We have similar issues in SC. You have some flexibility. Key question is whether your population projections for your plan horizon year produce the necessary densities for the [Saraland?] urban cluster to become part of the [I assume it's Mobile] Urbanized Area, or will it remain non-contiguous with Mobile? You may have to expand your population projections to include all of Mobile County (or at least the UC in question) to make a reasonable determination of that. Your study area boundary has to include "the UZA(s) and the contiguous geographic areas likely to become urbanized within the 20-year forecast period covered by the transportation plan . . ." {23 CFR 450.306(a)}. So if the urban cluster is "likely" to be part of the CONTIGUOUS Mobile Urbanized Area (based on future population density) in 20 years, you should include it in the MPO study area. If it doesn't become contiguous, you don't have to include it, but you do have the flexibility to include as much of the MSA as you want. You should also consider whether the UC will be included in your nonattainment area, if that's an issue in Mobile. Hope that helps. That's how we hope to evaluate new boundaries, by looking at the projected population densities in areas being considered for inclusion to be sure that the densities actually are urban and the area is contiguous. John Gardner, AICP SCDOT Office of Planning gardnerjf(a)dot.state.sc.us -----Original Message----- From: kharrison [mailto:kharrison@sarpc.org] Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 1:41 PM To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net Subject: [CTPP] question to list regarding study area boundary. I have a question regarding MPO study area boundary. Our existing MPO covers 1 urban area. 3 miles from the new urban area boundary there is a newly designated urban cluster. Our existing study area boundary bisects the new urban cluster. We are looking at our options for expanding the MPO study area boundary. Would we have to include the entire adjacent urban cluster or can our study area be adjacent to or bisect the urban cluster? Since by definition the MPO study area is supposed to include all the area that will be urbanized within 25 years, can it exclude or bisect an adjacent urban cluster? Kevin Harrison Transportation Planner South Alabama Regional Planning Commission 651 Church St Mobile, AL 36602 251.433.6541