The nation's 385 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are required to maintain a comprehensive, continuing, and coordinated transportation planning and programming process. To perform these required tasks, operational funding is required to pay staff and other costs. This paper explores the sources of MPO funding and the disposal of those funds. The information contained was collected as a part of a larger survey that obtained responses from 133 MPOs from around the country. Federal assistance received through four different programs dominates the budgets of MPOs; however, all federal funds require a 20% match. Some states meet this match, but for many MPOs, funds must be raised locally. Seventy-eight percent of responding MPOs receive local money, which can be used to match federal funds, to pay for prohibited expenses, or to supplement the agency's budget. Methods for raising and expending local funds are discussed in detail. The requirements and characteristics of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) are discussed. Responding MPOs expend 25% of their collective budget on consultants, while informational or pass-through funds account for about 17% of the UPWP.


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    Title :

    Operating a Metropolitan Planning Organization


    Subtitle :

    Internal Funding, Work Programs, and Consultant Balance


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2011-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




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