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Planning and Budgeting Regional Transportation Projects

Planning and Budgeting Regional Transportation Projects. Joint House and Senate Transportation Committees January 28, 2010. Presented by Idaho’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Presentation Outline. What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)?

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Planning and Budgeting Regional Transportation Projects

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  1. Planning and Budgeting Regional Transportation Projects Joint House and Senate Transportation Committees January 28, 2010 Presented by Idaho’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations

  2. Presentation Outline • What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)? • What is a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)? • How does the TIP process work? • How are projects in the TIP prioritized? • How and why would a TIP be changed?

  3. What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)? • A regional planning entity responsible for transportation planning and approval of U.S. Department of Transportation funding for federally designated urbanized areas. • Required by federal government for an urban area to receive federal aid transportation funds.

  4. What do MPOs do? • Develop regional transportation plans • Long-range transportation plans • 20+ years • Short range transportation plans • 5 years • “Transportation Improvement Program” • Oversee the prioritization and allocation of U.S. Department of Transportation funds to… • Address regional transportation needs • Improve the local economy • Maintain or improve air quality

  5. Where do MPOs exist? • Urbanized areas over 50,000 in population • Five MPOs in Idaho: • Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization • Lewis-Clark Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization • Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho • Bannock Transportation Planning Organization • Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization • Urbanized areas over 200,000 in populations • Transportation Management Area (TMA) • Special designation with enhanced “rules” • Northern Ada County • Within the Community Planning Association planning area

  6. Who makes up an MPO? • Governed by a Board of Directors • Primarily elected officials • Cities • Counties • Highway districts • Special members • Idaho Transportation Department • Local transit authorities • Universities (Boise State, Idaho State) • Tribes (Coeur d’Alene, Shoshone-Bannock, Nez Perce) • Others

  7. What is a Transportation Improvement Program, or “TIP”? • A budget document • A five-year schedule and cost estimate of federally funded transportation projects • Also includes all regionally significant projects in air quality non-attainment/maintenance areas • Other projects funded with state/local funds not included • A short-term transportation plan

  8. Why is a TIP developed? • Required by the U.S. Department of Transportation in order to obtain federal funds. • Provides a documented planning and budgeting framework that is consistent from year-to-year and aligned with the regional long-range transportation plan.

  9. What are TIP requirements? • Must be consistent with the regional long-range transportation plan. • Must be fiscally constrained. • Can’t plan for anything that can’t be paid for • Must involve the public. • Must meet air quality requirements in non-attainment and maintenance areas – a process called “conformity finding.” • Must be consistent with the state “STIP.”

  10. What is the “STIP”? • “Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.” • Statewide equivalent of a regional TIP. • Developed by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). • 1-5 year capital improvement plan for the state’s surface transportation program. • Fully integrated transportation planning process for transportation planning and transportation project selection.

  11. How does a TIP fit with the STIP? • MPOs develop individual TIPs; ITD develops the STIP. • MPO and ITD staff work closely to coordinate throughout the process. • TIPs and STIP follow same general timeline for development. • The final TIP and STIP documents must match – through process called “mirroring.”

  12. How is a TIP developed? • Each MPO has a documented process for developing its TIP. • Each is slightly different, but all include: • A process for soliciting projects from local jurisdictions • A process for prioritizing projects • Opportunities for public comment • MPO Board approval • “Mirroring” with the STIP

  13. How is a TIP developed? (Cont.) • Year long-process (usually begins in the late summer/ fall) • Begins with local needs (request for projects) • Needs assessed for consistency with the long-range transportation plan • Projects prioritized • MPO boards review requests and priorities

  14. How is a TIP developed? (Cont.) • Year long-process (Cont.) • Public comment period on draft TIP • MPO board approval • “Mirroring” with the STIP • Projects funded in the TIP • Process starts again

  15. Timeline for TIP Process - Sample

  16. How are projects prioritized? • Technical committees make recommendations to MPO boards based on set criteria • Criteria may include: • Consistency with the long-range transportation plan • Congestion mitigation • Safety enhancement • Timely implementation • Environmental issues • Commitment of local match • Cost

  17. How are projects prioritized? (Cont.) • Projects are prioritized based on the “color” of the money • Funds are allocated for specific uses, such as roadways, transit, operating, capital, etc. • Projects are prioritized compared only to other projects with the same funding source (“color”)

  18. Who is involved in developing the TIP? • Local jurisdictions • Request projects based on their needs and comprehensive plans • They may involve the public in their own process before submitting requests • Serve on MPO technical committees • Public • Input sought throughout process • At least one official public comment period

  19. Who is involved? (Cont.) • MPO boards • Local elected officials • Other board members • Coordinate with others inside and outside of the MPO jurisdiction • Work closely with ITD throughout process • “Mirroring” with ITD’s STIP • “Urban balancing”

  20. What is “urban balancing”? • MPOs and Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) cooperate to fund local projects in urban areas between 5,000 and 200,000 in population • These areas sharefederal funds designated for “urban” areas under 200,000 • Urban areas cooperate instead of compete • Ensures all funds are used and are “balanced” among needs around the state • Idaho is unique – only state with an urban balancing program

  21. Can a TIP change? Why would it? • The TIP and STIP can be amended when necessary • Changes in funding • Federal rescissions • Cost savings or overruns • Take advantage of specific funding • Grants, etc. for specific types of projects • Circumstances change • Projects that are ready may move ahead of projects that are not to avoid losing funding • Changes in leadership lead to changes in priorities

  22. How does a TIP change? • Amendments – Major changes • Add/remove a project • Shift funds across fiscal years • Requirements: • Often include public involvement • Require MPO board approval • May require an update to the air quality conformity demonstration

  23. Amendment Process - Sample

  24. How does a TIP change? (Cont.) • Administrative modifications – Minor changes • Shifting of funds within a project • Minor changes in funding due to federal funding adjustments • Requirements: • No public comment required • May require board approval, subject to specific MPO policy

  25. TIP Tracking and Monitoring • MPOs track projects within their TIPs • Project tracking helps insure that federal funds are obligated as quickly as possible. • Federal funds not obligated by early summer are subject to a funding “sweep.” • Funds are removed from delayed projects and moved to projects that are ready for obligation.

  26. In summary • A TIP is a short-range (3 – 5 year) budget and planning document • Each MPO develops a TIP for federally funded and regionally significant projects within its region • The TIPs and STIP must match for each area • Process called “mirroring” • TIPs are developed with… • A documented process • Recommendations from technical committees • Input from public • Decisions by local elected officials (MPO boards)

  27. In summary (Cont.) • Projects within a TIP are prioritized • Use specific criteria • Prioritize within “colors” of money • Roadway projects prioritized against other roadway projects • Transit projects prioritized against other transit projects • Projects/priorities within TIP can (and do) change • Many valid reasons for changes • Changes go through a defined process

  28. Thank you

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