Purpose

The Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization (LMPO) is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Lawton Urbanized Area, as defined by the 2000 U.S. Census. Any urbanized area or contiguous urbanized areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, containing a population of greater than 50,000 are required to have an MPO. An MPO is a planning agency established by federal law to assure a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning process takes place that results in the development of plans, programs, and projects that consider all transportation modes and supports the goals of the community.

History

The Federal Highway Act of 1962 mandated that metropolitan areas of 50,000 population or more have a long range transportation plan and program before Federal highway funds could be spent on highway projects. In addition, the long range plan was to be based on the 3C planning process (comprehensive, continuing and cooperative). In the Lawton Metropolitan Area, the transportation planning responsibility was originally entrusted to the Lawton Metropolitan Area Planning Commission as the MPO. In 2003, the City Planning Commission (CPC) was re-designated as the MPO by the Governor of Oklahoma under 23 U.S.C. 134(b) (6)/FTA Section 5303 (b)(6).

The LMPO membership represents the eight wards within the City. The planning and program management functions are administered and implemented by the City of Lawton’s Planning Division, which provides staff, technical and clerical support, and is also designated as the LMPO Secretary.

Lawton Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Boundary

The Lawton Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (LMATS) is the geographic area in which the metropolitan transportation planning process required by 23 U.S.C. 134 and 49 U.S.C. 5303 must be carried out. The LMATS area is bounded to the north by Rogers Lane/US 62, to the east 60th Street, to the south Tinney Road and to the west 112th Street.

The LMPO Area, located in southwest Oklahoma, is located adjacent to Interstate 44 approximately 80 south of Oklahoma City and approximately 40 miles north of Wichita Falls, Texas.

Responsibilities

The LMPO is federally mandated to provide comprehensive transportation planning for the Lawton Metropolitan Transportation Study Area. Federal regulations establish various requirements MPOs must address during the transportation planning process: The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) outlines the issues that need to be considered in developing the Plan. The new law authorizes federal surface transportation programs through 2009. SAFETEA-LU essentially maintains the programs and funding formulas established by previous transportation bills. The new law extends the five current core programs and adds a new core program. The six programs are interstate maintenance (IM), national highway system (NHS), surface transportation program (STP), bridge and bridge maintenance, congestion mitigation and air quality (CMAQ), and the new highway safety improvement program (HSIP).

However, with the adoption of SAFETEA-LU several changes were made that affect the transportation planning process including:

• Update the TIP at least every four years;

• Include investments in pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the published annual list of projects;
• Update the LRTP in non-attainment and maintenance areas every four years;
• Consult with other state planning agencies, particularly in regard to relevant habitat and environmental plans;
• Promote a planning process that increases consistency between transportation improvements and local planned growth patterns; and
• Ensure that the public participation in the development of LRTPs includes identifying users of bike and pedestrian facilities and expanded provisions related to visualization techniques and the internet.

SAFETEA-LU sets out eight broad areas to be considered in the transportation planning process. These areas recognize that the growing importance of operating and managing the transportation system is the focal point for transportation planning. This list of factors was expanded since the previous federal transportation bill, so that safety and security are now separate planning factors. In formulating the long-range Plan, the MPO must consider the eight planning factors as such factors relate to the twenty-year planning horizon.

In addition to the above factors the Federal regulations require that the LRTP:

• Identify transportation policies, strategies and projects for the future;
• Determine demand for transportation services for a 20-year period;
• Identify congestion management strategies to address future demand;
• Maintain a multi-modal focus;
• Concentrate on the systems level, including roadways, transit, bicycle, pedestrian and inter-modal connections;
• Estimate costs and identify available financial sources for operation, maintenance and capital investments; and
• Determine ways to preserve existing roads and facilities and make efficient use of the existing system.

In addition to the LMPO there are two committees that are a vital component of the transportation planning process: Transportation Technical Committee and Transportation Policy Committee. The Transportation Technical Committee coordinates transportation issues at the technical level and provides technical advice to the Policy Committee.

The functions of the Technical Committee include the following:

1. Present transportation agenda items to various agencies;
2. Receive presentations from various agencies;
3. Develop the Transportation Improvement Program;
4. Review transportation plans and studies;
5. Make recommendations to the Transportation Policy Committee;
6. Review transportation issues at the request of the Policy Committee; and
7. Develop and review the UPWP.

The Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) is the final approval authority for transportation planning. The Committee reviews and approves the overall work program and makes policy determinations concerning the transportation plan and the transportation improvement program. The functions of the Policy Committee include the following:

1. Develop and maintain a comprehensive transportation planning program in conformance with Section 134 and 49 U.S.C.;
2. Develop and approve all policy procedures for transportation planning in the LMA;
3. Review and approve the Transportation Plan and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP);
4. Ensure that established Public Involvement Procedures are carried out appropriately for all major transportation activities;
5. Establish and revise the metropolitan area boundary as required by law;
6. Prepare certifications; and
7. Review and approve UPWP.