HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-17-2009 - 6bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 17, 2009
Action Agenda
Item No. ~o - b
SUBJECT: Expansion of Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Area Boundary
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Letter from DCHC MPO
2. Map of Proposed Expansion
3. Roles of MPO and RPO
4. PowerPoint Presentation
5. DCHC MPO Background and History
6. MPO Frequently Asked Questions
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Lincoln, 245-2594
Craig Benedict, 245-2592
PURPOSE: To: 1) Receive a presentation from DCHC MPO (Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro
Metropolitan Planning Organization) staff; and
2) Direct staff on preparing a response to DCHC MPO.
BACKGROUND: The TAC (Transportation Advisory Committee) of the DCHC MPO, at its
November 17, 2009 meeting, directed Lead Planning Agency (LPA) staff to initiate the process
to expand the Metropolitan Area Boundary (MAB) in western Orange County along the I-40/I-85
corridor, and to get feedback from Orange County. Attachment 1 is a letter from the TAC
requesting Orange County's response to the proposed expansion of the MAB. Attachment 2 Is
a map showing the proposed MAB expansion.
The DCHC MPO is investigating expansion at this time because the MPO is beginning the
process of developing the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) that will list the
highway, transit, fixed-guideway, bicycle and other transportation services and facilities that are
planned for construction through year 2040. Federal legislation requires that an MPO's
metropolitan area boundary contain, at a minimum, the entire Urbanized Area (UZA), as defined
by the U.S. Census, and should contain the area beyond the UZA that is expected to be
urbanized within the next twenty years or that is affected by urban policies and influence.
Attachments 5 and 6 prepared by the LPA in 2006 are respectively a Background and History of
DCHC MPO Membership and MAB and Frequently Asked Questions.
Expansion of the DCHC MAB will take in a portion of Orange County that is in the Triangle
Rural Planning Organization (TARPO), separating the northern portion of the County's rural
transportation planning area from the southern part of the rural transportation planning area.
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Expanding the DCHC MAB into an area of Orange County currently in TARPO would result in a
loss of NCDOT planning funds equal to $1 per every 10 people removed from the TARPO
planning area. The local match could decrease, stay the same or increase. The NCDOT
required local match of 20% is divided equally among the four participating counties, so each
county's local match could decrease proportionately to the decrease in NCDOT funding for
TARPO. However, the local match could remain the same or may have to be increased in
order to maintain the same level of services from the Triangle J Council of Governments
(TJCOG).
TARPO would also lose Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds which are based
on population within the air quality maintenance or non-attainment areas in the rural planning
area. Orange County would also potentially lose CMAQ funds that TARPO allocates to Orange
and Chatham counties based on the percentage of each county's population in TARPO within
the air quality maintenance area. Target CMAQ funds available to TARPO equal $171,848.75
each year for the five years 2013 through 2018. Orange County is potentially eligible for
$101,768 of those funds based on Orange County's share of 59.22%.
NCDOT funding would not be reduced until after the 2010 Census.
DCHC MPO federal funding would not be affected until after the 2010 Census and would be
based on population within the Census defined UZA (urbanized area). If population in the area
of the proposed MAB expansion in Orange County becomes urbanized as defined by the 2010
Census, DCHC would receive additional funds. The DCHC CMAQ allocation would also
increase but Orange County would face a more competitive process for applying for those
CMAQ funds through the MPO.
Attachment 3 is a table detailing legislation, structure and governance of MPOs and RPOs and
relates to Orange County's role in the DCHC MPO and the TARPO with respect to
transportation planning.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There will be no financial impact related to expanding the MAB until after
the 2010 Census. After the 2010 Census, Orange County could experience increased TARPO
dues (currently $7,500 per year) and reduced TARPO CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality) funds (currently $101,768 per year).
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board:
1. Receive a presentation from DCHC MPO (Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan
Planning Organization) staff; and
2. Direct staff on preparing a response to DCHC MPO:
a. Option 1 -Leave the MAB as is until findings of the 2010 Census identify the new UZA;
b. Option 2 -Endorse expanding the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Area
Boundary along the I-85/I-40 corridor; or
c. Option 3 - Endorse the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization's
expansion further along the I-85/I-40 corridor as Mebane's urbanized area expands.
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Member Governments.. ,
Town of Carrboro
Town of Chapel Hil(
County of Chatham
City of Durham
County of Durham
Town of Hillsborough
NC Department of
Transportation
County of Orange
DURHAM ~ CHAPEL HILL ~ CARRBORO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
October 21, 2009
Ms. Valerie P. Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
106 Claris Court
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Dear Ms. ushee: ~~~/~~ .
The urham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization's
metropolitan area boundary currently includes the City of Durham, Durham County,
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, southeastern Orange County, and northeastern
Chatham County. As required by the MPO's Memorandum of Understanding, the
MPO periodically reviews its boundary to ensure that it encompasses the federally
designated urbanized area and the area expected to be urbanized over the next twenty
years. The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) recently reviewed growth
projections for the area and decided to consider expanding the boundary to include
the I-85/I-40 corridor in western Orange County. The enclosed map displays the
current and proposed metropolitan area boundary.
Before the TAC makes a decision, we would like to receive comments from the
Orange County Board of Commissioners on this proposal. MPO staff would like to
attend a board meeting to describe the background and implications of expansion to
this area and to answer any questions that the board may have. MPO staff will
coordinate with Orange County staffto schedule this presentation.
The TAC will decide whether or not to expand by the end of this year, and the
Governor must concur with the MPO' i3 decision before the expansion takes effect.
We greatly appreciate the board's thoughts on this proposal. Orange County has
been a valued partner in the MPO and we look forward to continuing our cooperative
efforts in regional transportation planning.
Sincer
. Mi 1 oodard, Chair
Transportation Advisory Committee
Cc: drank Clifton, Orange County Manager
Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director
Kaxen Lincoln, Orange County Transportation Planner
enclosure
Clty of Durham • Department of Transportation • 101 City Hall Plaza • Durham, Norlh Carolina 27701 • (919) 560-4366 • Facsimile (919) 560-4561
DCHC MPO POTENTIAL MAB EXPANSION AREAS ~~- ~h~~. ` ~~ ~ ~~ l %~` ~ ?'~" ~~~ r --~~
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Roles of the MPO and the RPO
MPO
LEGISLATION
1962 Federal Highway Act: required urbanized areas > 50,000 to
adopt transportation plans to qualify for federal transportation funds.
Section 134(a) of Title. 23 United States Code directs metropolitan
planning organizations, in cooperation with the State, shall develop
transportation plans and programs to develop transportation systems,
embracing various modes of transportation in a manner which will
efficiently maximize mobility of people and goods within and through
urbanized areas and minimize transportation fuel consumption and air
pollution.
Agreements
C.F.R. Title 23 Cht.1 § 450.310 Metropolitan planning
organization:
Agreements.
(a) The responsibilities for cooperatively carrying out transportation
planning (including corridor and subarea studies) and programming
shall be clearly identified in an agreement or memorandum of
understanding between the State and the MPO.
(b) There shall be an agreement between the MPO and operators of
publicly owned transit services which specifies cooperative
procedures for carrying out transportation planning (including corridor
and subarea studies) and programming as required by this subpart.
DCHC MPO (Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning
Organization) Created by:
North Carolina Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning
Organization Memorandum of Understanding for Continuing,
Cooperative, and Comprehensive Transportation Planning between
the Governor of the State of North Carolina, City of Durham, Town of
Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro, Town of Hillsborough, County of
Durham, County of Orange, County of Chatham, and the_ North
RPO
LEGISLATION
Session Law 2000-123 authorized NCDOT in cooperation with
local elected officials to establish Rural Transportation Planning
Organizations -. A voluntary organization of local elected
officials or their designees and representatives of local
transportation systems formed by a memorandum of
understanding with the Department of Transportation to work
cooperatively with the Department to plan rural transportation
systems and to advise the Department on rural transportation
policy.
RPOs established for the general purpose -of:
• Developing long-range local and regional multi-modal
transportation plans in cooperation with MPOs and NCDOT;
• Providing a public forum for participation in the rural
transportation planning process;
• Prioritizing suggestions for transportation projects for the
STIP(State Transportation Improvement Program); and
• Providing transportation-related information to local
governments and other interested parties.
TARPO (Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization)
Created by:
Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperative,
Comprehensive and Continuing Transportation Planning and
the Establishment of a Rural Planning Organization for the
County of Chatham and the participating municipalities therein;
the County of Moore and the participating municipalities therein;
the County of Lee and the participating municipalities therein ;
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Roles of the MPO and the RPO
MPO RPO
DCHC MOU TARPO MOU
Carolina Department of Transportation in cooperation with the United the County of Orange; and the North Carolina Department of
States Department of Transportation. Transportation (NCDOT)
Transportation plans and programs and land use policies and
programs for the planning area having regional impacts will be
coordinated with the Triangle Transit Authority (now Triangle Transit)
and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the
Trian le J Council of Governments.
STRUCTURE STRUCTURE
Planning Area Planning Area
C.F.R. Title 23 Cht.1 § 450.308 Metropolitan planning organization: NCGS Article 17 Chapter § 136-211
Metropolitan planning area boundaries. (a) The metropolitan Rural Transportation Planning Organization includes
planning area boundary shall, as a minimum, cover the UZA(s) representatives from contiguous areas in three to fifteen
and the contiguous geographic area(s) likely to become counties, with a total population of the entire area represented
urbanized within the twenty year forecast period covered by the of at least 50,000 persons according to the latest population
transportation plan described in § 450.322 of this part. The estimate of the Office of State Planning.
boundary may encompass the entire metropolitan statistical area or
consolidated metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Bureau of Areas already included in a Metropolitan Planning
the Census. For geographic areas designated as nonattainment or Organization shall not be included in the area represented
maintenance areas (as created by the Clean Air Act Amendments of by a Rural Transportation Planning Organization.
1990 (CAAA)) for transportation related pollutants under the CAA, the
boundaries of the metropolitan planning area shall include at least the
boundaries of the nonattainment or maintenance areas, except as
otherwise provided by agreement between the MPO and the
Governor under the rocedures s ecified 450.310 * of this art.
*§ 450.310(f) If the metropolitan planning area does not include the entire nonattainment or maintenance area, there shall be an agreement among
the State department of transportation, State air quality agency, affected local agencies, and the MPO describing the process for cooperative
planning and analysis of all projects outside the metropolitan planning area but within the nonattainment or maintenance area. The agreement also
must indicate how the total transportation related emissions for the nonattainment or maintenance area, including areas both within and outside the
metropolitan planning area, will be treated for the purposes of determining conformity in accordance with the U.S. EPA conformity regulation (40
CFR part 51). The agreement shall address policy mechanisms for resolving conflicts concerning transportation related emissions that may arise
between the metropolitan planning area and the portion of the nonattainment or maintenance area outside the metropolitan planning area.
Proposals to exclude a portion of the nonattainment or maintenance area from the planning area boundary shall be coordinated with the FHWA, the
FTA, the EPA, and the State air quality agency before a final decision is made. rn
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Roles of the MPO and the RPO
MPO RPO
Planning Area
C.F.R. Title 23 Cht.1 § 450.306 Metropolitan planning
organization: Designations and redesignation. (a) Designations of
metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) made after December
18, 1991, shall be by agreement among the Governor(s) and units of
general purpose local governments representing 75 percent of the
affected metropolitan population (including the central city or cities as
defined by the Bureau,of the Census), or in accordance with
procedures established by applicable State or local law. To the extent
possible, only one MPO shall be designated for each UZA or group of
contiguous UZAs. More than one MPO may be designated within an
UZA only of the Governor(s) determines that the size and complexity
of the UZA make designation of more than one MPO appropriate.
Approval of metropolitan planning area boundaries by the FHWA or
the FTA is not required.
DCHC MPO MAB (Metropolitan Area Boundary) TARPO Planninu Area
• Chatham County area outside DCHC MPO and participating
DCHC Planning Area defined by the MAB is the Durham-Chapel municipalities therein;
Hill-Carrboro Urbanized Area as defined by the United States Moore County and participating municipalities therein;
Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, plus that area . Lee County and participating municipalities therein;
beyond the existing urbanized area boundary that is expected to Orange County area outside DCHC MPO and BGMPO
become urbanized or be affected by urban policies within a (Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization).
twenty-year period.
The MAB will be periodically reviewed and revised in light of new
developments, basic. data projections for the current planning
period, and as may otherwise be required by federal and state
law.
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Roles of the MPO and the RPO
MPO
DHCH MPO Structure
The DCHC MPO shall include the boards of general purpose local
government -Durham City Council, Chapel Hill Town Council,
Carrboro Board of Aldermen, Hillsborough Board of Commissioners,
Durham County Board of Commissioners, Orange County Board of
Commissioners, and Chatham County Board of Commissioners;
North Carolina Department of Transportation; aTransportation
Advisory Committee; a Technical Coordinating Committee; and
various agencies and units of local, state, and federal
government participating in transportation planning for the area.
City of Durham is the administrative entity and serves as the LPA
(Lead Planning Agency).
GOVERNANCE
Responsibilities
Transportation policy decisions within the DCHC Planning Area
are the shared responsibility of the TAC (Transportation
Advisory Committee), the N.C. Board of Transportation, and
participating local governments.
The TAC is responsible for:
• Keeping the policy boards informed of the status and
requirements of the transportation planning process;
• Assisting in dissemination and clarification of decisions,
inclinations and policies of the policy boards;
• Providing opportunities for citizen participation in the
transportation planning process;
• Establishing goals- and objectives for the transportation planning
process ;
• Reviewing and approving of the Comprehensive
Transportation Plan and any changes;
RPO
TARPO Structure
TARPO includes boards of general purpose local
government for Chatham County and participating
municipalities therein, Moore County and participating
municipalities therein, Lee County and participating
municipalities therein, and Orange County, the North Carolina
Department of Transportation, aRural Transportation
Advisory Committee and a Rural Technical Coordinating
Committee. Triangle J Council of Governments is the
administrative entity and serves as the LPA (Lead Planning
Agency) for coordinating transportation planning in the four
county area.
GOVERNANCE
Responsibilities
The RTAC (Rural Transportation Advisory Committee)
serves as a forum for cooperative transportation planning
decision making for TARPO.
The RTAC is responsible for:
• Keeping local elected boards informed of the status and
requirements of the transportation planning process;
• Assisting in dissemination and clarification of decisions,
inclinations and policies of local elected governing boards
and NCDOT;
• Helping ensure meaningful public participation in the
rural transportation planning process;
• Establishing goals, priorities and objectives for the rural
transportation planning process;
• Endorsing and reviewing changes. to adopted
transportation plans within TARPO;
Roles of the MPO and the RPO
MPO RPO
Responsibilities
• Reviewing and approving a Prospectus for transportation Responsibilities
Endorsing, reviewing and approving a Planning Work
planning that defines work tasks and responsibilities for the Program for transportation planning that defines work tasks
various agencies participating in the transportation planning and responsibilities for the various agencies participating in
process;
TARPO;
• Reviewing and approving the transportation Unified Planning
Work Program/
• Reviewing and approving the Transportation Improvement Endorsing, reviewing and approving transportation
Program. improvement projects that support and enhance both
regional and local transportation in the four counties in
• Revising membership in the Technical Coordinating TARPO.
Committee;
• Reviewing and recommending changes to the National
Highway System, Functional Classification, Urban Area
Boundary, and Metropolitan Area Boundary
DCHC TAC Membership RTAC Membership
Voting members:
• Two (2) members of Durham City Council
Voting members:
• One (1) member of Chapel Hill Town Council One (1) member of the Chatham County Board of
• One (1) member of Carrboro Board of Aldermen Commissioners
• One (1) member of Hillsborough Board of Commissioners One (1) elected municipal official representing the
• One (1) member of Durham County Board of Commissioners municipalities within Chatham County that have elected to
• One (1) member of Orange County Board of Commissioners become members or TARPO
• One (1) member of Chatham County Board of Commissioners One (1) member of the Lee County Board of
• One (1) member of North Carolina Board of Transportation Commissioners
• One (1) elected municipal official representing the
Non-voting members: municipalities within Lee County that have elected to
• A Division Administrator of Federal Highway Administration and/or become members or TARPO
Federal Transit Administration or their representatives One (1) member of the Moore County Board of
• A Triangle Transit Board of Trustees member Commissioners
• Other local, regional, state or federal agencies impacting
trans ortation in the tannin area, at the invitation of the TAC
Roles of the MPO and the RPO
MPO RPO
DCHC TAC Membership RTAC Membership
Other members: One (1) elected municipal official representing the
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) municipalities within Moore County that have elected to
• NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources become members or TARPO
(NCDENR) • One (1) member of the Orange County Board of
• Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) Commissioners
• •Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority One (1) member from the NC Board of Transportation
• • Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) representing Division 8
• • Duke University
• • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• • North Carolina Central University
• • Carolina Trailways
• Research Trian le Foundation of North Carolina
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U.S. Code of Federal Regulations: The MAB must
include the entire urbanized area as defined by the
Census and "the contiQUOUS area expected to beco
in
DCHC MPO MOU: "The MAB will be pperiodically
reviewed and revised in light of new developmen
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The DCHC MPO Transportation Advisory Committee
must approve the MAB. The Governor must concur
before the expansion takes effect.
3
~ DCHC MPO U[banlzed A[ea and MetropoNtan Area 6o[mdary
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i97o -Durham Urbanized Area first
designated by the Census, includes the City of
Durham and part of Durham County
z98o -Durham Urbanized Area expanded to
inclvdeChapel HiII,Carrboro, and partof
Orange County
1990 -Durham Urbanized Area expanded to
include Hillsborough and part of Chatham
County
zooy. - MAB "smoothed"
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I-85/I-4o corridor in western Orange County
Based on:
Land use plans
Development
. Socio-economic data projections
^ Commute patterns
Boundary corresponds with traffic analysis
zones and geographic features such as roads
and waterways
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f..and Use Element
of ffie Qrange Coemty Comprehensive Plan
Legend:
ao r
ar ~~>rn
Rural Resrdaota€
l RurdA Buller
A~rpikuraf Rssid~a~tlel
~Reroume .tuaan
i~YneitYpai Extra-FeRitoria! Jurisdictlan
4~inklpat To»n laniK
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('~ WadloM Weac
Ac6vky Notlas
Rurd Coirmpm~y Node
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- {AnllfitrCiBNRdul,4ia N2ds ,
Econotiiic ~svelapmenF
~A lo;rt P9amiAH Nsa-
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zooo Census
Orange County
^ To Durham County: i6,47o
= To Wake County: 4,ziz
= ToAlamanceCounty: z,o38
Chatham County
= To Orange County: 4,zo6 «~
• To Wake County: 2,743
= TaDurhamCounty: z,73g
Durham County _; . , , s; b
= To Wake County: i3,9z9
~~
^ To Orange County: 9,z6z `°'~~
Flow
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9
20
48,39 1G7~475 14341 370
;60,651 150,673 31,707 543.
11z,z53 43,198 17366 i7~,
a~
1210
8,398 114614 14,341 377,353
o,55a :160,897 31,707 553,55
~,~53 -46,133 17,3E6 s75,9oz
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Responsibility for Planning and Programming
Projects
Triangle Area RPO ~ DCHC MPO
Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Long Range
Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement
Program, STPDA, CMAQ, Enhancements, Etc.
Funding for Planning Organizations
^ The DCHC MPO would not receive additional funding for
planning because MPO funding is based on the
Urbanized Area
a After the zoso Census, the Triangle Area RPO would lose
approximately ~i for every io people
TAC has asked staff to initiate expansion in
western Orange County.
Solicit feedback from Orange County Board of
Commissioners.
TAC will review expansion at their December g,
zoo9 meeting
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~.:Attaclmerit:5::
2006 Review of MPO Membership and
Metropolitan Area Boundary
September 11, 2006
The Federal Highway Act of 19b2 initiated a requirement that a continuing, cooperative,
and comprehensive (" 3-C") transportation planning process be established for all urban
areas over 50,000 in population in order to qualify for federal transportation funds. These
urban transportation planning requirements have been administered by the North Carolina
Department of Transportation (NCDOT) with the approval of Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration {FTA) of the U. S.
Department of Transportation (USDOT).
There are now 17 urban areas in North Carolina which participate in the " 3-C"
transportation planning process, including; Asheville, Burlington, Charlotte-Union,
Durham, Fayetteville, Gastonia, Goldsboro, Greensboro, Greenville, Hickory, High
Point, Jacksonville, Kannapolis, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Wilmington, and Winston-
Sa(em. Nearly all of these urban areas also include one or more neighboring smaller
municipalities.
When the Durham Urbanized Area was first designated by the Census in 1970, it
consisted of only the City of Durham and a portion of Durham County. The first
Transportation Advisory Committee was created for the Durham Urbanized Area in the
1970s. The 1980 Census expanded the Durham Urbanized Area to include the Towns of
Chapel Hill and Carrboro and portions of Orange County. Consequently, those
governments were added and the name changed to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro
Urban Area MPO. The Town of Hillsborough and northeastern Chatham County were
added in 1994 in response to the need for coordinated planning in the area and the
requirements ofthe federal transportation bill 1STEA.
1n 1993, the US EPA requested that Butner join the DCHC MPO because of the common
air quality issues in Dutchville Township in southwestern Granville County. At the time,
the DCHC MPO declined extending MPO membership to Butner. 1n 2004, the DCHC
MPO approached Orange County, Roxboro, Person County, Butner, Granville County,
Pittsboro, and Chatharri County in regard to MPO expansion. At the time, the DCHC
MPO decided not to expand because the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
for the MPO was well under way and expansion would delay the plan. The TAC directed
the MPO staff to reexamine MPO expansion at the beginning of the 2035 LRTP update.
Over time, the role of MPOs has shifted. Historically, Lang-range transportation plans
(sometimes called Thoroughfare Plans) for this area, and indeed for most urban areas in ..
the State, have traditionally focused on highways. Automobile travel is the dominant
form of transportation, with transit accounting for less than ten percent of all trips. 1n the
past, land use development has encouraged campus-like employment centers away from
24
Attachment 5
where people live or shop. These suburban-type land use patterns have generated an
increased demand for highways while discouraging non-auto alternatives. It is not
surprising that the past thoroughfare plans have not contained an integrated, multi-modal
recommendation. Now, the MPO has given strong emphasis to balanced, multi-modal
,.. _: alternatives in the transportation planning process as evidenced: by the:2030long-range
transportation plan, other modal plans, and the Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP) project priorities.
Based an changes in state law in 2000, NCDOT has carried out the process of
establishing Rural Transportation Planning Organizations {RPO's}throughout North
Carolina far all rural areas not yet within an existing MPO. Although, organized and
tasked in a manner very similar to MPOs, RPOs are grounded in state law rather than
federal and are intended to address and improve rural area transportation planning
processes.
An MPO's coverage is delineated by its Metropolitan Area Boundary (MAB) that is
supposed to include surrounding areas that are expected to become urbanized within the
next twenty years but are not yet within another MPO. Based on this factor as well as
others, some areas currently in RPOs may be considered qualified to become members of
the MPO and thus may be offered the opportunity to join. Current NCDOT policy is that
local municipal government may be members of either an MPO or RPO, but not both.
Depending on boundaries, county governments could be members of multiple MPOs
and/or RPOs although being members of more than one or two organizations could
become burdensome.
Organization
As required by federal law, the " 3-C" process in each urban area is carried out by its
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). A Memorandum of Understanding {MOU),
signed by the participating local governing boards as well as NCDOT and FHWA,
establishes the specific framework for how each MPO operates.
In North Carolina, each urban area's MPO is defined as an "umbretla" organization which
includes alI member local governments, USDOT, NCDOT, and other providers of
transportation services (such as the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Authority).
The MPO administrative structure has three main components:
1. Transportation Advisory Committee {TAC) - is the governing policy board for
the MPO. The TAC's membership includes elected officials representing (and
appointed by) each local government, the area's representative on the North
Carolina Board of Transportation, advisory non-voting members representing
FHWA and TTA, and other members as may be authorized in the MOU. The
TAC provides.policy direction for the planning process, facilitates communication , .._
and coordination between the member jurisdictions, and guides the development
of a coordinated, muItimodal transportation program for the planning area. The
TAC directs the " 3-C" process through its annual review and approval of the
25
Attach~rrient 5
MPO's Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and the MPO's Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP} and through review and approval of changes to the
Long Range Transportation Plan {LRTP) and Comprehensive Transportation Plan
(CTP}.
.. ,. ..
2. Teehnicad Coordinating Committee (TCC} - is comprised of staff representatives
of the various member governments, NCDOT, FHWA (non-voting), and other
agencies such as T3COG, TTA, Research Triangle Foundation, local universities,
and RDU Airport. The TCC has the responsibility of supervising and
coordinating the comprehensive transportation planning process, and for making
recommendations to the TAC and respective local and state agencies pertaining to
that process.
3. Lead PlanningAgeney (LPA) -provides staff support to the MPO. The LPA
develops the draft documents, prepares TAC and TCC meeting materials,
schedules meetings, administers the distribution of federal transportation planning
(PL) funds to member governments, and carries out the directives of the TCC and
TAC. The City of Durham Transportation Division currently serves as this area's
LPA.
Work Activities
It is the responsibility of the TGC to annually develop two documents for review and
approval by the TAC, NCDOT and USDOT; a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP}
and a Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP).
The UPWP describes all transportation planning work activities to be conducted during
the fiscal year by the member agencies as well as the amounts of various federal, state
and local funds to be expended. The UPWP is created every,fiscal year. The MPO
receives Section 104(f) (PL funds) to carry out the required transportation planning
functions. These monies ($373,549 in FY 06-07) are utilized by the MPO as
recommended by member agencies and approved by the TAC. Quarterly invoices are
sent to the NCDOT for review and reimbursement. In addition, the DCHC MPO utilizes
the Surface Transportation Program Direct Apportionment funding (STP-DA}. In FY 06-
07, the DCHC MPO was allocated approximately $3.5 million in STP-DA funding. The
STP-DA fitnds, unlike the PL 104(f) funds, can be used far construction activities as well
as planning.
The local TIP (often referred to as the Metropolitan TIP, or MTIP} must include all
transportation improvement projects for which federal funds are to be expended. The
MTIP is created biennially simultaneous with the State TIP (STIP) process. The MPO
and NCDOT work together to program projects using federal funds in the MTIP and
STIP. Though not required, the MTIP-mayal5o include. state- and Locally-funded - -
transportation projects.
26
Affachment 5
In addition, any changes to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Canrboro Urban Area LRTP and
CTP must be approved by the TAC. Changes to the CTP must also be approved by the
State Board of Transportation. Recent changes in applicable federal laws have expanded
the responsibilities of the MPO. For example, requirements of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of -1990 have focused greater attention on improving air quality. ' In .. .
......... .
reviewing proposed revisions to the LRTP and TIP, the TCC and TAC must determine
that the proposed change does not negatively affect air quality.
Federal Transportation Acts: SAFETEA-LU, TEA-21, and ISTEA
The approval of ISTEA in 1991, TEA-21 in 1998, and SAFETEA-LU in 2005, placed
greater responsibility on the MPO in the development of a comprehensive transportation
planning process, requiring elements for transit, bicycling and pedestrians as well as the
traditional emphasis on roads. Specifically, the MPO is now responsible for developing,
in cooperation with the State and affected transit operators, a comprehensive, tong-range
transportation plan and expanded transportation improvement program for the area. The
transportation planning process must now include additional considerations such as land
use, intermodal connectivity, methods to enhance transit service, and needs identifed
through the management systems. The MTIP must be consistent with the long-range
transportation plan and must include all projects in the metropolitan area that are
proposed to be funded with federal funds.
Relationship with NCDOT
Historically, NCDOT has maintained a close, direct working relationship with local
governments. The " 3-C" MPO process has been a supplement to this relationship, not a
substitute for it. MPO member governments are free to continue this direct relationship as
they see fit.. Primarily, the MPO process facilitates better communications, more
infprmed decision-making processes, and the ability,to stimulate greater regignal support
for local transportation needs. DCHC MPO sees itself in a partnership with NCDOT that
is intended to address the transportation needs of all of our citizens.
For More Information
Felix Nwoko, Transportation Planning Manager
DCHC MPO
101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701
919-560-4366 (p)
Felix.nwokondurhamnc.gov
www.dchcmpo.or~
AitacflY~ierf 6`:
2006 Review of MPO Membership and
Metropolitan Area Boundary
27
Frequently Asked .Questions
September 11, 2006
1} What is the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning
Organization (DCHC MPO}?
The DCHC MPO is one of 17 MPOs in North Carolina that have been established to
fulfill the federal requirements originally established in 1962 of maintaining a continuing,
cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process in order to qualify
for federal transportation funds. MPOs are required for all areas designated by the
Census as urban in nature and above 50,000 in population.
2} What area does the DCHC MPO currently cover?
The DCHC MPO consists of all of Durham County, including the City of Durham,
eastern Orange County, including the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough,
and northeastern Chatham County. See the attached map.
3} Haw many members are there?
The MPO's policy board, the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), consists of
elected officials from the following jurisdictions:
• City of Durham (2)
• Town of Chapel Hill (1)
• Town of Carrboro (1)
• Town of Hillsborough (1)
• Durham County (1}
• Orange County (1}
• Chatham County (1)
• North Carolina Board of Transportation (1 -appointed by the
Governor)
The TAC also includes two non-voting members from the following organizations:
~ Triangle Transit Authority ('TTA)
• United States Department of Transportation (USDOT}-
The MPO's staff body the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC), consists of 30 staff
members of the member governments, NCDOT, local universities, the Triangle 3 Council
of Governments, the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, the Research Triangle Park, _
Foundation, and Carolina Trailways.
28
Attachment 6
Most TAC and TCC members have designated alternates. The Chair and Vice-Chair
positions for each committee are subject to elections at the beginning of each calendar
year. .
4) What are the voting procedures for the TAC?
Any member, voting or non voting, may make or second a motion. In most cases,
approvals of motions are based on a majority vote of the voting membership. When
requested by a TAC member, weighted voting procedures are used. Weighted voting
uses the following distribution of votes:
City of Durham 6'~
Chapel Hill 2
Carrboro 1
Hillsborough I
Durham County Z
Orange County Z
Chatham County 1
N C Department of Transportation 1
TOTAL I5
* Three (3} votes per voting member
5) What other 1VII'Os are nearby?
The Capital Area MPO (CAMPO) covers Wake County, southern Franklin County,
southern Granville County, eastern 3ohnston County, and northern Harnett County. The
Burlington-Graham MPO covers Alamance County and a small portion of Orange
County near Mebane. See the attached map.
G) What are l2POs?
Rural Planning Organizations. (R.POs} were created by North Carolina state law in 2000
to facilitate better transportation planning in rural areas. There are ZO RPOs in North
Carolina. RPO's governance procedures and work products are very similar to those of
MPO's; however, RPO's are not recognized in federal law. The Kerr-Tar RPO and the
Triangle Area RPO are contiguous with the DCHC MPO. Seethe attached map.
'n Why is the DCHC MPO considering expanding?
The DCHC MPO is primarily exploring expansion in order to provide more opportunities
for cooperative decision-making and coordinated regional transportation planning.
_ Commuting trends from the 2000 U.S. Census data show that travel between many areas
beyond the current MAB and the DCHC MPO is significant. Granville County, Person
County, and northeastern Chatham County are part of the Triangle urban airshed and
non-attainment area for ozone air pollution. As such, state and federal transportation
29
Attactiraeit~6- -
funding for these areas is already dependent upon the planning decisions made by the
DCHC MPO and CAMPO and vice versa.
The DCHC MPO is investigating expansion at this time because the MPO is beginning
the process ofcreating a 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP}. The 2035 LRTP _ -.
will list the highway, transit, fixed-guideway, bicycle, and other transportation services
and facilities that are planned in the DCHC MPO through the year 2035. The creation of
the LRTP will take approximately three years to complete. In order to ensure that we
have a comprehensive plan that has coverage over the entire MPO area for many years to
come, we are currently considering MAB expansion.
8) What are the financial consequences for local governments of joining the
DCHC MPO?
The MPO's staff and planning activities are currently funded by the federal government.
There are no fees for member governments. Some MPOs charge member governments
fees. Many of the federal funding sources used for MPO activities require 20% local
matches for use of the funds. The Local matches are typically provided by the member
government(s) that requested the project.
Currently, federal iaw apportions federal funds to MPOs for transportation planning and
transportation improvements based on the MPO's current Urbanized Area (UZA}
population. Since the UZA has not changed, expanding the coverage of the MPO does
not result in increased federal funding. The current NCDOT policy for distributing
federal transportation planning funds to MPOs is partially based on the latest census
defined UZA population. Thus, MPO expansion also does not result in increased funding
from the state. Planning funds for RPOs currently come from state funds, not federal
funds for which they are currently ineligible.
In 1989, the North Carolina Legislature passed the Highway Trust Fund Act which
established additional state transportation funding resources. As a part of that legislation,
an equity formula was established to ensure that each are of the state received equitable
amounts of state and federal transportation funding. The equity formula applies to
geographic areas that are defined by combinations of NCDOT's 14 current highway
divisions. MPO or RPO boundaries currently have no impact on the equity formula
funding distribution process used by NCDOT.
4) Are local governments required to join the DCHC NiPO?
No. Federal legislation requires that an MPO's metropolitan area boundary {MAB}
contain, at a minimum, the entire Urbanized Area (UZA), as defined by the U.S. Census.
The legislation. also.. states. that the MA$ should contain the area beyond the UZA that is
__ ..
expected to be urbanized within the next twenty"years or that is affected by urban policies..... _ ,
and influence. The DCHC MPO's UZA has not changed recently, but may be expanded
by future censuses (see the attached map). Inclusion of the area that is expected to be
30
Attachment 6
urbanized within the next twenty years or that is influenced by urban policies is up to the
MPO and the Iocal governments' discretion.
10) Can oar local government be a member of an MPO and an RPO?
Current NCDOT policy allows local municipal governments to be members of either an
MPO or ltPO, but not both. County governments, which may be split geographically,
can be members of multiple MPOs and/or RPOs but the meeting requirements could
prove to be burdensome and impractical.
11) Where can I get more information?
Felix Nwoko, Transpoz-tation Planning Manager
DCHC MPO
I01 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701
919-560-4366 (p)
FeIix.nwoko(>,durhamnc. gov
www.dchcmno.or~