23 C.F.R. § 450.306 Metropolitan planning organization: Designations and redesignation.
Title 23 - Highways
(a) Designations of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) made after December 18, 1991, shall be by agreement among the Governor(s) and units of general purpose local governments representing 75 percent of the affected metropolitan population (including the central city or cities as defined by the Bureau of the Census), or in accordance with procedures established by applicable State or local law. To the extent possible, only one MPO shall be designated for each UZA or group of contiguous UZAs. More than one MPO may be designated within an UZA only if the Governor(s) determines that the size and complexity of the UZA make designation of more than one MPO appropriate. (b) The designation shall clearly identify the policy body that is the forum for cooperative decisionmaking that will be taking the required approval actions as the MPO. (c) To the extent possible, the MPO designated should be established under specific State legislation, State enabling legislation, or by interstate compact, and shall have authority to carry out metropolitan transportation planning. (d) Redesignation (designation of a new MPO(s) to replace an existing MPO) shall occur by agreement of the Governor and affected local units of government representing 75 percent of the population in the entire metropolitan area. The central city(ies) must be among the units of local government agreeing to the redesignation. (e) Nothing in this subpart shall be deemed to prohibit the MPO from utilizing the staff resources of other agencies to carry out selected elements of the planning process. (f) Existing MPO designations remain valid until a new MPO is redesignated, unless revoked by the Governor and local units of government representing 75 percent of the population in the area served by the existing MPO (the central city(ies) must be among those desiring to revoke the MPO designation), or as otherwise provided under State or local procedures. If the Governor and local officials decide to redesignate an existing MPO, but do not formally revoke the existing MPO designation, the existing MPO remains in effect until a new MPO is formally designated. (g) Redesignation of an MPO in a multistate metropolitan area requires the approval of the Governor of each State and local officials representing 75 percent of the population in the entire metropolitan planning area. The local officials in the central city(ies) must be among those agreeing to the redesignation. (h) Redesignation of an MPO covering more than one UZA requires the approval of the Governor and local officials representing 75 percent of the population in the metropolitan planning area covered by the current MPO; the local officials in the central city(ies) in each urbanized area must be among those agreeing to the redesignation. (i) The voting membership of an MPO policy body designated/redesignated subsequent to December 18, 1991, and serving a TMA, must include representation of local elected officials, officials of agencies that administer or operate major modes or systems of transportation, e.g., transit operators, sponsors of major local airports, maritime ports, rail operators, etc. (including all transportation agencies that were included in the MPO on June 1, 1991), and appropriate State officials. Where agencies that operate other major modes of transportation do not already have a voice on existing MPOs, the MPOs (in cooperation with the States) are encouraged to provide such agencies a voice in the decisionmaking process, including representation/membership on the policy body and/or other appropriate committees. Further, where appropriate, existing MPOs should increase the representation of local elected officials on the policy board and other committees as a means for encouraging their greater involvement in MPO processes. Adding such representation to an MPO will not, in itself, constitute a redesignation action. (j) Where the metropolitan planning area boundaries for a previously designated MPO need to be expanded, the membership on the MPO policy body and other committees, should be reviewed to ensure that the added area has appropriate representation. (k) Adding membership (e.g., local elected officials and operators of major modes or systems of transportation, or representatives of newly urbanized areas) to the policy body or expansion of the metropolitan planning area does not automatically require redesignation of the MPO. To the extent possible, it is encouraged that this be done without a formal redesignation. The Governor and MPO shall review the previous MPO designation, State and local law, MPO bylaws, etc., to determine if this can be accomplished without a formal redesignation. If redesignation is considered necessary, the existing MPO will remain in effect until a new MPO is formally designated or the existing designation is formally revoked in accordance with the procedures of this section.
Title 23: Highways
PART 450—PLANNING ASSISTANCE AND STANDARDS
Subpart C—Metropolitan Transportation Planning and Programming
§ 450.306 Metropolitan planning organization: Designations and redesignation.
