This document discusses the roles of regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs) in megaregion and multi-jurisdictional planning. It outlines challenges faced by RTPOs like limited funding and resources. It also describes opportunities for RTPOs to enhance economic development and transportation across organizational boundaries through a megaregional lens. The document summarizes workshops held in various megaregions to facilitate collaboration on freight, data sharing, and key projects. It poses questions around formalizing megaregional cooperation and measuring progress at that scale.

1. RTPO Roles in Megaregion and Multi-
Jurisdictional Planning
NADO National Regional Transportation Conference
June 29, 2017
Denver, CO

2. RMOC and Megaregions
• Background on Regional Models of Cooperation
(RMOC) and Megaregions
• Common RTPO/RPA Challenges
• Benefits and Opportunities
• Megaregion Workshops
• Future Activities
• Resources

3. RMOC and Megaregions

4. RMOC and Megaregions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciSfGgSgAq0

5. RMOC and Megaregions

6. RMOC and Megaregions
Key Players
• State DOTs
• Regional Planning Agencies
• Economic Development Organizations
• Transit Agencies
• Freight Industry
• Local Jurisdictions
• Private Sector

7. RTPO/RPA Challenges
• Lack of Funding
• Limited Staff and Resources
• Growing Global/National Economies
• Multi-Jurisdictional Issues
• Lack of Data
• Regional Redundancies

8. RTPO Benefits Through a
Megaregional Lens
Opportunities that
Span Organizational
Boundaries
Asset
Management
MAP-21/FAST
Act
Performance
Management
Data-
Sharing
Intercity
Passenger
and Rail
Freight
Planning
…and recognizing mutual
needs, goals, and objectives
of the geographic region
as a whole…
Enhancing Economic
Development and
Transportation…

9. RTPO Challenges Through
a Megaregional Lens
• MAP-21/FAST Act Performance Management
Requirements
 Regional voice when conducting coordination
activities with State DOTs
 Coordination of data sources, trends analysis,
and data interpretation
 Multi-Jurisdictional target-setting

10. RTPO Challenges Through a
Megaregion Lens
• FAST Act Freight Requirements
 FAST Act-compliant Statewide Freight Plans
 Identification of Critical Rural Freight Corridors
 Regional Representation at Statewide Freight
Advisory Committee Meetings

11. Megaregion Workshops
• National Megaregion Workshops
 I-10 Corridor Coalition (June 2, 2016) – AZ, CA,
NM, and TX
 Mid-Atlantic (December 6-7, 2016) – DC, DE, MD,
NJ, PA, VA, and WV
 Mid-South (December 8-9, 2016) – AL, AR, LA,
MS, and TN
 Piedmont (January 31 – Feb 1, 2017) – AL, GA,
NC, SC, and TN

12. I-10 Coalition Megaregion Workshop
• A shared vision for the I-10 Corridor
Coalition by the Chief Executive
Officers from each of the four State
DOTs
• Signature of the coalition charter by
each of the four State DOT CEOs
• Identify elements of a Concept for
Operations (ConOps)
• Action Plan and next steps to sustain
the coalition
Megaregion Workshops

13. Mid-Atlantic Megaregion Workshop
• Opportunities to Share Data and Resources
 Truck Parking Access/Information
 Autonomous Vehicles Technologies
• Freight Shipment Information
 Goods O/D and Types of Goods
Moving
• Impact of Autonomous Trucks on Freight
Movement
Megaregion Workshops

14. Source: Georgia Tech CQGRD
Mid-South Megaregion
Workshop
• Agreement among regions
on large Federal projects to
increase competitiveness
• Improving collaboration
between States, RPAs, and
Freight industry
• Understanding of
megaregions goods O/D and
types of goods moving
• Understand various laws
impacting technology
Megaregion Workshops

15. Source: Georgia Tech CQGRD
Piedmont Megaregion Workshop
• Understanding private sector needs on
goods movement and the impact on
transportation/economic development
• Focus on Corridors of Interest
• Implementing steps to regional
coordination
State of the Practice

16. Future Opportunities for
Engagement
• Coming Soon
– Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT)
• August 8-9, 2017; Providence, RI: Topic Freight/ED
– Great Lakes/Chicago (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, and WI)
• August 28-29, 2017; Chicago, IL: Topic: Freight/ED
– Texas (AR, LA, TX, and OK)
• September 14-15, 2017; Houston, TX: Freight/ED
– Central Plains/Midwest (IA, IL, KS, MO, and NE)
• TBD; Kansas City, MO: Topic TBD

17. Key Megaregion Questions to Answer
• What are the most promising issues at the interregional and megaregional
scales around which the interests of RPAs and local governments can
coalesce? What models for collaboration exist or can be developed to
address those issues?
• How can institutional and other barriers to megaregional cooperation be
overcome? What is the best practice model of formalized megaregional
governance?
• How can progress in achieving planning goals and objectives at the
megaregional scale be measured? What performance metrics can be
applied?
Key Megaregion
Considerations

18. Available FHWA Resources
• Regional Models of Cooperation Homepage
 www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/regional_models/
• Regional Models of Cooperation Handbook
 https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/regional_models/rmoc_handbook/chapter00.cfm
• Megaregions Case Studies and Homepage
 www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/megaregions
• Planning Capacity Building website
 www.planning.dot.gov
• PlanWorks
 https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworks/
• Briefing Book for Transportation Planning Officials
 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/publications/briefing_book/fhwahep15048.pdf

19. Scott Allen
FHWA Office of Planning
Planning Capacity Building Team
Washington, DC
202-366-2650
scott.allen@dot.gov
www.planning.dot.gov
www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/megaregions