CONFERENCE ON INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, MAY 21-24, 1995. CONFERENCE SUMMARY

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has provided a continuing forum for the discussion of the issues associated with metropolitan transportation planning. The first TRB conference on metropolitan transportation planning was held in 1965. Conferences have been held on a regular basis since then, with this conference being the most recent. The objectives were to assess the responses of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to the requirements of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), to assess the resources and capabilities of MPOs to assume the new roles and responsibilities, to examine the relationships among MPOs and state and local governments, to assess the success of new partnerships, and to identify additional technical support, studies, and research needs. The conference began with presentations on the status of metropolitan transportation planning activities and updates on current federal legislation. Participants then discussed the issues and opportunities associated with the metropolitan transportation planning process in workshop sessions focusing on the following topics: roles and responsibilities; public participation in the planning process; fiscal reality in the planning process; technical linkages in the planning process; decision making; and integrating related decisions and planning activities. The results from the six workshops were presented and discussed at the final session of the conference. The general consensus among conference participants was that the ISTEA has provided numerous opportunities to enhance the metropolitan transportation planning process. Although areas of concern were noted, along with items that needed further research and possible changes, the overall sentiment of the groups supported the basic concepts of the ISTEA. The results of the conference should be of benefit to the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, TRB, MPOs, states, and other groups interested in enhancing the metropolitan transportation planning process.