23 USC 134 "Designation of Metropolitan Planning Organizations" uses the Census Bureau definition of urbanized areas for determination of MPOs and TMAs. This is why we have tried to keep everyone informed about the Census Bureau's proposed revisions to the criteria for defining Urbanized Areas and Urban Clusters. The Census Bureau received a lot of comments to their Fed Reg notice(s), and will publish the final criteria in January. The Census Bureau still plans to publish a list of urbanized areas (and the population for the UAs) in mid-March 2002. FHWA and FTA intend to use these new UAs for FY2003 fund apportionment. (this information was conveyed in the Dec 21, 2000 memo signed by Cindy Burbank and Charlotte Adams). Everyone should keep in mind that the urbanized area is NOT the same as the metropolitan planning area, as the planning area should "encompass at least the existing urbanized area and the contiguous area expected to become urbanized within a 20-year forecast period, and may encompass the entire metropolitan statistical area...as defined by the Bureau of the Census." I have heard that FHWA is putting a decision on hold on how it will use the new urbanized area definiton for HPMS data. Has there been any change in the proposed use of the definition in the designation of MPOs and TMAs? Frank O. Miller, AICP Senior Transportation Planner Missouri Department of Transportation - District 8