A Voice & Vote in the Planning Process
Transportation decisions are best made at the local level. Unfortunately, however, the people who are most affected by the long-term highway and transit plans funded through the federal government still have very little input in the process of project selection.
In order to plan for current and future transportation needs, states in urbanized areas are required to create metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), which also act as the designated recipients of federal transportation funds.
Under federal law, in order to be eligible to receive millions of dollars in federal funds, MPOs must be made up of local elected officials, officials of public agencies that administer major modes of transportation, and appropriate state officials.
ATU Supports:
1) Diversification of states’ MPO boards, requiring states to appoint transit workforce representa- tives, minority groups, transit riders, bicycle and pedestrian advocates, smart growth groups, businesses, and others with a direct stake in the provision of public transportation services to sit on such panels, with the right to vote; and
(2) Requiring governors to appoint these representatives for statewide and regional planning.
However, states may expand the membership of their MPOs, and where the law is silent on the issue of membership, MPOs may insert language in their bylaws that allows for non-elected voting members.5 In addition, some states have enacted laws that actually require non-elected officials to sit on the MPOs.
Unfortunately, smart growth advocates, including environmentalists, pedestrian and bicycle groups, businesses, transit workforce and industry representatives, and other individuals, in reality have no real voice with regard to the MPOs that control their future. Although representatives of mass transportation authority employees, along with the general public, are given a reasonable opportunity to comment on long-range plans, they are not afforded a seat on the board, and they certainly have no voting rights.
This is outdated thinking. Smart growth advocates, including environmentalists, pedestrian and bicycle groups, transit workforce and industry representatives, and other individuals with a genuine stake and expertise in the provision of public transportation services understand the need for expanded transit in our communities. Together, these constituency groups would bring a different perspective than individuals who currently sit on MPO boards.
