Review of the transportation planning process in the Denver metropolitan area

This report is the ninth 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 of the planning process in the Denver Metropolitan area, was conducted by Federal Highway (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) headquarters and regional staff, with input from state, regional, and local transportation entities. The federal team concluded that the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Denver metropolitan area,conducts a competently managed and organized continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) planning process, produce adequate planning products, and use acceptable planning tools. Efforts are being made to implement a multi-modal planning approach, and the transit operators are 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 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) planning requirements.