This document discusses the uncertain future of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and the challenges they face in remaining relevant. It identifies three major themes challenging MPO relevance: 1) an increasingly complex working environment with more expectations and issues, 2) flat or dwindling resources and funding as needs increase, and 3) blurring of traditional boundaries as metro areas evolve into mega-regions. To build relevance, the document argues that MPOs need leadership, partnerships, adequate funding/capacity, demonstrable value added, and adaptability to complex changing conditions. MPOs that are proactive now will be best positioned to stay relevant to their regions.

1. The Uncertain Future
of MPOs
September 10, 2012
Peter E. Plumeau, Sr. Director
RSG, Inc.
Prepared for:
Oregon Transportation
Summit

2. 2
That Was Then…

3. 3
This is Now…

4. 4
And the future…?

5. 5
The Challenge for MPOs…
Staying
Relevant

6. Challenges
to Relevance

7. 7
Three
Major
Themes
Challenges to Relevance
Working Environment
Increasingly Complex
Resources
and
Funding
Flat or
Dwindling
Traditional
Boundaries
Blurring

8. 8
Theme 1: Working Environment Increasingly Complex
Challenges to Relevance
• More needs = more
expectations
• Not just more issues,
but more cross-
cutting issues
• Straining of limited
MPO capacities

9. 9
Theme 2: Resources and Funding Flat or Dwindling
Challenges to Relevance
• Less money but more
needs
• Federal government
seeking process
streamlining
• Accountability and
performance
measurement a
priority
• More use of funds
outside MPO purview

10. 10
Theme 3: Traditional Boundaries Blurring
Challenges to Relevance
• Few “pure”
transportation issues
• Metro/urban areas
evolving into mega-
regions (and micro
mega-regions)
• Information
technology changing
how we travel, work
and live

11. 11
Three
Major
Themes
Challenges to Relevance
Working Environment
Increasingly Complex
Resources
and
Funding
Flat or
Dwindling
Traditional
Boundaries
Blurring

12. Building
Relevance

13. 13
Building Relevance
Framing The Options
Continuing
Disruptive
Inter-
connected
Understanding
the nature of
the challenges
to relevance is
essential to
addressing
them.

14. 14
Building Relevance
Leadership
and Risk-
taking
Partnerships
Adequate
Funding and
Capacity
Demonstrable
Value Added
Adaptability
and
Integration
Complexity
Resources
Boundaries

15. 15
Building Relevance
• Future actions of
federal government on
MPO size, composition,
requirements remain
unresolved
• MPOs that are
proactive today stand
best chance of staying
relevant and vital to
their regions

16. 16
You've got to be very careful if you
don't know where you are going
because you might not get there.
Yogi Berra

17. THANK YOU
Peter Plumeau, Sr. Director
RSG, Inc.
180 Battery St., Suite 350
Burlington, VT 05401
pplumeau@rsginc.com
802.383.0118 x301
www.rsginc.com
Thank You