meal delivery, and benefits counseling programs. AAA programs aim to raise the overall quality of life of senior citizens.

Economic Development 74 of NARC’s members are Economic Development Districts (EDDs), or are in the process of becoming EDDs. This represents 46% of NARC members. EDDs are federally designated organizations that create comprehensive economic plans for their regions. EDDs work to promote economic growth and to advance the quality of life of the regions’ residents.

Freight Planning 25% of members, or 42 organizations, deal with freight planning. Many regional councils also staff local freight advisory committees; others simply undertake freight studies of their own accord. The goal of freight planning is to increase the economic vitality of a region’s freight system, and to stimulate sustainable trade.

Bike Planning 28 NARC members run bicycle planning programs or actively promote biking in their regions. This represents 17% of NARC members. Common bicycle planning efforts include publishing trail studies, documents that evaluate a region’s bikeway system, and starting bikeshare programs that allow people to rent bikes for short periods of time.

Air Quality Planning 21 organizations, or 13% of NARC members, address air quality planning as part of their transportation programs. Many regional councils are responsible for ensuring their regions meet federal air quality standards, and take steps to monitor emissions. Others introduce green transportation technologies, like alternative fuel vehicles, into their regions.

Common Programs 5 common member program areas include: emergency planning; housing; waste management; entrepreneurship; and criminal justice. See next page for details.

Common Programs Details of NARC’s members run emergency and disaster management programs. These programs aim to make regions safer through increased hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness, and greater coordination between citizens and their governments. of NARC’s members have housing programs. Many councils work to provide affordable housing in their regions, assist homeless people through temporary shelters, or work to direct housing development in a coordinated and thoughtful manner. of NARC’s members are responsible for waste management in their regions. This responsibility can entail waste- or stormwater management and planning, solid waste planning, or hazardous waste planning. of NARC’s members work to support entrepreneurship and local businesses in their regions. Most accomplish this goal through loan programs or initiatives that develop the workforce. of NARC’s members deal with criminal justice issues or run regional networks. Criminal justice programs usually either provide defense or counseling services to criminal defendants, or secure police grant funding

Pedestrian Friendly Programs Many regions have demonstrated a strong interest in pedestrian oriented programs and land use Health benefits to individuals and communities including reduced disease and other health risks Walkable environments add to economic viability including increased real estate values Pedestrian friendly commercial areas add to local economy

Metropolitan Planning Organizations Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) are federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organizations Boards composed of local elected officials and other community leaders MPOs were introduced by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962, which called for creation of an MPO for any urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000 Some MPOs housed within a regional council and some stand alone as set up by the state

Metropolitan Planning Organizations, cont. Congress created MPOs to ensure that governmental funds for transportation projects and programs are based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (“3 ‑ C”) planning process Federal funding for transportation projects and programs are channeled through the federally mandated planning process Transparency mandated through public access to participation in the planning process As of 2015, there are 408 MPOs in the United States

Federal Transportation Programs Surface Transportation Program roads (highways, arterials) Recreational Trails Program Transportation Alternatives Landscaping And Scenic Enhancement Highway To Boulevard Conversions Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) NEW! - Highway Safety Improvement Program – State safety performance metrics NEW! - TIFIA Loans for Bundled Bike/Ped Projects

Surface Transportation Block Grant SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM Funded from Highway Trust Fund; subject to Congressional funding each year Funding directed to states and divided among programs State sub-allocates to MPOs Set-aside from state’s apportionment:  Funding for Transportation Alternatives  2% for State Planning and Research  Funding for bridges not on Federal-aid highways Fiscal year Estimated funding* $ B$ B$ B$ B$ B

Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities and Programs Federal-Aid Highway Program Funding for Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities and Programs FY 1992 to 2015 (Millions of Dollars) Source data: FY 1992 to 2015 ObligationsFY 1992 to 2015 Obligations * TAP/TE: TE funds available ; TAP funds available beginning RTP: Only a portion of RTP funds are counted as bicycle and pedestrian projects.

FAST Act Transportation Alternatives FY 2016FY 2017FY 2018FY 2019FY 2020 $835 M $850 M The FAST Act eliminates the MAP-21 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and replaces it with a set-aside of Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program funding for transportation alternatives (TA). These set-aside funds include all projects and activities that were previously eligible under TAP, encompassing a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management, and environmental mitigation related to storm water and habitat connectivity

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) Provides flexible funding for transportation projects and programs to meet Clean Air Act requirements Reduce congestion and improve air quality for areas that do not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter (nonattainment areas) and for former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas Funds may be used for a transportation project or program that is likely to contribute to the attainment or maintenance of a national ambient air quality standard, with a high level of effectiveness in reducing air pollution, and that is included in the metropolitan planning organization’s (MPO’s) current transportation plan and transportation improvement program (TIP) or the current state transportation improvement program (STIP) in areas without an MPO Funding distributed to the state who may transfer it to other programs such as National Highway Performance Program, National Highway Freight Program, Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, Transportation Alternatives, and Highway Safety Improvement Program Estimated funding* $2.309 B$2.360 B$2.405 B$2.449 B Fiscal year

Thank you! Visit Join us for our 50 th Anniversary Celebration in Salt Lake City – June