MPO Prospectus
The Prospectus serves three important functions in the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) regional transportation planning process. First, it provides an overview of the Federally mandated “3-C" (comprehensive, continuing, cooperative) transportation planning process as defined by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century of 1998 (TEA-21), the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act – Legacy for Users of 2005 (SAFETEA-LU), the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) act and, most recently, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Second, it defines the roles and responsibilities of the various Federal, State and local agencies and entities involved in the MPO transportation planning process. Third, it documents the interagency agreements that have been or will be entered into between the MPO, the NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT), the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST), the Cooperative Alliance for Regional Transportation (CART), other MPOs who also provide support to these transit agencies, and the Air Resources Division of NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). These agreements further define the specific responsibilities and obligations of each agency.
The Prospectus is designed to serve as a common reference for all parties interested and involved in the regional transportation planning process in the RPC region of New Hampshire. It spells out how that process will be implemented by the Rockingham MPO and includes information regarding:
- The designation & description of the Rockingham MPO;
- An overview of the transportation planning process;
- Descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of the involved agencies and the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with those agencies;
- A summary of the required elements of transportation planning under the Federal rules for Metropolitan Transportation Planning and Programming (23 CFR 450).
- The process and procedures to be used by the MPO and partner agencies in developing and amending the Long-Range Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program;
- The public involvement procedures that will be used throughout the planning and programming process.
