In North Carolina, we smooth the Urbanized Area Boundaries to add entire jurisdictions or to smooth out the jaggedness of the UAB.  In no cases, do we smooth the boundary to less than the US Census UAB.  The smoothed UABs are submitted to FHWA for approval and are used as the basis for HPMS reporting.  The MPO Policy Boards also approve the MPO Planning Area.  While the MPO Planning Area determines the area that is planned for, it does not impact any functional class decisions.  The MPO Planning Area are also submitted to FHWA.

Mike

 

Mike Bruff, P.E.

Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives

Strategic Planning Office

NC Department of Transportation

 

919 707 2818    office

mbruff@ncdot.gov

 

1 South Wilmington Street, Room 108

1501 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-1501

 

 

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

 

 

 

 

Mara

 

The US Census determines the Urbanized Area boundary. It is pretty much cut and dried. The MPO Policy Board determines the MPO Planning Area which is usually larger than the Urbanized Area. The Planning area boundary is submitted to State DOT as part of Functional Classification Map. State DOT sends all planning area boundaries and FC maps to FHWA for approval.  

 

 

 

Hello,

 

We are in the process of drawing a new MPO boundary to reflect changes to the 2010 urbanized area.  There are several options being looked at for exactly how to set the new boundary but we are not currently considering Census geography.  Does an MPO boundary get submitted to the Census bureau, and if so are there requirements to snap it to blocks?

 

Mara Kaminowitz, GISP
GIS Coordinator
.........................................................................
Baltimore Metropolitan Council
Offices @ McHenry Row
1500 Whetstone Way
Suite 300
Baltimore, MD  21230
410-732-0500 ext. 1030
mkaminowitz@baltometro.org
www.baltometro.org