Since Mike brought up the “adjusted” Urbanized Area Boundary and were are getting into
some broader boundary issues than snapping a line here is the Qs/As that FHWA maintains
regarding the various census and MPO related boundaries and the definitions. This is
probably more that Mara had asked but still worthwhile to know.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/census_issues/urbanized_areas_and_mpo_tma…
Ed Christopher
FHWA Resource Center Planning Team
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive, Suite 600
Matteson, IL 60443
From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of
Bruff, Michael S
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 6:58 AM
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
Subject: Re: [CTPP] drawing MPO boundaries
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<mailto:mbruff@ncdot.gov>
1 South Wilmington Street, Room 108
1501 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1501
[cid:image001.png@01D10DA4.5CC88DA0]
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public
Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net<mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net>
[mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Ali Bonakdar
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 6:16 PM
To: ctpp-news@chrispy.net<mailto:ctpp-news@chrispy.net>
Subject: Re: [CTPP] drawing MPO boundaries
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.
Ali Bonakdar, AICP
Director
Corvallis Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
301 SW. 4th Street, #240
Corvallis, OR 97333
Ph: (541) 758-1911
Fax: (541) 758-1903
Email: abonakda@ocwcog.org<mailto:abonakda@ocwcog.org>
Web:
www.corvallisareampo.org<http://www.corvallisareampo.org/>
Note: Per the applicable federal and state laws, all correspondence is public
information.
From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net<mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net>
[mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Mara Kaminowitz
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 12:40 PM
To: ctpp-news@chrispy.net<mailto:ctpp-news@chrispy.net>
Subject: [CTPP] drawing MPO boundaries
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<mailto:mkaminowitz@baltometro.org>
www.baltometro.org
<http://www.baltometro.org/>
________________________________
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and
may be disclosed to third parties.