Tribal Planning

The Tribal Planning focus area page is a one-stop shop for resources about tribal transportation planning, consultation, and coordination on the TPCB website. It includes links to publications, legislation and guidance, recent peer events, upcoming calendar events, and related websites.

• Tribal Transportation Planning Module Training Series - The Tribal Transportation Planning Module Training Series provides modules for eight planning topics, designed to assist transportation professionals responsible for planning for the capital, operating, and maintenance needs on Tribal lands.
• A Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking   NEW!
  Have you ever wondered how decisions are made about the transportation projects that affect your life? How do government officials decide where to put a bus stop, road, or bridge? How are these and other transportation projects planned? And how can you make sure your opinions are heard and considered by residents, planners, designers, and elected officials? The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) created this guide to answer these and other transportation project-related questions. We hope this guide will help you understand how transportation decisions are made at the local, State, and national levels; and that you will take advantage of the opportunities provided to contribute your ideas. We believe that the better the public understands the transportation decisionmaking process, the more certain it is that the transportation system will be safe and efficient, and that the planning process will be responsive to public needs and concerns about their communities and the natural environment. A revised version of this guide was published in April 2015.
• The Transportation Planning Process: Key Issues A Briefing Notebook for Transportation Decision makers, Officials, and Staff   NEW!
  The Briefing Notebook is a primer for transportation decisionmakers and stakeholders. It provides government officials, planning board members, transportation service providers, and the public at large with an overview of transportation planning in metropolitan settings. Along with a basic understanding of the key concepts, the notebook provides references for additional information. Part I discusses transportation planning and its relationship to decisionmaking. Part II presents short descriptions of key products that are prepared as part of the transportation planning process. This book was updated in 2015 to reflect recent changes in Federal legislation.
• Developing a Transportation Safety Plan Module   NEW!
  This training module--part of FHWA's Tribal Transportation Planning Module Training Series--provides a brief overview of how to conduct transportation safety planning and develop Transportation Safety Plans.
• Tribal Transportation Planning Financial Assistance - The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Planning offers free technical assistance on policy, program, and technical issues to State, local and tribal transportation agencies.
• Case Studies of State, MPO, And Tribal Coordination in Transportation Planning - These case studies highlight innovative consultation practices between tribes, States, and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) within the transportation planning process.
• Consultation and Public Involvement Statutory/Regulatory Requirements: Working with Tribes within the Statewide/Metropolitan Transportation Planning Processes - This document describes the actions and statutory requirements for working with Tribes.
• Tribal Transportation Best Practices Guidebook - This guidebook highlights best practices in tribal transportation.

Click here to access a full list of Legislation, Regulations, and Guidance related to tribal planning on the TPCB website.

• To browse all events on the TPCB website or to add new ones, please visit the events calendar or the TPCB Resource Index.

The TPCB peer program is a free resource for agencies in need of transportation planning assistance. Visit the peer program page to learn more or apply for a peer event.

• Recent peer events related to tribal planning:
  • State Department of Transportation Tribal Liaison Roundtable and Panel Discussion
  • National Scenario Planning Peer Exchange Report - July 8-10, 2012
  • Scenario Planning Peer Workshop Report - Denver, Colorado
  • The State Department of Transportation Tribal Liaison Roundtable and Panel Discussion Report
  Read other peer event reports.

• Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Tribal Transportation - FHWA works in a government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribal Governments. FHWA has a Tribal Transportation Program Coordinator that coordinates with FHWA headquarters and field offices in the federal-aid and federal lands highway programs.
• Federal Highway Administration Tribal Transportation Planning - The FHWA Tribal Transportation Planning Program delivers products and services that provide information, training, and technical assistance to the transportation professionals responsible for planning for the capital, operating, and maintenance needs on tribal lands. On this website, you will find planning news, regulations, policies, training information, technical resources, and contact information.
• Federal Lands Indian Reservation Roads/Bridges (IRR) Program - The IRR Program addresses transportation needs of tribes by providing funds for planning, designing, construction, and maintenance activities. The program is jointly administered by FHWA's Federal Lands Highway Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in accordance with an interagency agreement.
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Tribal Transit Program - This webpage provides information about funding and training associated with tribal transit planning and service provision.
• Indian Reservation Roads Program, Transportation Planning Procedures and Guidelines
• Minnesota Tribes and Transportation E-Handbook - Transportation Planning and Area Transportation Partnerships
• Transportation Research Board's (TRB) Native American Transportation Issues (ABE80)
• U.S. DOT Resources for Tribes and Tribal Governments