THE NUTS

1
THE NUTS BOLTS OF MPO ORGANIZATION

• HELPFUL HINTS FROM 3 MPOs

2
BINGHAMTON METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION STUDY

• Stand-alone organization
• UZA population 160,000
• Bi-state (New York and Pennsylvania)
• Coverage 3 counties, 1 city, 13 other municipal
  governments, 2 transit operators
• Established mid-1960s
• Staff housed by county government

3
DENVER REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (DRCOG)

• Council of Governments
• Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Area Agency on Aging
• Shared Services
• UZA population 2.6M
• Coverage 9 counties, 42 cities, 1 transit
  operator
• Established 1955 (MPO Designation 1977)
• Stand alone agency housed separately

4
CHICAGO AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY

• Stand-alone organization
• UZA population 8.1 million
• Intergovernmental agreements with MPOs in
  northwest Indiana and southwest Wisconsin
• Coverage 6 counties, 272 municipalities,
• 22 million daily trips
• 1.5 million by transit commuter rail, heavy
  rail and bus
• Established in 1955
• Staff administered by state

5
BMTS BOARD COMPOSITION

• 13 voting members
• 8 local elected officials
• 3 planning agencies
• 2 state agencies
• FHWA, FTA ex-officio
• Decision making by consensus

6
DRCOG BOARD COMPOSITION

• 51 voting members
• All elected officials
• State DOT, Dept. of Public Health,and Dept. of
  Local Affairs ex-officio
• Decision making by consensus
• Weighted vote available for controversial issues
  (never been called)

7
CATS POLICY COMMITTEE

• 18 voting members
• 8 local government officials
• 7 transportation operators, including transit,
  private sector and freight
• 2 regional agencies
• State Department of Transportation
• FHWA, FTA ex-officio
• Decision making by consensus

8
HOW BMTS IS FUNDED

• Entirely Federal cash (PL, FTA 5303)
• State provides ¾ of the match through in-kind
• Local host agency provides ¼ of the match through
  in-kind
• Constraints and opportunities

9
HOW DRCOG IS FUNDED

• Grants
• Federal
• State
• Service Programs
• Membership Dues
• Match
• In-kind services
• Cash
• Constraints and opportunities

10
HOW CATS IS FUNDED

• Entirely Federal cash (PL, FTA 5303)
• State provides the majority of the match through
  both cash and in-kind services
• Member agencies contribute minor amount
• State 100 funds special studies of their
  interest
• PL and FTA funds also utilized by several other
  member agencies

11
BMTS RELATIONS BETWEEN STAFF and ELECTED
OFFICIALS

• BMTS staff viewed as highly credible local
  resource
• Takes time to establish positive relationships
• Accept the fact that some officials simply do not
  care about transportation, and work with those
  who do
• Value of Congressional liaison

12
DRCOGs RELATIONS BETWEEN STAFF and ELECTED
OFFICIALS

• Outreach to Elected Officials
• Annual legislative reception (state officials)
• Organized visits (congressional delegation)
• State legislative liaison
• DRCOG seen as resource of reliable information
• Importance of staff and board participation

13
CATS RELATIONS BETWEEN STAFF and ELECTED
OFFICIALS

• Difficulty working with 272 municipalities
• Formed 11 local regional councils in late 1960s
• Provide planning liaison staff to each with UPWP
  funds
• Councils became programmer of FAU and local STP
  funds
• Developed an Executive Committee to address
  regional issues

14
BMTS RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW YORK STATE DOT

• Evolution on the staff level from Junior
  Associate to Senior Partner
• MPOs still seen as external stakeholder in policy
  development
• DOT responds to its own political agenda first

15
DRCOGs RELATIONSHIP WITH COLORADO STATE DOT

• Working on the four Cs
• Collaboration, cooperation, consultation, and
  control
• MPO viewed as mandated partner
• Trying to improve relationship
• Joint Transportation Forum (UPWP development)
• Joint MOU (resource allocation)
• TIP Development
• Best Practices Working Group

16
CATS RELATIONSHIP WITH ILLINOIS STATE DOT

• Being administered by State DOT has both positive
  and negative effects
• Communication
• Appreciation of each others roles
• Public perception of State control
• Tied to State personnel and purchasing policies
• State historically an active, influential partner
  in the MPO process

17
WHY IS BMTS SUCCESSFUL?

• Size and scope are mentally manageable for
  decision makers
• Took the time to establish technical credibility
• New York State MPO Association
• Getting out of town long history of supporting
  professional development

18
WHY IS DRCOG SUCCESSFUL?

• Reliable, credible staff and work product
• Board tries to work on consensus
• Fair, open, board-directed policies
• Board support of innovative programs
• United voice on important issues

19
WHY IS CATS SUCCESSFUL?

• History of being able to produce quality product
• Established strong relationship with local
  elected officials
• Promote attitude of CATS being an 18 member
  agency not a staff of 45
• Extensive committee and task force structure
  directing work efforts includes many public and
  private agencies

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CONTACTS

• www.bmtsonline.com
• www.drcog.org
• www.catsmpo.com