This MAP-21 fact sheet has been superseded by a FAST Act fact sheet.

Metropolitan Planning

Year	2013	2014
Authorization	$ 311 M	$ 314 M

*Calculated (sum of estimated individual State Metropolitan Planning apportionments)

Program purpose

The metropolitan planning process establishes a cooperative, continuous, and comprehensive framework for making transportation investment decisions in metropolitan areas. Program oversight is a joint Federal Highway Administration/Federal Transit Administration responsibility.

Statutory and regulatory citation(s):  MAP-21§§ 1105, 1201; 23 USC 104, 134; 23 CFR Part 450

Funding features

Funded by contract authority from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund. Funds are subject to the overall Federal-aid obligation limitation.

MAP-21 has a new approach to formula program funding, authorizing a lump sum total instead of individual authorizations for each program. Once each State’s combined total apportionment is calculated, an amount is set aside for the State’s Metropolitan Planning program via a calculation based on the relative size of the State’s FY 2009 Metropolitan Planning apportionment. (See “Apportionment” fact sheet for a description of this calculation.)

Set-asides

From the State’s Metropolitan Planning apportionment, a proportionate share of funds for the State’s Transportation Alternatives Program is to be set aside. (See “Apportionment” fact sheet for a description of this calculation).

Federal share: Determined in accordance with 23 USC 120.

Key modifications

Modifications to the metropolitan planning process include the following:

Performance-based planning

• Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) will be required to establish and use a performance-based approach to transportation decision making and development of transportation plans.
• Each MPO will establish performance targets that address the MAP-21 surface transportation performance measures (see: National Goals and Performance Management Measures fact sheet).
• The performance targets selected by an MPO will be coordinated with the relevant State to ensure consistency to the maximum extent practicable.
• Performance targets selected by an MPO will be coordinated with public transportation providers, to the maximum extent practicable, to ensure consistency with sections 5326(c) and 5329(d) of title 49.
• MPOs are required to integrate into the metropolitan transportation planning process other performance-based transportation plans or processes.
• The MPOs will establish performance targets not later than 180 days after the date that the relevant State or public transportation provider establishes performance targets.
• Within 2 years of enactment of MAP-21, the structure of all MPOs will be required to include officials of public agencies that administer or operate public transportation systems.

Long Range Transportation Plan (Plan)

• The Plan will include a description of the performance measures and performance targets used in assessing the performance of the transportation system.
• The Plan will also include a system performance report and subsequent updates evaluating the condition and performance of the transportation system with respect to the established performance targets.
• MPOs have the option of developing multiple scenarios for consideration during the development of the Plan.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

• The TIP will include, to the maximum extent practicable, a description of the anticipated effect of the TIP toward achieving the performance targets established in the Plan, linking investment priorities to those performance targets.

Continuing provisions

Significant continuing provisions include:

• The minimum population required for an MPO remains at more than 50,000; Transportation Management Areas (TMAs) are those areas with a population greater than 200,000.
• The Plan must be prepared and updated every 4 years (or more frequently if the MPO elects to do so) in nonattainment areas and areas that were nonattainment and are now under a maintenance plan. In other areas, the Plan will be prepared and updated on a 5 year cycle (or more frequently if the MPO elects to do so).
• The Plan covers a minimum 20-year planning horizon with air quality conformity and fiscal constraint.
• Public involvement remains a hallmark of the metropolitan planning process.
• The TIP is to be updated at least once every 4 years and approved by the MPO and Governor.
• A congestion management system is required in TMAs and the planning process in TMAs must be certified by the Secretary.

Performance report

The Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of MAP-21. The report is to evaluate:

• The overall effectiveness of performance-based planning as a tool for guiding transportation investments;
• The effectiveness of the performance-based planning process for each metropolitan planning organization;
• The extent to which MPOs have achieved, or are making substantial progress towards achieving, the performance targets, and whether MPOs are developing meaningful performance targets; and
• The technical capacity of MPOs that operate within a metropolitan planning area of less than 200,000, and their ability to carry out the planning requirements.