An MPO Perspective on Improving Public Policy

This paper describes how metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are a link to many public policy directives that concern transportation improvements. State, federal and local levels of government have diverse needs and resources that relate to the function of an MPO to produce a long range transportation plan and a shorter range Transportation Improvement Program. This paper discusses major funding constraints that affect MPOs in their role as regional forums for producing transportation plans. The paper also briefly describes recent methods used to better engage and inform all parties of both the technical issues and the policy discussion related to alternative regional development scenarios.