Orange County NC Website
10 <br />utilize the staff resources of other agencies, non-profit organizations, or contractors to <br />carry out selected elements of the metropolitan transportation planning process. <br />For geographic areas designated as nonattainment or maintenance areas (as created <br />by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) for transportation related pollutants <br />under the CAA, the boundaries of the metropolitan planning area encourages including <br />at least the boundaries of the nonattainment or maintenance areas, except as otherwise <br />provided by agreement between the MPO and the Governor under specified <br />procedures. However, in the case of the Triangle area, the State does not require <br />having a single MPO serve all of the non-attainment area, or that the MPOs and RPOs <br />combine. The State sub-allocates a portion of CMAQ fund to both MPOs and RPOs on <br />a per-capita basis and based on non-attainment severity. Therefore, there is no <br />difference in the amount of CMAQfunds coming to the region based on where an <br />MPOs Metropolitan Area Boundary (MAB) is established. <br />Metropolitan planning area boundaries are reviewed after each Census. An existing <br />MPO may be redesignated only by agreement between the Governor and units of <br />general purpose local government (i.e., elected officials) that together represent at least <br />75 percent of the existing metropolitan planning area population (including the largest <br />incorporated city, based on population, as named by the Bureau of the Census). <br />The DCHC MPO MAB was expanded in February, 2010 in western Orange County <br />along the I-40/I-85 corridor. In January, 2011 the NC DOT discovered that therewas an <br />overlap of boundaries between the two MPOs in Orange County.Staff discussions for <br />options for adjusting the two MPO boundaries were initiated in the Fall of 2011 and <br />have yet to be finally resolved. These discussions have addressedthe area of overlap, <br />as well as expandingthe BG MPO (at that time) pursuant to anticipated 2010 Census <br />revised UZA boundaries. Staff representing all parties wasinvolvedin these <br />discussions: BG MPO, DCHC MPO, Mebane, Orange County, and NCDOT. Multiple <br />expansion options for the BG MPO have been considered – from the Alamance County <br />line to the Eno River. Many of these options have lackedagreementfrom staffof the <br />involved parties; were found to not satisfy the intent of governing legislation; split the <br />Mebane between two MPOs; or the responsibilities of a greatly increased MAB placed <br />too great a financial burden on the BG MPO. Although the retreat of BG MPO to the <br />Alamance County line would result in some efficiencies for Orange County staff, it is a <br />less preferredoption and is anoption that has not been discussed by all parties. Only <br />the current Option 4 has the full support of the staff of all parties. <br />What are the Core Duties of a MPO? <br />Conduct a continuing cooperative, and comprehensive (3C) transportation <br />planning process <br />Meet Federal transportation planning requirements for MPOs, with additional <br />requirements and responsibilities for Transportation Management Areas (TMAs <br />are >200,000) <br />Develop and prioritize projects the organization believes should be included in <br />the State’s Transportation Improvement Program <br />Represent communities and regions in transportation planning and project <br />delivery <br /> <br />