Metropolitan Planning Organization Self-Certification

Metropolitan Planning Organization Self-Certification

From the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 450.334 Self-certifications and Federal certifications:

For all MPAs, concurrent with the submittal of the entire proposed TIP to the FHWA and the FTA as part of the STIP approval, the State and the MPO shall certify at least every four years that the metropolitan transportation planning process is being carried out in accordance with all applicable requirements including:

  1. Highway and Public Transportation
    • 23 U.S.C. 134 – Highways, Sec. 134. Metropolitan Planning
      This section describes the legal framework for metropolitan planning areas (MPAs) and the conduct of the metropolitan transportation planning processes, development of transportation plans, programs, and activities to encourage and promote the safe and efficient management, operation and development of transportation systems.
    • 49 U.S.C. 53 – Public Transportation, Sec. 5303. Metropolitan Transportation Planning
      This section provides the legal framework to encourage and promote the safe and efficient management, operation, and development of surface transportation systems that will serve the mobility needs of people and freight and foster economic growth and development within and between States and urbanized areas. This section also encourages the continued improvement and evolution of the metropolitan and statewide transportation planning processes.
    • 23 CFR part 450.334 (a), Self-certifications and Federal certifications
      Regulations to ensure the State and MPAs certify at least every four years that the metropolitan planning process is being carried out in accordance with all applicable requirements.
  1. Clean Air Act and Related Regulation
    • Clean Air Act (CAA)
      The law that defines the Environmental Protection Agency’s responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation’s air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. The last major change in the law, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, was enacted by Congress in 1990.
    • 40 CFR part 93 – Determining Conformity of Federal Action State or Federal Implementation Plans
      This section sets forth policy, criteria, and procedures for demonstrating and assuring conformity of such activities to an applicable implementation plan developed pursuant to the CAA. This section also provides procedures for air quality nonattainment and maintenance to implement requirements with respect to the conformity of transportation plans, programs, and projects which are developed, funded, or approved by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), and by MPOs or other recipients of highway or transit funds.
  1. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
    “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 set a standard which authoritatively outlawed discrimination in the conduct of all federal activities. Subsequent laws and Presidential Orders added handicap, sex, age, and income status to the criteria for which discrimination is prohibited.
    • Executive Order 12898 directs Federal agencies to make Environmental Justice part of their missions by identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority and low‐income populations.
    • Executive Order 13166 requires Federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide those services so LEP persons can have meaningful access to them. This Executive Order also requires that the Federal agencies work to ensure that recipients of Federal financial assistance provide meaningful access to LEP applicants and beneficiaries.
  1. 49 U.S.C. 5332
    This section states a person may not be excluded from participating in, denied a benefit of, or discriminated against under, a project, program, or activity receiving financial assistance under this chapter because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age.
  1. Section 1101(b) of the SAFETEA–LU (Pub. L. 109–59) and 49 CFR part 26
    These sections provide the legal and regulatory framework regarding the involvement of disadvantaged business enterprises in USDOT funded projects.
  1. 23 CFR part 230
    This section provides regulatory standards for the implementation of an equal employment opportunity program on federal and federal‐aid highway construction contracts.
  1. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq)
    This act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. It prohibits the discrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities.
    • 49 CFR part 27 specifies nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities receiving federal assistance;
    • 49 CFR part 37 covers transportation services for individuals with disabilities; and
    • 49 CFR part 38 covers ADA accessibility specifications for transportation vehicles.
  1. The Older Americans Act, as amended (42 U.S.C 6101)
    This act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
  1. Section 324 of title 23 U.S.C.
    This section prohibits discrimination based on gender.
  1. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and 49 CFR part 27
    This section prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

MPO (CCRPC) Organization and Structure

  • The Governor of Illinois has designated the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) responsible for carrying out the 23 USC Section 134 Planning requirements for the area in cooperation with the state
  • MPO Technical and Policy Committees include elected officials, providers of major modes of transportation, and appropriate state officials
  • The Metropolitan Planning Area boundary encompasses the existing urbanized area and the contiguous area expected to become urbanized within the 25-year forecast period
  • The transportation planning process is continuous, cooperative and comprehensive
  • The MPO complies with the IDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) policy as a recipient of IDOT planning funds

MPO (CCRPC) Transportation Planning and Programming Process

  1. Unified Technical Work Program (UTWP)
    MPO tasks and products are clearly outlined including sufficient detail of who will perform the work, the schedule for completing work, the resulting products, proposed funding and a summary of the total amounts of federal and matching funds. Updated every year.
    Title: Unified Technical Work Program FY 2023, July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.
    Date Approved: April 2022
  1. Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
    Details how the urbanized area transportation system will evolve over the next 25 years. The LRTP covers the Champaign-Urbana urbanized area as delineated by the 2010 U.S. Census and considers a 25-year Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA), which encompasses land outside the urbanized area that is likely to be included in the urbanized area by the year 2045. The LRTP looks at the projected evolution of pedestrian, bicycle, transit, automobile, rail, and air travel over the next 25 years, addresses the federal planning factors, is financially constrained, and includes funding for maintenance and operation of the transportation system. This planning process includes a variety of relevant stakeholders including, but not limited to, transportation, environmental, land use, health, and economic development agencies, as well as an ambitious public involvement campaign. Available for 30-day public comment period before approval. Updated every five (5) years.
    Title: Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) 2045
    Date Approved: December 2019
  1. Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
    Documentation of proposed projects for the current fiscal year and at least three subsequent fiscal years so that project funding can be secured. Any local project that solicits federal or state monies must be in the TIP in order to be considered for such funding. The TIP is consistent with the LRTP, financially constrained, and developed cooperatively with member agencies including state and local transit operators. Submitted to IDOT for adoption along with self-certification. Available for 30-day public comment period before approval. Updated every three (3) years.
    Title: Transportation Improvement Program FY 2023-2028
    Date Approved: December 2022
  1. Title VI
    Documents procedures to address complaints related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, American Disabilities Act, and related statutes in compliance with federal regulation. Identification of low-income and minority populations within the planning area to consider effects of the MPO planning process. Available for 30-day public comment period before approval. This document is normally updated every three (3) years. As these updates rely on up-to-date US Census data, CUUATS’ Title VI document will be prepared upon release of the 2020 data, currently set for May 2023.
    Title: CUUATS Title VI Program
    Date Approved: December 2019
  1. Public Participation Plan (PPP)
    Documents how the MPO involves the public in different transportation planning processes and what staff undertake to gather, process, and utilize public input when creating plans and how to consider the needs of the traditionally underserved, such as low-income and minority households. Available for 45-day public comment period before approval. Periodically reviewed and updated.
    Title: CUUATS Public Participation Plan
    Date Approved: Draft to be approved September 2023
  1. Federally Obligated Projects
    Listing of obligated transportation projects for which federal funds have been given in the preceding year, including bicycle and pedestrian projects. Updated every year.
    Title: Annual Listing of Federally Obligated Projects, Fiscal Year 2022
    Date Approved: December 2022
  1. Project Priority Review
    Project selection guidelines meant to ensure that the federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program funds spent in the region support Federal transportation goals and the region’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Periodically reviewed and updated.
    Title: CUUATS Project Priority Review Guidelines
    Date Approved: September 2022

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