[CTPP] RE: MPO's Areas with More Than One Urbanized Area

I am aware of several MPOs in Texas that have more than one urbanized area under a single MPO. For example, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Galveston, and Austin all have a TMA and one or more smaller urbanized areas in the same MPO area. Midland-Odessa and Beaumont-Port Arthur each have more than one non-TMA and no TMA. The keys are the amount of travel interactivity among the urbanized areas, the reasonableness of having separate plans for transportation systems for the urbanized areas, and in the case of smaller urbanized areas, the feasibility of funding a separate planning organization. However, regardless of the objective rationales for integrating transportation systems planning among urbanized areas in the same metropolitan area, there are often political rivalries that must be carefully negotiated and all public decisions are ultimately made in a political context. Robert R. Allen, AICP Abilene MPO Transportation Planning Director 400 Oak St. #102, Abilene, TX 79602 Phone 325-676-6243 Fax 325-676-6398 From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Smith, Robert Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 4:59 PM To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net Subject: [CTPP] MPO's Areas with More Than One Urbanized Area CTTP List Serv: I was wondering if there are any MPO's out there that have more than one urbanized area in your area and if so how is this handled? I am also seeking opinions of other MPO professionals about the pro's and con's of having two in one MPO area, especially if they are not contiguous to each other based on the urban area criteria. Thanks, Robert Robert E. Smith Jr. Senior Transportation Planner, MPO Administrator Planning and Development Department Transportation Planning Division Head City of Montgomery/MPO Intermodal Transportation Facility 495 Molton Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: (334) 241-2249 Fax: (334) 241-2326 Email: rsmith@montgomeryal.gov<mailto:rsmith@montgomeryal.gov> City of Montgomery website: http://montgomeryal.gov/index.aspx?page=205 MPO website: http://www.montgomerympo.org