1. Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
June 27, 2016
(60 Day Public Comment Period)

2. What: USDOT (FHWA & FTA) proposal
to “promote more effective regional planning by States and metropolitan planning organizations (MPO)”.
Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) boundaries must include the entire Urbanized Area (UZA) and contiguous area expected to become urbanized within 20 years
USDOT is attempting to:
“Right-size” metropolitan transportation planning,
Unify planning products by each UZA,
Affects areas where multiple MPOs are designated within a single UZA and it’s 20 year forecasted planning area.

3. What:
In MPAs where more than one MPO exists the unified planning products would be jointly developed by the multiple MPOs.
Specifically, the multiple MPOs must jointly prepare
a single metropolitan transportation plan for the entirety of the MPA,
a single transportation improvement program (TIP) for the entirety of the MPA, and
a jointly established set of performance targets for the entire urbanized area (MPA).

4. Why:
The Secretary of USDOT, FHWA and FTA believe that: Since the 2007 planning rules, the language of the regulation has been interpreted to support the possibility of multiple MPOs within an urbanized area rather than within an MPA and has fostered confusion about the statutory requirements and resulted in less efficient planning outcomes.

5. How: The proposed revisions require:
That the MPA must include the entire urbanized area and contiguous area expected to become urbanized within 20 years.
One MPO per MPA, unless.....
The size and complexity of the MPA warrant more than one MPO,
And the MPOs and Governor agree.
Unified planning products for the MPA. These include:
jointly established performance targets within an MPA,
a single metropolitan transportation plan and
a single Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the entire MPA in order

6. When:
Implementation of these proposed coordination requirements and the proposed requirements for MPA boundary and MPO boundaries agreements will be phased in over 2 years.
Comments on the proposed rules must be received on or before August 26, 2016.

7. Impacts to Florida 22 of 27 MPOs affected – for now
Most MPOs align with County boundaries
Land Use policy occurs at a County level
Creates a natural Land Use and Transportation linkage
MPOs are to be the local voice of transportation
Florida’s 9 largest MPOs vs. 9 smallest states – Population
Florida’s 5 largest Counties bigger than a state – Land Area
We are a high growth state – 2020 Census
Census policies
Comments on the proposed rules must be received on or before August 26, 2016.

8. Two Examples of Single UZAs with Multiple MPOs

9. Miami Urbanized Area Palm Beach MPO MPO 2010 Population 1,318,571
Palm Beach MPO
MPO 2010 Population 1,318,571
(21 voting members)
Broward MPO
MPO 2010 Population 1,748,724
(25 voting members)
Miami-Dade MPO
MPO 2010 Population 2,492,108
(23 voting members)
Graphic Source: FHWA HEPGIS

10. Tampa

11. Tampa