Case Study on Metropolitan Transportation Planning

Abstract

More than 50,000 people live in a metro area. Government leaders from the city and county, as well as state, regional and municipal transportation agencies are all represented on the MPO board, which gives final approval to regionally important and federally funded transportation upgrades. More than a billion dollars is spent each year by MPOs, yet many outside transportation and those they serve have little idea what MPOs are or how they work.
Planners and academics highlight the importance of metro areas as economic entities and the appropriate scale for tackling wicked issues like transportation. It is common for MPOs to adhere to the three C's of continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive operations (3C). Goals for the long term are established and given high emphasis by state DOTs, local governments and public transit providers. In spite of this, contemporary MPOs face a wide range of obstacles in their day-to-day activities. Various agencies and local governments have to approve regional plans and investments that are subject to their approval as a group. However, MPOs are increasingly advocating for more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly neighborhoods, but they have little say in the decisions that must be made about land use in order to achieve this goal.