Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services Department

 

TO:

Planning Commission, City Commission and County Commission

FROM:

Davonna C. Moore, Transportation Planner

CC:

Scott McCullough, Director of Planning & Development Services

Sheila Stogsdill, Assistant Director of Planning

Date:

March 4, 2008

RE:

MPO Reorganization

 

Background

 

The Metropolitan Planning Boundary was expanded in 2002 to include all of Douglas County.  Since that time, FHWA and KDOT have noted that MPO representation from other jurisdictions should be addressed. 

 

TAC and the MPO have discussed the potential restructuring of the MPO for several years.  Currently, the Lawrence Douglas County MPO structure, established in 1985, does not fulfill the federal regulations in regards to MPO membership and composition.  The Lawrence MPO was established prior to changes in federal planning regulation in 1991 and therefore, the MPO structure was ‘grandfathered’ because the small cities in Douglas County maintain their own planning commissions and are not directly represented on the MPO policy board.

 

On June 5, 2007 TAC recommended the MPO direct staff to investigate alternatives for restructuring the MPO in compliance with Federal regulations, in the first quarter following the adoption of the T2030 Long Range Transportation Plan.

 

Federal Guidelines

According to federal regulations, redesignation procedures are as follows: A metropolitan planning organization (MPO) may be redesignated by agreement between the Governor and units of general purpose local government that together represent at least 75 percent of the existing planning area population (including the largest incorporated city (based on population) as named by the Bureau of the Census) as appropriate to carry out this section.

Each metropolitan planning area shall encompass at least the existing urbanized area and the contiguous area expected to become urbanized within a 20-year forecast period for the transportation plan; and may encompass the entire metropolitan statistical area or consolidated metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Bureau of the Census.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Composition Alternatives

 

There is no required structure for the MPO Policy Board, however most MPO Boards are comprised of the following:

Required

-Local elected officials

-Transportation operators (KDOT, Transit, etc…)

-Appropriate State Officials

 

Other Possible Members

-Representatives from private and not-for-profit sectors

-General Public

 

-Option #1

  • 2 Lawrence City Officials
  • 1 Douglas County Official
  • 1 small local government official rotate from Baldwin, Eudora or Lecompton
  • 1 KDOT representative
  • 2 Planning Commission members ( or 1 member can be from an established transportation authority)
  • Total of 7 members MPO Board
  • Committees
    • Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

 

-Option #2

  • 2 Planning Commissioners as designated the Planning Commission Chair
  • 1 Lawrence City Commissioner as designated by the Mayor
  • 1 Douglas County Commissioner as designated by the Chair
  • The Mayor, or his/her designee, of Baldwin city, Eudora or Lecompton on rotating basis
  • Lawrence Public Transit Administrator (non-voting)
  • KDOT Representative as designated by the Director of Planning and Development (non-voting)
  • Committees

·         Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

 

-Option#3

·         2 City of Lawrence Commissioners as appointed by the Mayor of the City of Lawrence; (Transit and Airport transportation are City of Lawrence Departments and therefore are represented by the City of Lawrence elected officials.)

·         1 Douglas County Commissioner as appointed by the Chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners;

·         2 Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission members as appointed by the Chair of the Planning Commission;

·         1 city commissioner of one of the representing Cities of Baldwin, Eudora, or Lecompton as mutually agreed upon by these named cities and as prescribed in the L-DC MPO Bylaws;

·         1 representative from KDOT as appointed by the Secretary of Transportation; and,

·         Additional members may be added, or existing membership may be otherwise modified, by adoption of amendments to the L-DC MPO Transportation Policy Board by-laws, but only when required by federal law.

 

Pursuant to its bylaws, the L-DC MPO Transportation Policy Board may appoint additional ex officio members, to serve without voting authority.

 

 

Issues and Concerns

 

·         Ramifications of having elected officials serve on the MPO board during the same time frame as their elected term.

·         Potential ex-officio members-outside of the state and federal officials, members that have a stake in transportation decisions

·         Advantages and disadvantages of having 7 or 5 proposed MPO Policy members

 

What is Next

 

The next step is for all involved parties to approve the Redesignation Agreement for Cooperative Transportation Planning (attached); once approved the MPO can begin the process establishing members and developing new MPO By-Laws.