SDDOT / Project Development / Planning / Metropolitan Planning Organization

MPO Coordinator: Brad Remmich
Phone: (605) 773-3093; Fax: (605) 773-6608

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Coordination and planning provides the liaison between SDDOT and the three active MPOs in South Dakota by representing the Department on various MPO committees and providing technical assistance as requested. There are three active MPOs in South Dakota:

City of Rapid City:	Rapid City Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Sioux City, IA:	Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO)
City of Sioux Falls:	Southeast Council of Governments (SECOG)

FHWA/FTA has just started up a website specifically for the MPO Coordination activities around the country. Metropolitan Capacity Building Program is http://www.planning.dot.gov/.

There are three committees that review and approve of transportation plans for each MPO. The three consist of a citizen advisory committee, a technical advisory committee, and an executive decision making committee. The MPO Coordinator is part of the technical advisory committee. The Department of Transportation's MPO Coordinator provides advice on plans and projects the are brought to the technical advisory committee. Some major products delivered from the MPOs to the SDDOT are the metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for each MPO. They also do numerous special studies of transportation issues in the metropolitan areas.

TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a three year plan for projects in six major areas. The six major areas are the following:

Streets and Highways

Public Transportation (Transit)

Aviation

Railroads

Bicycles

Pedestrian

All the TIPs are financially constrained. All the entities work to produce a TIP and prioritize the projects found in the TIP. The general public, affected public agencies, representatives of transportation agencies, private providers of transportation, and other interested parties are allowed to make comment on TIP drafts. TIPs need to conform to both the LRTP and the eight planning factors in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users(SAFETEA-LU). The LRTP contains the elements the MPO wants to accomplish in the next 20 years. The eight planning factors are the following:

Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency

Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users

Increase the ability of the transportation system to support homeland security and to safeguard the personal security of all motorized and non-motorized users

Increase the accessibility and mobility options available to people and for freight

Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, and improve the quality of life

Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight

Promote efficient system management and operation

Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system

OVERALL PURPOSE

The purpose of the MPOs is to coordinate the activities of the urbanized areas with the South Dakota Department of Transportation so that we complement each others activities and are not counter-productive.