Disclaimer Statement: The preparation of this report has been financed in part through grant[s] from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, under the State Planning and Research Program, Section 505 [or Metropolitan Planning Program, Section 104(f)] of Title 23, U.S. Code. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

MTP OVERVIEW:

The purpose of the Metropolitan Transport-ation Plan (MTP) is to provide systematic, long-range planning for transportation projects and programs in the metropolitan areas. It requires the local decision-makers and the department to identify needs, financial resources, and priorities in a cooperative manner.

The metropolitan transportation planning process shall include the development of an MTP, which is required under 23 CFR §450.322. The MTP should address at least a 20-year planning horizon and include both long-range and short-range strategies or actions that lead to developing an integrated, intermodal transportation system to facilitate the efficient movement of people and goods. The MTP is cooperatively developed by the MPO, TxDOT, and operators of publicly owned transit services and is approved by the MPO Transportation Policy Committee. The department is also responsible for reviewing plans and submitting new and revised plans to FHWA and FTA for their information. (43 TAC §15.6)

In all areas, proposed improvements shall be described in sufficient detail to develop cost estimates. Also, a unique project number shall be assigned to each project to provide a means of tracking the project movement from the MTP to the TIP.