Review of the transportation planning process in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area

This report is the fourth in a series produced for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center). This formal, comprehensive review conducted by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) headquarters and regional staff, with input from state, and local transportation entities, takes the place of the review of the Pittsburgh metropolitan planning organization (MPO) which otherwise would have been conducted by FHWA field and FTA regional staff. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission (SPRPC) conducts a competently managed and organized continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) planning process, produces adequate planning products, and uses acceptable planning tools. Efforts are being made to implement a multi-modal planning approach, and the transit operator is involved in the process. The federal review team, however, has made a series of observations and suggestions on each segment of the planning process. These findings are intended to improve a competent process, and to provide guidance on addressing the ISTEA planning requirements.