Regional transportation planning organizations

(a)

Definitions

Section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively; and (2)by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

(5)

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).

(b)

Additional requirements

Section 135(e) of such title is amended— (1)in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking consider; (2)by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

(1)with respect to nonmetropolitan areas, cooperate with affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation through regional transportation planning organizations described in subsection (k);

;

(3)in paragraph (2) by striking the concerns and inserting consider the concerns; and (4)in paragraph (3)— (A)by striking coordination of and inserting coordinate; and (B)by striking the transportation improvement program and inserting transportation improvement programs. (c)

Long-Range statewide transportation plan

Section 135(f)(2) of such title is amended— (1)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

(B)

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

(2)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,. (d)

Statewide transportation improvement program

Section 135(g) of such title is amended— (1)in paragraph (2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

(B)

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

(2)in the first sentence of paragraph (5) by striking for transportation. and inserting for transportation through regional transportation planning organizations described in subsection (k).. (e)

Funding

Section 135(h) of such title is amended by striking 104(f) of and inserting 104(f) and section 505 of. (f)

Designation of regional transportation planning organizations

Section 135 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:

(k)

Designation of regional transportation planning organizations

(1)

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. (2)

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. (3)

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. (4)

Function

A regional transportation planning organization shall work cooperatively to plan, coordinate, and implement transportation systems in nonmetropolitan areas. (5)

Requirements

Each regional transportation planning organization shall, at a minimum, establish— (A)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 (B)a fiscal and administrative agent, such as an existing regional planning and development organization, to provide professional planning, management, and administrative support. (6)

Duties

The duties of a regional transportation planning organization shall include— (A)ensuring nonmetropolitan local officials are meaningfully involved in the statewide transportation planning process; (B)developing and maintaining, in cooperation with the State, regional long-range multimodal transportation plans; (C)developing a regional transportation improvement program for consideration by the State; (D)fostering the coordination of local planning, land use, and economic development plans with State, regional, and local transportation plans and programs; (E)providing technical assistance to local officials; (F)participating in national, multistate, and State policy and planning development processes to ensure the regional and local input of nonmetropolitan areas; (G)providing a forum for public participation in the statewide and regional transportation planning processes; (H)considering and sharing plans and programs with neighboring regional transportation planning organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, and, where appropriate, tribal organizations; and (I)conducting other duties, as necessary, to support and enhance the statewide planning process under subsection (d).