About TPCB

About the Program

Federal requirements and programs related to surface transportation planning are complex. In an effort to foster effective transportation planning in state, metropolitan, rural, and Tribal settings the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has created and sponsors the TPCB program.

Jointly administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), with assistance from the U.S. DOT's Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, TPCB products and services provide information, training, and technical assistance to the transportation professionals responsible for planning for the capital, operating, and maintenance needs of our nation's surface transportation system.

Clients in urban, rural, and Tribal areas take advantage of the resources provided by the TPCB program; program participants include members of Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) policy boards or executive committees, non-metropolitan local officials and staff (both elected and appointed), members of technical committees and advisory groups, and Tribal government officials and their staff.

Many different types of TPCB resources are utilized in order to improve the capacity of transportation planners. These resources include classroom and Web-based training developed and delivered by the National Highway Institute (NHI) and National Transit Institute (NTI), workshops on scenario planning designed and facilitated by FHWA planners, and conferences hosted by national associations and stakeholder groups.

Created in 2001 as the Metropolitan Capacity Building program with a focus on the MPO planning process, the expanded TPCB program has achieved success in developing a high performing workforce, enabling professionals to make better transportation decisions, and facilitating the development of better transportation plans and projects.

Goals and Objectives

The TPCB program has four broad goals:

• Enhance professionals' understanding of the Federally-defined transportation planning process, their role within the process, and the relationship between the planning process and community goals.
• Strengthen understanding and build skills in planning, consensus building, and understanding policy guidance and regulations.
• Disseminate commendable examples of effective transportation planning practices.
• Equip new MPOs and areas newly designated as air quality non-attainment areas with skills and knowledge needed for effective transportation planning.

TPCB meets its goals through the following three objectives:

• Gather and disseminate examples of effective transportation planning practices from across the nation.
• Act as a central clearinghouse for information and contacts within the transportation planning community.
• Create and deliver training programs, and support peer-to-peer information exchanges.