Regional model of cooperation describes an enhanced process for effective communication used by state DOTs, MPOs and transit authorities that can result in improved collaboration, policy implementation, technology use and performance management. Using Regional Models of Cooperation requires thinking beyond traditional borders and bringing together many entities to support common goals on transportation planning topics such as congestion management, safety, freight, livability and commerce working together to reduce project delivery times and enhance efficiency.
The competitive advantage of Regional Models of Cooperation for transportation planning is that successful implementation can improve decision-making and save time and money through shared resources, and help agencies achieve more by working together. Coordination includes jointly developing agency's transportation plans and programs, corridor studies, and project planning across MPO and State boundaries. It also includes collaboration between State DOT(s), MPOs, and operators of public transportation on activities such as: data collection, data storage and analysis, and analytical tools
Effective Decision Making. Regional Models of Cooperation provide a framework and processes for state DOTs and MPOs to develop agreements across agency boundaries that produce effective communication and result in mutual benefits. They allow agencies to achieve more by working together.
Improved Communities. Exploiting the competitive advantage of regional planning can spur economic development through faster construction, improved freight movement, and reduced traffic congestion, improving communities' quality of life.
Arizona's Sun Corridor is one of several nationally defined "mega regions" that has recognized the value of coordinating regional planning decisions. Other established multi-jurisdictional efforts include Atlanta's pooled resources transit data sharing; the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) public private partnership to improve rail efficiency; and the San Joaquin Valley Regional Planning Council, which includes eight MPOs working together to address valley-wide urban and rural issues.
Another example is the Southeast Florida Transportation Council, which was created to serve as a forum for policy coordination and communication and carry out regional initiatives agreed on by MPOs in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. An inter-local agreement among the three parties was completed in 2005. Several other Florida MPOs coordinate transportation demand modeling and long-range transportation planning through formal agreements.
The North Carolina Capital Area and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPOs began a coordinated effort to produce a 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan in 2009. Successful collaboration on the 2035 plan led to development of a 2040 plan, which was adopted in 2013. Recognizing that a joint travel demand modeling process and air quality management planning could benefit the region, the MPOs worked together through formalized agreements and informal sharing of information, processes and data.
Additional information is available from the Transportation Planning Capacity Building (TPCB) website at planning.dot.gov/. Administered by FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration, the TPCB Program offers training, technical assistance and support to State, local, regional and Tribal governments; transit operators; and community leaders.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) report on "Multi-State Metropolitan Planning Organizations: Approaches, Cases, and Institutional Arrangements," documents the enabling authority for 40 multistate MPOs, along with institutional arrangements, organizational structures, board composition and voting requirements: onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/archive/NotesDocs/NCHRP08-36%2844%29_FR.pdf
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