I
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1565
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 14, 2011
Mr. Walz of Minnesota (for himself and Mr. Hanna) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to incorporate regional transportation planning organizations into statewide transportation planning, and for other purposes.
Regional transportation planning organizations
Definitions
Section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
Regional transportation planning organization
The term regional transportation planning organization means a policy board of an organization created as the result of the designation process in section 135(k).
.
Additional requirements
Section 135(e) of such title is amended—
in the matter
preceding paragraph (1) by striking consider
;
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
with respect to nonmetropolitan areas, cooperate with affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation through regional transportation planning organizations described in subsection (k);
;
in paragraph (2)
by striking the concerns
and inserting consider the
concerns
; and
in paragraph (3)—
by striking
coordination of
and inserting coordinate
;
and
by striking
the transportation improvement program
and inserting
transportation improvement programs
.
Long-Range statewide transportation plan
Section 135(f)(2) of such title is amended—
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
Nonmetropolitan areas
With respect to nonmetropolitan areas, the statewide transportation plan shall be developed in cooperation with affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation through regional transportation planning organizations described in subsection (k).
; and
in subparagraph (D)(i) by striking
and local agencies responsible for
and inserting
regional, and local agencies responsible for economic development,
emergency management, transportation planning,
.
Statewide transportation improvement program
Section 135(g) of such title is amended—
in paragraph (2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
Nonmetropolitan areas
With respect to each nonmetropolitan area in the State, the program shall be developed in cooperation with affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation through regional transportation planning organizations described in subsection (k).
; and
in the first
sentence of paragraph (5) by striking for transportation.
and
inserting for transportation through regional transportation planning
organizations described in subsection (k).
.
Funding
Section
135(h) of such title is amended by striking 104(f) of
and
inserting 104(f) and section 505 of
.
Designation of regional transportation planning organizations
Section 135 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:
Designation of regional transportation planning organizations
In general
To carry out the transportation planning process required by this section, States shall establish, designate, and use amounts made available to the State to carry out this section to fund regional transportation planning organizations to enhance the planning, coordination, and implementation of statewide transportation plans and programs, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of nonmetropolitan areas of the State.
Structure
A regional transportation planning organization shall be established as a multi-jurisdictional organization of nonmetropolitan local officials or their designees who volunteer for such organization and representatives of local transportation systems who volunteer for such organization.
Memorandum of understanding
A regional transportation planning organization shall be formed by a memorandum of understanding between the State and nonmetropolitan local officials or as otherwise provided under State law.
Function
A regional transportation planning organization shall work cooperatively to plan, coordinate, and implement transportation systems in nonmetropolitan areas.
Requirements
Each regional transportation planning organization shall, at a minimum, establish—
a policy committee, the majority of which shall consist of nonmetropolitan local officials, or their designees, and which shall also include, as appropriate, additional representatives from the State, private business, transportation service providers, economic development practitioners, and the public in the region; and
a fiscal and administrative agent, such as an existing regional planning and development organization, to provide professional planning, management, and administrative support.
Duties
The duties of a regional transportation planning organization shall include—
ensuring nonmetropolitan local officials are meaningfully involved in the statewide transportation planning process;
developing and maintaining, in cooperation with the State, regional long-range multimodal transportation plans;
developing a regional transportation improvement program for consideration by the State;
fostering the coordination of local planning, land use, and economic development plans with State, regional, and local transportation plans and programs;
providing technical assistance to local officials;
participating in national, multistate, and State policy and planning development processes to ensure the regional and local input of nonmetropolitan areas;
providing a forum for public participation in the statewide and regional transportation planning processes;
considering and sharing plans and programs with neighboring regional transportation planning organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, and, where appropriate, tribal organizations; and
conducting other duties, as necessary, to support and enhance the statewide planning process under subsection (d).
.