Requires states, at a minimum, to cooperate with affected nonmetropolitan local officials responsible for transportation through regional transportation planning organizations to develop and implement long-range statewide transportation plans and statewide transportation improvement programs, with emphasis on addressing the transportation needs of nonmetropolitan areas of the state.
Defines a regional transportation planning organization as a multi-jurisdictional organization composed of nonmetropolitan local officials (or their designees) and representatives of local transportation systems who all volunteer for such organization.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2782 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2782
To amend title 23, United States Code, to incorporate regional
transportation planning organizations into statewide transportation
planning, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 9, 2009
Mr. Walz (for himself, Mr. Carney, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Thompson of
Mississippi, Mr. Perriello, Mr. Ross, Mr. Holden, Mr. Space, Mr. Welch,
Mr. Minnick, Mr. Kanjorski, Mr. Shuler, Mr. Boucher, Mr. Michaud, Mr.
Ortiz, Mr. Boswell, Mrs. Kirkpatrick of Arizona, Mr. Thompson of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Cuellar, and Mr. Hinojosa) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to incorporate regional
transportation planning organizations into statewide transportation
planning, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. 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).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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