Abstract:
Metroplan, the MPO for the Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA, requires a design review process of all federally funded transportation projects on its TIP. This requirement applies whether the project is sponsored by local governments, the transit provider or by the state DOT. Metroplan is a Transportation Management Area (TMA) and has its own sub-allocation of STP funds. However, this process could work equally well for small MPOs. Project design was a very important concern of the region’s citizens in the development of the metropolitan transportation plan, METRO 2020 plan. For a number of reasons, those design concerns were not finding their way into the engineering drawings of projects. Consequently, in 1997 the TIP process was amended to require project design review at the regional level before final project approval. The practice of design review ensures that projects will be built as they are originally proposed, containing all of the design elements required in the plan. In practice, some jurisdictions were cutting key elements from the project during PE, usually to save money. The design review process works as follows. Projects are submitted by member governments for inclusion in the three year TIP. When a project is selected for funding, however, only preliminary engineering is put on the annual element of the TIP. When a project design is substantially complete, it is submitted to the Metroplan staff and the Technical Coordinating Committee for design review and recommendations. The MPO staff review the project design for consistency with the regional goals and objectives, with adopted local plans and with the original project submittal. The Technical Coordinating Committee often offers more technically oriented suggestions and will often put conditions on the project design. The TCC and staff recommendations are presented to the MPO Board for final approval. Design conditions placed on the project by the Board are binding on the proposing jurisdiction. Right-of-way and construction funding are then advanced to the annual element of the TIP.
